The first point then that we do condemn in the Mass, is, that in general there are so many inventions, traditions, and humane additions to the Lords institution, & so many changes and disguisings of the same, and so many ceremonies and foolish and doltish superstitions, and insufferable Idolatries, that there remaineth in the same no kind of form of the pure ordinance of the Lord, but that it is there wholly overthrown. And by the same mean the expressed word of God is there openly violated, in as much as it is so often and so expressedly forbidden by the same, in the holy scriptures,1 to add or to diminish any thing to or from the law, statutes and ordinances of the Lord, or to go out either on the right hand or else on the left. For the which cause Saint Paul meaning to correct the abuses which were already in his time committed in the supper among the Corinthians, said plainly, setting forth the institution of Jesus Christ: I have received of the Lord that which also I have delivered unto you.2 And after ward ⟨image 11⟩he expoundeth it point by point, in what sort Jesus Christ did institute and administer this holy Sacrament, and ordained it to be administered afterward in his Church, wherein he meant to give plainly to understand, not only to the Corinthians, but also to the whole Church of God, as well for that present time as for all the time to come, that the institution of the Lord is pure, whole and perfect, & what rule there was and is to be observed in such matter, without adding any thing to it, or diminishing, changing, and disguising any thing from it or in it. For if Saint Paul which was plucked up even to the third heaven,3 and who saw there secrets incomprehensible to man, and hath so fair and excellent a testimony of his vocation by Jesus Christ him self, neither would nor durst take in hand such a matter, but did content him self with the simple ordinance of the Lord, and tied him self to the fame rule, and did draw thereunto the whole Church, what pride is this in those which dare undertake more then he, yea more then the very son of God him self did: These which are so audacious, do they not fear at all the curses which are denounced by Saint John in the Apocalypse, 4to all those which either add or diminish any thing to or from the doctrine revealed by the Lord?
THe first point then that we doe condemne in the Masse, is, that ingeneral there are so many inuentions, traditions, and humane additiōs to the Lordes institution, & so many chaunges and disguisings of the same, and so many ceremonies and foolish and doultishe superstions, and insufferable Idolatries, that there remaineth in the same no kinde of forme of the pure ordinance of the Lord, but that it is there wholy ouerthrowen. And by the same meane the expressed word of God is there openly violated, in as much as it is so often and so expressedly forhidden by the same, in ye holy scriptures,1 to adde or to diminish any thing to or from the lawe, statutes and ordinances of the Lorde, or to go out either on the right hand or els on the left. For the which cause Saint Paul meaning to correct the abuses which were already in his time committed in the supper among the Corinthes, said plainely, setting foorth the institution of Iesus Christ: I haue receiued of the Lord that which also I haue deliuered vnto you.2 And after ward ⟨image 11⟩he expoundeth it point by poynt, in what sorte Iesus Christe did institute and administer this holy Sacrament, and ordeined it to be administred afterward in his Church, wherein he ment to giue plainely to vnderstand, not onley to the Corinthes, but also to the whole Churche of God, as well for that present time as for all the time to come, that the institution of the Lord is pure, whole and perfect, & what rule there was and is to be obserued in such matter, without adding any thing to it, or diminishing, chāging, and disguising any thing from it or in it. For if Saint Paul which was plucked vp euen to the third heauen,3 and who sawe there secrets incomprehensible to man, and hath so faire and excellent a testimonie of his vocatiō by Iesus Christ him selfe, neither would nor durst take in hande such a matter, but did content him selfe with the simple ordinance of the Lord, and tied him selfe to the fame rule, and did drawe thereunto the whole Church, what pride is this in those which dare vndertake more then he, yea more then the very sonne of God him selfe did: These which are so audacious, ds they not feare at all the curses which are denounced by Saint Iohn in the Apocalypse, 4to all those which either adde or diminish any thing to or from the doctrine reuealed by the Lord?
- 1Deut. 4.1• Apoc. 22. Jos. 1. Eze. 10.
- 21. Cor. 11.
- 3•or. 12.
- 4•oc. 22.
