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…

And yet when I use this word (sign) I would not be taken as though I meant, that they are bare, vain, or unprofitable signs, such as painters commonly use to make, but even thus far forth effectual, that it is no more true & certain, that we see the same with our eyes, touch them with our hands receive them with our mouths and eat them, than that it is also as true & certain, that the Lord exhibiteth and offereth unto us, yea, and giveth us also, whatsoever they represent unto us, that is, the very body and blood of our saviour Christ & the fruits & effects flowing from the same, to be the spiritual food of our souls, to the full possession of eternal life. These rules being thus then observed, I gather & put down this true and holy sense of these words: This is my body, that is to say, that the bread which Christ took, blessed, brake, and gave unto his disciples, appointing the same to be used, as the element of this action, and to be continued in his Church, in such form and sort as he did institute it, until his coming again, ⟨p. 208⟩is sacramentally and spiritually, being received and eaten by faith, a sure sign, and an effectual pledge, that Christs body is become the spiritual food of our souls. And I use these words, sacramentally and spiritually, that thereby I might meet with their gross slander, who, when they hear of a sign, and a thing signified, say, that we do evacuate and make of no force the Lords supper. No, we are so far off from holding any such conclusion, that we know, believe, and confess, that the faithful and duly prepared communicants, do besides the outward signs and elements truly receive by the mean of faith, after a spiritual sort, that which is represented by the outward elements, to wit, whole Christ, with all his gifts and graces.

And yet when I vse this word (signe) I woulde not bee taken as though I meant, that they are bare, vaine, or vnprofitable signes, such as painters commonly vse to make, but euen thus far forth effectuall, that it is no more true & certaine, that we see the same wyth our eies, touch them wyth our handes receue them with our mouths and eat them, than that it is also as true & certaine, that the Lord exhibiteth and offereth vnto vs, yea, and giueth vs also, whatsoeuer they represent vnto vs, that is, the very bodie and bloud of our sauior Christ & the fruits & effects flowing from the same, to be the spiritual food of our soules, to the full possession of eternall life. These rules being thus then obserued, I gather & put downe this true and holie sense of these wordes: This is my bodie, that is to say, that the bread which Christ tooke, blessed, brake, and gaue vnto his disciples, appointing the same to bee vsed, as the element of this action, and to bee continued in hys Church, in such forme and sort as he did institute it, vntill his comming againe,