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…

But lo we are now at the length come to them, who seem most equal and upright above all other, who also avoiding all other forgeries and devises, do stay themselves only upon these words of Christs: This is my body, ¹and This cup is my blood: we must say they believe Christs words though he speak never so new and unaccustomed matters, yea though he speak things that our flesh and senses cannot believe. We grant all this. ⟨p. 100⟩But what if they seem not agreeable to the truth, and the analogy or proportion of faith? Verily they are to be believed indeed, seeing that the Son of God is the truth it self, & yet these things or points must be so expounded,² that they may altogether agree with the 1 rest of the places of holy scripture, and the chief 2 grounds or heads of christian religion: for whatsoever doth dissent, though it be never so little from these rules, must of necessity be false and unsound. Now we have heretofore at large declared and proved, that such and so corrupt is that interpretation which establisheth either transubstantiation, or a real consubstantiation, of the signs and the things signified.³ But on the other side if we grant a sacramental being of the thing signified (which as it is true in other sacraments, so also in this mystery) then we shall preserve 1 the truth of Christs flesh, and uphold 2 the analogy and proportion of faith. Wherefore this interpretation is to be admitted & received, as true, and well agreeing with right and sound doctrine.⁴ But say they, there is no place here for a trope or figure: yea the very plain word is simply to be observed. ⟨p. 101⟩But who I beseech you hath given you this rule specially, sith this is most manifest, yea and so usual also, that when they speak of sacraments (which also are themselves figures) they speak figuratively. Neither think I that any man can scarcely bring forth or allege an example of a contrary speech. You must therefore allege a cause, or render a reason, why that which is of force in other sacraments should not likewise be of strength and power in this sacrament, or speech touching the same. But let us some what more nighly look into the matter, and well weigh all and every of the words of institution. First I demand, what the thing is pointed at, or painted out by this Pronoun demonstrative, Hoc, that is,