The Grand Sacrilege of the Church of Rome, Chapter 11 · Section 6
SECT. VI. Testimonies of the practise of the Church, from 500. to 600.
AS mCic. Brut.Tullie writeth of Hortensius, that after his Consulship he decayed in his rare facultie of eloquence, though not so sensibly, that eueryevery auditor might perceiue it: yet in such sort, that a cunning artist might obserue, that he drew not so cleare a stroake in his master-pieces, nor cast on them so rich and liuely colours, as before. Such was the state of the Church in this age. It decayed and failed, though not so sensibly, and grossely, that eueryevery ordinary reader might take notice thereof: yet in such sort, that the learned and iudicious hauehave discouered in the writers of this age, and much more after, a declination from the puritie of former ages, both in stile and doctrine. Their Latine much degenerated into barbarisme; and their deuotion into superstition. Whence it is, that the prime Doctors of the Reformed Churches, who appeale from the late corruptions in the Romish Church to the prime sinceritie in the first and best ages, confine this their appeale within the pale of the fifth age.
Wherefore, the reader is not to demaund, or expect from hence forth, either so frequent testimonies, or at least, of men of that eminencie, and reuerend authority, as the former were. For such, the succeeding ages brought forth none: but it shall suffice to produce such witnesses as the times affoorded; men that held ranke with the best in their times: Such were Remigius Archbishop of Rhemes, Gregory, Bishop of Tours, and the Fathers of the Councell of Toledo and Iledra.
Anno 524.
In the Councell held at Ilerda, can. 1. All those that serue at the Altar (& Christi corpus & sanguinem tradunt) and deliuer the body and blood of Christ, or handle any holy vessell, are strictly charged to abstaine from all mans blood, yea, euen of their enemies.
Anno 560.
oIn 1. Cor. c. 10. Appellatur calix communicatio, quasi participatio; quia omnes communicant ex illo, partemque sumunt ex sanguine Domini. Biblioth. PP. Tom. 5.Remigius Archbishop of Rhemes, thus expoundeth those words of Saint Paul: The Cup of blessing wherewith we blesse; is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ? The Cup is called the Communion, because all communicated or receiued the Communion out of it, participating of the blood of the Lord.
Papists answere.
If our aduersaries here flie to their old starting hole; that by all, here all Priests are meant, and not all Communicants, they may be stopped by that which Hincmarus writeth in the life of this Rhemigius: that he gaue a Chalice for the peoples vse with this Motto:
Hauriat hinc populus vitam de sanguine sacro
Iniecto, aeternus quem fudit vulnere Christus.
Rhemigius reddit Domino sua vota Sacerdos.
Rhemigius Priest, that gaue this Cup,
Prai'th that in it the people sup;
And still draw life from flowing blood
Out of Christs side, as of a flood.
Let it bee noted, that hee saith not, hauriat hinc clerus, but populus: not let the Priest, but let the people out of this Cup, draw life from the holy blood, which Christ shed out of his wounds. Whereby it appeareth euidently, that this Chalice was giuen by the Archbishop, for the peoples vse, at great and solemne Communions, and not for the Priests in their priuate Masses, if any such were in Rhemigius his dayes.
Anno 580.
Greg. Turonens. de glor. Martyr. li. 1. ca. 10. relateth a miraculous accident, that fel out by occasion of a pAd participationem gloriosi corporis, & sanguinis Domini …um alijs infantibus infans Iudaeus accessit.Iewes child, comming with other children to the Communion of Christs body and blood: I am sure these children were not Priests that said Masse; and if children were admitted to the holy Cup, much more men of riper yeeres.
Papists answer.
This was an abuse to let children come to the Communion, who cannnot examine themselues; and therefore from this abusiue coustome no good rule may be drawne.
The Refutation.
I allow not of the coustome of admitting children to the Communion in the Church, or giuing it them at home: though it be more antient then most of the new Articles of the Romish Creede, coined by Pope Pius the fourth, in his Bull. but I make a true inference, though from an erroneous practise, as the Apostle doth from a custome among the Corinthians, who were baptized for the dead. Doubtlesse if the Laietie in those dayes had been kept from the holy Cup, children neuer had been admitted to drink of it. For no man can imagine, that the Church would giuegive little infants that priuiledge, which they denied their parents.
Anno 537.
In the second Councell of Toledo, Can. 7. It is ordained throughout all the Countries of Spaine, and Gallicia, for the confirmation of the new conuersion of the people from Arianisme, that before the participation of the body and blood of Christ (corporis & sanguinis communicationem) according to the manner of the Easterne Churches, all the Congregation shall with an audible voyce, rehearse the most holy Articles of the Christian faith.
Anno 597.
In the third Councel held at Toledo, in the reigne of Recaredus, c. 2. rVt primùm populi quam credulitatem teneant, fanteantur; & sic corda fide purificata ad Christi corpus & sanguinem percipiendum exhibeant.It is decreed, that the people shall first make profession of their faith, and so exhibite their hearts purified by faith, to receiue Christs body and blood. Doth not this Councell speake in the Protestant language? that the people are to receiue Christs blood, as well as his body, and both by faith, or, which is all one, in their hearts purified by faith. How neere commeth this to the forme at this day in vse in our Church? Feed on him in thy heart by faith? I find no exception taken by any Papist at this testimony; and therefore there needs no ward, where no blow is so much as offered.