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

But our new Masters, saith M. Harding, must needs have these words of S. John expounded of the spiritual eating. If it be either the violence of nature, or the manner of his Catholic doctrine, that driveth M. Harding thus to taunt, he must be borne with all: notwithstanding it agreeth not with his promise. As touching the understanding of the words of Christ, in the sixth of S. John, they are not all new Masters, that have so taken them. For, to leave S. Augustine, Origen, and others of that age, Nicolas Lyra,¹ a man of later years, sayeth, The said words of Christ must needs be taken spiritually, and none otherwise. Thus he saith, Ista intelligi debent de manducatione, & potatione spirituali. Quia sequitur, qui manducat meam Carnem, & bibit meum sanguinem, in me manet, & ego in eo. Quod B. Augustinus exponens ait▪ Hoc est manducare illam escam, & bibere illum potum, in Christo manere, & Christum manentem in se habere: quod nihil aliud est, quam esse in charitate Christi. These words must be taken of the spiritual eating and drinking. For it followeth, he that eateth my Flesh, and drinketh my Blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him: Which thing S. Augustine expounding, saith thus, This is the eating of that food, and the drinking of that drink, for a man to dwell in Christ, and to have Christ in him dwelling: which thing is nothing else, but to be in the love of Christ. Here we see, that Nicolas Lyra a man that lived two hundred years ago, and therefore no very new Master, expoundeth these words of the spiritual eating.

But our newe Maisters, saithe M. Hardinge, must needes haue these woordes of S. Iohn expounded of the spiritual eatinge. If it be either the violence of nature, or the manner of his Catholike doctrine, that driueth M. Hardinge thus to taunte, he muste be borne with al: notwithstandinge it agréeth not with his promisse. As touchinge the vnderstandinge of the woordes of Christe, in the sixthe of S. Iohn, they are not al newe Maisters, that haue so taken them. For, to leaue S. Augustine, Origen, and others of that age, Nicolas Lyra,¹ a man of later yéeres, saieth, The saide woordes of Christe muste néedes be taken spiritually, and none otherwise. Thus he saithe, Ista intelligi debent de manducatione, & potatione spirituali. Quia sequitur, qui manducat meam Carnem, & bibit meum sanguinem, in me manet, & ego in eo. Quod B. Augustinus exponens ait Hoc est manducare illam escam, & bibere illum potum, in Christo manere, & Christum manentem in se habere: quod nihil aliud est, quam esse in charitate Christi. These woordes must be taken of the spiritual eatinge and drinkinge. For it followeth, he that eateth my Fleashe, and drinketh my Bloude, dwelleth in me, and I in him: Whiche thinge S. Augustine expoundinge, saithe thus, This is the eatinge of that foode, and the drinkinge of that drinke, for a man to dwel in Christe, and to haue Christe in him dwellinge: whiche thinge is nothinge els, but to be in the loue of Christe. Here we sée, that Nicolas Lyra a man that liued twoo hundred yéeres agoe, and therefore no very newe Maister, expoundeth these woordes of the spiritual eatinge.