Moreover, for the better understanding of this point, in what sense, the flesh of Christ is, and may truly be said to be ⟨p. 192⟩our spiritual food: we must express also in what manner it is made meat for us. And this Christ taught us in very plain words, in that Sermon, where he saith, I am that fliving bread (that is, the quickening bread, or that bread that giveth life) which came down from heaven: If any man shall eat of this bread, he shall live for ever, and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. In these last words, which I will give for the life of the world, Christ showeth in what manner his flesh should be food for us, and that is, in that he will give it unto the death, for our life, that is, to merit for us life everlasting, offering it as Priest himself, a holy sacrifice to God his father. And that this is the natural sense of this relative *which in this place: as if the Lord had said, quatenus cam dabo, in that, or for that I shall give it, it is very manifest by the matter it self, which is handled in that place. For if we shall not so understand those words, as tending to declare the former manner of that thing which is here entreated: then that word must note some ⟨p. 193⟩division of a general into specials, as if Christ had two kinds of flesh, of which the one he would give for the life of the world, the other he would not give. But this interpretation is manifestly false, and contrary to the articles of our faith whereon we ground the truth of Christs incarnation. Therefore that exposition of the relative which in this place is very true and natural, and used to declare the form and manner of that thing, which is there proposed or disputed upon. And the very same interpretation is there of the words of the Lord in the institution of his holy Supper, where, of that bread broken, he speaketh on this wise; This is my body, which is given, or broken for you, that is, *inasmuch as, or for that it is broken or given for you. For that holy bread, or as Paul calleth it, that bread of the Lord, is not simply the Sacrament of the Lords body: that is, doth not simply signify and testify that the Lord hath a true body:
Moreouer, for the better vnderstanding of this point, in what sense, the flesh of Christ is, and may truly be said to be ⟨p. 192⟩our spirituall foode: we must expresse also in what manner it is made meate for vs. And this Christ taught vs in very plaine wordes, in that Sermon, where he saith, I am that fliuing bread (that is, the quickning bread, or that bread that giueth life) which came downe from heauen: If any man shall eate of this bread, he shall liue for euer, and the bread that I will giue, is my flesh, which I will giue for the life of the world. In these last wordes, which I will giue for the life of the world, Christ sheweth in what maner his flesh should be foode for vs, and that is, in that he will giue it vnto the death, for our life, that is, to merite for vs life euerlasting, offring it as Priest himselfe, a holy sacrifice to God his father. And that this is the naturall sense of this relatiue *which in this place: as if the Lord had said, quatenus cam dabo, in that, or for that I shall giue it, it is verie manifest by the matter it selfe, which is handled in that place. For if we shall not so vnderstand those wordes, as tending to declare the former maner of that thing which is here intreated: then that word must note some ⟨p. 193⟩diuision of a generall into specials, as if Christ had two kindes of flesh, of which the one he would giue for the life of the world, the other he would not giue. But this interpretation is manifestly false, and contrary to the articles of our faith wheron we ground the truth of Christes incarnation. Therefore that exposition of the relatiue which in this place is verie true and natural, and vsed to declare the forme and manner of that thing, which is there proposed or disputed vpon. And the very same interpretation is there of the words of the Lord in the institution of his holy Supper, where, of that bread broken, he speaketh on this wise; This is my bodie, which is giuen, or broken for you, that is, in *asmuch as, or for that it is broken or giuen for you. For that holie bread, or as Paule calleth it, that bread of the Lord, is not simplie the Sacrament of the Lordes bodie: that is, doth not simplie signifie and testifie that the Lord hath a true bodie:
- fv. 51.
- *Quam ego dabo.
- *Quatenus.
