Upon these words of S. John,1 The Bishops and Pharisees gave Commandment, that if any knew, where Jesus were, he should show it, that they might apprehend him, S. Augustine expounding the same, in a contrary sense, saith: Let us now show the Jews, where Christ is: would God they would hear,2 and lay hold on him. Where he speaketh not of receiving Christ, so as we receive him in the Sacrament,* but of receiving him by Faith Only. And there he wisheth and exhorteth the Jews to come to the Faith, and teacheth them how they may profitably lay hold on Christ, whom their Forefathers laid hold on with violent hands to their damnation. Let them come to the Church (saith he) let them hear, where Christ is, and lay hold on him. After certain words, he maketh this objection to him self: Well, the Jew answereth me, how shall I hold him, that is Absent? Howe shall I reach up my hand to Heaven, that I may lay hold on him, which sitteth there? Reach thither thy Faith (saith Augustine) and then thou haste laid hold on him. Then followeth in the same line that, which plainly declareth all this to be meant of laying hold of Christ by Faith,† not by receiving the Communion. Parents tui tenuerunt carne, tu tene cord. Thy Forefathers (thou Jew) took hold on Christ in Flesh: take thou hold on him in thy Harte. There he showeth how Christ may be holden, though concerning the visible and sensible presence of his Body, he be in Heaven at the Right hand of the Father. All this, and what so ever is said there, upon the Text before recited, implieth not so much as any colour of argument against the Truth of Christs very Body in this most Blessed Sacrament. And thus all your allegations and reasons concerning this matter be sufficiently answered.
Vpon these woordes of S. Iohn,1 The Bishoppes and Phariseis gaue Commaundement, that if any knewe, where Iesus were, he shoulde shewe it, that they mighte apprehende him, S. Augustine expoundinge the same, in a contrary sense, saithe: Let vs nowe shewe the Iewes, where Christe is: woulde God they woulde heare,2 and laie holde on him. VVhere he speaketh not of receiuinge Christe, so as we receiue him in the Sacramente,* but of receiuinge him by Faithe Onely. And there he wisheth and exhorteth the Iewes to come to the Faithe, and teacheth them how they maie profitably laye holde on Christe, whome their Forefathers laide holde on with violent handes to their damnation. Let them come to the Churche (saithe he) let them heare, where Christe is, and laie holde on him. After certaine woordes, he maketh this obiection to him selfe: VVel, the Iewe answereth me, howe shal I holde him, that is Absent? Howe shal I reache vp my hande to Heauen, that I maie laie holde on him, whiche sitteth there? Reache thither thy Faithe (saithe Augustine) and then thou haste laide holde on him. Then foloweth in the same line that, whiche plainely declareth all this to be meante of layinge holde of Christe by Faithe,† not by receiuinge the Communion. Parentes tui tenuerunt carne, tu tene corde. Thy Forefathers (thou Iewe) tooke holde on Christe in Fleashe: take thou holde on him in thy Harte. There he sheweth howe Christe maye be holden, though concerninge the visible and sensible presence of his Body, he be in Heauen at the Right hande of the Father. All this, and what so euer is saide there, vpon the Texte before recited, implieth not so muche as any colour of argument againste the Truthe of Christes very Body in this moste Blessed Sacramente. And thus all your allegations and reasons concerninge this mater besufficiently answeared.
- 1Johan. 1•.Iohan. 1•.
- 2S. Augustine speaketh not of receiving Christ in the Sacrament, but by Faith only.S. Augustine speaketh not of receiuinge Christe in the Sacramente, but by Faithe onely.
- *And by Faith Only we receive Christ in the Sacrament.And by Faithe Onely vvee receiue Christe in the Sacramente.
- †He speaketh not of the receiving of the Sacrament: but he speaketh of the receiving of the Very Body of Christ: which is wrought only by Faith.He speaketh not of the receiuinge of the Sacrament: but he speaketh of the receiuinge of the Very Body of Christ: vvhich is vvrought onely by Faithe.
