A10233:185
Two very learned sermons of M. Beza, together with a short sum of the…Two very lerned sermons of M. Beza, togither with a short sum of the…
Two very learned sermons of M. Beza, together with a short sum of the sacrament of the Lords Supper: Whereunto is added a treatise of the substance of the Lords Supper, wherein is briefly and soundly discussed the p[r]incipall points in controversy, concerning that question. By T.W.Two very lerned sermons of M. Beza, togither with a short sum of the sacrament of the Lordes Supper: Wherevnto is added a treatise of the substance of the Lords Supper, wherin is breflie and soundlie discussed the p[r]incipall points in controuersie, concerning that question. By T.W.
London: printed by Robert Walde-grave for T. Man, 1588London: printed by Robert Walde-graue for T. Man, 1588
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
But let us for reasoning sake grant that the place were to be understood of the holy supper, yet doth it not for all that establish any gross and carnal eating of the natural flesh or body of our saviour Christ, because if that were so, then had not our saviour sufficiently answered the Capernaites or Jews of Capernaum, who ⟨p. 195⟩vainly dreaming and doting of such a gross and carnal manducation or eating,1 said: How can this man give us his flesh? meaning thereby that it was altogether impossible and unnatural, both in respect of himself, and in regard of them also, because it was seldom or never heard of except it were amongst the Anthropophagi, that men did willingly give their flesh to be food unto others, or that others did eat the same, but had rather yielded unto them in that their conceit, which besides that it containeth an error in religion and nature, as before hath been showed, is quite and clean contrary to the purpose of Christ in that place, and closely accuseth him, as though either in ignorance he could not, or in an evil mind he would not have instructed them in their blindness, all which are horrible to hear, blasphemous to speak, and beastly to think. Besides, if that corrupt sense should be allowed, mark what a Sea of absurdities would ensue thereupon. As first in what a miserable estate should we leave the holy Fathers of the old covenants, who were long before the time of Christs taking ⟨p. 196⟩our flesh upon him, & therefore could not eat it, and so by consequent could not be saved.2 And yet our saviour in plain terms affirmeth, that they were in the kingdom of heaven. And S. Paul also saith,3 that they did all eat the same spiritual meat that we do, and did all drink the same spiritual drink that we do: which word spiritual would be marked as directly opposite to gross, carnal, or bodily eating, plainly also proving that betwixt their sacraments and ours there was no difference at all, as in respect of substance and effect, saving only that theirs were in time before ours, even as they themselves also were, and instituted in other outward elements than ours.