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230 V. THE REFORMATION (A.D. 15201592).
ately, and condemned the usage of any other liquid than
wine. Even John Ofeeg, Bishop of Vesteras, who had
taken the other side, subscribed this decree. I
may remark
that the opinion that when bread or wine is unattainable,
any other similar food or drink, by which our bodies are
sustained, may be employed to represent the spiritual food
of the Sacrament, was afterwards defended by Theodore
Beza (Epist. theol., No. 2, p. 28, Geneva, 1573).
This and other controversies now decided the arch
bishop, to declare openly in favour of Lutheranism, which
he did in a tract, On Church Ordinances (Stadgar) and
Ceremonies, written in 1566, and published the next year.
King Eric, also in 1565, issued a strong mandate against
"
distorted doctrines," by which Calvinism was intended
(Anjou :
360). Laurentius expressed his opinions at
greater length, drawing attention to the diversity of
usages which prevailed in different countries and the neces
sity of a more settled order. He ended as follows :
"
Each
province, each principality, in some places each city, has
its peculiar ceremonies and Church usages. It is often the
case that the same custom is not long preserved, but
changes take place almost every month. I know nothing
better to say or to advise, than that we assimilate with the
congregations who follow the doctrine of Doctor Martin.
For, as wr
e have truly proclaimed that God of his special
grace has raised up that man to expose the hideous errors
of the pope, and show us the right way, and, as we have
received his doctrine as the truest, I cannot believe that we
shall find any better Church usages than they observe who
hold the same doctrines as we, that is, Doctor Martin and
Doctor Philip hold. For this the special reason may be
assigned that we can easily and with least offence fall into
those customs, because between them and our own, as
hitherto practised, there is but little distinction or
difference
"
(Anjou :
366-7. This is a fairly correct version
of the original fol. 61 B and 62, ed. Wittenberg, 1587).
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