hil est in mundo," saith St. Paul; and Christ as present by his human nature in the sacrament, is a non ens;' for it is not true, there is no such thing. He is present there by his divine power, and his divine blessing, and the fruits of his body, the real effective consequents of his passion: but for any other presence, it is 'idolum,' it is nothing in the world. Adore Christ in heaven; for the heavens must contain him till the time of restitution of all things. And if you in the reception of the holy sacrament worship him whom you know to be in heaven; you cannot be concerned in duty to worship him in the host (as you call it) any more than to worship him in the host at Nôtre Dame when you are at St. Peter's in Rome: for you see him no more in one place than in another; and if to believe him to be there in the host at Nôtre Dame be sufficient to cause you to worship him there, then you are to do so to him at Rome, though you be not present for you believe him there; you know as much of him by faith in both places, and as little by sense in either. But however, this is a thing of infinite danger. God is a jealous God he spake it in the matter of external worship and of idolatry; and therefore do nothing that is like worshipping a mere creature, nothing that is like worshipping that which you are not sure is God: and if you can believe the bread when it is blessed by the priest, is God Almighty, you can if you please, believe any thing else. : To the other parts of your question, viz. Whether the same body be present really and substantially, because we believe it to be there; or whether do we believe it to be there because God hath manifestly revealed it to be so, and therefore we revere and adore it accordingly? I answer, 1. I do not know whether or no you do believe him to be there really and substantially. 2. If you do believe it so, I do not know what you mean by really and substantially. 3. Whatsoever you do mean by it, if you do believe it to be there really and substantially in any sense, I cannot tell why you believe it to be so: you best know your own reasons and motives of belief; for my part, I believe it to be there really in the sense I have explicated in my book; and for those reasons which I have there alleged; but that we are to adore it upon that account, I no way understand. If it be transubstantiated and you are sure of it: then you may pray to it, and put your trust in it; and believe the holy bread to be coeternal with the Father, and with the Holy Ghost. But it is strange, that the bread, being consecrated by the power of the Holy Ghost, should be turned into the substance and nature of God, and of the Son of God: if so, does not the Son at that time proceed from the Holy Ghost, and not the Holy Ghost from the Son? But I am ashamed of the horrible proposition. Sir, I pray God keep you from these extremest dangers. I love and value you, and will pray for you, and be, dear Sir, March 13, 1657-8. Your very affectionate Friend to serve you, JER. TAYLOR. TO HIS GRACE, JAMES, DUKE OF ORMONDE, LORD LIEUTENANT GENERAL, AND GENERAL GOVERNOR OF HIS MAJESTY'S KINGDOM OF IRELAND, ONE OF THE LORDS OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL OF HIS MAJESTY'S KINGDOMS OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND, &c. AND KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE, But It is not any confidence that I have dexterously performed this charge, that gives me the boldness to present it to your Grace. I have done it as well as I could, and for the rest, my obedience will bear me out : for I took not this task upon myself, but was entreated to it by them, who have power to command me. yet it is very necessary that it should be addressed to your Grace, who are, as Sozomen said of Theodosius, "certaminum magister, et orationum judex constitutus:" "You are appointed the great master of our arguings, and are most fit to be the judge of our discourses ;" especially when they do relate and pretend to public influence and advantages to the church. We all are witnesses of your zeal to promote true religion, and every day find you to be a great patron to this very poor church, which groans under the |