And first I will begin with Tertullian,1 whom Cyprian the holy martyr so highly esteemed, that when so ever he would have his book, he was wont to say: Give us now the Master. This old writer in his .4. book against Marcion the heretic, sayeth thus: Jesus made the bread, which he toke, and distributed to his disciples his body, saying: This is my body. That is to say (sayeth Tertullian) a figure of my body. In this place it is plain, that after Tertullian's exposition, Christ meant not by calling the bread his body, & the wine his blood, that either the bread was the natural body, or the wine his natural blood, but he called them his body and blood, because he would institute them to be unto us sacraments: that is, holy tokens and signs of his body and of his blood: that by them remē bring and firmly believing the benefits procured to us by his body which was torn & crucified for us, and of his blood which was shed for us upon the cross: and so with than kes receiving these holy sacraments, according to Christs institution, might by the same be spiritually nourished ⟨image 35⟩and fed to the increase of all godliness in us here in our pilgrimage & journey, wherein we walk, unto everlasting life. This was undoubtedly Christ our saviour's mind, and this is Tertullian's exposition. The wrangling that the Papists do make to elude this saying of Tertullian,2 is so far out of frame, that it even wearieth me to think on it. Tertullian writeth here (say they) as none hath done hitherto before him. This saying is toto manifest false: for Origene, Hilary, Ambrose, Basil, Gregory Nazianzene, saint Augustine, and other old authors, likewise do call the sacrament, a figure of Christs body. And where they say, that Tertullian wrote this, when he was in a heat of disputation, with an heretic, coveting by all means to overthrow his adversary. As who say, he would not take heed, what he did say, and specially what he would write in so high a matter, so that he might have the better hand of his adversary. Is this credible to be true in any godly wise man? How much less than is it worthy ⟨image 35⟩to be thought or credited in a man of so great a wit, learning and excellency, as Tertullian is worthily esteemed ever for to have ben?
And furst I will begynne with Tertullian,1 whom Cipriane the holy martyr so highly estemed, that whan so euer he wolde haue his boke, he was wont to saye: Geue vs now the Maister. This olde wrytour in his .4. boke agaynst Marcion the heretike, saieth thus: Iesus made ye breade, which he toke, and distributed to his disciples his body, sayeng: This is my body. That is to saye (sayeth Tertullian) afigure of my body. In this place it is playne, that after Tertullianes expolicion, Christ ment not by calling the bread his body, & the wyne his blood, that either the bread was the naturall body, or the wyne his natural blood, but he called thē his body and blood, bicause he wolde institute thē to be vnto vs sacramentes: that is, holy tokens and signes of his body and of his blood: that by them remē bring and firmely beleuing the benefites procured to vs by his body which was torne & crucified for vs, and of his blood which was shedde for vs vpō the crosse: and so with thā kes receauing these holy sacraments, according to Christes institucion, might by the same be spiritually nouryshed ⟨image 35⟩and fedde to the encrease of all godlynesse in vs here in our pilgrimage & iournaye, wherin we walke, vnto euerlasting lyfe. This was vndoubtedly Christ our saueours mīde, and this is Tertullianes exposicion. The wranglyng that the Papistes doo make to elude this sayeng of Tertullian,2 is so farre out of frame, that it euen wearieth me to thinke on it. Tertullian wryteth here (saye they) as none hathe done hitherto before him. This sayeng is toto manyfest false: for Origene, Hilarie, Ambrose, Basil, Gregorie Nazianzene, saint Augustine, and other olde autors, lykewyse doo call the sacrament, a figure of Christes bodye. And where they saye, that Tertullian wrote this, whan he was in a heate of disputacion, with an heretike, couetyng by all meanes to ouerthrowe his aduersarie. As who saye, he wolde not take hede, what he dyd saye, and specially what he wolde wryte in so hyghe a mater, so that he might haue the better hande of his aduersarie. Is this credible to be true in any godlye wyse man? How muche lesse thā is it worthy ⟨image 35⟩to be thought or credited in a man of so great a wytte, learning and excellencye, as Tertullian is worthilye estemed euer for to haue ben?
- 1Tertullian▪
- 2Guard. to the .16. objection.Gard. to the .16. obiection.
