A09453:297
A Reformed Catholic
A reformed Catholic: or, A declaration showing how near we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundry points of religion: and wherein we must for ever depart from them with an advertisement to all favourers of the Roman religion, showing that the said religion is against the Catholic principles and grounds of the catechism.A reformed Catholike: or, A declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of religion: and vvherein we must for euer depart from them with an advertisment to all fauourers of the Romane religion, shewing that the said religion is against the Catholike principles and grounds of the catechisme.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1598Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1598
Doctrine 10 › Objections of Papists.Doctrine 10 › Obiections of Papists.
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.
I. Their first reason is, Joh. 6. 55. My flesh ⟨p. 199⟩is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed: therefore (say they) Christs body must be eaten with the mouth, and his blood drunk accordingly. Ans. The chapter must be understood of a spiritual eating of Christ: his body is meat indeed but spiritual meat, and his blood spiritual drink, to be received not by the mouth, but by faith. This is the very point that Christ here intends to prove, namely that to believe in him is to eat his flesh and to drink his blood are all one. Again, this chapter must not be understood of that special eating of Christ in the sacrament: for it is said generally, v. 53. Except ye eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood, ye have no life in you: and if these very words (which are the substance of the chapter) must be understood of a sacramental eating, no man before the coming of Christ was saved: for none did bodily eat or drink his body or blood; considering it was not then existing in nature, but only was present to the believing heart by faith.
I. Their first reason is, Ioh. 6. 55. My flesh ⟨p. 199⟩is meat indeed, and my blood is drinke indeed: therefore (say they) Christs body must be eaten with the mouth, and his blood drunke accordingly. Ans. The chapter must be vnderstood of a spirituall eating of Christ: his bodie is meate indeede but spirituall meate, and his bloode spirituall drinke, to be receiued not by the mouth, but by faith. This is the very point that Christ here intendes to prooue, namely that to beleeue in him is to eate his flesh and to drinke his bloode are all one. Againe, this chapter must not be vnderstoood of that speciall eating of Christ in the sacrament: for it is saide generally, v. 53. Except ye eate the flesh of Christ and drinke his blood, ye haue no life in you: and if these very words (which are the substance of the chapter) must be vnderstood of a sacramentall eating, no man before the comming of Christ was saued: for none did bodily eate or drink his bodie or bloode; considering it was not then existing in nature, but onely was present to the beleeuing heart by faith.