A reply unto M. Hardinges answerA replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare

S. Cyprian that learned Bishop and holy Martyr saith thus, In Sermone de Coena Domini. Panis iste, quem Dominus Discipulis porrigebat, non effigie, sed natura mutatus, omnipotentia verbi factus est Caro. This Bread, which our Lord gave to his Disciples, changed not in shape, but in nature, by the almighty power of the word (he meaneth Christs word of Consecration) is made Flesh. Lo he confesseth the Bread to be changed, not in shape or form, for that remaineth, but in Nature, that is to say, in Substance. And to signify the change of Substance, and not an accidentarie change only, to wit, from the use of Common bread, to serve for Sacramental bread, as some of our new Masters do expound that place for a shift: he addeth great weight of words, whereby he far overpeiseth these mens light devise, saying that by the almighty power of our Lords word, it is made flesh. Verily they might consider, as they would seem to be of sharp judgement,^* that to the performance of so small a matter, as their Sacramental change is, the almighty power of God's Word, is not needful. And now if this word, Factus est maie signifie an imaginative making, then why maie not Verbum Caro factum est, likewise be expounded, to the defence of sundry old heinous heresies against the true Manhood of Christ? Thus the nature of the bread in this Sacrament being changed, and the form remaining, so as it seem bread, as before Consecration, and being made our Lords flesh by virtue of the word, the substance of bread changed into that most excellent substance of the flesh of Christ: Of that which was before, the accidents remain only, without the substance of bread. The like is to be believed of the wine.