Thus the Fathers call not only the Sacrament, but also the Body and Blood of Christ it self in the Sacrament, sometimes the truth, sometimes a Figure: the trueth, that is to wit, the very and •rue Body and Blood of Christ: a Figure, in respect of the manner of being of the same there present, ⟨p. 459⟩which is Really, and Substantially, but Invisibly under the visible form of the outward Elements. And so Tertullian meaneth by his, That is the Figure of my Body, as though Christ had showed by the word (Hoc) that which was Visible,1 which verily is the Figure of the Body, right so as that which is the Invisible inward thing, is the trueth of the Body. Which interpretation of Tertullian in deed is not according to the right sense of Christs words, though his meaning swerve not from the trueth. For where as our Lord said, This is my Body, he meant not so, as though he had said, the outward form of the Sacrament, which here I deliver to you, is a Figure of my Body under the same contained,2 for as much as by these words, Hoc est, he showed not the Visible form of Bread, but the Substance of his very Body, into which by his Divine power he turned the Bread. And therefore (192) none of all the Fathers ever so expounded those words of Christ, but contrariwise,3 namely Theophylacte, and Damascene. He said not saith Theophylacte, This is a Figure, but This is my Body. The Bread, nor Wine,4 (meaning their outward Forms) saith Damascene,* is not a Figure of the Body and Blood of Christ: Not so, in no wise. But it is the Body it self of our Lord Deificated, sith our Lord him self saith, This is my Body, not the Figure of my Body, but my Body: and not the Figure of my Blood, but my Blood, &c.
Thus the Fathers cal not onely the Sacrament, but also the Bodie and Bloud of Christe it selfe in the Sacrament, sometimes the truthe, sometimes a Figure: the trueth, that is to wit, the very and •rue Bodie and Bloud of Christe: a Figure, in respecte of the manner of beinge of the same there present, ⟨p. 459⟩whiche is Really, and Substantially, but Inuisibly vnder the visible forme of the outwarde Elementes. And so Tertullian meaneth by his, That is the Figure of my Bodie, as though Christe had shewed by the woorde (Hoc) that whiche was Visible,1 whiche verily is the Figure of the Bodie, right so as that whiche is the Inuisible inwarde thinge, is the trueth of the Bodie. VVhich interpretation of Tertullian in deed is not accordinge to the right sense of Christes woordes, thoughe his meaninge swarue not from the truethe. For where as our Lorde saide, This is my Body, he meante not so, as though he had saide, the outwarde forme of the Sacramente, whiche here I deliuer to you, is a Figure of my Bodie vnder the same conteined,2 for as muche as by these woordes, Hoc est, he shewed not the Visible forme of Breade, but the Substance of his very Bodie, into whiche by his Diuine power he tourned the Breade. And therefore (192) none of al the Fathers euer so expounded those woordes of Christe, but contrarywise,3 namely Theophylacte, and Damascene. He saide not saithe Theophylacte, This is a Figure, but This is my Bodie. The Breade, nor VVine,4 (meaninge their outwarde Formes) saith Damascene,* is not a Figure of the Bodie and Bloude of Christe: Not so, in no wise. But it is the Bodie it selfe of our Lorde Deificated, sithe our Lorde him selfe saithe, This is my Bodie, not the Figure of my Bodie, but my Bodie: and not the Figure of my Bloude, but my Bloude, &c.
- 1A miserable shift. By this exposition how can Christs Body it self be a Figure?A miserable shift. By this exposition hovv can Christes Bodie it selfe be a Figure?
- 2Tertullian understandeth not Christs words.Tertullian vnderstand•th not Christes vvords.
- 3The .192. Untruth, notorious. For M. Harding knoweth, that all the old Fathers expoū dead it so.The .192. Vntrueth, notorious. For M. Harding knovveth, that al the olde Fathers expoū ded it so.
- 4In Matth•• ca. 26. li. 4. ca. 14.
- *Outward Forms▪ and Accidents are Christs Body it self.Outvvarde Fourmes▪ and Accidentes are Christes Bodie it selfe.
