Paragraph 31.1

1. The blood of Iesus Christ once shed for mankind vpon the Crosse, is a perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for all the sinnes of the whole world.

2. Sacrifices of the Masse, are most blasphemous Fables, & dangerous deceipts.

The proofe from Gods word.

Of the benefits redounding vnto mankind by Christ his offering vp of himselfe vpon the Crosse, we haue in sundrie places afore^* spoken, and by the word of God prooued him to be the perfect Redemption,^a propitiation,^b and satisfaction,^c† for all the sinnes of the whole world, both originall, and actuall.

Heereunto the Churches of God beare witnesse.^‡

The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth.

Hereby it is euident to the eies of all godly persons that most accursed be the errors of them which doe affirme, that

From the beginning of the world, vntill the 15. yeare of the Emperour Tiberius, none at al were saued. The error of Manes the heretike.⁴

Mans body is not capable of happines, but the soule onely; and yet no soules shall be saued, but there owne said the Marcionites.⁵

All men, and women, that sinne after Baptisme, are vndoubtedly damned. In this error were the Montanists,⁶ and the Nouatians.⁷

Our saluation is of our selues; so said Melchior Hoffeman, an arch Heretike.⁸

Man is restored to grace of Gods meere mercie, without the meanes of Christs blood, death, and passion. One of Mathew Hamants blaspemous assertions.⁹

The Sauiour of Men, is Iesus Christ, a man, and no woman, who came into the world to saue no women but men, say some Papists,¹⁰ and redeemed the superior world onely, which is man, said Postellus the Iesuit;¹¹ and yet not all men neither for S. Francis hath redeemed so many as are saued since his daies, say the Franciscan Friers.¹²

The Sauiour of women from her time till the end of the world, is S. Clare, affirm some,¹³ other papists, as Postellus saith it it one mother Iane.¹⁴

The Sauiour of men, and women, is S. Mary through her virginitie say some,¹⁵ is S. Christina, by her passion, say other Papists.¹⁶

There is no sufficient sacrifice yet offered for the sinnes of the world. One of F. Kets errors.

Christ hath satisfied, and was offered onely for originall sin, an error of Thomas Aquinas.

Sinnes actuall, and veniall, are taken away by sacred Ceremonies,¹⁷ by a Bishops blessing,¹⁸ by a preists absolution.¹⁹

Sinnes actuall, and Mortall, be remised by a Pardon from some Bishop, or from the Pope of Rome.²⁰

The papists deliuer how the the Masse is a sacrifice,²¹ a sacrifice propitiatorie,²² a sacrifice propitiatorie for the quick, & the dead,²³ the same propitiatorie sacrifice that was offered by Christ himselfe vpon the Crosse.²⁴

A sacrifice in which, by virtue of a fewe, euen fiue words (mumbled by a Preist), Christ, euen that Christ, which hung vpon the Crosse, is contained.²⁵

A sacrifice, seruing for all persons, quick and dead, to purge them from their sinnes, to ease them of their paines; to satisfie for their punishment,²⁶ and for all necessities corporall, and spirituall.²⁷

A sacrifice propitiatorie of Iesus Christ really offered, to God the Father, and that often, in the honour of dead Saints.²⁸

A sacrifice, wherein Christ is so gloriously, as it is to be adored, euen with diuine worship, both of Priest, and people.²⁹

A sacrifice meritorious to all them for whom it is offered, although they be not liuing but dead; not present but absent; not endued either with zeale or knowledge, but quite destitute of faith, and that ex opere, operato.³⁰

Hereby are wee to note, first blasphemous Fables. For

It is a fable, that the Masse is a sacrifice, and that propitiatorie; a fable, that a fewe words of a Priest, can change Bread into a liuing Body: yea many Bodies with their soules; and that of Iesus Christ, God and man: a fable, that one, and the same sacrifice is offered in the Masse, which was offered on the Crosse: a fable that the said Masse is any whit profitable for the quick; much lesse for the dead.

Next dangerous deceipts. For hereby men are to beleeue, that

Creatures may be adored, contrary to Gods word.^d31

Christ is often offered: contrary to the Scripture.^e32

The Preist offereth vp Christ: contrarie to the Scripture.^f33

Sinnes be forgiuen without blood, contrary to the Scripture.^g34

Christ died not once, but dieth daily: contrarie to the Scripture.^h35

Faith is not necessarie in communicants: contrary to the Scripture.ⁱ³⁶

Wee are to adore Christ as alwaies present, contrary to the Scripture, where we are taught to remember him absent.^j

The fauour of God by mony may be purchased from a priest; contrary to the Scripture.^k

All which their fables, and deceipts doe tend to the utter abolishing of true relion. Therefore iustly haue wee, and our godly brethren abandoned the masse.³⁷

Accursed then stand those Papists before God, which take the Masse to be the Sacrifice of Christ his body, and Blood,³⁸ and the onely soueraigne worship due to God in his Church.³⁹