A Christian instruction, containing the law and the Gospel Also a summary of the…

M. I Do now remember that thou hast already said that the body & the blood of Jesus Christ could not be separated from his spirit, from whence I do conclude that the body and blood of christ Jesus cannot be received but to the salvation of them which do receive it.

M. I Doe now remember that thou hast alredy said that the body & the bloud of Iesus Christ could not be separated frō his spirit, frō whence I do conclude that the body and bloud of christ Iesus cānot be receiued but to the saluation of them which doe receiue it.

P. None may doubt thereof.

M. It followeth then further ⟨p. 340⟩that infidels cannot receive them, forsomuch as they cannot receive them except they receive their salvation, the which they cannot obtain without faith, whereof they are void.

M. It followeth then further ⟨p. 340⟩that infidells cannot receiue them, forsomuch as they cannot receiue them except they receiue their saluation, the whyche they cannot obtaine without faith, wherof they are void.

M. It is also the cause why I did again set forth this matter. For if the body and the blood of Jesus Christ be corporally in the supper, in such sort, that whosoever receiveth bodily the bread and the wine therein, receiveth also the body and the blood of Jesus Christ corporally: there shall follow thereof many things, which seem to me very contrary as well to the office of Jesus christ as to the nature of this Sacrament of the Supper.

M. It is also the cause why I did againe set foorth thys matter. For if the body and the bloude of Iesus Christ be corporally in the supper, in suche sorte, that whosoeuer receiueth bodily the bread and the wine therein, receiueth also the body and the bloud of Iesus Christ corporally: there shall follow thereof many things, which séeme to me very contrary as well to the office of Iesus christ as to the nature of this Sacrament of the Supper.

P. Thou sayest very truth, and I am very glad to here of thee that which thou thinkest.

P. Thou sayest very truthe, and I am very glad to here of thée that which thou thinkest.

M. For the first we shall be constrained to confess that a man may in the Supper receive the body and the blood of Jesus Christ without faith and without his spirit, for the unfaithful which shall receive the ⟨p. 341⟩bread and the wine, shall no less receive the body and the blood of Jesus Christ, than the faithful.

M. For the firste we shall be constrayned to confesse that a man maye in the Supper receiue the body and the bloude of Iesus Christe without faith and without his spirite, for the vnfaithfull whiche shall receiue the ⟨p. 341⟩bread and the wine, shall no lesse receiue the body and the bloud of Iesus Christe, than the faithfull.

P. Behold there a very strange consequencie.

P. Beholde there a very straunge consequencie.

M. Moreover, if a man may receive them without faith, they which shall receive them in such sort, shall receive them either to their salvation or condemnation, if they receive them to their salvation, it must needs follow that a man may obtain salvation without faith: if they do receive them to their condemnation, it must then follow that the body and the blood of Jesus Christ do bring in this Sacrament against their nature, death in stead of life, which is also against the nature of the Sacrament, for it was not ordained to bring death to man, but life.

M. Moreouer, if a man may receyue them without faithe, they whiche shall receiue them in such sorte, shal receiue thē either to their saluation or condemnation, if they receiue thē to their saluation, it must néedes followe that a man maye obtaine saluation without faith: if they do receiue thē to their condemnation, it must then followe that the body and the bloude of Iesus Christe do bring in this Sacramente against their nature, deathe in stéede of life, whiche is also against the nature of the Sacramente, for it was not ordeyned to bring death to man, but life.

Whether a man may conclude of the words of Saint Paul, that a man may receive the body and the blood of Jesus Christ in the supper, to condemnation.

VVhether a man maye conclude of the vvords of Sainct Paule, that a man may receyue the body and the bloud of Iesus Christ in the supper, to condemnation.

P. Thou concludest very well, but they which hold the opinion against the which we dispute at this present, ⟨p. 358⟩make no difference to affirm that the infidels receive in the supper the body & the blood of Jesus Christ, & that they receive them to their condemnation. For they build themselves upon that which s. Paul hath said. That who so eateth in the supper the bread & drinketh the wine of the lord unworthily,¹ doth eat and drink his condemnation.

P. THou concludest very well, but they which houlde the opinion againste the whiche we dispute at this presente, ⟨p. 358⟩make no difference to affirme that the infidels receiue in the supper the body & the blud of Iesus Christ, & that they receyue thē to their condēpnation. For they build themselues vpō that which s. Paule hath saide. That who so eateth in the supper the bread & drincketh the wine of ye lorde vnworthily,¹ doth eate and drinke his condempnation.

1. 11. cor. 21. f. g

M. I know well that those men affirm that which thou sayest. But I cannot well agree their opinion with the matters the which we have already handled. And as touching that which they allege of S. Paul, he saith not, who so shall eat the body and drink the blood unworthily, shall receive his condemnation, but he saith, he that shall eat of this bread & shall drink of this cup.

M. I know well that those mē affirme that which thou saist. But I cannot well agrée their opinion with the matters the which we haue alredy handled. And as touching that which they alledge of S. Paule, he sayth not, who so shall eate the body and drincke the bloud vnworthily, shal receiue his condempnation, but he saith, he that shall eate of this bread & shall drinke of this cup.

P. Thou hast also to note beside this, that there is difference between receiving the supper unworthily, & to receive it without faith, and as touching the word of condemnation, it may be also taken in divers manners, but we will now no longer dwell upon these two points. It is sufficient for us to know that the body and the blood of Jesus Christ cannot be truly received but by the faithful.

P. Thou hast also to note beside this, that there is difference betwene receiuing the supper vnworthily, & to receiue it without faith, and as touching the word of condempnation, it may be also taken in diuers maners, but wée will now no longer dwell vpon these two pointes. It is sufficient for vs to knowe that the bodye and the bloud of Iesus Christ cannot bée truely receyued but by the faythfull.

Of the principal difference that may be between the transubstantiation of the bread and of the wine into the body and the blood of Jesus christ and the bodily conjunction of them together.

Of the principall difference that maye be betvveene the transsubstanciation of the bread and of the vvine into the bodie and the bloud of Iesus christ and the bodily coniunction of them together.

M. I Do well understand by all the reasons & testimonies which thou hast brought out of the holy scriptures, that we may seek no corporal nor carnal presence of Jesus christ, neither in the supper, nor yet in all this visible world, but only a spiritual and divine presence. Wherefore when I have well considered the whole, I find no great difference, between them that affirm, that the bread and the wine be converted & transubstantiated into the body & blood of Jesus christ in the supper, by the virtue of the sacramental words, & those which affirm, that albeit that the bread & the wine remain still in their own substance, yet notwithstanding, the body & blood of Jesus christ be there also present with them, in their proper and natural substance, not only spiritually, but also corporally & substantially, as are the bread & the wine.

M. I Do well vnderstand by all the reasons & testimonies which thou hast brought out of ye holy scriptures, that we may seke no corporal nor carnall presēce of Iesus christ, neither in the supper, nor yet in all thys visible worlde, but only a spirituall and diuine presence. Wherfore whē I haue well considered the whole, I finde no great difference, betwene them that affirme, yt the bread and the wine be conuerted & transubstanciated into ye bodie & blud of Iesus christ in the supper, by the vertue of the sacramentall wordes, & those which affirme, that albeit that the bread & the wine remayne still in their owne substāce, yet notwithstāding, ye body & blud of Iesus christ be there also present with thē, in their proper and natural substāce, not only spiritually, but also corporally & substancially, as are ye bread & the wine.

P. There is no great difference but in that that the one sort thinking to avoid ⟨p. 344⟩the absurdities which follow the opinion of the others, do fall into other absurdities which are nothing less, of the which we will no more speak here, because the matter would be to long, whereof we have already sufficiently spoken.

P. There is no great difference but in yt that ye one sort thinking to auoid ⟨p. 344⟩the absurdities which follow the opinion of the others, do fall into other absurdities which are nothing lesse, of the which we will no more speake here, bycause the matter woulde be to long, whereof we haue alredy sufficiently spoken.