But Chrysostoms words are very vehement: That Christ is Present at the Holy Ministration: that every man, both toucheth him with his fingers, and also seeth him with his eyes, and that clearly, and openly, without guile, or error. I grant, these words be very vehement, and much exceed the common sense. But here would I learn of M. Harding, whether he will take these words plainly, and simply, as they lie, or else will rather qualify them with a courteous, and gentle Interpretation. If he follow the rigour of the words, then appeareth there a manifest contradiction: and Chrysostom in uttering one sentence, is found clean contrary to him self. For first, he saith, Christ is there invisibly, in such sort as no man can see him: And yet immediately after, with one breath he saith, Every man seeth him with his eyes plainly, and without guile, or error. Again, by the rigour of the same words, we must needs grant, that the people both verily, and in deed seeth Christs very Body, and also handleth, and toucheth it with their fingers:1 which is not only a manifest untruth, but also a greater Heresy, then ever was defended by Berengarius, as it is confessed by the Doctors of M. Hardinges own side. In deed, the marvellous effects that God worketh in the Faithful, in that dreadful time of the holy Communion, wherein the whole Mystery of our Redemption, that we have in the Blood of Christ, is expressed, Chrysostom calleth a Miracle: and therefore the more to stir the peoples minds to the consideration of the same, he inflameth his speech with Rhetorical Amplifications, and heat of words. He saith, Christ is Crucified before our eyes: his blood gusheth out of his •ide, and streameth, and floweth over the holy Table: and the people is therewith made read, and bloody. This advancing, and ravishing of the mind, he calleth a Miracle: but of any Corporal, or Fleshly Presence, he speaketh nothing. By such Figurative, and fiery speech, he meant not that we should understand him precisely according to the sound of his words, but sought only to lift up,2 and inkindle his hearers minds. So S. Paul saith to the Galatians:3 Christ was Crucified before your eyes. So S. Hierome: Our faces are marked in Baptism with the Blood of Christ. So saith Tertullian, We are washed in the Passion of our Lord.
But Chrysostomes woordes are very vehement: That Christe is Present at the Holy Ministration: that euery man, both toucheth him with his fingers, and also seeth him with his eyes, and that clearely, and openly, without guile, or erroure. I graunte, these woordes be very vehement, and muche excede the common sense. But here woulde I learne of M. Hardinge, whether he wil take these woordes plainely, and simply, as they lie, or els wil rather qualifie them with a courteous, and gentle Interpretation. If he folowe the rigoure of the woordes, then appeareth there a manifest contradiction: and Chrysostome in vtteringe one sentence, is founde cleane contrary to him selfe. For first, he saith, Christe is there inuisibly, in suche sorte as noman canne see him: And yet immediatly after, with one breath he saith, Euery man seeth him with his eyes plain•ly, and without guile, or erroure. Againe, by the rigoure of the same woordes, we must needes graunte, that the people both verily, and in deede seeth Christes very Bodie, and also handleth, and toucheth it with theire fingers:1 whiche is not onely a manifest vntrueth, but also a greater Heresie, then euer was defended by Berengarius, as it is confessed by the Doctours of M. Hardinges owne side. In deede, the marueilous effectes that God worketh in the Faithful, in that dreadful time of the holy Communion, wherein the whole Mysterie of our Redemption, that we haue in the Bloude of Christe, is expressed, Chrysostome calleth a Miracle: and therefore the more to sturre the peoples mindes to the consideration of the same, he inflameth his speache with Rhetorical Amplifications, and heate of woordes. He saith, Christe is Crucified before our eyes: his bloude gussheth out of his •ide, and streameth, and floweth ouer the holie Table: and the people is therewith made readde, and bloudy. This auancinge, and rauishinge of the minde, he calleth a Miracle: but of any Corporal, or Fleashely Presence, he speaketh nothinge. By suche Figuratiue, and fiery speache, he meante not that we shoulde vnderstande him precisely accordinge to the sounde of his woordes, but sought onely to lifte vp,2 and inkendle his hearers mindes. So S. Paule saith to the Galathians:3 Christ was Crucified before your eyes. So S. Hierome: Our faces are marked in Baptisme with the Bloude of Christe. So saith Tertullian, We are wasshed in the Passion of our Lorde.
- 1De Consecra. Dis. 2. Ego Berengarius. In Glosa.
- 2Calat. 3.
- 3Hieronym. in Psalm. 85.
