Now, if this Article cannot be proved, neither by any words of the Scriptures, as D. Fisher saith, and as it further appeareth by the dissension of the Teachers, nor by any one of all the Old Doctors, & Fathers, as M. Harding granteth by his silence: then may Godly, and Catholic Christian people well stay their judgements, and stand in doubt of this Carnal, and Fleshly Presence. In deed the question between us this day, is not of the Letters, or Syllables of Christs Words: for they are known, and confessed of either party: but only of the Sense, and Meaning of his words:1 which, as S. Hierome saith, is the very pith▪ and substance of the Scriptures. And the Law […]self saith, In fraudem Legis facit, qui saluis verbis Legis, Sententiam eius circumu•ri••. He committeth fraud against the Laws, that, saving the words of the Law, overthroweth the meaning. 2And S. Augustine seemeth herein to find fault with certain in his time. His words be these, Cum in unam part•m procliviter ire co•perint, non cespiciunt Divinae authoritatis alia testimonia, quibus possint ab illa intentione revocari, & in ea, quae ex utrisque temperat• ⟨p. 318⟩est, Veritate, ac moderation consistere.3 When they once begin to run headlong of one side, they never consider other testimonies of Divine authority, whereby they might be withdrawn from their purpose, and so might rest in that Trueth, and measure, that is tempered, and tuned of both. If it be true that M. Harding saith, That this is the only sense, and meaning of Christs Words, That his Body is in such gross sort Really, and fleshly in the Sacrament, and that onlesse Christ mean so, he meaneth nothing: it is great wonder, that none of the Ancient Catholic Doctors of the Church, no not one, could ever see it: or if they saw it, yet, being so eloquent, lacked words, and were never able to express it.
Nowe, if this Article cannot be prooued, neither by any woordes of the Scriptures, as D. Fisher saith, and as it further appeareth by the dissension of the Teachers, nor by any one of al the Olde Doctours, & Fathers, as M. Hardinge graunfeth by his silence: then maie Godly, and Catholique Christian people wel staie their iudgementes, and stande in doubte of this Carnal, and Fleashely Presence. In deede the question bitweene vs this daie, is not of the Letters, or Syllables of Christes Woordes: for they are knowen, and confessed of either partie: but onely of the Sense, and Meaninge of his woordes:1 which, as S. Hierome saith, is the very pith▪ and substance of the Scriptures. And the Lawe 〈…〉selfe saith, In fraudem Legis facit, qui saluis verbis Legis, Sententiam eius circumu•ri••. He committeth fraude against the Lawes, that, sauinge the woordes of the Lawe, ouerthroweth the meaninge. 2And S. Augustine seemeth herein to finde faulte with certaine in his time. His woordes be these, Cum in vnam part•m procliuiter ire co•perint, non cespiciunt Diuinae authoritatis alia testimonia, quibus possint ab illa intentione reuocari, & in ea, quae ex vtrisque temperat• ⟨p. 318⟩est, Veritate, ac moderatione consistere.3 When they once beginne to renne headlonge of one side, they neuer consider other testimonies of Diuine authoritie, whereby they might be withdrawen from their purpose, and so might reast in that Trueth, and measure, that is tēpered, and tuned of bothe. If it be true that M. Hardinge saith, That this is the onely sense, and meaninge of Christes Woordes, That his Bodie is in such grosse sorte Really, and fleashely in the Sacrament, and that onlesse Christ meane so, he meaneth nothinge: it is greate wonder, that none of the Ancient Catholique Doctours of the Churche, no not one, coulde euer see it: or if they sawe it, yet, beinge so eloquent, lacked woordes, and were neuer hable to expresse it.
- 1Hierom. ad Gala Cap. 1.
- 2Pan. De Leg. & Senatuscon. & longa consuetud. Contra legem. August. De fide, & operib. ca. 4.
- 3Figure.
