A68595:492
A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith
A brief and pithy sum of the Christian faith made in form of a confession, with a confutation of all such superstitious errors, as are contrary thereunto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of French by R.F.A briefe and piththie summe of the Christian faith made in forme of a confession, vvith a confutation of all such superstitious errours, as are contrary therevnto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of Frenche by R.F.
London: printed by Richard Serll, 1565
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Of the Supper.
Concerning the holy Supper of the Lord, what desolation is there in all the Papistry? It is requisite that there be signs for to represent the thing signified, otherwise it can be no Sacrament, as we have amply and largely declared. But these abolish the signs, saying that there is neither bread nor wine, but only the whiteness and savour of bread and wine, wherein they utterly abolish the proportion, which is between the signs, and the thing represented by them.
Concerning the holy Supper of the Lord, what desolation is there in all the Papistrie? It is requisite that there be signes for to represent the thing signified, otherwise it can be no Sacramente, as we haue amply and largely declared. But these abolish the signes, saying that there is neyther breade nor wine, but onely the whitenesse and sauoure of breade and wyne, wherein they vtterly abolyshe the proportion, whiche is betwéene the signes, and the thing represented by them.
The conjunction of the thing signified with the signs, dependeth on the only ordinance and promise of God, without being either local, or in any wise natural. But so only as God offereth to us veritably, that which he promiseth to us by his word, and representeth to ⟨p. 154⟩our sense by visible signs, that is to say, the very body and blood of Jesus Christ, to everlasting life. But these on the contrary, will have by the virtue of four or five words, the bread to be changed into the body, and the Wine into the blood of Jesus Christ, which is a very Juggling or Sorcery. For in so saying, they destroy by consequent, the humanity of Jesus Christ. If they allege furthermore, that God is Almighty, the answer is soon made. For there is no question to know whether God can, (for we doubt not but he can do all) but whether he will or not. Now that he will not, it appeareth by this, that he hath not declared it by his word. But on the contrary, it is said,