In all these words, there is no mention of Carnal Presence: & therefore M. Hardinges purpose is hereby but weakly furthered. But (good Christian Reader) to put thee out of all doubt of S. Ambroses judgement in this behalf, I beseech thee, to consider these words, that he writeth upon the Gospel of S. Luke. Quae sursum sunt, sapite: 1non quae supra Terram. Ergo non supra Terram, nec in Terra, nec secundum Carnē te quaerere debemus, si volumus inuenire. Seek the things, that be above: not the things that be upon Earth. Therefore we must seek thee neither upon the Earth, nor in the Earth, nor according to the Flesh, if we list to find thee. This is S. Ambroses undoubted, and most certain judgement: from which we may not be removed, by any amplification, or show of words. If M. Harding will needs force, & press the bare letter, as I said before of S. Chrysostom, he will make S. Ambrose in one sentence plain contrary to him self. For first he saith, Vidimus Principē Sacerdotū, &c. We have seen (Christ) the Prince of Priests coming unto us: we have seen him, and heard ⟨p. 358⟩him offering up for us his Blood. He addeth immediatly, Etsi nunc Christus non videtur offerre, &c. Although Christ be not seen to offer, yet is he offered in the Earth. If we follow the very force, and sound of the words, this Contradiction of seeing, and not seeing can not be salved. Wherefore, to avoid this inconvenience, we must say, that S. Ambrose speaketh of the Spiritual eyes of our Faith, with which eyes we see Christ in deed offering up him self upon the Cross. And thus,2 as S. Ambrose saith, Magis videtur, quod non videtur: The thing is the better seen, that is not seen. It is best seen with our Faith, that is least seen with our Body. For our Faith is sharper, then our eye. And in like sense S. Augustine saithe,3 Non vides, quomodo rubeat pars Christi? Interroga oculos Fidei. Si Crucem vides, attend & cruorem. Si vides quod pendet, attende, quod fudit. Seest thou not, how Christs portion is read with Blood? Ask the eyes of thy Faith. If thou see the Cross, behold also the Blood. If thou see, that hangeth, behold also that it shed. Of these eyes, and of this sight S. Ambrose speaketh: unto which is required, neither circumstance of place, nor any manner Corporal, or Fleshly presence.4 In this sense S.
In al these woordes, there is no mention of Carnal Presence: & therfore M. Hardinges purpose is hereby but weakely furthered. But (good Christian Reader) to put thée out of al doubte of S. Ambroses iudgement in this behalf, I beséech thée, to consider these woordes, yt he writeth vpon the Gospel of S. Luke. Quae sursum sunt, sapite: 1non quae supra Terram. Ergo nō supra Terram, nec in Terra, nec secundum Carnē te quaerere debemus, si volumus inuenire. Se•ke the thinges, that be aboue: not the thinges that be vpon Earth. Therefore we must seeke thee neither vpon the Earthe, nor in the Earth, nor accordinge to the Fleashe, if wee liste to finde thee. This is S. Ambroses vndoubted, and moste certaine iudgement: from whiche we may not be remoued, by any amplification, or shew of woordes. If M. Harding wil néedes force, & presse the bare letter, as I saide before of S. Chrysostome, he wil make S. Ambrose in one sentence plaine contrary to him selfe. For first he saith, Vidimus Principē Sacerdotū, &c. We haue seene (Christe) the Prince of Priestes comming vnto vs: we haue seene him, and hearde ⟨p. 358⟩him offeringe vp for vs his Bloud. He addeth immediatly, Etsi nunc Christus non videtur offerre, &c. Although Christe be not seene to offer, yet is he offered in the Earth. If wée folow the very force, and sounde of the woordes, this Contradiction of séeing, and not seeinge can not be salued. Wherfore, to auoyde this inconuenience, wée must say, that S. Ambrose speaketh of the Spiritual eies of our Faith, with whiche eyes wée sée Christe in déede offeringe vp him selfe vpon the Crosse. And thus,2 as S. Ambrose saith, Magis videtur, quod non videtur: The thinge is the better seene, that is not seene. It is best seene with our Faithe, that is least séene with our Bodie. For our Faith is sharper, then our eie. And in like sense S. Augustine saithe,3 Non vides, quomodo rubeat pars Christi? Interroga oculos Fidei. Si Crucem vides, attende & cruorem. Si vides quod pendet, attende, quod fudit. Seest thou not, how Christes portion is readde with Bloud? Aske the eyes of thy Faithe. If thou see the Crosse, beholde also the Bloud. If thou see, that hangeth, beholde also that it sheadde. Of these eies, and of this sight S. Ambrose speaketh: vnto whiche is required, neither circumstance of place, nor any manner Corporal, or Fleashly presence.4 In this sense S.
- 1Coloss. 3. Ambrosi. in Lu•am li. 10. ca. 24.
- 2De ijs qui initiantur Mysterijs ca. 3.
- 3Augustin. Sermon. 119. De tempore.
- 4Ambro. De Virginib. li. 2.