To avoid error herein, it behooveth us to understand, that, To eat God, is to have the fruition of the Divine Nature, and to be Incorporate into God. But the Majesty of God so far surmounteth the capacity of man, that as he is in him self in Nature, and Godhead, no mortal creature is able to conceive him, but only in the Face, 1and sight of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Therefore S. Paule saithe, Christus est Splendor Gloriae, & Character Substantiae Dei: Christe is the Brightness of the Glory, and the express Image of the Substance of God. S. Augustine saith, 2Tu quomodò contingis Deum? Quia Verbum Caro factum est, & habitavit in nobis: Howe doest thou touch God? (He answereth) Because the Word became Flesh, 3and dwelt in us. Again he saithe, Si Christus sic veniret, ut Deus, non agnosceretur: If Christ came so, as he is God, no man could know him. S. Gregorie saithe, 4Dominus murus nobis non esset, si forinsecùs non fuisset: Intus nos non protegeret, si exteriùs non appareret: Our Lord were no wall unto us, if he had not been in the Form of Man: He could not inwardly defend us, if he had not outwardly appeared. 5So saith Dionysius, Si cupimus Communionem habere cum Deo, oportet nos in Divinissimam illius vitam, quam egit in Carne, intueri: If we desire to have Communion with God, we must behold that heavenly life, that he lead in the Flesh. Thus, as God is God, in Majesty, and in him self, we understand him not, we conceive him not, we know him not: That is to say, we have no fruition of him, 6we eat him not. Therefore S. Augustine saithe, Jesum Christum secundum id, quod erat Verbum apud Deum, Paruuli non capiunt. Quomodò ergo capiunt, qui Lac capiunt? Jesum Christum, inquit, & hunc Crucifixum. Suge quod pro te factus est: & cresces ad id, quod est: Litle ones understand not Jesus Christ, according to that he was the Word with the Father. How then do they receive him, y• receive milk? S. Paul saith, they receive Jesus Christ Crucified. Suck that thing, that he was made for thee: and thou shalt grow to that he is.
To auoide errour herein, it behooueth vs to vnderstande, that, To eate God, is to haue the fruition of the Diuine Nature, and to be Incorporate into God. But the Maiestie of God so far surmounteth the capacitie of man, that as he is in him selfe in Nature, and Godhedde, no mortal creature is hable to conceiue him, but onely in the Face, 1and sight of Iesus Christe the Sonne of God. Therefore S. Paule saithe, Christus est Splendor Gloriae, & Character Substantiae Dei: Christe is the Brightnesse of the Glorie, and the expresse Image of the Substance of God. S. Augustine saithe, 2Tu quomodò contingis Deum? Quia Verbum Caro factum est, & habitauit in nobis: Howe doest thou touche God? (He answeareth) Bicause the Woorde became Fleashe, 3and dwelte in vs. Againe he saithe, Si Christus sic veniret, vt Deus, non agnosceretur: If Christe came so, as he is God, noman coulde knovve him. S. Gregorie saithe, 4Dominus murus nobis non esset, si forinsecùs non fuisset: Intus nos non protegeret, si exteriùs non appareret: Our Lorde were no wal vnto vs, if he had not benne in the Fourme of Man: He coulde not inwardely defende vs, if he had not outvvardely appeared. 5So saithe Dionysius, Si cupimus Communionem habere cum Deo, oportet nos in Diuinissimam illius vitam, quam egit in Carne, intueri: If wee desire to haue Communion with God, wee muste beholde that heauenly life, that he leadde in the Fleashe. Thus, as God is God, in Maiestie, and in him selfe, wée vnderstande him not, wee conceiue him not, wee knovve him not: That is to saie, wee haue no fruition of him, 6vvee eate him not. Therefore S. Augustine saithe, Iesum Christum secundum id, quod erat Verbum apud Deum, Paruuli non capiunt. Quomodò ergo capiunt, qui Lac capiunt? Iesum Christum, inquit, & hunc Crucifixum. Suge quod pro te factus est: & cresces ad id, quod est: Litle ones vnderstande not Iesus Christe, accordinge to that he was the Woorde with the Father. How then doo they receiue him, y• receiue milke? S. Paule saithe, they receiue Iesus Christe Crucified. Sucke that thinge, that he vvas made for thee: and thou shalt growe to that he is.
