Yet farther he saith,1 These Defenders seem to be Ignorant of the Holy Scriptures: Where they might have found the Fruit of some Vine to be called Blood. For Jacob said of Christ, He shall wash his Robe in Wine and his Cloak in the Blood of a Grape. It is a hard shift, M. Harding, so suddenly to convey the matter from ordinary use of speech, unto an Allegory, We speak of a Natural growing Vine, which, we say, beareth not Blood, but only Wine. But, as touching that ye say, Christ is called a Vine in the Holy Scriptures, it is only an Allegory, or a Figure of speech. For although Christ, for certain properties, may be resembled unto a Vine▪ yet is he not therefore verily, & in deed a Natural growing Vine. Therefore it was great violence, thus to force the words of the Scriptures to this purpose. Otherwise, by the like phrase of speech, one saithe, Lachryma est quidam Animae Sanguis: A tear is a certain Blood of the Soul. And S. Augustine saith, Vident Sanguinē Corpoiū: Animarum Sanguinem non vident: They see the Blood of the Bodies: but the Blood of the Souls they see not. 2An other called Wine, Terrae Sanguinem, the Blood of the Earth. Yet may not M. Harding say, that either the Soul of Man, or the mould of the Earth, in deed hath Natural, & Real, & very Blood. These be only certain Figures, & Forms of speech. But Christ, when he said, I will no more Drink of this fruit of the Vine, Spake plainly, & simply, & without Figure. And therefore Chrysostom saith, as it is alleged before, Ex genimine Vitis: quae certè Vinum producit, 3non Aquam: Of the Fruit of the Vine: which Vine verily bringeth forth, not Water, but Wine. But Chrysostom saith, The Wine, that was shed from Christs Body, that is to say, the Blood of Christ, is in the Cup.4 This is true, as in a Mystery, or by a Figure of speech: because Christs Blood is represented in the Cup. Otherwise, if we speak simply, & plainly, and without Figure, Chrysostom saith, In vasis Sanctificatis non est ipsum Corpus Christi: sed Mysterium Corporis eius continetur: 5In the Sanctified vessels, there is not the very Body of Christ in deed: but a Mystery of that Body is therein contained.
Yet farther he saith,1 These Defenders seeme to be Ignorante of the Holy Scriptures: VVhere they might haue founde the Fruite of somme Vine to be called Bloude. For Iacob saide of Christe, He shal washe his Robe in VVine and his Cloke in the Bloude of a Grape. It is a harde shifte, M. Hardinge, so suddainely to conueie ye mater from ordinarie vse of speache, vnto an Allegorie, Wée speake of a Natural grovvinge Vine, whiche, wée saie, beareth not Bloude, but onely Wine. But, as touchinge that ye saie, Christe is called a Vine in the Holy Scriptures, it is onely an Allegorie, or a Figure of speache. For although Christe, for cèrtaine properties, maie be resembled vnto a Vine▪ yet is he not therefore verily, & in déede a Natural grovvinge Vine. Therefore it was greate violence, thus to force yewoordes of the Scriptures to this purpose. Otherwise, by ye like phrase of speache, one saithe, Lachryma est quidam Animae Sanguis: A teare is a certaine Bloude of ye Soule. And S. Augustine saith, Vident Sanguinē Corpoiū: Animarum Sanguinem non vident: They see ye Bloude of ye Bodies: but the Bloude of the Soules thei see not. 2An other called Wine, Terrae Sanguinem, the Bloude of the Earthe. Yet maie not M. Hardinge saie, that either the Soule of Man, or the moulde of the Earthe, in déede hath Natural, & Real, & very Bloude. These be onely certaine Figures, & Fourmes of speache. But Christe, when he saide, I wil nomore Drinke of this fruite of the Vine, Spake plainely, & simply, & without Figure. And therefore Chrysostome saith, as it is alleged before, Ex genimine Vitis: quae certè Vinum producit, 3non Aquam: Of the Fruite of the Vine: whiche Vine verily bringeth foorthe, not Water, but Wine. But Chrysostome saithe, The Wine, yt was shedde from Christes Body, that is to saie, the Bloude of Christe, is in the Cuppe.4 This is true, as in a Mysterie, or by a Figure of speache: bicause Christes Bloude is represented in the Cuppe. Otherwise, if wée speake simply, & plainely, and without Figure, Chrysostome saith, In vasis Sanctificatis non est ipsum Corpus Christi: sed Mysterium Corporis eius continetur: 5In the Sanctified vessels, there is not the very Body of Christe in deede: but a Mysterie of that Body is therein conteined.
- 1Cyprian. Lib. 2. Epist 3.
- 2Androcides.
- 3Chrysostom. in Matthae. Homil. 83.
- 4Chrysostom. 1. Corin. 10.
- 5Chrysostom. in Matthae. Homil. 11.
