mutacion is made other wyse then corporallye also that not to be the thyng which is sene in verite but some other whyche is not perceyued to be thoughe hys power and peculyer benynge or yf they wyll not confesse thys nedes they must denye the body and bloud of christ whych is a wycked thyng to do not in wordes only but also in thought but forasmuch as they do confesse the body and bloude of christe to be there and that it cannot be there but by the reason of mutacion frome a worse thynge to a better it muste folowe that the mutacion be made not corporallye but spirituallye yet and so that we maye saye that it is do spiritually For vnder the veale of corporall bread and wyne is the spirituall bodye and bloud of christ yet is there not the existencie of too dyuers thynges that is to saye of the bodye and the spyrite but one and the same thynge after one sorte is the kynde of breade and wyne after one other sorte the body and bloude of christ for in that both of them are touched they be the kyndes of corporall creatures through the power by the which they at spiritually made they be the mysteries of the body and bloud of Christe Let vs consyder the well of holy baptysme whych is called not wythout a cause the well of lyfe because that is confyrmeth thos that discende into it wyth the mounte of a better lyfe maketh theÌ„ lyue to iustice whych ware before dead in synne The element of the water hath not hys power for yf it shuld not opteyne the vertue of sainctificacioÌ„ it could not wasshe away the spotte of synne And yf it sholde not coÌ„teyne the vygore of lyfe vtterlye it sholde not be able to gyue lyfe to the deade I meane not my flesshe but â—n soule yet in the fountayne yf we haue respect onelye to the thynge whych our corporall sence comprehendeth we shall fynde nothynge but water subiecte to corruption and that whych hath none other vertue but to wasshe our bodâ—es Yt after that the vertue of the holy goost hath accesse by the concreaâ—â—on of the baptyser yt is of the efficacy not only to wasshe oure bodyes but also by a spirituall power to wasshe awaye the spiritual fylthe froÌ„ our solles Lo in one element we se two thynges the one resystinge the other that is to saye a corruptyble thing to gyue in corruption and a thynge wythout lyfe to contrybute lyfe Therfore knowe that in thys well is one thyng sencyble and therfore mutable and curruptible Also an other thynge that onely fayth beholdeth and therfore incorruptible immortall And yf a maÌ„ requyre what that is whych wassheth the body it â—s nothynge but an elemeÌ„t but yf a man coÌ„syder that whych inwardely purgeth that is a lyuely vertue a vertue of sanctification a vertue of immortalyte therfore the lycore in hys propertie is corruptible in the mysterye holsome vertue eueÌ„ so the bodye the bloude of christ coÌ„sydered outwardely is a creature doughtles subiecte to mutabilite corrupcioÌ„ but yf a maÌ„ pondre the vertue of the mysterye it is lyfe geuynge immortalite to thos that be partakers of it Therfore it is not al one thynge that is sene that is beleued For thos thynges that be sene do onely fede the corruptyble bodye they beynge corruptible them selues But thos thynges whych are not sene do fede the immortall solles they beynge immortall them selues The apostel wrytynge to the Corinthians sayeth know you not that all oure fathers ware vnder a cloude that all passed ouer the see that all they were baptysed in Moyses in the cloude in the see that all they haue eaten the same sprituall meate and that all they haue dronken the same spiritual drinke They dyd drinke of the spirituall stone folowing them the stone also was christ Thus we perceyue that the see had a kynde of baptisme the clowde also that the fathers of the olde TestameÌ„t ware baptized in the cloude in the see Coulde the cloude or the see of theÌ„ selues haue the vertue of baptisme or coulde they sanctifye the people Yet dare we not accuse the Apostell of lyenge for that he sayd our fathers ware baptyzâ—d in the cloud in the see And although the baptysme was a type a fygure of the baptysme of christ that is now vsed in the church Yet no maÌ„ that hath hys wytnes wyl say that it also was not baptysme it selfe or that oure fathers ware not baptyzed therin except he wyll varye frome the Apostell as a mad maÌ„ Therfore the see clowde not in that they ware creatures bodyes deade toke the clerenes of sanctifycatioÌ„ of the holy speryte For in theÌ„ was a visyble forme whych appereth playnlye to the corporall sence and wythin a spirituall power which was onely euydent to the eyes of the mynde fayth Lykewyse manna geuen to the people froÌ„ heaueÌ„ the water flowinge out of the rocke ware corporall and corporally they fedde the people gaue theÌ„ drinke Yt the Apostel nameth that manna that water spirituall meat spiritual drinke and why verely bycause that there was in thos corporall substaÌ„ces a spiritual power of the worde whych fedde the myndes rather then the bodyes of the beleuynge people spiritually gaue theÌ„ drinke not wythstanding theyr meate and drynke dyd prefygurate the bodye bloude of christe whych the church doth â—â—â—â—â—rate Yet saynt Paule affyrmeth that oure fathers dyd eate the same spirituall meate and drinke the same spiritual drinke A maÌ„ wyll aske perauenture what he meaneth by this worde the same truly he meaneth that they dyd eate the same spirituall meate whyche the faythfull eateth drinketh now a dayes in the church we may not vnderstande dyuers thynges for christe is was alwayes on And the same christ whych fedde the people that ware theÌ„ baptyzed in the deserte in the clowde in the see wyth hys flesshe and his bloude fedeth now the people in the church of hys faythful with the breade of hys bodye the water of hys bloude thys thynge the Apostel dyd playnly declare by that which foloweth sayenge they haue eateÌ„ the same spirituall meate dronkeÌ„ the same spirituall drinke They dyd drinke of the same spirituall stone followyng them the stone was christe So we vnderstande that christ was in the spirituall stone in the deserte And that he gaue the water of hys bloude to the people And afterwarde gaue to vs hys bodye whyche was borne of a virgyn crucifyed for the helthe of the faythfull And not only that we myght be redemyd but also that we myght drynke therof It is a maruelous thynge that Christ all though he was incuÌ„prehensyble inestimable And that he had not yt put vpon hym the nature of man had not yet tasted death for the helthe of the worlde nor redemyd vs wyth hys bloud For al that our fathers
in the deserte by a spiritual meate an inuisyble drinke dyd eate hys body drynke hys bloude As the apostell wytnesseth sayeng our fathers haue eaten the same spirituall meate dronken the same spirituall drinke here we cannot know by reason how this thinge was done Yet to the doynges fayth must be adhibited for it is he truly whych by hys omnipotente vertue turneth the breade the wyne spiritually into hys flesshe hys bloude also whyche at the tyme made inuycyble the manna that was gyuen from heaueÌ„ hys body the water powred out of the rocke his blode The which Dauid perceyuinge dyd protest in the holy goost sayenge man hath eaten the breade of angels It ware a fond thynge to suppose that thys corporall manna geuen to oure fathers fedeth the heuenly hoost of angels or that they do eate any suche meate which be rether fedde wyth the dayntyes of goddes worde The psalmyst declarâ—th playne or the holye goost rather speaketh in the psalmyste both what our fathers receyued in that heaueÌ„ly manna and what the faythfull ought to beleue in the mysterie of the body blode of christ in the both truly christ is signifyed whych is not only the meate of angels but also fedeth the soules of the faytfull And neyther of these happen in corporall tast or feadyng but in the vertue of the spirituall worde The euaÌ„geliste teachet that Iesus christe before he suffred toke breade gaue thaÌ„kes distributed it to his apostles sayeng thys is my body whych shal be geueÌ„ for you do this in my remembraunce Lykewyse he toke the cup after he had supt sayeng thys is the newe testameÌ„t in my bloude which shal be shed for you We se that christ dyd worke the mistery of his body blode before he suffered We dought not but euery faythfyll man beleueth that the breade was made the bodye of christe whych he gaue to hys disciples sayeng thys is my body that is geueÌ„ for you And also that the cuppe dyd coÌ„teyne the bloude of christ whereof he sayeth thys cuppe is the newe testament in my bloude that shal be shedde for you Therfore as he coulde turne the substance of breade and the creature of wyne into hys proper body before he dyed So coulde he in the deserte turne the manna and the water of the rocke into hys flesshe bloude not wythstandinge that his fleshe was hanged on the crosse for vs. And hys bloude shed for vs longe after heare also we ought to consyder what is ment by thes wordes excepts you shall eate the flesshe of the sonne of maÌ„ drynke hys bloude you shall not haue lyfe in you He sayde not that hys flesshe whych hanged on the crosse shulde be eateÌ„ in pecys eaten of the Apostles nor that hys blode whych he shedde for the redeÌ„ptioÌ„ of the world sholde be gyueÌ„ hys disciples to drinke for it ware a wycked thing yf hys fleshe shuld be eateÌ„ or his bloud dronkeÌ„ as the infydelles toke it Therfore he sayd to his disciples takyng the wordes of christ not vnfaythfully yt scarcely perceyuing how the same was to be vnderstand thes doughtes offeÌ„de Therfore yf you shall se the sonne of maÌ„ ascendynge thether where as he was before As though he shulde saye you maye not thynke my fleshe to be eateÌ„ of you corporally or my bloude to be drouken of you corporally neyther that my flshe shal be deuyded into pecys for asmuch as after my resurrectioÌ„ ye shal se me affende into heaueÌ„ wyth the fulnes of my holy body blode theÌ„ ye shal wel perceyue that my fleshe is not to be eateÌ„ of thos that beleue as the infydels thynke but that the bread the wyne chaunged by a mysterye into the substance of my body bloude is to be receyued of the faythfull he sayeth also coÌ„sequeÌ„tly The sperite is he that quickeneth the flesh profyteth nothing after eny such sorte as the vnfaythfull vnderstande other wyse it gyueth lyfe as the faythfull take it by a mysterye And therfore he sayeth the sperite is he that quickeneth So in this mysterye of the body bloude of Christe here is a spirituall operacion geuyng lyfe wyth uâ—e the whych operacion the mysteryes be vnprofyatable for well maye they fede the bodye but the soule they cannot Here springeth a questioÌ„ â—â—e whych proposed some saye that thos thynges be done in verite not in mysterye wherin they shewe them selues playnâ—lye to repungue agaynst the wrytynges of the holye fathers Saynte Austen the doctour of the churche in the thyrde of hys boke de doctrina christâ—ana wryteth thus Excepte you eate sayeth our sauyour the fleshe of the sonne of man drynke hys bloude you shal haue no lyfe in you He semyth to commaund a wycked thyng therfore it is a fygure coÌ„mandyng vs to be coÌ„municators of hys passion surelye also profytable to peruerte in our memories that his fleshe was â—oÌ„dyd crucifyed for our sakes Thus saynt Austen affyrmâ—th the mysterye of the body and bloud of christ to be celebrate of the faythfull vnder a fygure for he sayeth it is no poynte of religion but rather of iniquite to take hys flesshe aâ—d hys bloud carnally as they did whych vnderstode not christâ—s wordes spyryâ—uallye but carnallye wente back therfore and departed from hym Among many thynges in hys Epystell to bonyeface he wryteth thus Truelye we vse to saye of tymes when Ester drawâ—th nere that tomorowe or nexte daye shal be the passyon of the Lorde not wythstandyng he suffered hys passioÌ„ many yeres befor Neyther dyd he suffre but ons Also on Easter day we customably saye this daye the Lorde hath rysen And it manye yeares hath passyed in dede syns he rose for sayeÌ„g this we shuld be reported as shameful lyers sauing that we do name thys after the simâ—litude of the dayes them selues wherin the thinges were done So we may say thys is the daye though it be not the day it selfe in dede But by the reuelacyon of tyme lyke vnto it And so we say the thynge is done this day for the celebracioÌ„ of the sacrameÌ„t whych is not done thys day in dede but was done a great whyle before was not christ once offred in him selfe And yet in the sacrameÌ„t he is offred to the faythful people not only euery Easter but euery day nether is he founde a lyer that answereth to a man askyng the questioÌ„ that he is offered For yf the sacrameÌ„t had not a certayne symâ—litude of those thinges wherof they be sacrameÌ„tes they were no sacrameÌ„tes at all for the lykenes many tymes the sacrameÌ„tes take the names of the thynges theÌ„ selues Therfore lyke as after a sorte the sacrameÌ„t of the body of christ is the body of christ the sacrameÌ„t of the bloud of christ is the bloud of christ So the sacramet of fayth is fayth Thus we perceyue that saint AusteÌ„ affyrmeth the sacrameÌ„t to be one thyng the thynge it selfe
one and yf they be not all one how is it called the body of christ and the verye blode For yf it be the verye bodye of christ and be called the same Truly because it is the body of christe it is the body of christe in verite that is to say Yf it be the very body of christ then it is the body of christ incorruptyble and inpassyble and by that eternall Therfore by thys reason the bodye of christ whych is celebrate in the churche must neades be incorruptible and eternall but we can not denye that thyng to be corruptible whych is deuyded in peces broken with our tethe and goeth into the belye but that is one thyng whych is done externly that an other whych is beleued by fayth whatsoeuer the sences attayne vnto is corruptible and that whych fayth beleueth is incorruptible Therfore that which appereth outwardly is not the thynge it self but an Image of the thynge but that whych is perceyued understande in the mynde is the very thynge Therfore Saynt Austen speakynge of the body and blode of christ in the exposicyon of the gospell of S. Ihon sayetâ— thus Moyses dyd eate manna AaroÌ„ dyd eat 〈◊〉 dyd eate and many moo dyd eate whyche pleased god they dyed not Why Uerelye because they vndâ—â—stode the visyble meate spirituallye they fylled them selues spirituallye We also do receyue nowe the visible meate yet the sacrament is one thiÌ„g and the vertue of the sacrament an other he sayeth also This is the breade whiche discended from heueÌ„ Manna dyd signifye this breade the altare of god dyd signâ—fye this breade these ware sacramentes dyuers in theyr fygures yet in the thynge whiche is signifyed they were lyke Here the apostle Paule I wolde not haue you ignoraunte o brethren sayeth he that our fathers were vnder a cloude and al they passed ouer the see and all were baptysed in moyses in the cloude and in the see and all they dyd eate the same spirituall meate all they dyd drynke the same spirituall drynke therfore they dyd eate the same spirituall meate that we do for there corporall meate was an other thynge they dyd eate manna we eate an other thynge yet theyr spirituall meate was all one with oures he addith and all they dyd drynke on spirituall drynke In the visible kynde our drynke theyâ—is were dyuers yet in the spirituall vertue they dyd both signifye one thynge How dyd they drynke the same They dronke sayeth he of the spirituall stone folowynge them and the stone truly was christ from whence they had the breade from whence they had the drynke the stone was chryste in a fygure the very chryst is in fleshe and blode Further this is the breade discendynge from heuen that yf any man eate of it he shall lyue for euer but it is that whiche perteineth to the vertue of the sacrament and not the visyble sacrament it selfe And he shall lyue whiche eateth within not he that eateth withoute whiche eatethe in his harte not that braketh with his touthe He sayeth also repetynge the wordes of out sauyour this doth offend you because I say I gyue my flesh to be eateÌ„ of you my blode to be droÌ„keÌ„ Therfore yf you shal se he son of maÌ„ asceÌ„dyng where he was fyrst What meaneth this Here he dissolued that which moued theÌ„ Here he disclosed wherfore they were offeÌ„ded They thought that he wold haue speÌ„t his body among theÌ„ But he sayde that he wold ascend hole into heueÌ„ WhaÌ„ ye se the son of maÌ„ asceÌ„dyng where he was fyrst truly then ye shall se that he wyll not bestowe his body so as ye santifye that he wyll Verely ye shall vnderstande that his grace is not coÌ„sumed by morsels Also he sayth hym self The spirite is he that quyckeneth the flesh profyteth nothyng The wordes that I haue spokeÌ„ to you sayeth christ be spirite lyfe that is to say they are spiritually to be vnderstande Thou hast vnderstaÌ„de spiritually they be spirite lyfe vnto the. Thou hast vnderstaÌ„d carnally they be spirite lyfe but not to the Thus we are taught by the auctorite of this doctor in treatynge of the wordes of the lord touchiÌ„g the sacrameÌ„te of his body bloude that those wordes of christe are to be vnderstande spiritually not carnally As he sayeth the wordes which I spoke to you be spirit lyfe he meaneth the wordes that he spoke coÌ„cerning the eating of his flesh the drinke of his blod wher with the apostles were offeÌ„ded Therfore lest they shuld be offeÌ„ded styl yeâ—euyne mayster calleth theÌ„ agayne froÌ„ the flesh to the spirite froÌ„ the corporall visyon to the inuisible intelligeÌ„ce We se therfore after what maner the meate of the body of the lord the drink of his blod be his very body his very blod Verely iÌ„ the respect that they be spirite lyfe thinges that be al one be coÌ„prehended in one definicion It is sayd of the very body of christ that he is very god very man god that was borne of the father before the begynninge man that was borne in the later dayes of the virgyn mary Seynge that these thynges cannot be sayd of the body of christe whych is in the churche by a mysterye it is knowen to be the body of christ but after a certayn maner thys maner is in fygure and in Image that the verite and the thynge it selfe maye be perceaued in the prayers whyche are sayde after the mysterye of the body bloude of christ to the whyche the people say amen Thus it is pronunced with the voyce of the preist we takyng the pledge of euerlasting lyfe desyre most humbly that we may receyue with manifest participacion that thynge whych we touche in the Image of the sacrameÌ„t Thus they be the pledge and the Image of an other thyng that is to say they respecte an other thyng and not theÌ„ selues A pledge is of that thynge for the whych it is geuen An Image is an Image of that thynge whose symilitude it sheweth These do sygnifye the thinges wherof thâ—y be but they do not manifestly shew them saying it is so it appereth that this body aâ—d bloude are the pledge and the Image of the thynge to come that the thynge it selfe whych is now shewed by a symilitude may here after be reueled manyfestly And yf they signifye that thyng now which here after shal be manyfeste doutles it is one thynge whych is done nowe and an other that shal be manifeste in tyme to come Wherfore that whych is celebrated of the church is the bodye and bloude of christ but it is a pledge and as an Image the verye bodye shal be sene whan no Image and pledge shall appere but the verite of the thynge it selfe Thys also is another prayer whyche is vsed about the sacramente Make perfyte in vs good lord we beseche the that that thyng whych the sacrament dothe conteyne that we maye
For yf he sholde saye so as God forbydde he sholde then he muste pronounce the bodye of Christe to be corporall And subiecte to mortalite for what soeuer is perceyued and tasted in that meate corporally is subiecte to corruption he addeth thes wordes or it is the bodye of Christe Therfore peraduenture a man wyll saye lo he doth manyfestelye confesse the breade and the wyne to be the bodye of Christe But take hede howe it is added for it is no corporall meate but a spyrytuall meate Therfore you shall not adhybit the sence of the flesshe For nothynge is perceyued here after that sense There is the bodye of Christe howe be it not corporall but spirituall The bloude of Christe is there howe be it not corporall but spirituall Therfore nothynge here is to be iudged corporally Here is the bodye of Christe but not corporally Here is the bloude of Christe but not corporally He sayeth further wherfore the apostel speakynge of the figure of thys sacrameÌ„t sayeth our fathers haue eateÌ„ the same spiritual meate and dronken the same spirituall drinke for the body of christ is a spirituall bodye the bodye of christe is the bodye of the deuyne spirite For christ is a sperite as we rede lamentationuÌ„ l 4 â—0 Spiritus ante faciaÌ„ nostram xpÌ„s dominus He hath taught vs moste playnely howe we ought to vnderstande the mysterye of the bodye and bloude of christ what he sayde that our fathers dyd eate the spirituall meate and drynke the spirituall drinke notwythstandynge that the manna whych they eate and the water whych they dronke were corporall thynges he aâ—dyth of the mysteryes which is now celebrate in the churche defynynge how it is the bodye of christe The bodye of god sayeth he is a spirituall body Also god is christe and the bodye whych he toke of the virgyn marye in the whych he suffered in the whych he was buryed in the which he rose agayne was the very and the trew bodye and the same remayned visyble and palpable but the body whych is called the mysterye of god is not corporall but spirituall it is not visyble nor palpable To this doth saynte ambrose adioyne sayenge the bodye of Christe is the bodye of the deuyne sperite and a deuyne sperite is not corporall corruptyble ne palpable but this body whych is celebrate in the church through hys vysyble vynde is corruptable and palpable Howe then is it calied the body of the deuyne spirite Verely in the respecte that it is spirituall That is to saye inuisyble and inpalpable and therfore incorruptable he sayeth because Christ is a spirite as we rede Spiritus ante faciaÌ„ nostraÌ„ christus dominus He sheweth manyfestlye by what mean the bodye of Christe is hadde that is to saye by the reason that the sperite of Christe is in it that is the power of goddes worde whych doth not only feade the soule but also purgeth it Wherfore the auctor consequentely sayeth Thys meate coÌ„formeth our hartes and thys drinke maketh gladde the harte of man as the prophete hath mencyonâ—d is it not corporall meate thynke you whyche confyrmeth the harte of man or corporall drynke whych exhiliarate mans harte but that he myghte shewe what meat or what drynke he speaketh of he hath added thys meate and this drinke what meat doth he meane or what drynke Verely the bloude of Christ the body of the deuyne sperite And to speake playnely the sperite of whom it is reade Spiritus ante faciam nostram xpÌ„s dominus In all thys thynges it is euident that we muste take nothynge in thys meate or thys drynke corporally but that the hole muste be attendyd spiritually For the soule wyth in thys place is sygnyfyed by the harte of man is not fedde wyth corporall meate or corporal drynke but nurysshed it is and made stroÌ„ge wyth the worde of God Which thing this same doctor affyrmeth more plâ—ynlye in the fyrst boke of the sacraments sayenge The bread whych goeth into our bodyes is not the bread whyche mynystreth substaunce to oure soules but the breade of euerlastynge lyfe And the lesson followyng declareth moste playnely that saynte Ambrose dyd not meane here the romeÌ„ bread but the breade of the bodye of Christe For he doth speake of the daylye breade whych the faythfull desyreth to be gyuen them And therefore he addyth yf it be daylye breade why doeste thou take it but on s in the yere as the grecyans were wount in the ester Take therfore that whych maye daylye profytt the and lyue so that thou mayest desyre to take it daylye Therfore it is vertue And it is cleane another thyng whych is senâ— externly froÌ„ that which is beleued in the mysterie Moreouer the flesshe of christe that was crucifyed did not shewe one thyng out wardly and was an other thyng inwardely for it was the verye flesshe of man and a body consystynge in the kynde of a very body We must also consydre that in the breade not only the body of christ is fygured but also the body of the beleuyng people For as the bread is made of many graynes of wheate so the bodye of the faythfull people is augemented with manye of those that beleue by the word of chryste Wherfore as in the mysterye the breade is taken for the body of chryste so lykewyse the membres of the beleuinge people in chryst be intinuate in the same mysterye And as the breade is the bodye of the faythfull men not corporally but spiritually So we must necessarely vnderstande that the same is the body of christ not corporally but spiritually Lykewyse in the wyne whyche â—s called the bloude of christ water is myxte and the one is permytted wythout the other For as the people can not be wythout Christe nor christe wythout the people so the head cannot be wythout the bodye nor the bodye wythout the heade The water in thys sacrament beareth the Image of the people Therfore yf that the wyne sanctifyed by the offyce of the mynister were corporally chauÌ„ged into the blode of Christ then the water whych is myxte wyth it shulde necessarely be chaunged corporally into the blode of he faythfull people For where as is one sanctificaâ—yon there is consequently one operacion and wheras is lyke reason there is lyke mysterye But we se â—hat nothynge is chaunged in the water corporally â—herfore it foloweth that nothynge is chaunged corporally in the 〈◊〉 what soeuer is signifyed in the water of the people is taken spiritually therfore we must nedis take spiritually whatsoeuer is intinuate in the wyne of the body of chryst Moreouer thinges which do dyffer be not all one The bodye of christe that dyed rose agayne and was immortal dyeth no more death shall no more beare rule ouer it for it is eternall and shall suffre no more But that whych is celebrate in the churche is temporal not eternal corruptible not incorruptible in the way not in our coÌ„trey Therfore they dyffer and be not all
mysterye of the lord and vnto that thyng whych you your selues be you answre ameÌ„ And in answryng you subscrybe therefore thou hearest the body of christ thou answrest amen Be thou a meÌ„bre of the body of christ that that the amen may be true and wherin in breade we wyll speake nothynge or oure owne heades but heare the Apostell We beynge manye sayeth he are one breade and one bodye c. Therfore Saynte Augustyne hath taught vs that as the bodye of Christe is sygnyfyed in the breade whyche is on the alter so is the body of the people that receyueth it Also he hath euidently shewed that the proper bodye of chryste is that body in the which he was borne of the virgyn marye in the which he sucked in the whiche he suffred in the whiche he dyed and was buried in the whiche he rose and ascended into heauen in the whiche he sytteth of the ryght hand of the father and in the whiche he shall come agayne to iudgemet But this whiche is set on the lordes table conteyneth the mysterye of the very body euen as it dothe of the mysterye of the beleuyng people For the appostle sayeth We beynge maney are one breade and one bodye YOURE wysdome most excellente prynce may perceyue that I haue prouyd by the testimonies of holy scryptures and of the holy fathers that the breade whiche is called the body of chryste and the cup called his blode is a fygure because it is a mysterye And that there is no small dyfference betwene the mystycall bodye and the bodye that suffered was buryed and rose agayne For this whiche suffered is the proper body of oure sauyour Neyther in it is any fygure or signifycacion but the manifestacyon of the thying it selfe is knowen And the visyon of it shulde be desyred of the faythfull For after we shall se it youre desyre shal be accomplyshed for he and the father be all one not in the respecte of our sauyours bodye but in the respecte of the fulnes of deuinite that dwellethe in the man chryste But in this mystycall body is a fygure not onely of the proper body of chryst but also of the people beleuyng in christ For doutles it beareth the fygure both of the body of chryst that suffered rose agayne and of the people borne agayne by baptysme and made alyue from the death of siÌ„ne Let vs adde also that the breade and the wyne named the bodye and blode of chryst do represent the memorye of the lordes passyon death For he sayeth in the gospell Do this in my remembraunce the whiche paule expoundeth sayenge So oft as ye eate of this breade drynke of this wyne you shall shewe the death of the lorde tyll he come Thus we be taught both of chryst and of paule that the breade and the wyne set on the altare are set for a fygure or a memory of the lordes deathe that it maye putte vs in remembraunce in the tyme present what hath bene done in tyme past that we made myndfull of his passyon may be made also partakers of the godly rewarde by the which we ar delyuered from death Knowynge that after we shal once come to the visyon of chryste we shall haue no nide of suche instrumentes by the whiche we are put in remembraunce what chryst hath suffered for vs. For we lokynge on hym face to face shall not be admonyshed by an externe admonicion of temporall thiÌ„ges but by the contemplacyon of the truth it selfe Yet we may gyue thankes to the auctor of our helth â—t you shall not thinke for all this that the body and blode of the lorde is not receyued of the faythfull in the mysterye of the sacrament sayenge that fayth receyueth not the thyng loked vppon with oure eyes but that whiche is beleued For the meate is spirituall the drynke is spirituall feadyng the soule spiritually and gyueth the lyfe of euerlastyng secrete as our sauyour sayeth The spirite is he that quyckeneth the flesshe profyteth nothynge Wâ—â—â—les I haue indeuered to obey the coÌ„maundement of your excellencye I a man of small importancye haue presumed to dispute of no small thynges yt not folowynge the presumptyon of myne owne estimacyon or Iudgement But the auctoritie of the olde fathers yf it happen that you approue these thynges as catholyke it muste be imputed to be merytes of our fayth which was not ashamed the glorye of your regall magnificeÌ„ce layed awaye for a tyme to aske a responce of the truth of a pore man but yf they please you not let it be imputed to my folyshnes it coulde not with efficacye explicate that thynge whiche you desyred FINIS ¶ Imprynted at London in saynt Andrewes paryshe in the waredropt by Thomas Raynalde and Anthony Kyngstone