A10233:94
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.
Now then let them tell me how,1 without a crop or figure, that shall be counted the covenant it self, by means whereof, the covenant is established? And yet this further I would gladly demand of them, if the bare word or letter being so precisely observed, that real consubstantiation must of necessity ensue, how it can be that this should not follow likewise, that the signs being not only distincted, but in very deed and truth separated and sundered also the body it self should not likewise in deed be separated and sundered from the blood?2 I many times thinking, and that earnestly of this one matter, to wit, why divers did so greatly urge this same rule Consubstantiation, even as if it were the principal point of all our religion: of a truth, nothing could come into my mind but that which was most easy to be confuted. As for ye that they say,3 that unless Christs very body and his very blood be believed to be so present, that it may be received with the hands and with the mouth, or else the bread and the wine, shall be but empty and void signs, I say it is of no force. In good sooth, suppose ye that ye speak the trueth? Belike ⟨p. 110⟩then all the sacraments that the Fathers had,4 before that Christs flesh was indeed created were void, and of no force. Their Sacraments (saith Augustine) were in signs divers, but in matter equal. But in what matter were they equal? Even in Christ, the only matter of the sacraments: for that same spiritual word, that is, (as the self-same writer upon the 77. 5psalm expoundeth it) signifying some spiritual thing, was Christ; & they did eat the same meat that we eat,6 and did drink the same drink, to wit, Christ that was to be born, as we eat and drink Christ already borne, who is a spiritual meat and drink. How untrue therefore is it that the signs are of no force, except the thing signified, being in deed also present be coupled and joined with the sign?