The other part of Christian questions and answers which is concerning the sacraments, writ[n]…The other parte of Christian questions and answeares which is concerning the sacraments, writte[n]…

217. Question.

Answer. If that be a natural proposition, either the same is said of it self, or else not the same, but a contrary. But neither of both is true. Therefore it can not be a natural proposition, That the same can not be said of it self, it appeareth plainly by these reasons. First because in any identical proposition, that is, where the same thing is affirmed of the self same, the Subject & the predicate must not differ in the thing, but in the name only: as when I say a blade is a sword, as a target is a shield, the son of the virgin is Christ, but bread and the body of Christ are not words of the same signification, but things altogether divers: therefore they make not ⟨image 141⟩an identical Proposition. But if now¹ some froward person will have one and the same substance too be declared in these two words, first ye must show that neither bread ceaseth to be bread, nor ye the body ceaseth to be a body. Furthermore in a proposition Identical, the subject and predicate are convertible, or standing one for an other. Therefore if this proposition were identical or one, the body of Christ might as truly be said to be baked in an Oven, as it is truly said that bread is the body given for us. Therefore it is not as the schoolmen speak, an identical proposition. Now again, that nothing divers, is herein naturally said, is thus proved by a necessary consequence. If the body as some thing divers should be regularly spoken of bread, surely either it should be spoken essentially, or as the cause, or as accidentary. We have showed in the second argument that it is not spoken essentially, as neither being unto bread as the general, or as the difference, nor as the special, in respect of the singular. Now it can much less be the causal affirmation.