1And that which I say of preaching and of the word, must be also understood of the Sacraments and of the administration of them, for so much as they do depend of the same, and that they are, as Saint Augustine hath very well said,2 as it were a kind of word which is visible and to be felt, and is sensible, the which teacheth men by their eyes, by the mean of the sight, and by the other senses, by the mean of their feelings, as doth the word and the voice by the ears, by the mean of the hearing. From whence ⟨image 76⟩it cometh to pass, that by the mean of the sacraments,3 man is instructed by all his senses, as well exterior as interior, and as well bodily as spiritual, because that they have such as agreement together, that the exterior and bodily senses, are as the messengers and the advertisers of the inward and spiritual senses. Wherefore, seeing that God would that by the mean of his sacraments, that one should help to instruct the others every one in their order and degree, none may then contemn and overthrow that order. Whereupon I do conclude, that the Romaine priests may as well receive the supper for others as for them selves, as they may hear the word of God, & believe & be saved for others, for so much as it must needs be, that every man have all this in his own person.4 Wherefore it is as possible that the Christian people should be fed spiritually with the body & blood of Jesus Christ, by the communion, which the priest alone maketh in his mass, as it is possible that he may be fed bodily, with that which the priest dineth with, and eateth & drinketh all alone.5 Wherefore if the people will be partakers of the things signified by the signs of the supper, they must also be partakers of the word & of the signs of the same: which are the means whereby God will communicate those things which they do signify. For as he hath ordained the mean whereby he will ⟨image 76⟩give, entertain & conserve the bodily life, even so hath he done for the conservation of the spiritual life. And therefore seeing that he hath ordained the ministry of the word & of the sacraments in respect of the spiritual life:
1ANd that which I say of preaching and of the worde, must be also vnderstoode of the Sacramentes and of the administration of them, for so much as they do depend of the same, and that they are, as Saint Augustine hath very wel said,2 as it were a kinde of worde which is visible and to be felt, and is sensible, the which teacheth men by their eyes, by the meane of the sight, and by the other senses, by the meane of their feelings, as doth the woorde and the voice by the eares, by the meane of ye hearing. From whēce ⟨image 76⟩it commeth to passe, that by the meane of the sacramentes,3 man is instructed by all his senses, as well exteriour as interiour, and as well bodily as spirituall, because that they haue such as agreement together, that the exteriour and bodily senses, are as the messengers and the aduertisers of the inward and spiritual senses. Wherfore, seeing that God would that by the meane of his sacraments, yt one should helpe to instruct the others euery one in their order and degree, none may then contemne and ouerthrowe that order. Whereupon I do conclude, that the Romaine priests may as wel receiue the supper for others as for them selues, as they may heare the word of God, & beleeue & be saued for others, for so much as it must needes be, yt euery man haue all this in his owne person.4 Wherefore it is as possible that the Christiā people should be fedde spiritually with ye body & blood of Iesus Christ, by the communion, which the priest alone maketh in his masse, as it is possible that he may be fed bodily, with that which ye priest dineth with, and eateth & drinketh all alone.5 Wherefore if ye people wilbe partakers of ye things signified by the signes of the supper, they must also be partakers of the worde & of the signes of the same: which are the meanes whereby God will cōmunicate those things which they doe signifie. For as he hath ordeined the meane whereby he will ⟨image 76⟩giue, entertaine & conserue the bodily life, euē so hath he done for the conseruation of the spiritual life. And therefore seeing yt he hath ordeined the ministerie of the word & of the sacramēts in respect of the spirituall life:
- 1Note well this chapter.Note wel this chapter.
- 2Aug. in Joa• Ho. 80. & con tra Faust. li. 16. & de doctr. Chri. li. 11.Aug. in Ioa• Ho. 80. & cō tra Faust. li. 16. & de doctr. Chri. li. 11.
- 3•••uctiō mean •he sacraments.•••uctiō meane •he sacra••nts.
- 4•ote this •imparisō.•ote this •imparisō.
- 5[…] good instruction.〈…〉 good in••ruction.
