This Principle is not only false in it self, but also full of dangerous Doctrine, and may soon lead to Desperation. For if no man may eat the Flesh of Christ, but only in the Sacrament, as here by M. Harding it is supposed, then all Christian Children, and all others who so ever, that depart this life without receiving the Sacrament, must needs be damned, and die the Children of Gods anger. For Christs words be plain, & general.1 Onlesse ye eat the Pleashe of the Son of Man, ye shall have no life in you. Whereunto we may add this Minor: Christian Children receive not the Sacrament, and therefore by M. Hardinges judgement, eat not the Flesh of the Son of Man: Hereof it must needs follow, That Christian Children have no life in them, but are the Children of Damnation. This is the Conclusion of M. Hardinges Doctrine. But little care these men, who, or how many perish: so their fantasies may stand upright. But our Doctrine grounded upon Gods holy Word, is this, That as certainly as Christ gave his Body upon the Cross, so certainly he giveth now that self same Body unto the Faithful: and that, not only in the Ministration of the Sacrament, as M. Harding untruly imagineth, but also at all times, when so ever we be able to say with S. Paul, I think, I know nothing, but Jesus Christ, and the same Christ Crucified upon the Cross. Therefore S. Ambrose writeth thus,2 Quid petis O Judaee? ut tribuat tibi Panem, quē dat omnibus, dat quoridiè, dat semper? O thou Jew, what desirest thou? That Christ should give thee Bread? He giveth it to all men: he giveth it daily: he giveth it at all times. If it be true that S. Ambrose saith, that Christ giveth that Bread, which is his Body, at all times, then is it false that M. Harding saith, that Christ performeth his promise, & giveth his Body only at the Ministration of the Sacrament. And therefore S. Augustine saith, Non tantùm in Sacramento, sed etiam re ipsa comedunt Corpus Christi. They eate Christs Body, not only in the Sacrament, but also in very deed. 3Here S. Augustine saith, contrary to M. Hardinges Doctrine, that we eat Christs Body, not only in the Sacrament, but also otherwise: yea, and so far he for•eth this difference, that he maketh the eating of Christs Body in the Sacrament, to be one ⟨p. 321⟩thing, and the very true eating thereof in deed to be an other thing.
This Principle is not onely false in it selfe, but also ful of dangerous Doctrine, and may soone leade to Desperation. For if noman may eate the Fleash of Christ, but onely in ye Sacrament, as here by M. Harding it is supposed, then al Christian Children, and al others who so euer, that departe this life without receiuinge the Sacrament, must néedes be damned, and die the Chrildren of Gods anger. For Christes woordes be plaine, & general.1 Onlesse ye eate the Pleashe of the Sonne of Man, ye shal haue no life in you. Wherunto wée may adde this Minor: Christian Children receiue not the Sacrament, and therfore by M. Hardinges iudgement, eate not the Fleashe of the Sonne of Man: Hereof it must néedes folow, That Christian Children haue no life in them, but are the Children of Damnation. This is the Conclusion of M. Hardinges Doctrine. But litle care these men, who, or how many perishe: so their fantasies may stande vpright. But our Doctrine grounded vpon Gods holy Woorde, is this, That as certainely as Christe gaue his Bodie vpon the Crosse, so certainely he geueth now yt selfe same Bodie vnto the Faithful: and that, not onely in ye Ministration of the Sacrament, as M. Harding vntruely imagineth, but also at al times, when so euer we be hable to say with S. Paule, I thinke, I know nothing, but Iesus Christe, and the same Christe Crucified vpon the Crosse. Therfore S. Ambrose writeth thus,2 Quid petis O Iudaee? vt tribuat tibi Panem, quē dat omnibus, dat quoridiè, dat semper? O thou Iew, what desirest thou? That Christe should geue thee Bread? He geueth it to al mē: he geueth it daily: he geueth it at al times. If it be true that S. Ambrose saithe, that Christe geueth that Breade, whiche is his Bodie, at al times, then is it false yt M. Harding saith, that Christ performeth his promise, & geueth his Bodie onely at the Ministration of the Sacrament. And therfore S. Augustine saith, Non tantùm in Sacramento, sed etiam re ipsa comedunt Corpus Christi. They eate Christes Body, not onely in the Sacrament, but also in very deede. 3Here S. Augustine saithe, contrary to M. Hardinges Doctrine, that wée eate Christes Bodie, not onely in the Sacrament, but also otherwise: yea, and so farre he for•eth this difference, that he maketh the eatinge of Christes Bodie in the Sacramente, to be one ⟨p. 321⟩thinge, and the very true eatinge thereof in déede to be an other thinge.
- 1Joan. 6.Ioan. 6.
- 21. Corinth 2. Ambrosi. in Psalm. 118. Sermo. 18.
- 3Augustin. de C• uita. li. 2•. ca. 20. Non solùm.
