Two treatises. 1. The holy exercise of a true fast, described out of God's…

The second place, is that sentence reported by the three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke; and S. Paul himself also, reciting the institution of the Supper, which our Saviour Christ used, saying: This is my body: which they urge in the letter, after this sort: Hath not Christ said ⟨p. 40⟩it in plain terms? and shall I not believe it, though that my carnal understanding cannot conceive the same? To all this I answer: First, that the question is not of the words, for we as well as they confess the same; but of the sense: of which we will speak anon. Secondly, that we, are bound to believe all such things as are comprehended in Gods Word, though indeed our sensual reason, can not comprehend them; yet in such sort must we believe the same, and to such ends as the Lord himself hath appointed, not yet stretching them further, then the Lord would have us; nor restraining them to narrow or ⟨p. 41⟩purposes, then the Lord hath appointed; neither yet failing in the allegation of them, either in the matter, manner, or end: for if we do, we do nothing else thereby but heap up just condemnation against our own souls. Concerning the words, and the plainness of them; I say that other words are as plain as they, both in the old and new testament, which must yet notwithstanding, be otherwise interpreted, then the words themselves seem to import. For example in the 17 of Genesis 10. Circumcision is called the Covenant betwixt GOD and his people, whereas it was but the sign of the Covenant: For the Covenant ⟨p. 42⟩it self was, that he would be the God of Abraham, and in him of all the Faithful, and of their seed after them. So in the new Testament, Christ saith of him self, John 15.5. I am the Vine; whereas we know and believe, that Christ was no Vine, but that he calleth him self so in a certain resemblance; because look what property the fruit of the Vine hath in respect of our bodies, to wit, to comfort men, and ro make them glad hearts: the same hath Christ, and the fruits of his grace received by Frith, in respect of our souls: and as the Branches of the Vine have nothing of them selves, but all that they have, they have