A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to…A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to…

You say, S. Augustine in his Epistle to Dardanus, spake not of Christs Body, as it is now Present in the Sacrament. No marvel. For S. Augustine never understood any such kind of Presence. And who taught you, M. Harding, that Christ hath such change of divers Bodies: of one manner in the Sacrament, and of an other manner in Heaven? Christs Blessed Body, when it was borne of the Virgin, when it died, when it rose again, when it Ascended into Heaven, was one, and uniform. How became it afterward so diverse, and so unlike it self? If either Christ, or the Apostles, or the Ancient Fathers have thus taught you, why are they not alleged? If they have not thus taught you, how came you by this knowledge? Or if ye say, ye know, that they knew not, who will believe you?

You saie, S. Augustine in his Epistle to Dardanus, spake not of Christes Body, as it is now Present in the Sacrament. No marueile. For S. Augustine neuer vnderstood any sutch kinde of Presence. And who taught you, M. Hardinge, that Christe hath sutche change of diuers Bodies: of one manner in the Sacrament, and of an other manner in Heauen? Christes Blessed Body, when it was borne of the Virgine, when it died, when it rose againe, when it Ascended into Heauen, was one, and vniforme. How became it afterward so diuerse, and so vnlike it selfe? If either Christe, or the Apostles, or the Anciente Fathers haue thus taught you, why are they not alleged? If they haue not thus taught you, how came you by this knowledge? Or if ye saie, ye know, that they knewe not, who wil beléeue you?

Ye tell us, that the Body of Christ in Heaven hath the whole Stature, and Form, and Proportion of a Man. This is true: It is the Doctrine of the Apostles, and of the Ancient Doctors of the Church. But ye tell us farther of your self, that the Body of Christ in the Sacrament is utterly void of all manner either Stature, or Form, or Proportion: that is to say, is neither long, nor short: nor high, nor low: nor thick, nor thin: &, being as you say, a very Natural Body, yet hath neither likeness, nor shape of a Body. This is your Doctrine, M. Harding: and the more unlikely to be true, the more likely to be yours.

Ye tel vs, that the Body of Christe in Heauen hath the whole Stature, and Fourme, and Proportion of a Man. This is true: It is the Doctrine of the Apostles, and of the Anciente Doctours of the Churche. But ye tel vs farther of your selfe, that the Body of Christe in the Sacrament is vtterly voyde of al manner either Stature, or Fourme, or Proportion: that is to saie, is neither longe, nor short: nor high, nor low: nor thicke, nor thinne: &, being as you say, a very Natural Body, yet hath neither likenesse, nor shape of a Body. This is your Doctrine, M. Hardinge: and the more vnlikely to be true, the more likely to be yours.