In this sense Nazianzene saith, 1The Ecclesiastical policy of the Jews, compared with the Gospel of Christ, is a Figure of a Figure. In this sense Origen saith, 2The coming of Christ in the Flesh, and the offering of him self upon the Cross, (the force of which oblation continueth still) and all, that our Nature can conceive of the same, is but an Image, in comparison of those Spiritual things, that we look for. And here understand thou, good Reader, that Origen in this place speaketh of Christs coming, and appearing in the Flesh: & not one word of the Sacrament. For thus he saithe, Veniat ad Imaginem rerum, & videat aduentum Christi in Carne factū: Let him come to the Image of things, and see Christs coming in the Flesh. This Image Oecumenius very well expoundeth, Veritatem rerum, that is, The trueth, and performance of things,3 that were promised under a shadow to the Jews. In like sort Chrysostom expoundeth the same words: 4Lex habuit umbram futurorum bonorum, non ipsam imaginem rerum: hoc est, non ipsam Veritatem. The Law had a Shadow of good things to come, but not the Image of the things, that is to say, not the trueth it self. He calleth the Gospel the trueth it self, not in respect of Christs Secrete Being in the Sacrament, unto which fantasy M. Harding driveth all this long talk, but only in respect of Christs Incarnation, as it is plain by that immediately followeth: Donec enim quis velut in pictura circunducat colours, Umbra quaedam est: 5cùm verò flores ipsos colorum induxerit, & imposuerit, tunc Imago efficitur. A picture, until the Painter lay on his colours, is but a Shadow: but the fresh colours being laid on, it is an Image. So S. Paul calleth the Law the Shadow, and Christ the Body. And in this consideration Athanasius saith, 6Evangelium est Dei Verbi Domini Jesu Christi Praesentia, ad humani generis salutem Incarnati. The Gospel is the Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the Word of God, Incarnate unto the Salvation of Mankind. And therefore S. Augustine saith, Nostra Sacramenta dant Salutem: Judaeorum Sacramenta promittebant Saluatorē: Non quòd jam acceperimus vitam aeternā, sed quòd jam venerit Christus, qui per Prophetas pronuntiabatur. Our Sacraments do give Salvation: The Sacraments of the Jews promised a Saviour.
In this sense Nazianzene saithe, 1The Ecclesiastical policie of the Iewes, compared with the Gospel of Christe, is a Figure of a Figure. In this sense Origen saithe, 2The comminge of Christe in the Fleashe, and the offeringe of him selfe vpon the Crosse, (the force of whiche oblation continueth stil) and al, that our Nature can conceiue of the same, is but an Image, in comparison of those Spiritual thinges, that we looke for. And here vnderstande thou, good Reader, that Origen in this place speaketh of Christes comminge, and appearinge in the Fleashe: & not one woorde of the Sacrament. For thus he saithe, Veniat ad Imaginem rerum, & videat aduentum Christi in Carne factū: Let him come to the Image of thinges, and see Christes comminge in the Fleashe. This Image Oecumenius very wel expoundeth, Veritatem rerum, that is, The truethe, and performance of thinges,3 that were promised vnder a shadowe to the Iewes. In like sorte Chrysostome expoundeth the same woordes: 4Lex habuit vmbram futurorum bonorum, non ipsam imaginem rerum: hoc est, non ipsam Veritatem. The Lawe had a Shadowe of good thinges to come, but not the Image of the thinges, that is to say, not the trueth it selfe. He calleth the Gospel the trueth it selfe, not in respecte of Christes Secrete Beinge in the Sacrament, vnto which fantasie M. Harding driueth al this longe talke, but onely in respecte of Christes Incarnation, as it is plaine by that immediatly foloweth: Donec enim quis velut in pictura circunducat colores, Vmbra quaedam est: 5cùm verò flores ipsos colorum induxerit, & imposuerit, tunc Imago efficitur. A picture, vntil the Painter lay on his colours, is but a Shadowe: but the freashe colours being laide on, it is an Image. So S. Paule calleth the Law the Shadowe, and Christe the Bodie. And in this consideration Athanasius saith, 6Euangelium est Dei Verbi Domini Iesu Christi Praesentia, ad humani generis salutem Incarnati. The Gospel is the Presence of our Lorde Iesus Christe, whiche is the Woorde of God, Incarnate vnto the Saluation of Mankinde. And therefore S. Augustine saithe, Nostra Sacramenta dant Salutem: Iudaeorum Sacramenta promittebant Saluatorē: Non quòd iam acceperimus vitam aeternā, sed quòd iam venerit Christus, qui per Prophetas pronuntiabatur. Our Sacramentes doo geue Sauation: The Sacramentes of the Iewes promised a Saueour.
- 1Gregory. Nazianzen. in S. Pascha Oratio. 4.Gregori. Nazianzen. in S. Pascha Oratio. 4.
- 2Origen. in Psal. 38. Homil. 2.
- 3Oecumenius ad Hebraeos. ca. 10.
- 4Chrysost. ad Hebraeos. Ca. 10.
- 5Chrysost. ad Hebraeos. Ca. 10. Coloss. 2.
- 6Athanasius De Communi essen. P. Fi. & Spir. S. Augustin in Psalm. 73.
