that same blessed babe was borne of hys immaculate mother Marye into thys worlde not vnloosinge the virgineal gyrdel or clausure of her pure maidenhed Secondlye howe soone and sodenlye was the shyppe at the shoore when the disciples Ioh. 6. wold haue receiued christ walkynge on the sea as saint IohnÌ„ reporteth in hys syxte chapiter there we maye perceaue howe spedye and myraculous mocyon the shyppe and also the bodye of Christe hadde yet beynge passible and mortall Howe maye we doubte then Mathei Marci â—ltimo that thys bodye maye be here sodenlye wythout any meane passage or corporally penetratyng the cloudes or other meane places sythe that also the same bodye slayne Angelus auÌ„t dnÌ„i descendit de celo accedens reuoluit lapideÌ„ and deade dyd aryse the thyrde day from deathe and passed out from the graue of stone couered sealed and watched wyth soldyers and that not breaking the stone neyther vnsealyng neyther vncouering the graue For we may not thynke that the angell that descended froÌ„ heaueÌ„ rolled the stone dyd let out Christe For certainly he was myraculusly rysen ear the angel apered And the same day the same bodye entred in amonge the dysciples where all the dores were shutte Why shulde we thinke it vnbeleueable or impossible then Ioh. 20. that the same glorifyed bodye shoulde so sodeynlye be reallye and verallye present in the holy sacrament sythe that we rede and beleue by the holye scripture these myraculous mocions of the verye same bodye Furthermore the faythfull and catholyke cristiane oughte to retayne as an artycle catholyke as an ineffallible veritie as the church of Christe teacheth that in thys mooste holye blessed sacramente are the naturall quantitie qualities and the other accydentary properties of bread subsystant or alone by theÌ„ selues myraculouslye wythout any staye or ayde of the substauÌ„ce of breade where in they were before the consecration For that substaunce is not there as we haue sayde neyther any other substance is there where in these accydentall propertes shulde be saue only the substauÌ„ce of the body of Christ the whyche bodye is not subiect vnto them but they are subsistente wyth out the staye of any substance by the myght and omnipotent power of God Not wythstandynge that the faythfull are fully perswaded in this verite wyth constant fayth ledeth captyue all theyr senses vnto the seruice of Christ in this myracle sayth wyth Dauid agaynst all reason made to the contrarye All thynges what euer he wold God hath wrought Psal 134 bothe in heauen and in erthe Yet for lake of fayth and trewe beleue of this one article many of weak fayth do oft staggar And many of late dayes are prostrate fallen flat downe whiche is to be lamented in to detestable duÌ„geon of herises for whiles they grossely stycke vnto the principles of nature consyderynge that nature hathe gyuen vnto bread and fleshe and vnto euerye substaunce his dystincte and peculyar quaÌ„tite qualytes as color fygure tast wyth other accydentall properties and where euer are founde all such naturall properties together is naturally found the substaunce whose properties these are suche grosse reasonars finding also in thys blessed sacrament al the ê“perties of bread as coler quantite figure taste wyth all other on the other syde fyndynge in the sacrament no maner of propertie of fleshe they collecte and coÌ„clude that there is only the substauÌ„ce of bread not the bodye of Christ of the whyche number Frythe was one as it aperethe in hys boke This is the chefe and only cause of theyr errour But vnto thys argumente and vnto al suche carnall and blasphemous dyscussers and dysputers of the myraculous workes of God I shall make answere in the ende of my thyrde sermon And though that thys artycle semeth and is impossible and incredible by nature yet shall I shewe it very credible and possible vnto the power of God and that by these examples whyche al readye are credyble It is as an vnnatural a thinge that the Sonne whose chiefe moost natural propertie is to gyue lyghte beynge created for that purpose shulde at the myddaye hauynge no interposition or lette gyue no maner of lyghte but rather horrible and palpable darkenes Yet the scripture teacheth that when God plaged Egypte the space of thre dayes the Sonne and the Moone gaue no lyght vnto the Egyptians but there remayned Huge and horrible darkenes for by the myghtye power of God the propertye of illuminacyon was wyth holden and suspended not onely in the Sonne Moone Starres but also in all other thynges that naturally shulde haue shewed lyghte for neyther candel neyther fyer gaue them lyghte no more then the fyer of hell gyueth lyght vnto the dampned spirites there Forthermore is it not the naturall propertye of fyer to bourne to incynerate and brynge to asshes Dani. 3. all thynge combustyble sparynge none And yet we reade in Danyell that when the .iii. yonge men faste bounde were cast in to the whote burnyng furnesse of fyer there the fyer burnt a sonder theyr bondes and burned not theyr bodyes nether dyd it any molestacyon vnto them but they walked vp downe in the myddest of the flammynge furnesse as it had byn in a fresshe colde dewe Beholde then In Egypte the sonne geueth no lyght In Caldey the fyer an element of moste actiuitie yet it burneth not Lyke as in these myraculus workes of god the natural ê“pertes of thynges were suspended agaynst nature euen so in the holy sacrament are the naturall propertyes of breade and wyne myraculously sustayned wyth out any sustentacyon of any substaunce eyther of bread or wyne eyther of anye other for there is not the substaunce of bread neyther any other but onely the substaunce of the naturall bodye and bloode of Christ whyche is vnder and with these properties of bread wyne and yet these propretyes are not in that moost impassible substaunce and precious bodye Moreouer the faythe catholyke affyrmeth that these accideÌ„tarie ê“perties of breade and wyne though there be not the substaunce of bread or wyne yet haue they by the power of God al the natural operacyons of breade and sustayneth all the naturall passyons of bread and therfore these propertes Thomas AqÌ„nas Citas her gregorii verba Species sacramentales sunt â—â—aruÌ„ rerum vocabula qÌ„ antea fue ruÌ„â— sz panis et vini In suÌ„ma q. 77. â—â—i primo do norysshe they do replete satisfye they are brokeÌ„ eaten they are dygestyd they maye be mouldye burnt and generally sustayne al the other corruptioÌ„s as thoughe the very substaÌ„ce of bread were there Therfore it is not bread that is so brokeÌ„ eateÌ„ digested norisheth satisfyeth repleieth is burnt mouldy or suffreth any other corruptions for there is no substaunce of breade as I haue sayd neither in the bodye of Christe are any of these accioÌ„s or passions For that body is impassible and can suffre none suche but lyke
as the soule of maÌ„ which is spiritual is neyther burnt slayne neither corrupt wheÌ„ the body wherin the soule is is burnt slayne or corrupted euen so all these accions and passions are in the accidentarye properties of breade onely and the body of Christe whych is verely vnder those properties suffereth none of all those corruptible accions or passions Yet to conuince the heresies and blasphemes about thys blessed sacrament there hath bene sene verye bloode to issue out of an hoost consecrate when it hath ben violently strykeÌ„ cutte or broken and that by myracle Yet that blood hath not issued out of that iÌ„passible bodye but god almighty hath declared by that myracle the presens of hys blood It is a very facile an easy thynge vnto the infinite power diuine to gyue vnto the accidentall properties of breade might and power to do al naturall operations and accioÌ„s and to sustayne all the passions that very bread shulde For the same Lorde God gaue power vnto the drye waÌ„ or rode of Aaron wythout sappe or iuyse in one nyght Nume 17. to budde to sprynge to brynge forth leues flowers and almondes Therfore lyke as god gaue the natural accions of sappe or iuyse vnto a drye staffe or rodde euen so he gyueth by myracle to the properties of bread the accions of very bread Furthermore why shulde we maruayll to se the accidentall properties of breade eaten broken cutte burnt or corrupted yet the bodye of Christ vnder these qualyties vnharmed for nature teachethe almooste as much in the soule of man for when the bodye of man is eaten cut broken or brunt yet is the soule voyed and free from all those passions by cause it is impassible So is also the iÌ„passible body of Christ in thys sacrameÌ„t free and voyde of all these passions that are suffred in the sacrament Exodi 3. Lyke as the busshe oute of whom God spake to Moyses was not perisshed though the fyer were in it and rounde a boute it yet the bushe remayned both grene and freshe the beutye therof vnpayred euen so the bodye of Christ in the sacrament sustayneth no passions that are wrought in the properties of bread thoughe that the body be really and verelly there That omnipotent Lorde God gaue power Sara Anna Elizabeth Maria mater xpÌ„t vnto the barreÌ„ aboue the course of nature to be with chylde and vnto a virgin hys mother whych is much more myraculous to bringe forth a childe she remaynynge mayden immaculate and mooste pure virgin What is more vnnatural theÌ„ out of the harde stony rock the water to gushe and flowe in wonderful ê‘leÌ„ tye Exo. 17. Yet at the touche of Moyses rod this was wrought by God that oute of a rocke issued an exceding streame of water Ys yt not monstruous to see the great loÌ„pyshe grauitie of yroÌ„ Reg. 2. to swymme And yet so dyd the Axe at Helyseus commaundement as we reade in the boke of Kynges And lyke as these are vnto nature monstruus and impossible yet very easy and facile vnto the infinite power of the lorde of nature euen so it is incredible and impossible vnto nature that the properties accidentall shulde stande be subsistent without any substaunce yet to be subiecte vnto all passyons and to execute all natural actions of theyr naturall substaunce Yet vnto goddes omnipotent myght it is very possible and easye We must not then seke the institutioÌ„ and order of nature where the auctour of nature lysteth myraculously to make transposition alteration And in suche alteration supernaturall diuine workes the blynd reason and fond fantysie of man shulde leue hys presumptuous serche and scrutacion of the cause of goddes archaue workes and suffer fayth to take place subduynge all wytte and reason vnto goddes myghtye wyll and pleasure And not to be so curious inquisitiue howe or what wayes God maye do thys or that Neyther in suche myraculous workes to counsell nature no more then the moste blessed and faythfull fathers Patriarkes and prophetes Whose mooste excellent fayth and credulitie in all thynges that God spake vnto them maye be a moost perfect president and example vnto vs. The which faythfull fathers in the myraculous workes and promises of god consellyd not wyth nature neyther serched neyther skanned them wyth blynde reason But with mooste humble obedient fayth they receyued them constantlye beleuynge that he that hadde spoken the worde was able also to performe the same vnto whome ther is nothynge impossible For that thynge whyche nature can not that can the omnipotent power diuine Yea nature muste gyue place vnto godes power Dyd Abram counsell wyth nature howe it myghte come to passe that which God dyd ê“myse No truely For scripture sayth that he reasoned not wyth nature consyderynge that he was aged and Sara baren But was stronge in faythe Rom. 4. and gaue glorye vnto God beleuynge that he was able to performe it that hadde made the promyse Dyd Moyses reason wyth God in the innumerable wonders and monstruous plages that God wroughte by hys hande No. But when he was commaunded he deuyde the redde wylde Sea wyth one stroke of hys rodde How redely beleued this holy prophet the promise of God wheÌ„ yt rayned Manna and quayles from heauen to satisfye the glottonous and murmuryng Iewes The valyant captayne Iosua set a part al naturall power and reason and by stronge fayth deuyded the ruffe and stormious floode of Iordan and by fayth he dyd se the sturdye and strong walles of Ieryco with the only blaste of the trompets ouer throwen he see also the stones raine from heaueÌ„ vpon his enemyes and in hys tyme he vanquyshed .xxxi. kynges What shulde I or nede I reporte any moo of the innumerable woÌ„ders that almightie god hath wrought by the haÌ„des of the moost faythfull fathers the prophetes sythe that the breuenes of a sermon can not containe so great a number of thinges Excepte that I wolde of a quere make a iust volume Yet may I not passe ouer wyth sylens all the infinite number of myracles that our maister Christ wrought here The whyche were a playne euydence and an euydent tryal of the possibylitie of the myracles that the christiaÌ„e fayth beleueth God to worke in the moost holy sacrament of the aulter Howe possyble is it to hym of bread to make his body syth that he with fyue loues and .ii. fyshes fedde .v. thousande Why caÌ„ not he of wyne Ioh â— make his blood which of water made wyne Why shulde not he be hable to sette the very presens of hys owne naturall bodye vnder the shape of breade and yet not sene of vs syth he made the same bodye inuysyble vnto the Iewes IohnÌ„ 8. that wold haue stoned hym passynge throughe the thyckest of them vnsene and also shewed vpon the mounte of Thabor Mat. 17. the same passyble bodye vnto Peter Iames and Iohan in an heauenly shape and in a
no bone brokeÌ„ therof ✿ Cassiodorus sayth vpoÌ„ this text Cassiodorus iÌ„ psalmum 110. of the psalme Thou art a preest for euer accordyng to the order of melchisedech Thys thyng sayth he doth the ê“phete tell that the father hath ê“mised to his soÌ„ne For vnto whom can this be truely plainly applyed sauyng only vnto our Lorde sauiour The whych moste helthsomly hath coÌ„secrated hys bodye bloode in the gyfte or erogation of breade wyne Euen as he in the gospel sayth Except that you eate the fleshe of the sonne of man drynke his blood ye can haue no lyfe in you But in thys fleshe and in thys bloode lette not mannes mynde ymagyne any thynge crewell or corruptible Leste as the apostle saythe he that eateth the body of our Lorde vnworthely he eateth drinketh it to his iudgement But let the mynde of man thynke ymagyne vnderstaÌ„d the same substance that gyueth lyfe and helthe That same I saye whych is made the verye body ê“pre substaÌ„ce of the word eternall by the whyche both remission of synne and the gyfte of eternall lyfe are gyueÌ„ ✿ Thys blessed father Cassiodor sayth that we shuld not thynke or ymagyne in the sacrament to beholde see the cruel or mortall bloode or bodye in theyr owne shape fashion but we must vnderstaÌ„de sayth he the helthsome substance that gyueth lyfe the substance whych is Christes substaÌ„ce the whyche gyueth lyfe remission of synnes eternal lyfe ✿ It can not be the substaÌ„ce of bread that can gyue remission of synnes But the substaÌ„ce of Christe Fulgentiê° ad Monimum that dyed for the synnes of the world ✿ FulgeÌ„tius answeryng vnto a question as concernyng the sacrifice of the bodye bloode of Christe that one Monimus a frende of his demauÌ„ded whether it were offered onely to the father or no. Vnto hym thus he sayd amonge muche more matter Thys same I saye spiritual edification can not be asked better or more oportunely theÌ„ wheÌ„ in the sacrament of the breade cuppe the very body blood of Christ is offered vp of his bodye the churche For the cuppe that we drynke of it is the coÌ„munion of Christes bloode the breade that we breake it is the coÌ„munion of Christes bodye ✿ Here expressely sayth Fulgentius that the body blood of Christe is offered in the sacrameÌ„t ✿ S. Gregory Gregoriê° primo dea logoruÌ„ lib capi 58. in hys fyrst boke of hys dialoges the .lviii. chap. wryteth in this sort We ought with al our hert to coÌ„teÌ„pne this pÌ„sent world for bycause we may ê‘ceaue that it wasteth and to offer dayly vnto God sacrifices of teares and to offer dayly hoostes of hys fleshe and blood For thys is the sin guler and speciall oblation that saueth the soule froÌ„ death eternal The which oblatioÌ„ representeth vnto vs in a mysterye the death of the onely begotten sonne of God For though he rysynge from death dyeth nomore and death hath no more dominion ouer hym is immortaly and vncorruptibly lyuynge in hym selfe Yet in the mystery of that holy sacrifice he is offred vp for vs for there is hys body receaued there is his fleshe diuided for the helth of the people there hys bloode is distributed powred not into the handes of infydells but into the mouthe of the faythefull ✿ Se deuout reader howe expressly he sheweth that Christe remaynynge immortall and impassible in him selfe yet he is in the blessed sacrament really receaued of the faythful Cedulius presbiter in carmini bus ✿ Sedulyus the preeste in hys verses of the deuyne maruayles saith Our lorde sayth he geuynge bread vnto Iudas dyd knowe afore hande hys dysceatful mynd bewrayed his treason by geuynge hym bread which lorde was the breade hym selfe after that he had stablyshed that two gyftes of his body blod he gaue there vnto his dyscyples the meat and drynke whereby the faythful and cleane soules Beda in Lucam lib. 6. shuld neuer thurst ether hunger hereafter ✿ Beda in his syxt boke vpoÌ„ S. Luke writeth thus where it shuld moue any wyth doubth for asmoche as Christe gaue hys body and blood vnto his discyples when they had supped why we shulde be taught by the costome of the vniuersall churche to receaue the same sacrament fastynge Let the same perceaue in few wordes The appostles therfore dyd receaue it wheÌ„ they had supped for it was necessary the figuratyue passeouer to take an ende to be consumed so to approche vnto the sacrament of the veritie of the trew passeouer It hathe pleased the maysters of the churche in the honour of so great terrible a sacrameÌ„t that we shuld fyrst be strengthed with the partitipacion of oure lordes passion bothe inwardely and outwardely to be saÌ„ctified with the goostly spirituall meates and theÌ„ the hungrie body to be refreshed with the vyle earthely meates ✿ Haymo also vpoÌ„ the epistle to the CorinthiaÌ„s wryteth in this sort Hâ—ymo in Paulum Hic virit ciriter annum dnÌ„i 832. As the fleshe of Christe the which he receaued in the wombe virginyall is his very body slayne for our saluacyon euenso the breade whych Christ gaue vnto his disciples to al that be elected to the euerlasting lyfe the which also the preestes dayly do coÌ„secrate in the church by the mighte power of the diuinitie the which diuinitie repleteth the same breade is the very body of Christ Neither are the body that he toke in the woÌ„be virginial and this bread two bodyes but they make but one very body of Christ In so much that when it is broken and eaten theÌ„ is Christ offered a sacrifice eateÌ„ yet he remayneth whole alyue And lyke as the bodye put vpon the crosse was offered vp for our redeÌ„ption euen so dayly for our helth is offered vp thys breade the which though it seme bread yet is it not bread but the body of Christ For our lorde redemer helpinge our frayltie bycause he knewe how frayle we are toward synne he hath gyueÌ„ vnto vs thys sacrameÌ„t that where he can not suffer death dayly we dayly do offende we myght haue a very true sacrifice wherby we might haue expiacioÌ„ be purged And therfore bycause the same whyche was offered on the crosse thys in the sacrameÌ„t make but one body are offered vp for our redeÌ„ptioÌ„ he sayd This is my body that shal be gyuen for you These wordes of Haymo are so plaine that anye maÌ„ may right sone perceaue what thys blessed father beleued of this blessed sacrameÌ„t whose auctoritie is not to be suspected syth it is .vii huÌ„dreth yere agone syth he wryte And yet syth his tyme there hath also many both godly excelleÌ„t learned meÌ„ writen As Theodore the gretian the scole maister of bede Alcuinus scole maister to Charles the great S. Bernard Rupert Hugh desctoÌ„ Victore with a great nuÌ„bre mo whoÌ„ to
petyous thyng that we be brought now in matters of oure sayth frome all faythe belefe and goo a bought to skanne and to reason suche thynges as shulde be receaued before and aboue all reason wyth mooste humbly fayth for fayth hath no place neyther meryte as S. Gregore sayth where reason sheweth experyens and tryal of the matter for fayth is a free and obedyent persuasyon of maÌ„nes mynd in the veryte of suche thynges that are not manyfest or proued by naturall reason or experiens leauynge onely to the infallyble veryte of Goddes treuth For what so euer thynge that a man beleueth only bycause that he seyth the naturall experyens or natural reasoÌ„ therof this belefe is no fayth neyther shall suche belefe be regarded eather rewarded before God Wherfore to skanne and serche the misteryes of our faith with reason it is none other then a playne subversion of the christiane faith and such curious serchers and reasoners of oure fayth are lyke vnto the heathen grecyans in Paules tyme of whome paule spake The Iewes require tokeÌ„s wonders or myracles and the heathen grecyans worldely wysedome so oure Ieweshe Capharnaytes require to see this myracle in the sacrament or els to haue it manifest by reasoÌ„ or els they wyl not beleue And by cause they see not the fleshe and bloode in the natural shape of fleshe and blood therfore they wyll not beleue suche the seketh a syght by reason and wyll not beleue excepte they see be voyd of the benediction of Chryst And the faythfull people that obediently leaueth more vnto the infallyble word of god theÌ„ they do to reason eather sense requyre nether fealynge neather syghte these I saye hereth hathe the benediction of Christe that sayd Blessyd be they that hathe not sene yet do beleaue Not wtstandynge that I haue thought it almoost a wast worke and lost labour to answere to any such folysh fond and vnreasonable reasons as thynges vnworthye of reasonable answer bycause that they so vnreasonably do reason vppon that thynge the excedyth all wyt and reason Yet one for an example I wyll recyte here the best amonge them all that euer I herd that you may sone ê‘ceaue how folysh they be the frameth suche faÌ„tisies how mad they are the forsakinge the faith catholik the truth of gods word wyl be ouerthrowen wyth so vnreasonable reasons The argument Thys is theyr reason We reade in the scripture that God created made maÌ„ but we neuer reade the man coulde make god yf theÌ„ in the sacrameÌ„t be very Christ then the preest consecratyng the sacrameÌ„t makyth Christ whych is god But it is impossible that the preest shulde make god Therfore it is not possible the Christ shulde be in the sacrameÌ„t that the preest coÌ„secrateth ✿ Thys reason is grounded vpon a false presupposition The answere it presupposeth that the preest or mynister shulde worke all that is done in the consecration and that is very false for gentyl reader thou shalte vnderstande that the preest dothe no more here then he dothe in the sacrament of baptisme And therfore I myght make a lyke reason or argument and proue that the preest were Christe thus He that baptysed as saiÌ„t Iohan sayeth in the water and gyueth the holye goost that same is Christe but the preest baptiseth in water and gyueth the holy goost For there is none verelye and truelye cristined but the same receyueth the holye goost then is the preest Christe then was Peter Christe For he dyd not onely gyue the holy goost but he gaue power to other mynisters to gyue the holye gooste as Paule dyd also to Tymothe and Tyte. Wherfore we muste consyder what and howe muche the preest dothe For the CorynthyaÌ„s were dysceaued moche a lyke about the sacrament of baptysme as these are in thys theyr argument agaynste the sacramente for as these ygnorant people froward herytykes falsly supposeth nothynge to be wrought in the blessed sacrameÌ„t aboue the power and the facte or dede of the mynister so dyd these Corinthians ascribe all the vertue and power of baptysme vnto theyr baptistes or ministers and suche as were baptised of the more worthier ministers there in they reioysed as thoughe they had optayned and receaued the better baptisme Wherfore saynt Paule wyllynge to reforme thys errour he reuoketh them vnto the consyderation of the mynisters and what they dyd in that mynisterie and what and how muche god wrought And sayeth vnto theÌ„ What is Appollo or what make you of Paule They are but the mynisters of hym in whome you haue receaued your fayth And then by a similitude of husbandry he declareth vnto them what they do in theyr ministration and what almyghtye God dothe and sayeth I haue plaÌ„ted and Apollo hath watered but God gaue the increase Neather is he that planteth neather he that watereth any thynge of him selfe and in coÌ„parison of God neather theyr mynistration is any thynge effectuous without god that gyueth the increase do worke with them washyng the soule by the spirite whyles they wasshe the bodyes Euen so I answere vnto these what is the preest saue onely the minister of him that sayd vnto hys apostles Do thys That is to saye That thynge that you haue sene me do nowe Take the breade geue thankes and saye these wordes vpoÌ„ the bread that I haue sayd receaue or eate it in the remembraunce of me The preest onely speaketh the wordes as the minister in the persone of Christe and he that fyrst of bread made hys owne bodye that same now at the wordes and mynisterie of the preest maketh his bodye and blood So that the preest maketh not God which can not be made other then he is all redye neyther the bodye of Christe thoughe it be ther in the sacrament No more then he doth remyt syn and geue the holy goost by cause that God workyth the forgeuenes of synnes and geueth the holy goost in the mynystery of the preest But it is god that worketh these thynges in this mynysterye and makyth of bread in the sacrament the bodye of Christe by hys secrete and omnipotent power euen as he by the same power made that same bodye in the whom of a virgine and as he doth inuisibly washe the soule of him whome the preeste baptyzyth Whye then you wyll saye the mynisterie of the preest is not necessarie sythe God doth al. Yet remember that S. Paule sheweth howe we are goddes helpers and yet no doubt but that god can do dothe all the whole yet not wythout our mynisterie not of necessitie but that there might be an order in thinges Wherfore breuely we answere that the preest maketh not God but god almightie in the mynisterie of the preest by the myghtyfull power of hys worde spoken by the preest maketh of bread the body blood of Christ And thus ought we to beleue be it neuer so muche against nature and neuer so farre aboue reason For vnto
wrought more vnlykely thynges wythout all meane alterations aboue al natural course as in the admirable chaÌ„ge of Lothis wit into salte of the rod of Moyses into a Serpente the water of Egypte into bloode the water in Cana into wyne Excepte that we wyll shewe our selues to haue lesse fayth then the deuyll expresseth vnto Christ in deserte when he offred hym stones to make therof bread For he there beleued Math. 4. that Christe beyng the soÌ„ne of god was able to make of stones breade whych is muche more vnlykely then of breade to make fleshe Furthermore the catholyke faythe teacheth and beleueth Tho. AqÌ„ in suÌ„ma q. 76. arti 3. Totus xpÌ„s est sub parte qua libet specie vl vini vel panis Augustinê° iÌ„ sermone Singuli accipimus dnÌ„m xpÌ„m et in singulis portionibus roâ—us est noÌ„ per singulas minuitur sed inâ—egrum se prebet singulis that in thys hooly sacrament is not onely the reall bodye of our sauiour christ but also there are al the dystyncte members and naturall lymmes as perfectly in euerye parte or portion of the hoost seuerally as in the whoole altogether And thys bodye is really there where euer any consecrate hoost is or portion therof And therfore all the coÌ„municantes or receauers therof receyue but one thynge and euery maÌ„ receaueth as muche as the whole multytude And agayn as much is receaued in the leste sensible portion as is receaued in iÌ„numerable hoostes no lesse for Christ is whoole in the whole in euerye portion therof This may we somewhat perceaue by the naturall example of the soule which is in the hoole body and yet is neuer the lesse in all and in euerye parte of the bodye For the soule is as well in the lytle fyngar as in the harte or in the whole bodye and there no more nether any lesse theÌ„ in the whole bodye and no more in the whole bodye then in the leste parte of the bodye for the soule is al whole in the whole body and all whole in euery parte But perhappes he that wyl be more curius theÌ„ faythfull wyll saye That the soule is a spirituall thynge but the body of Chrst is materiall Yet let the same remember that the body of Christ is now glorified A glasse or myrror broken resembleth representeth as many faces when it is loked in as it hath peces for in euery pece we may se our face and whyle it is whole we se but one face therfore also is it now a spiritual body hath lefte the material coÌ„dycions for it is deputyd and clarefyed from al materiall grossnes and is in moche more noble estate and dignite then is anye other passyble bodye for as moche theÌ„ as the soule may be whole in the body and whole and altogether in euery parte of the body by goddes worke and institucion Why shulde it seme vnto vs impossible that the glorefyed body of Christ god man by goddes synguler handy worke shulde be in the whole and in euerye parte of the hoste there also wher euer there is any consecrate hoost or sensible portion thereof And that really after a supernaturall and ineffable maner of beynge the whiche maner of beynge is appropriate and peculiar vnto the moost precyous body onely geueÌ„ vnto that bodye by specyal prerogatiue and to none other bodye eyther passible eyther impassyble neyther vnto angel neyther spirite as vnto the bodye of God man and moste excellent creature and moost worthyest And althoughe that we can not brynge forth the lyke myracle in the scriptures for the confyrmacyon of the same yet we shall brynge some as farre excydiÌ„ge aboue nature as this is And fyrst let vs coÌ„sider howe incessauntly swyftly and vniformely the SoÌ„ne and Moone hath their mocioÌ„ by nature wythout ceassynge whych is the vegetation and in maner the lyfe of all thynges and there ceassyng semeth the dyssolution corruption of al thinges Iosua 10. Yet at one worde of Iosua as goddes pleasure was the Sonne and the Moone stode styll ceasynge theyr naturall mocions yet the inferior creatures were preserued froÌ„ dissolutioÌ„ or vnnaturall alteration More ouer howe moÌ„struous vnto nature was it that in the tyme of kynge Ezechie 4. reg 20. 2. par 32. Esa 38. the Sonne shulde go backe agaynst her naturall and perpetuall course .x. degrees And howe myraculous was it that at the noone tyde Math. 28. Mat. 15. Luce. 22. when Christ was vpon the crosse the Moone shulde agaynste the vniformitie of her motion come sodeinly out from the East into the southe so settynge her selfe dyrectly betwene the earthe and the Sonne cause an vnnaturall an vniuersall eclyps of the Sonne Dionisius in epistola ad policarpum as saynt Denyse sayeth For he beynge in Egypte dyd see when the Moone wyth wonderous celerite arose from the East and entered betwene the Sonne and the earth causynge the great Eclyps whych continued syxe houres The monstruous wonders and myraculous workes of God shewed in these incorrupt bodyes aboue that is to say the Sonne and Moone are as impossible and as incredible vnto nature as is the myraculous beynge of Christes bodye in the sacrament Wherfore yf we beleue the one let vs then beleue the other for he that wrought the one hathe also wrought the other Moreouer immediatly after that the wordes of coÌ„secration are duely spoken by the preest ouer the breade then that whyche was breade before is nowe the very body of Christe whych taketh his myraculous beynge in that glorious sacrament not leuynge heaueÌ„ and yet is really and verely in the sacrament Nowe we muste not grossely ymagyne that he shulde descende from heauen passyng corpulentlye or bodely through the cloudes and so to enter conuey hym selfe vnder the lykenes of breade or into the sacrameÌ„t and so to be there Thomas Aqâ—i is in suÌ„ma q. 75. arti 7. Hec coÌ„uersio fit virtute infinita cuius est subito operari But we muste vnderstande beleue with the catholyke church that in one instaunt and time vnperceaueable he is present ineffablye in that glorious sacrament wythout bodelye motion out of heauen and yet styll remayninge in heauen is also verely and really in the sacrament As we maye be taughte by the spedye motion of the Sonne whyche in tyme imperceptible spredeth her beames from the East vnto the Weste ouerthwarte al the earthe Euen so spedelye is the naturall bodye of Christe in the holye sacramente and is not letted by the great dystance betwene heauen and earthe For the playne demonstracion of the possibilitie of thys verite we can aske no stronger or more euidente example then the myraculous workes that Christe shewed euen in that verye same bodye of hys Fyrste in an instaunt and tyme imperceptable that precious diuine bodye toke perfecte forme shape and lyfe in the virgineal wombe And yet wyth more myracle
apparet nobis cato sed panis Vt noÌ„ abhorreamê° ab eius esu Nam si qÌ„ dem caro apparuisset insuauiter affecti essemus erga coÌ„â—onem NuÌ„c autem condescendeÌ„te dnÌ„o nrÌ„e in firmitati Talis apparet nobis mistiens tibus quali alioqui assue ti sumus in the shape and forme of breade and wyne condesceÌ„dyng herein as Theophilact sayeth vnto our infirmitie and the custome of our nature the whych delyteth in breade as in the conuenient and customed foode abhorreth rawe fleshe and bloode as a token of no table cruelnes vncustomed vnto oure maner of fedynge Therfore this necessarye foode to our soule of his blessed fleshe and bloode Christe hath vouchesafe to gyue vnto vs not in theyr owne lykenesse and forme but in the forme lykenes of our cotidyane fode of bread and wyne And here by he moste gracyously mynystreth vnto vs the lyfe eternall of the whyche he sayde Except ye eate the fleshe of the sonne of man and drynke his blood you can haue no lyfe in you For lyke as the earthely Adam our carnal parent in that we partake his synnefull and corrupte fleshe is cause and occasyon of death vnto vs. Euen so is the celestiall Adam Christe causse of lyfe in vs by that that we partake hys blessed bodye and fleshe For loke as Eue was formed of the fleshe of Adam euen so are wee that are the uery church of Christ by eatyng of his fleshe in the blessed sacrament made of his fleshe and membres of hys bodye And thus of two of the church christe is made one body and fleshe as I haue sayde Ephese 5. The whiche wordes though they be wryten of the fyrst Adam and Eue. Yet in thys place of thys hys epistle saynte Paule allegeth and applyethe them vnto Christ and the churche for as sone as he had spoken these wordes vnto the Ephesians And thus of two persons is made but one fleshe he putteth therto these wordes Thys is saythe he a greate mysterye I speake or meane it in Christe and the churche Howe the Churche and Christe be come one fleshe Ephe. 5. is not to be vnderstanded by the incarnatyon For Christe by his incarnatyon receaued fleshe of vs and not we of hym as Eue dyd of adam For we must vnderstande that he is the heuenly Adam and we his church are the spirituall Eue. As Adam and Eue were of one fleshe bycause that Eue was formed oute of the body of Adam and not Adam formed of the fleshe of Eue Euen so Christ and the church be come one fleshe by cause that Eue that is the church taketh fleshe of Christ that heuenly Adame And therfore S. Paule referreth thys mystery of the coniuntion of Adam and Eue not vnto the incarnatyon of Christe whereby he toke fleshe of vs. But referreth it vnto the eatynge and communion of the blessed sacrament wherein Christ geueth his fleshe and he norysheth vs and feadeth vs with it and so we take fleshe of hym Suche is the most gracyous and mercyfull restitutyon that God hathe made for vs vnto lyfe thorowe oure Lorde Iesus Christe that where as Adam by eatynge of the forbedden frute of the tree hathe procured and mynystred deathe vnto all hys posterytie Euen so as Ruperte saythe it was verye congruente Rupertus that by the eatynge of the frute of another tree lyfe myghte be procured and mynistred agayne vnto the posteritie of AdaÌ„ Certaynly there is none other frute that mynystreth restoreth lyfe agayne vnto the posteritie of Adam but onely the frute that hoÌ„ge on the tree of the crosse which is Iesus Christe the blessed frute of the immaculate wombe of Marye This frute muste be eaten corporallye for Adam dyd eate corporally of the frute that brought death vnto vs so of coÌ„grueÌ„ce we must eat corporally this frute that rendereth and restoreth agayne lyfe Not onelye the lyfe of grace whereby the soule of man lyueth and is strengthed to godwardes in this present mortalitie and moste myserable lyfe But also it mynistreth vnto vs Cyrillus in IoheÌ„z Dedit vobis Moyses maÌ„na sed qui comederunt russum esu riâ—tuÌ„t produrit copiosa de lapide flumina sed qui bibebant russus sitlebant the lyfe eternall bothe of body and soule as Christ saythe He that eateth my fleshe and drinketh my bloode hathe eternal lyfe and I wyll rayse hym vppe at the latter day By eating and dryngking this bodye and bloode the celestyall Adam Iesus worketh in vs eternall lyfe vnto oure soules and at the latter daye he wyll worke and brynge euerlastyng lyfe vnto the bodyes also That as we haue eaten that blessed frute in soule by syncere faythe perfecte hope and charite and in body by the corporal receite of that blessed fleshe Quid ergo rpÌ„s policetur Quid credentibus adferi Corruptibile certe nihil sed benedictionem quaÌ„ coÌ„municatione corporis et saÌ„guinie assequimur vnde ad cam incorruptioneÌ„ integre reducemur vt cibo et potu corporali noÌ„ indigeamê° Viuificat enim corpus Christi et ad in corruptionem sua participatione reducit c. Euen so shal it worke lyffe perpetuall as wel in the body as Cyrill sayth as in the soule That by thys Adame celestiall myght be no lesse restored then by the other Adam was loste The earthely Adam lost for vs lyfe both of body and soule And so hath the heuenly Adam rendered vnto vs lyfe of grace in thys present worlde And in the worlde to come the lyfe of perpetual glorye both of the body and soule The whyche he graunt vs that therein reygueth wyth the father and the holy gooste one God mooste gloryous now and for euer Amen ¶ Sit deo gratia ⧠HOC EST COR PVS MEVM Vbi supra ¶ Thys is my bodye THe catholyke veritie of the real presens of Christes body in the holy sacrameÌ„t taketh no lytle corroboratioÌ„ strengthe of the promisses that our sauiour Christe made vnto hys deare beloued spouse the churche which is as saynt Paule sayth ✿ The pyller and grounde of trenth 1. Tim. 3. ✿ The whyche promyses yf theybe infallible and trewe as vndoubtydly they be theÌ„ maye we iustelye collect thys for a moste assured veritie That oure Lorde and mayster Christe hath not suffered hys churche so many hundred yeres to erre so blyndlye in so weyghtye a matter of the fayth and to remayne so longe in so detestable blasphemy as to worship the creature in the steade of the maker and creator Yf the church of Christe hath not erred in that she beleueth the reall and verye presens of Christe in the sacrameÌ„t and therin worshyppeth verely Christ as the infallible promyses of Christe shall declare then are they abhominable and in tollerable that beleueth the contrarye The constant beleue infallible fayth of the churche is ratifyed by these promyses of Christe Fyrst Christe promysed that he wolde not leaue the
tedyous to the reader in recytynge onelye theyr names Ireneus ✿ Ireneus in hys fyrst boke that he wryteth agaynst heresies sayeth When the chalice wyth water wyne myngled and the breade broken receaueth the worde of God it is made the blessed sacrament of the bodye blood of Christe Of the whych the substance of our fleshe encreaseth and consisteth Howe can they then denye that the fleshe is partaker of the gyfte of God which is euerlastinge lyfe syth that it is noryshed wyth the blood and body of Christ and is made the member of the same as the apostle sayth in the epistle vnto the Ephesians For we be members of hys body and of hys fleshe and bones Not speakynge these thinges of the spiritu all and inuisible man For the spirite hath neather fleshe neather bones but speakynge of the connection and disposition of the naturall bodye the whiche consysteth of fleshe bones the whiche naturall disposition of the body is fedde and encreased with the cuppe whiche is his blood and with the bread whych is his body ✿ There can be no playned wordes spoken for the veritie of the reall presens of Christe in the blessed sacrament ✿ Ignatius Ignatius In episto ad Roma that glorious martir the disciple of saynt IohnÌ„ Euangelist and the thyrd byshop of Antioche after saynt Peter In episto ad Ephe. in hys epistle that he wryteth vnto the Romaynes hath these moste deuoute wordes I wyll not eate sayth he corruptible meate I desyre not the voluptuousnes of thys worlde But I desyre the breade of God the breade celestiall the bread of lyfe whiche is the fleshe of Iesu Christ the sonne of the lyuyng God the which was borne of the seede of Dauid and Abraham in the latter tyme I desyre the drynke which is his blood Therfore he exhorteth the EphesiaÌ„s in thys wyse Make you hast sayeth he to approche oft tyme vnto the sacrament of the Aulter the glorye of God For when that is ofte frequented then are the powers of sathan expelled And in the ende of the same epistle Breakynge the breade the which is the medicine of immortalitie the tryacle not of dyenge but of the lyuynge in god by Iesu Christ These are wordes plain ynough to perceaue what beleue he had of the blessed sacrament ✿ Tertullian in hys boke intituled de Resurrectione carnis wryteth in thys maner Tertullianus Nowe let vs see and beholde the forme and bewtie of a christeÌ„ man what and how great prerogatiue hath this our frayle and fylthye fleshe wyth God Although that thys were dignitie ynoughe there can no soule at all attayne helth or saluation excepte that whyles that it is in fleshe it beleue or receaue the fayth The fleshe is so necessarye thynge of our saluation When the soule of the fleshe is knyt to God it is the fleshe that maketh that the soule maye be so knytte For the fleshe is washed that the soule maye be purifyed The fleshe is anoynted that the soule myght be consecrated The fleshe is signed that the soule might be strengthed The fleshe is shadowed with laing on of handes that the soule myght be illumined with the holy goost The fleshe eareth the bodye and bloode of Christ that the soule myght be fedde with god ✿ Here we may ryght wel perceaue the belefe of Tertullian of thys sacrament whych confesseth opeÌ„ly here that the fleshe doth eate the bodye and blood of Christe and not the fygure of the bodye and bloode And bycause that saint Cyprian was so diligeÌ„t a reader of TertuliaÌ„ I shall place hym Ciprianê° lib 2. epistola 3. next vnto Tertullian ✿ That blessed martyr saint Ciprian wrytyng vnto Cecilium in hys seconde boke the thyrde epystle sayeth That the blessyng of AbrahaÌ„ by Melchisedech the preest might by dewly celebrated the fygure of the sacrifice went before in breade and wyne The which thynge our lorde accomplyshynge and fulfyllynge offered breade the cuppe myxt with wyne and he that was the fulnes hath fulfylled the fygure prefygured Behold there went afore in Melchesedech the fygure of the sacryfice of breade and wyne but Christe whych is the plenitude it selfe fulfylled the veritie of the fygure prefigured namelye in the supper And after he sayth also De cena domini vpoÌ„ the lordes supper ✿ Our lord Christ whose bodye we do touche is breade That thys breade myght be gyuen vnto vs we praye daylye lest we that are in christe and receaue the sacrament of the aulter dayly as the meat of our saluation by meane of any great offence abstaynynge beynge forbydden from the hauenly breade we shulde be separated in dede from the body of Christe he preachynge and mouyshynge vs. I am the breade of lyfe that cam froÌ„ heauen yf any eate of thys bread the same shal lyue euer The breade that I wyl gyue it is my fleshe for the lyfe of the world Therfore when he sayeth that he shall lyue for euer yf he eate of hys breade it is manyfest and playne that they shall lyue whyche toucheth hys bodye and receaueth the sacrameÌ„t of the Aulter after the maner of coÌ„munion Origenes comes â—elsum ✿ Origene wytnesseth wrytynge against Celsus saith Let Celsus ignoraunt of God gyue thaÌ„kes vnto beuels But we thaÌ„ke the creator of al thinges for the benefites that he hath gyuen to vs. When we geuynge thankes do eate the breade the which bread by oration supplication and prayers is made a more holyer bodye the whyche body also verely maketh vs more holy the receaueth the same with a whole pure herte Origenes suê‘ Numeros vt supra ✿ And in the seuenth homilie vpon the boke of Numbres he more playnly wryteth and sayeth Those thynges which before tyme were done in figure nowe are they accomplyshed in the veritie and in dede Before baptisme was in the see and in the cloude but now the generation is in very dede in water and in the holy goost Then was Manna the meate as in the fygure but nowe the fleshe of the worde of God is in dede is very meate as he hym selfe sayeth My fleshe is very meate and my blood is very drinke By these his wordes we may perceaue that the Iewes had the fygure but we christiaÌ„s haue now the thynge it selfe that is the very bodye and blood in very dede ✿ IuueÌ„cus also in hys verses sayeth As sone as he had spoken Inuencus in carminibus he wyth hys owne handes brake the bread and geuynge thankes he taught and tolde his disciples that he gaue his owne proper bodye And then he toke the cuppe replete wyth wyne he sanctifyed it geuynge thankes and gaue it and taught them also that he had deuided vnto them hys precious bloode and sayd Thys bloode shall remytte the synne of the people Drynke it and beleue nowe these trewe and vnfayned wordes ✿ Hyllary whome saynt Ierome calleth the trompe of the latyn tonge
praysed so hyghly before but men and lyears and suche as were blynded and had not the spirite of God therfore saye they they are not worthye of credite in all thynges We wyl haue no mennes auctoritie but onely the scriptures Yet these wycked wretches they can be content to take Luther Ecolampadius Coralstadius and Melanthon and Buzere wyth all the rabylment of suche deuylyshe lyars and leude lyuers the whyche hath no more of a christian maÌ„ saue onely the name to be theyr auctours and that of no lesse auctoritie theÌ„ the scriptures These I saye whose learnynge lyffes are as much vnlyke vnto the fathers as were the lyffes of Socrates Sardanapalus or the lyfe of Diogenes and the lyfe of Epicure Here shall you heare some of the auctorities that they haue torne out by peace meale froÌ„ the monumentes and wrytynges of the auncient and mooste catholyke doctours Augusti contra AdamantuÌ„ Fyrste of saynt Augustyne contra Adamantum Manicheum the .xii. chapiter Oure Lorde doughted not sayth he to saye Thys is my bodye when he gaue vnto them the signe of hys bodye Saynt Augustyne calleth the sacrameÌ„t a signe Thys is theyr reason ergo it is but onelye a signe and not the bodye of Christe Euen so myght I argue for Nestorius and saye Christe is called in the scriptures the sonne of man ergo he is onely the sonne of man and not the sonne of God Where you shall vnderstande that saynct Augustyne dysputeth in thys place agaynst one of the Manichees secte whych sayd that the bloode in man was the soule of man bycause that he dyd read in the .xii. chapiter of Exodus that they shoulde not eate any bloode for the bloode sayeth the letter is the lyfe or soule of the fleshe To thys saynt Augustyne sayeth that thys precepte oughte to be vnderstanded that the bloode was the token or sygne of the lyfe or soule For our lorde sayth he doubted not to saye Thys is my bodye when he gaue the token of hys hodye Now let Fryth answere me vnto thys Hathe not the bloode of a best lyfe in it thoughe it be the token of lyfe He muste nedes saye yea Euen so the sacrament is a token of Christes bodye and yet neuerthelesse it contayneth the same very body ✿ Also saynt Ierome vpon .xxvi. Ieronimê° super Matheum chapter of saynt Mathew sayth After that the fyguratyue Passeouer was coÌ„plete and fullfylled and he had eaten the fleshe of the lambe wyth hys apposteles he taketh the breade that comforteth the harte of man and passeth ouer towarde the sacrament of the verye trew Passeouer and lyke as Melchy sedech dyd the preest of the hyest in the fygure here of offerynge breade and wyne he in lyke sorte dothe represent the verite of hys bodye and blood All theyr game lyeth in thys word He representyth Yf he do represent saye they the verytie of hys bodye then the very body is not there This argumeÌ„t is of no force neather streÌ„gth For though that by the sacrament is represented the bodye of Christe yet neuerthelesse the same verye bodye is there also present whych is represeÌ„ted But I wold fayne learne of them why saint Ierome calleth thys the verye sacrament or the sacrament of the veryte Was not the paschall lame a verye sacrament of the Passiouer yeas treuly But this he calleth the verye sacrament by cause that bysydes that it doth sygnyfye the bodye and bloode of Christe it contayneth also no lesse Or whye dothe saynt Ierome saye The verytie of Christes bodye and bloode Dyd not the paschall lambe represent the same bodye and bloode Yes trewly But saynt Ierome here in sygnified the dyfference bytwyxte Moyses lambe and Christes mandye By cause the one was but a bare fygure and nothyng els but a fygure and the other though it were also a fygure yet it contayned the veryte of the thynge that is sygnified by that fygure ✿ Therefore saynt Ierom sayde the Christe represented the veryte of his bodye and bloode You wyll aske me how that the bodye of Christe can represent it selfe or be a signe or figure of it selfe To this I answere that the bodye of Christe vnder the two formes of breade and wyne representeth vnto vs nowe the same bodye as it honge vpon the crosse when the blood was dyuyded frome it for the remyssion of synnes Ambrosiê° âœ¿ S. Ambrose also they allege in hys boke of the sacramentes Where he sayeth in thys wyse He that dyscordyth frome Christe that same eateth not hys fleshe neather drynketh he hys bloode all though that he taketh the sacrament of so worthye a thinge vnto the iugement of hys perdition Also Prosper hath the same wordes in hys boke of sentences Prosper Saynt Augustyne in hys boke intytuled de Ciuitate dei Augustinê° de ciuitate dei lib .xxi. capi xv He that remayneth not in me and in whom I remayne not let not the same say eather thinke that he eateth my bodye For they remayne not in Christe that be not his meÌ„bres ✿ These fathers in the same places where we fynde these wordes thoughe that they saye that the vnworthye receyuers do not receyue the bodye and blood of Christe Yet they saye not that it is not the bodye and blood of Christe But certaynlye they haue playnlye expressed what they mente by these theyr sayenges For as we maye ryghte well collect of them there are thre maner of receyuynges of the blessed sacrament The fyrst is onely sacramentally this terme saynt Augustine vseth The seconde is onely spiritually The thyrde is both spiritually and sacramentally The onely sacramentall receyuynge is when we vnworthelye do receyue the blessed sacrament And by thys receyuynge we are neather incorporated vnto Christe spiritually partakynge the merytes of Christes blessed passion neather incorporated vnto hys naturall bodye as the worthye receauers are but we eate it to the greate dampnation of our soules By the onelye spirituall receauynge whych is by fayth as in hearynge godlye and deuoutlye the masse or els hauynge a godlye and a deuoute memorie of Christes death we are partakers of Christes merytes passion made the membres of hys spirituall or mysticall bodye yet are we not by thys maner of eatynge incorporated vnto the naturall bodye of Christe as we are by the worthye receyuyng of the sacrameÌ„t The thyrde maner of receauyng of this blessed sacrament whych is when we worthely do receaue it doth incorporat vs vnto Christes naturall bodye maketh vs the membres of hys moost blessed bodye of hys fleshe and of hys bones and worketh in vs eternall lyfe of bodye and soule For thys is the propertie of that fleshe and bloode worthelye receyued to worke euerlastynge lyfe as Christ sayeth He that eateth my fleshe and drynketh my bloode hath euerlastynge lyfe Nowe for as muche as in all suche as are diuided from Christe by heresye or froÌ„ god by mortall synne the blessed sacrameÌ„t receiued worketh not in them