etes did reproue / but it is not
redde that they did communicate with the same. This example
therfor is of force against them which will excuse themselues by
the example of the prophetes / in that they do partake such
sacrifices as are instituted of man.
[[Hovv sum do thincke that they may be at Masses, and hovv thei
vnderstond the masse.]]
Forthewith then they saye / what is it to me though papistes do
abuse the Masse? In their abuse I do call to mynd the true vse /
and I comme vnto it with an other mynde and vnderstondinge then
they do saye it. For when I see the breade and cupp / I do not
thincke vppon the transubstanciation which the pope hath fayned /
but on the sacrament of Christe. And therfor when I am at masse
I do not regarde what ceremonies be ther / ore what the minister
is / but I do remember the very institution of Christe and I do
spitiually receyue that / wich he doth saye that he doth
corporally offer and receyue / for the lyuinge and the deade.
and seinge I know that the vertue of the sacrament is not of les
force for the varietie of ceremonies / ore the vnworthines of
the ministers / I do suppose that I / which do well vse an euell
thinge / am neither defiled / nor yet that by this my spirituall
communicating I do denie the gospell. By theise wordes a man wold
iudge theis men to be madd / except he do consider that it is
not they which do thus speake / but feare / and desire / which
are affections playnly most trobled. They do simply acknowledge
that papistes do abuse the supper of the lorde / but yet (they
saye) that they themselues do wel vse their abuse / forbicause
they do come enstructed with an other meaninge then the papistes
do it / not to heare a popishe masse which the papistes saye /
but to receyue the supper of the lorde / the self same which
they in their masse do thincke abhominable. I do not know whether
ther can be ony greter absurditie spoken. Thow maiste saye that
theis men haue learned an arte which hetherto no man coulde
attayne / to robb a naked man of clothes / to wringe water out
of a pumeise stone / and to bidde a man to get fishe in the
aire / that is / at a table wher no meate is sett furth at all /
to fare delicatly and to be filled. But go to / let them frely
profes before them with whom they do thus communicate / that they
be of that mynd which they speake of / that is / that in cumminge
to Masse they will not comme to Masse / but that in it they will
vndersto
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