Seeing then, we say that the true body of Christ is received only of the faithful, both sacramentally, and also truly: we mean that it is eaten, not with the mouth of the body, but the mouth of the mind and with a heart endued with faith: & that by means of the holy ghost, which worketh in us, and applieth whole Christ unto us. For it is the meat of the mind (saith Cyprian) not of the belly. And, 1The flesh profiteth nothing (as Christ saith, and Augustine expoundeth) but it is the spirit which quickeneth. And the Apostle teacheth, 2By one spirit we are all baptized into one body, and have bin all made to drink into one spirit. And if that all true conjunction with Christ be through the holy ghost, though he with his body do remain in heaven, and we upon the earth: it followeth, that this eating must be after the same sort. For what else is it to eat, then to receive & unite unto thee meat for the nourishment of that part, to which it is ordained, after a due sort? But the flesh of Christ (as hath been said) is food of the mind, not of the belly. Neither undoubtedly, is the flesh of Christ otherwise eaten, then in respect that it was killed for us, and made bloodless, as the words do sound, and the breaking of the bread doth represent; and that truly also, even as the passover, and all the sacrifices were eaten. But now his body liveth, and can not be without blood: as at ⟨p. 130⟩the first supper it was neither without blood, nor dead. And therefore we cannot without sacrilege affirm, that it passeth properly & that by the mouth into our bodies. And to what end also, as the sacrament of bread is given without wine, & the wine without bread: so in the supper, the body is given without blood, and the blood severally without the body: but that we might know, that these his own substances, as they are properly in heaven, do not pass through our mouths, but are received only by a faithful remembrance, effectually stirred up by the holy ghost? For this did the Lord himself require, saying, do this in remembrance of me: and in saying, This is my body which is given for you. For in speaking thus, he required in them faith, whereby they might believe this. and believing might eat: that is, might apply it unto themselves for the food and life of their souls.
Seing then, wee say that the true bodie of Christ is reccaued onely of the faithfull, both sacramentally, and also truely: we meane that it is eaten, not with the mouth of the body, but the mouth of the minde and with a heart indued with faith: & that by meanes of the holie ghost, which worketh in vs, and applieth whole Christ vnto vs. For it is the meate of the minde (saith Cyprian) not of the bellie. And, 1The flesh profiteth nothing (as Christ saith, and Augustine expoundeth) but it is the spirit which quickneth. And the Apostle teacheth, 2By one spirit we are all baptized into one bodie, and haue bin all made to drinke into one spirite. And if that all true coniūction with Christ be through the holy ghost, though he with his bodie do remaine in heauen, and we vpon the earth: it followeth, that this eating must bee after the same sorte. For what else is it to eate, then to receiue & vnite vnto thee meate for the nourishment of that part, to which it is ordained, after a due sort? But the flesh of Christ (as hath beene said) is food of the minde, not of the bellie. Neither vndoubtedly, is the flesh of Christ otherwise eaten, then in respect that it was killed for vs, and made bloodlesse, as the words do sound, and the breaking of the bread doth represent; and that truely also, euen as the passeouer, and all the sacrifices were eaten. But now his body liueth, and can not bee without blood: as at ⟨p. 130⟩the first supper it was neither without blood, nor dead. And therefore wee cannot without sacriledge affirme, that it passeth properly & that by the mouth into our bodies. And to what ende also, as the sacrament of bread is giuē without wine, & the wine without bread: so in the supper, the bodie is giuen without blood, and the blood seuerally without the bodie: but that wee might know, that these his owne substances, as they are properly in heauen, doe not passe through our mouthes, but are receiued onely by a faithfull remēbrance, effectually stirred vp by the holy ghost? For this did the Lord himselfe require, saying, doe this in remembrance of me: and in saying, This is my bodie which is giuen for you. For in speaking thus, he required in them faith, whereby they might beleeue this. and beleeuing might eate: that is, might apply it vnto themselues for the food and life of their soules.
- 1Ser. de caen. 1. Cor. 12.13
- 2Joh. 6.63Ioh. 6.63
