1Yet there is another place of saint Ambrose, which the Papists think maketh much for their purpose,2 but after due examination, it shall plainly appear, how much they be deceived. They allege these words of saint Ambrose in a book intituled De ijs qui initiantur mysterijs. Let us prove that there is not that thing which nature formed, but which benediction did consecrate, and that benediction is of more strength than nature For by the blessing, nature it self is also changed. Moses held a rod,3 he cast it from him, and it was made a serpent. Again he took the serpent by the tail, and it was turned again into the nature of a rod. Wherefore thou seest, that by the grace of the prophet, the nature of the serpent and rod was twice changed.4 The floods of Egypt ran pure water, & suddenly blood began to burst out of the veins of the springs, so that men could not drink of the flood: but at the prayer of the prophet, the blood of the flood went away, and the nature of water came again.5 The people of the Hebrews were compassed about, on the one side with the Egyptians, and on the other side with the sea. Moses lifted up his rod, the water divided it self, & stood up like a wall, and between the waters was left a way for them to pass on foot. And Jordan against nature turned back to the ⟨p. 41⟩head of his spring. Doth it not appear now, that the nature of the sea floods, or of the course of fresh water, was changed? The people was dry,6 Moses touched a stone, and water came out of the stone. Did not grace here work above nature, to make the stone to bring forth water,7 which it had not of nature? Marath was a most bitter flood, so that the people being dry, could not drink thereof. Moses put wood into the water, and the nature of the water lost his bitterness, which grace infused, did suddenly moderate.8 In the time of Heliseus the prophet▪ an axe head fell from one of the prophets servants into the water, he that lost the iron, desired the prophet Heliseus help, who put the helve into the water, and the iron swam above. Which thing we know was done above nature, for iron is heavier than the liquor of water.
1Yet there is another place of sainct Ambrose, whiche the Papistes thynke maketh muche for their purpose,2 but after due examinacion, it shal plainly appeare, howe muche they be deceyued. They allege these wordes of sainct Ambrose in a booke intituled De ijs qui initiantur mysterijs. Let vs proue that there is not that thyng whiche natur formed, but whiche benediction did cōsecrate, and that benediction is of more strength than nature For by the blessyng, nature it selfe is also chaunged. Moyses helde a rodde,3 he cast it from him, and it was made a serpent. Againe he tooke the serpent by the tayle, and it was turned againe into the nature of a rodde. Wherfore thou seest, that by the grace of the prophet, the nature of the serpent and rodde was twyse chaunged.4 The fluddes of Egypt ranne pure water, & sodenly bloud beganne to brast out of the vaynes of the sprynges, so that men could not drynke of the fludde: but at the prayer of the prophet, the bloud of the fludde went away, and the nature of water came againe.5 The people of the Hebrues were compassed aboute, on the one syde with the Egyptians, and on the other syde with the sea. Moyses lyfted vp his rodde, the water deuided it selfe, & stoode vp like a walle, and betwene the waters was left a waye for them to passe on foote. And Iordane against nature turned backe to the ⟨p. 41⟩head of his sprynge. Dothe it not appere now, that the nature of the sea fludds, or of the course of freshe water, was changed? The people was dry,6 Moyses touched a stone, and water came out of the stone. Dyd not grace here woorke aboue nature, to make the stone to bryng forthe water,7 whyche it had not of nature? Marath was a most bytter floud, so that the people beyng drye, could not drinke therof. Moyses put woode into the water, and the nature of the water lost his bytternes, whiche grace infused, did sodeynly moderate.8 In the tyme of Heliseus the prophete▪ an axe head fell from one of the prophetes seruauntes into the water, he that loste the yron, desyred the prophet Heliseus help, who put the helue into the water, and the yron swam aboue. Which thyng we know was done aboue nature, for yron is heuier than the liquor of water.
- 1Chap. 13.
- 2Ambros. de ijs qui mysterijs initiantur.
- 3Exo. 7.
- 4Exo. 7.
- 5Exo. 14
- 6Exo. 17.
- 7Exod. 15.
- 84. Reg. 6
