I answer, though this seem 1dark to Papists, yet it was not dark to the Apostles, they understood his meaning well enough, and all the rest for 1215. years after Christ, before Transubstantiation was spoken of. If the Apostles had not understood his meaning, they would not stick to ask him as their manner was, until they were acquainted with Christs phrase, whensoever they doubted upon any of his speeches, they were wont to come unto him, & say, Master, what is the meaning? but 2they were used to such phrases: for it was Christs manner to teach ⟨image 83⟩by similitudes, showing one thing by another, which is the plainest manner of teaching, and most used in holy Scripture, especially in the types and shadows of this Sacrament. For example, Christ calleth the Lamb the Passover, in 3place whereof this Sacrament succeeded, and therefore presently after they had eaten the Passover, Christ instituted this Sacrament to be used for it. Christ (I say) called the Lamb the Passover, and yet the Passover was this, an Angel passed over the houses of the 4Israelites, and struck the Egyptians, this was not a Lamb, and yet because the Lamb was a sign of this Passover, as the bread and wine is of Christs body, therefore Christ called the Lamb the Passover, as he calleth the bread and wine his body.
I answere, though this seeme 1darke to Papistes, yet it was not darke to the Apostles, they vnderstood his meaning well enough, and all the rest for 1215. yeares after Christ, before Transubstanciation was spoken of. If the Apostles had not vnderstood his meaning, they would not stick to aske him as their manner was, vntill they were acquainted with Christes phrase, whēsoeuer they doubted vpon any of his speeches, they were wont to come vnto him, & say, Master, what is the meaning? but 2they were vsed to such phrases: for it was Christs manner to teach ⟨image 83⟩by similitudes, shewing one thing by another, which is the plainest manner of teaching, and most vsed in holy Scripture, especiallie in the types and shadowes of this Sacrament. For example, Christ calleth the Lambe the Passeouer, in 3place wherof this Sacrament succeeded, and therefore presentlie after they had eaten the Passeouer, Christ instituted this Sacrament to be vsed for it. Christ (I say) called the Lambe the Passeouer, and yet the Passeouer was this, an Angell passed ouer the houses of the 4Israelites, and strooke the Egiptians, this was not a Lambe, and yet because the Lamb was a signe of this Passeouer, as the bread and wine is of Christs body, therefore Christ called the Lambe the Passouer, as he calleth the bread and wine his body.
- 1Answ▪
- 2Luk. 8. 9.
- 3Math. 26. 17.
- 4Exo. 12. 27.
