[The principal points which are at this day in controversy, concerning the holly supper…[The principal points which are at this daye in controuersie, concerning the holly supper…

Chapter. v.

Of the names of the Supper and of the Mass, and whether the difference that is at this day because of the same between the reformed Church and the Romaine, is only for the names and titles, or else for the matter and substance, and whether the Mass be in substance the Supper of the Lord.

Of the names of the Supper and of the Masse, and whether the differēce that is at this day because of the same betweene the reformed Church and the Romaine, is onely for the names and titles, or els for the matter and substance, and whether the Masse be in substance the Supper of the Lord.

IT must then be that the Romaine doctors confess, that the Mass which they do now call the Mass, is far different from that which they affirm to have been said and celebrated by the Apostles and their true successors. And if they do reply that it is the same in substance, and that there is no difference, but in respect of the ceremonies and ornaments wherewith it hath been adorned and enriched since that time, by the successors of the Apostles: we must yet see whether it be so or no. Behold then one point which standeth yet in question: whereupon it must be considered whether the Mass, such as it is at this day, be in substance the holy supper of Jesus Christ or no, such as he him self did institute & administer, & his Apostles ⟨image 6⟩and his true Church did receive from him, and did celebrate according to his ordinance and commandment. For our chief controversy is not for the words or for the names, but for the thing it self & the very substance thereof, for the which we are at controversy. Wherefore when we shall agree upon the substance, we shall then easily agree upon the accidents & names, so far forth as the thing which they do signify, be contained in the holy scriptures, and in the Lords ordinance, as we do it in the name of the trinity and of Sacrament, and such like. For albeit that the very same words are not found either in the old testament, or in the new, yet for all that we do receive them, for so much as the things signified by them are therein contained. Wherefore it would be uncomely and of small edification to debate upon names and words, when men are agreed upon the things that they would signify by these same. It resteth now that we understand the one the other, and that we do agree upon the sense according to the which we shall take the words which we shall use.