Let them compare our churches and theirs together, and they shall see that themselves have most shamefully gone from the Apostles, and we most justly have gone from them.  For we, following the example of Christ, of the Apostles, and the Holy fathers, give the people the Holy Communion, whole and perfect; but these men, contrary to all the fathers, to all the Apostles, and contrary to Christ Himself, do sever the Sacraments, and pluck away the one part from the people, and that with most notorious sacrilege, as Gelasius termeth it.

We have brought again the Lord’s Supper unto Christ’s institution, and have made it to be a communion in very deed, common and indifferent to a great number, according to the name.  But these men have changed all things contrary to Christ’s institution, and have made a private mass of the Holy Communion.  And so it cometh to pass that we give the Lord’s Supper unto the people, and they give them a vain pageant to gaze upon.

We affirm, together with the ancient fathers, that the body of Christ is not eaten but of the good and faithful, and of those that are endued with the Spirit of Christ.  Their doctrine is, that Christ’s very body effectually, and as they speak really and substantially, may not only be eaten of the wicked and unfaithful men, but also (which is monstrous to be spoken) of mice and dogs.

We use to pray in our churches after that fashion, as, according to Paul’s lesson, the people may know what we pray, and may answer Amen with a general consent.  These men, like sounding metal, yell out in the churches unknown and strange words without understanding, without knowledge, and without devotion; yea, and do it of purpose because the people should understand nothing at all.

But not to tarry about rehearsing all points wherein we and they differ—­for they have well-nigh no end—­we turn the Scriptures into all tongues; they scant suffer them to be had abroad in any tongue.  We allure the people to read and to hear God’s Word:  they drive the people from it.  We desire to have our cause known to all the world; they flee to come to any trial.  We lean unto knowledge, they unto ignorance.  We trust unto light, they unto darkness.  We reverence, as it becometh us, the writings of the Apostles and Prophets; and they burnt them.  Finally, we in God’s cause desire to stand to God’s only judgment; they will stand only to their own.  Wherefore, if they will weigh all these things with a quiet mind, and fully bent to hear and to learn, they will not only allow this determination of ours, who have forsaken errors, and followed Christ and His Apostles, but themselves also will forsake their own selves, and join of their own accord to our side.

PART VI.