Likewise the words, that Christ spake in the sixth Chapter of S. John, & are here alleged by M. Harding, are undoubtedly true: how be it not according to the simple sound and tenor of the letter: For that, as S. Augustine saith, were, 1Flagitium, & facinus, An Heinous wickedness: And, as Origen saith, It would kill the soul. And therefore Christ him self expoundeth his own meaning touching the same, It is the Sprite, that giveth life: the Flesh profiteth nothing. The words, that I have spoken, be Sprite, and life. Which words S. Augustine expoundeth thus: Spiritualiter intelligite, quae locutus sum. Nō hoc Corpus, quod videtis, manducaturi estis. Understand ye Spiritually the things,2 that I have spoken. Ye shall not eat this Body, that ye see. Likewise Chrysostome, Secundum Spiritum verba mea audienda sunt: Qui secundum Carnem audit,3 nihil lucratur, nihil utilitatis accipit. My words must be heard Spiritually: Who so heareth them Carnally, or, according to the Flesh, getteth nothing, nor hath any profit by them. He saith further by way of objection against him self, Quid ergo est Carnaliter intelligere? Simpliciter, ut res dicuntur: neque aliud quicquā cogitare. And what is meant by these words, To understand according to the Flesh? He answereth, It is to understand simply, and plainly, even as things be spoken, and to think upon nothing else. Thus therefore Christ said, to cut of their Carnal cogitations, The words, that I spake are sprite, and life. As if he should say, Neither is my Flesh meat, nor my Blood drink, to enter into your mouths, and to feed your bodies. But if your Souls be hungry, I am Spiritual meat, to feed you: if your Souls be thirsty, I am Spiritual drink to refresh you. To this purpose S. Chrysostom saith thus: 4Omnia tibi Christus factus est: Mensa, Vestimentū, Domus, Caput, & Radix &c. Christ is become •l things unto thee: Thy Table, thy Apparel, thy House, thy Head, and thy Root.5 S. Paul saith, As many of you, as are Baptized in Christ, ye have put on Christ: 6Behold, how Christ is made thy Apparel. And wilt thou learn, how he is become thy Table? He saith, who so eateth me, shall live through me: And that he is thy House,7 he saith, Who so eateth my Flesh, dwelleth in me, and I in him:
Likewise the woordes, that Christe spake in the sixth Chapter of S. Iohn, & are here alleged by M. Hardinge, are vndoubtedly true: howe be it not accordinge to the simple sounde and tenoure of the letter: For that, as S. Augustine saith, were, 1Flagitium, & facinus, An Hainous wickednes: And, as Origen saith, It woulde kil the soule. And therefore Christe him self expoundeth his owne meaninge touchinge the same, It is the Sprite, that geueth life: the Fleashe profiteth nothinge. The woordes, that I haue spoken, be Sprite, and life. Whiche woordes S. Augustine expoundeth thus: Spiritualiter intelligite, quae locutus sum. Nō hoc Corpus, quod videtis, māducaturi estis. Vnderstande ye Spiritually the thinges,2 that I haue spoken. Ye shal not eate this Bodie, that ye see. Likewise Chrysostome, Secundum Spiritum verba mea audienda sunt: Qui secundum Carnem audit,3 nihil lucratur, nihil vtilitatis accipit. My woordes must be hearde Spiritually: Who so heareth them Carnally, or, accordinge to the Fleashe, geateth nothinge, nor hath any profite by them. He saith further by waie of obiection against him self, Quid ergo est Carnaliter intelligere? Simpliciter, vt res dicuntur: neque aliud quicquā cogitare. And what is meante by these woordes, To vnderstande accordinge to the Fleashe? He answeareth, It is to vnderstande simply, and plainely, euen as thinges be spoken, and to thinke vpon nothing els. Thus therefore Christe saide, to cutte of theire Carnal cogitations, The woordes, that I spake are sprite, and life. As if he shoulde saie, Neither is my Fleashe meate, nor my Bloude drinke, to enter into your mouthes, and to feede your bodies. But if your Soules be hungrie, I am Spiritual meate, to feede yowe: yf your Soules be thirstie, I am Spiritual drinke to refreashe yowe. To this purpose S. Chrysostome saith thus: 4Omnia tibi Christus factus est: Mensa, Vestimentū, Domus, Caput, & Radix &c. Christe is become •l thinges vnto thee: Thy Table, thy Apparel, thy Howse, thy Heade, and thy Roote.5 S. Paule saith, As many of yowe, as are Baptized in Christe, ye haue put on Christe: 6Beholde, howe Christe is made thy Apparel. And wilt thou learne, howe he is become thy Table? He saith, vvho so eateth me, shal liue through me: And that he is thy Howse,
- 1Augustin. De Doctrina Christiana. li. 3. c. 16. Origen. in Levi. hom. 7.Augustin. De Doctrina Christiana. li. 3. c. 16. Origen. in Leui. hom. 7.
- 2Augustin in Psalm. 98.
- 3Chrysost. in Johan. hom. 47.Chrysost. in Iohan. hom. 47.
- 4Chrysost. ad popul. Antiochen. homi. 21.
- 5Galat. 3.
- 6Johan. 6.Iohan. 6.
- 7Johan. 15.Iohan. 15.
