A09339:4485
A Golden Chain
A golden chain: or The description of theology containing the order of the causes of salvation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seen in the table annexed. Hereunto is adjoined the order which M. Theodore Beza used in comforting afflicted consciences.A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1600Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1600
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Our reasons.
I. This corporal presence overturns sundry articles of faith. For we believe that the body of Christ was made of the pure substance of the Virgin Mary, and that but once, namely when he was conceived by the holy Ghost, and borne. But this cannot stand, if the body of Christ be made of bread and his blood of wine, as they must needs be, if there be no succession or annihilation but a real conversion of substances in the sacrament: unless we must believe contrarieties, that his body was made of the substance of the Virgin, & ⟨p. 968⟩not of the Virgin; made once and not once but often. Again, if his body and blood be under the forms of bread and wine, then is he not as yet ascended into heaven, but remains still among us. Neither can he be said to come from heaven at the day of judgement: for he that must come thence to judge the quick and dead, must be absent from the earth. And this was the ancient faith. Augustine saith,1 that Christ according to his majesty and providence and grace is present with us to the end of the world: but according to his assumed flesh he is not always with us. Cyril saith, He is absent in body and present in virtue, whereby all things are governed. Vigilius saith, That he is gone from us according to his humanity: he hath left us in his humanity: in the form of a servant absent from us: when his flesh was on earth, it was not in heaven: being on earth, he was not in heaven: and being now in heaven, he is not on earth. Fulgentius saith, One and the same Christ according to his humane substance, was absent from heaven when he was on earth: and left the earth when he ascended into heaven.
I. This corporall presence ouerturnes sundrie articles of faith. For we beleeue that the bodie of Christ was made of the pure substance of the Virgin Marie, and that but once, namely when he was conceiued by the holy Ghost, and borne. But this cannot stand, if the bodie of Christ be made of bread and his blood of wine, as they must needs be, if there be no succession or annihilation but a reall conuersion of substances in the sacrament: vnlesse we must beleeue contrarieties, that his bodie was made of the substance of the Virgin, &