As this Defender proceedeth in declaring the belief of his New English Church, he grateth much upon the Article of Christs Ascension,1 as the manner is of all Zwinglians to do. For their mind giveth them, thereby they shall be able to bring at lest many of the simpler sort to their Sacramentary Heresy, and to think, that the Body of Christ, wherein he ascended into Heaven, and suits at the right hand of the Father, is so absent from Earth, as it may not be believed to be here present in the Sacrament of the Altar. Thereto he allegeth S. Augustine, making him to say, that Christs Body wherein he rose again, must needs be still in one place. In which treatise that Holy Father hath not the word,2 Oportet, that is, must needs, as this Defender allegeth, but this word, Potest, that is, may, as the books have that be not corrupted by the maintainers of that Heresy. And where as he saithe, Ad Dardanum, alleaged by this defender, though Christ hath given Majesty unto his Body yet he hath not taken away from it the Nature of a Body: this is not to be stretched to Christs Body in the Sacrament, where, it is not after condition of Nature, but by the almighty power of his word. And although he hath not taken away from his Body the Nature of a very Body, yet may it please him to do with his Body, being God no less then man, that, which is besides and above the Nature of a Body.3 So it pleased him to do, when he said, This is my Body. And so it ⟨p. 83⟩pleaseth him it be done,4 whensoever the same Body is offered in the daily sacrifice of the Church according to his commandment and institution.5 That Vigilius saith,6 Howe Christ hath left to be now in Earth. 1. Joan. 1. Christ hath left us touching his Human Nature, but hath not left us as touching his Divine Nature: it is to be understanded of his visible shape, in which he showed his Human Nature, when he walked here on Earth, when he was so conversant with men sensibly, that as S. John writeth they heard him with their ears, they saw him with their eyes, they beheld him, and touched him with their hands. As touching his Human Nature in this sensible wise,7 Christ hath left us, after which S. Augustine saithe, Jam non inuenis Christum loqui in Terra: Now thou findest not Christ to speak on the Earth.
As this Defender procedeth in declaringe the belefe of his Newe Englishe Churche, he grateth mutche vppon the Article of Christes Ascension,1 as the maner is of al Zwinglians to do. For theire minde geueth them, thereby they shal be able to bringe at leste many of the simpler sorte to their Sacramentarie Heresie, and to thinke, that the Body of Christe, wherein he ascended into Heauen, and suteth at the right hande of the Father, is so absent frō Earthe, as it may not be beleued to be here present in the Sacrament of the Aulter. Thereto he alleagethe S. Augustine, makinge him to saye, that Christes Body wherein he rose againe, must nedes be stil in one place. In which treatise that Holy Father hathe not the worde,2 Oportet, that is, must nedes, as this Defender alleageth, but this worde, Potest, that is, maye, as the bookes haue that be not corrupted by the mainteiners of that Heresie. And where as he saithe, Ad Dardanum, alleaged by this defender, though Christe hathe geuen Maiestie vnto his Body yet he hathe not taken awaye from it the Nature of a Body: this is not to be stretched to Christes Body in the Sacrament, where, it is not after condition of Nature, but by the almightie power of his worde. And although he hathe not taken awaye from his Body the Nature of a very Body, yet may it please him to do with his Body, being God nolesse then man, that, whiche is besides and aboue the Nature of a Body.3 So it pleased him to do, when he said, This is my Body. And so it ⟨p. 83⟩pleaseth him it be done,4 whesoeuer the same Body is offered in the daily sacrifice of the Churche according to his cōmandement and institution.5 That Vigilius saithe,6 Hovve Christe hathe lefte to be novv in Earthe. 1. Ioan. 1. Christe hathe lefte vs touching his Humaine Nature, but hathe not left vs as touching his Diuine Nature: it is to be vnderstāded of his visible shape, in whiche he shewed his Humaine Nature, whē he walked here on Earthe, when he was so cō uersant with men sensibly, that as S. Iohn writethe they heard him with theire eares, they saw him with theire eies, they behelde him, and touched him withe theire handes. As touchinge his Humaine Nature in this sensible wise,
- 1The Article of Christs ascension much grated upon •y the defenders to evil purpose. In Johan. Tract. 30. Oportet for Potest.The Article of Christes ascensiō mutche grated vpon •y the defenders to euil purpose. In Iohan. Tract. 30. Oportet for Potest.
- 2Untruth. For S. Augustines word is, Oportet. S. Augustine knew no such Body in the Sacrament.Vntruthe. For S. Augustines vvoorde is, Oportet. S. Augustine knevve no sutche Body in the Sacramente.
- 3Matthae. 26.
- 4Vuntruthe. There is neither such Institution, nor such commasidement.Vūtruthe. There is neither sutche Institution, nor sutche commasidemēt.
- 5Diversity of creedsDiuersitie of creedes
- 6Contra Eutychē Lib. 1.Contra Eutychē Lib. 1.
- 7Expositionis in Epist. Johan. Tract. 10.Expositionis in Epist. Iohan. Tract. 10.
