Verily, the Old Catholic Fathers were never so curious in this behalf, nor thought it such Heresy, to expound Christs words by a Figure. Briefly for a taste hereof, S. Augustine saith, 1Christus adhibuit Judam ad Conuivium, in quo Corporis, & Sanguinis sui Figuram Discipulis suis commendavit, & tradidit. Christ received Judas to his banquet, wherein he gave unto his Disciples the Figure of his Body, and Blood. Likewise Tertullian saith, 2Christus acceptum Panem, & distributum Discipulis, Corpus suum illum fecit, Dicendo hoc est Corpus meū, hoc est, Figura Corporis mei: Christ receiving the Bread, and the same being divided unto his Disciples, made it his Body: saying, This is my Body, that is to say, The Figure of my Body.3 S. Ambrose saith, Ante Benedictionem verborum Coelestium alia species nominatur: post Consecrationem Corpus Christi Significatur. Before the Blessing of the Heavenly Words, it is called an other kind: after the Consecration, the Body of Christ is Signified. Here I must protest, That, as M. Harding is troubled with want of witness in this case, so am I oppressed with multitude. If I should allege all the rest of the Ancient Godly Fathers, that write the like, I should be over tedious to the Reader. And an other place hereafter following, will serve more aptly to this purpose. But by the way, Gentle Reader, I must give the to understand, that S. Augustine hereof writeth thus, 4Ea demum est miserabilis Animae seruitus, Signa pro rebus accipere: & supra Creaturam corpoream, oculum mentis ad hauriendum aeternum lumen levare non posse. In deed, this is a miserable bondage of the Soul, to take the Signs in the stead of things, that ⟨p. 319⟩be signified: and not to have power,5 to lift up the eye of the mind above the bodily creature, to receive the light, that is everlasting. And again, 6In principio cavendum est, ne Figurat• locutionem ad Literam accipias. Et ad hoc enim pertinet, quod ait Apostolus, Litera occidit: Spiritus autem vivificat. Cum enim Figuratè dictum sic accipitur, tanquam propriè dictum sit, carnaliter sapitur. Neque ulla mors animae congruentiùs appellatur. First of all, thou must beware, that thou take not a Figurative speech •ccordinge to the Letter. For thereunto also it appertaineth, that the Apostle saith: The letter killeth, the Sprite giveth life.
Uerily, the Olde Catholique Fathers were neuer so curiouse in this behalf, nor thought it suche Heresie, to expounde Christes woordes by a Figure. Briefly for a taste hereof, S. Augustine saith, 1Christus adhibuit Iudam ad Conuiuium, in quo Corporis, & Sanguinis sui Figuram Discipulis suis commendauit, & tradidit. Christ receiued Iudas to his banket, wherein he gaue vnto his Disciples the Figure of his Bodie, and Bloud. Likewise Tertullian saith, 2Christus acceptum Panem, & distributum Discipulis, Corpus suum illum fecit, Dicendo hoc est Corpus meū, hoc est, Figura Corporis mei: Christ receiuinge the Breade, and the same being diuided vnto his Disciples, made it his Bodie: saieinge, This is my Bodie, that is to saie, The Figure of my Bodie.3 S. Ambrose saith, Ante Benedictionem verborum Coelestium alia species nominatur: post Consecrationem Corpus Christi Significatur. Before the Blissinge of the Heauenly Woordes, it is called an other kinde: after the Consecration, the Bodie of Christ is Signified. Here I must protest, That, as M. Hardinge is troubled with wante of witnes in this case, so am I oppressed with multitude. If I sholde allege al the reaste of the Ancient Godly Fathers, that write the like, I shoulde be ouer tedious to the Reader. And an other place hereafter folowinge, wil serue more aptely to this purpose. But by the waie, Gentle Reader, I must geue the to vnderstande, that S. Augustine hereof writeth thus, 4Ea demum est miserabilis Animae seruitus, Signa pro rebus accipere: & supra Creaturam corpoream, oculum mentis ad hauriendum aeternum lumen leuare non posse. In deede, this is a miserable bondage of the Soule, to take the Signes in the steede of thinges, that ⟨p. 319⟩be signified: and not to haue power,5 to lifte vp the eye of the minde aboue the bodilie creature, to receiue the light, that is euerlastinge. And againe, 6In principio cauendum est, ne Figurat• locutionem ad Literam accipias. Et ad hoc enim pertinet, quod ait Apostolus, Litera occidit: Spiritus autem viuificat. Cum enim Figuratè dictum sic accipitur, tanquam propriè dictum sit, carnaliter sapitur. Neque vlla mors animae congruentiùs appellatur. First of al, thou must beware, that thou take not a Figuratiue speache ccordinge to the Letter. For thereunto also it apperteineth, that the Apostle saith: The letter killeth, the Sprite geueth life.
- 1Augustin. […]Psalmum. 3.Augustin. 〈…〉Psalmum. 3.
- 2Tertul. contra Marcionem. li. 4.
- 3Ambros. de illi• qui initiantur Mysterijs. Cap. Ultimo.Ambros. de illi• qui initiantur Mysterijs. Cap. Vltimo.
- 4Augusti de Doctrina Christiana li. 3. Cap. 5. The Bondage of the Soul.Augusti de Doctrina Christiana li. 3. Cap. 5. The Bondage of the Soule.
- 5Figure.
- 6Ibidem.
