Which Faith, though it be of things hoped for, and so of things absent to the corporal senses, yet this absence, is not an absence in deed, but to reason, and the old man, the nature of Faith being a possession of things hoped for. Therefore, to grant a presence to Faith, is not to make no presence at all, but to such as know not Faith. And this the Fathers taught, affirming Christ to be present by grace, and therefore not only a signification, but also an exhibition and giving of the Grace of Christs body, that is, of life, and of the seed of immortality, as Cyprian writeth. We eat life, and drink life, saith Saint Augustine. We feel a presence of the Lord by Grace, or in Grace, saith Chrysostom. ⟨image 76⟩We receive the celestial food, that cometh from above,1 saith Athanasius. We receive the property of the natural conjunction, and knitting together, saith Hillarius. We receive the nature of the flesh, the blessing that giveth life in bread and Wine,2 saith Cyrillus. And elsewhere he saith, that with the bread and Wine, we eat the virtue of Christs proper flesh, life, grace, & the property of the body of the only begotten Son of God, which thing he himself expoundeth to be life.3 Basilius saith, that we by the Sacrament receive the mystical Advent of Christ, grace, and the very virtue of his very nature.4 Ambrose saith, that we receive the Sacrament of the true body. Epiphanius saith, we receive the body or grace. And Hierome saith, that we receive spiritual flesh, which he calleth other flesh, then that which was crucified. Chrysostom saith, that we receive influence of grace, and the grace of the holy Ghost. Saint Augustine saith,5 that we receive grace and verity, the invisible grace and holiness of the members of Christs body. All the which sayings of the Fathers, do confirm ⟨image 76⟩this our faith and doctrine of the Sacrament, we granting in all things herein unto them, and they in like manner unto us. And therefore the lying lips, which both belie the Doctors, as though they granted a carnal and real presence of Christs body, naturally and corporally after the Papists declaration and meaning: and which belie us also, as though we denied all presence of Christ, and so made it but a bare sign.
Which Faith, though it bee of things hoped for, and so of things absent to the corporall sences, yet this absence, is not an absence in déede, but to reason, and the olde man, the nature of Faith beeing a possession of things hoped for. Therefore, to graunt a presence to Faith, is not to make no presence at all, but to such as know not Faith. And this the Fathers taught, affirming Christ to bée present by grace, and therefore not onely a signification, but also an exhibition and giuing of the Grace of Christes body, that is, of life, and of the séede of immortalitie, as Cyprian writeth. Wée eate life, and drinke life, sayth Saint Augustine. We féele a presence of the Lord by Grace, or in Grace, sayth Chrysostome. ⟨image 76⟩We receiue the celestiall foode, that commeth from aboue,1 saith Athanasius. We receiue the propertie of the naturall coniunction, and knitting together, sayth Hillarius. Wee receiue the nature of the flesh, the blessing that giueth life in bread and Wine,2 sayth Cyrillus. And elsewhere hee sayth, that with the bread and Wine, we eate the vertue of Christs proper flesh, life, grace, & the propertie of the body of the onely begotten sonne of God, which thing he himselfe expoundeth to be life.3 Basilius sayth, that we by the Sacrament receiue the mysticall Aduent of Christ, grace, and the very vertue of his very nature.4 Ambrose saith, that we receiue the Sacrament of the true body. Epiphanius sayth, we receiue the body or grace. And Hierome sayth, that wee receiue spirituall flesh, which hee calleth other flesh, then that which was crucified. Chrisostome saith, that wee receiue influence of grace, and the grace of the holy Ghost. Saint Augustine sayth,5 that we receiue grace and veritie, the inuisible grace and holinesse of the members of Christes body. All the which sayings of the Fathers, doe confirme ⟨image 76⟩this our faith and doctrine of the Sacrament, wee granting in all things héerein vnto them, and they in like manner vnto vs. And therefore the lying lyppes, which both belye the Doctours, as though they graunted a carnall and reall presence of Christes body, naturally and corporally after the Papistes declaration and meaning: and which belye vs also, as though wee denied all presence of Christ, and so made it but a bare signe.
- 1Athana•us. Hyla•ius.
- 2Cyrillus.
- 3Basilius.
- 4Ambro•ius. Epiphanius. Hieronimus. Chrisostomus.
- 5Augustinus.
