What Thorndike advances respecting the laws of the Church must be reported with still more brevity. The Church is founded upon the duty of communicating in Divine offices, particularly in the sacrament of the Eucharist, wherein, with the elements, Christ Himself is present, not simply through the living faith of the recipient, but because of the true profession of Christianity in the Church; nevertheless, the invisible faithfulness of the heart, in making good or in resolving to make good the said profession, makes the receiving of it effectual to the spiritual eating and drinking of Christ’s body and blood. Which Eucharist also, according to the New Testament and the Fathers, Thorndike maintains, may be accounted a sacrifice, first as to the oblation of the bread and wine; secondly, as to the offering of prayer; thirdly, as to the consecration of the elements, whereby they become a propitiatory and impetratory offering; and fourthly, as to the presenting to God of the bodies and souls of the receivers. He argues for the baptism of infants, on the grounds, that there is no other cure for original sin; that the children of Christians are holy, and may be made disciples; and that the effect of circumcision under the law inferreth the effect of baptism under the Gospel. This third book also treats of penance, extreme unction, marriage, government, and, in particular, of the Papal supremacy, and of the Presbyterian and Independent schemes; of the days, places, forms, and subject matter of Divine service; of the state of souls after death; of prayer to saints, and image worship; of monachism, and the celibacy of the clergy; and, lastly, of the relation of the ecclesiastical and civil powers. In some cases this Divine draws a pretty broad distinction between what he holds as Catholic views and the views which are held by the Church of Rome; but in other cases the difference is so refined that it becomes almost imperceptible. No doubt Thorndike may, on technical grounds, be vindicated from the charge of Romanism proper; and it may be said that, in his defence of prayers for the dead, he follows Ussher; and that, in his doctrine respecting the Eucharist, he symbolizes with Cosin and with Bramhall, with Hammond and Taylor and Ken.[390] Between him and many clergymen of the Established Church in the present day a strong resemblance exists; but certainly, in the judgment of other theologians, whose opinions will be stated hereafter, and in the judgment of such as may be deemed their successors, the tendency of Thorndike’s teaching is decidedly towards Rome; and, whatever may be the distinction drawn between the Catholicism taught by him, and the Catholicism of the Council of Trent, that distinction, in some particulars, although comprehended by metaphysical Divines, is scarcely to be discerned by plain English understandings. [Sidenote: ANGLICANS.--BULL.]