A14347:143
A discourse or treatise of Peter Martyr Vermilla Floor[n]tine, the public reader of divinity…A discourse or traictise of Petur Martyr Vermilla Flore[n]tine, the publyque reader of diuinitee…
A discourse or treatise of Peter Martyr Vermilla Floor[n]tine, the public reader of divinity in the University of Oxford wherein he openly declared his whole and determinate judgement concerning the sacrament of the Lords supper in the said University.A discourse or traictise of Petur Martyr Vermilla Flore[n]tine, the publyque reader of diuinitee in the Vniuersitee of Oxford wherein he openly declared his whole and determinate iudgemente concernynge the sacrament of the Lordes supper in the sayde Vniuersitee.
London: printed by Robert Stoughton i.e. E. Whitchurch for Nicolas Udall, 1550London: printed by Robert Stoughton i.e. E. Whitchurch for Nycolas Udall, 1550
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 what is he that cannot see and perceive all this same, to be these mens fond and vain imaginations? For the sign and figure ought to be more sensible and more easy to perceive, and to be better known then the thing which is signified by it. And therefore the master of the sentences defineth a sacrament after Austens opinion in this manner: A Sacrament (sayeth he) is a visible sign of an unuisible grace. But the body of Christ hidden under the accidents (as these mens doctrine teacheth) is as unknown as that which did hang on the cross. Yea (and if a man may say the trueth) more unknown too, and more obscure or dark to perceive, than is that which is signified which things are much against the nature both of a sign and of a figure. For the body of Christ (as it hanged on the cross) is more easy to be known and comprehended in a mans mind, then as it is of these men placed in the sacrament.
But what is he that cannot see and perceiue all this same, to bee these mennes fond and vaine imaginacions? For the signe and figure ought to bee more sensible and more easie to perceiue, and to be better knowen then the thyng whiche is signifyed by it. And therefore the master of the sentences defineth a sacramente after Austens opinion in this maner: A Sacramente (saieth he) is a visible signe of an vnuisible grace. But the bodye of Christe hidden vnder the accidentes (as these mennes doctrine teacheth) is as vnknowen as that whiche did hange on the crosse. Yea (and if a man maye saye the trueth) more vnknowen too, and more obscure or darke to perceiue, than is that whiche is signifyed whiche thinges are muche ageynste the nature bothe of a signe and of a figure. For the bodye of Christ (as it hanged on the crosse) is more easie to bee knowen and comprehended in a mannes mynde, then as it is of these men placed in the sacramente.
1Leo the Bishop of Rome in his Epistle to the clergy and people of Constantinople writeth that this distribution is mystical, and that it is a spiritual nourishment and heavenly virtue that we here receive, to the end that we may be altered and transformed or changed into the flesh of Christ, who for our sakes took our flesh upon him.