Читать книгу History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin (Vol. 1-8) - J. H. Merle D'Aubigné - Страница 94

'The mass is the only knot we cannot untie;642 for it contains such horrible abuses ... invented for the profit of the monks. All impious rites must be interdicted, and others established in conformity with the truth.'

'The mass must be preserved,' said Francis; 'but the stupid, absurd, and foolish legends abolished.'643

The Frenchmen were anxious to learn the doctrine of the reformers on the sacraments: it was, in fact, the embarrassing point, in consequence of the different opinions of different doctors. The enemies of the Reformation spread the rumour through France that the sacraments were to protestants mere ceremonies only, by which christians show that they belong to the Church. 'No,' said the doctors, 'these outward forms are means by which grace works inwardly in our souls. Only this working does not proceed from the disposition of the priest administering the sacrament, but from the faith of him who receives it.' And here came the great question: 'Is Christ present or not in the communion?' Bucer and his friends cleverly extricated themselves from this difficulty.