What shall we say of that, which was forbidden in the Law, that the ancient people of God, should not eat of the1 blood of any oblation, whatsoever it were? who will then believe that in the most perfect Supper of the new Testament, we should drink blood? If it were so, the Paynims long ago said truly, that the Christians were wont in their assemblies to eat mans flesh in deed, and to drink blood ⟨image 25⟩drawn from the very veins of men.2 Moreover, the ancient Christians did understand these mysteries spiritually. For me thinketh that the things, which we have touched, when as we are in hand with the doctrine of Christ in the Supper, ought here to be remembered. For the Lord hath no less plainly expressed in the Supper the bread to be his body, than expressly said forthwith after the Supper, that his body should no longer be in the world, but that by his spirit he would continue with his unto the worlds end: wherefore these words of the Lord pronounced in the Supper, and incontinently after, ought to be conferred together. And that which more is, these words of the Lord:3 This is my body, be figurative and sacramental, but the other pronounced after the Supper, be not figurative, neither have any fruit or use in the church, if Christ remain corporally in the church, hid under the kind or, form of bread.
What shall we say of that, which was forbiddē in the Lawe, that the aunciēt people of God, should not eate of the1 bloud of any oblation, whatsoeuer it were? who will then beleeue that in the most perfect Supper of the new Testament, we should drinke bloud? If it were so, the Paynims long agoe sayd truly, that the Christians were woont in their assemblies to eate mans flesh in deede, and to drynke bloud ⟨image 25⟩drawen from the very vaynes of men.2 Moreouer, the auncient Christians did vnderstand these mysteries spiritually. For me thinketh that the things, which wee haue touched, when as we are in hande with the doctrine of Christ in the Supper, ought here to be remembred. For the Lord hath no lesse playnely expressed in the Supper the breade to be his body, than expresly sayd foorthwith after the Supper, that his body should no longer be in the world, but that by his spirit hee would cōtinue with his vnto the worlds end: wherefore these woordes of the Lord pronounced in the Supper, and incontinētly after, ought to be cōferred togeather. And that which more is, these woordes of the Lord:3 This is my body, be figuratiue and sacramentall, but the other pronounced after the Supper, be not figuratiue, neither haue any fruit or vse in the church, if Christ remayn corporally in the church, hid vnder the kinde or, forme of bread.
- 1Levit. 17.10.11.12.13. & 14.Leuit. 17.10.11.12.13. & 14.
- 2The Lord, as touching his body, hath left the earth, but he is present in spirit.
- 3Mark. 14.22 Mat. 26.26. Luk. 22.19. 1. Cor. 11.24.
