But S. Hierome saith, Christs Flesh hath double understanding, and may be taken ⟨p. 332⟩either for his Spiritual, or Divine Flesh, or else for his Mortal Flesh, as it was Crucified: And is thought to make much for M. Harding. For answer hereunto, first of all, this one thing I pray thee, good Reader, to consider, that S. Hierome in that whole place speaketh not one word, neither of the Sacrament, nor of any Real, or Fleshly Presence. Therefore M. Harding can have but very poor help hereof, to prove his purpose. Only he expoundeth, what S. Paul meant by these words,1 We have Redemption by his Blood: And his meaning, as it appeareth by the whole drift of his words, is this, That the Salvation, which we have in Christ, standeth not in that, he was a mere natural man, as were Codrus, Decius, Curtius, or such others, that died for the safety and delivery of their Countries: but in that his Humanity was united, and joined in one person with the Nature of God.2 His words be these, Quis iste, aiunt, tantus, ac talis, qui possit pretio suo Totum Orbem redimere? Jesus Christus Filius Dei proprium Sanguinem dedit, & nos de Seruitute eripiens libertate donavit. Et re vera, si historijs Gentilium credimus, quòd Codrus, & Curtius, & Decij Mures pestilentias urbium, & fames, & bella suis mortibus represserint: quantò magis hoc in Dei Filio possible judicandum est, quòd cruore suo, non Urbem unā purgaverit, sed Totum Orbem? They say, What was he, such a one, and so mighty, that by his price was able to redeem the whole world? Jesus Christ the Son of God gave his own Blood, and delivering us from bondage, hath made us free. And in deed, if we believe the Heathen stories, that Codrus, Curtius, and Decii Mures removed Pestilences, Famines, and wars from their Cities by their death: how much more may we judge the same possible in the Son of God, that he by his Blood hath purged, not only one City, but also the whole world? Immediately after this follow the words that M. Harding hath here alleged: Dupliciter verò, &c. For the Blood, and Flesh of Christ hath double understanding. By the whole course of these words thus going before, it is easy to perceive S. Hieromes meaning:
But S. Hierome saith, Christes Fleashe hath double vnderstandinge, and maie be taken ⟨p. 332⟩either for his Spiritual, or Diuine Fleashe, or els for his Mortal Fleashe, as it was Crucified: And is thought to make muche for M. Hardinge. For answeare hereunto, firste of al, this one thinge I praie thée, good Reader, to consider, that S. Hierome in that whole place speaketh not one woorde, neither of the Sacrament, nor of any Real, or Fleashly Presence. Therefore M. Hardinge can haue but very poore healpe hereof, to prooue his purpose. Onely he expoundeth, what S. Paule meante by these woordes,1 VVe haue Redemption by his Bloude: And his meaninge, as it appeareth by the whole drifte of his woordes, is this, That the Saluation, which we haue in Christe, standeth not in that, he was a méere natural man, as were Codrus, Decius, Curtius, or suche others, that died for the safetie and deliuerie of their Countries: but in that his Humanitie was vnited, and ioyned in one persone with the Nature of God.2 His woordes be these, Quis iste, aiunt, tantus, ac talis, qui possit pretio suo Totum Orbem redimere? Iesus Christus Filius Dei proprium Sanguinem dedit, & nos de Seruitute eripiens libertate donauit. Et re vera, si historijs Gentilium credimus, quòd Codrus, & Curtius, & Decij Mures pestilentias vrbium, & fames, & bella suis mortibus represserint: quantò magis hoc in Dei Filio possible iudicandum est, quòd cruore suo, non Vrbem vnā purgauerit, sed Totum Orbem? They say, What was he, suche a one, and so mighty, that by his price was hable to redeeme the whole world? Iesus Christ the Sonne of God gaue his owne Bloude, and deliueringe vs from bondage, hath made vs free. And in deede, if we beleeue the Heathen stories, that Codrus, Curtius, and Decii Mures remoued Pestilences, Famines, and warres from their Citties by their deathe: howe muche more may we iudge the same possible in the Sonne of God, that he by his Bloude hath purged, not onely one Cittie, but also the whole worlde? Immediatly after this folowe the woordes that M. Hardinge hath here alleged: Dupliciter verò, &c. For the Bloude, and Fleashe of Christe hath double vnderstandinge. By the whole course of these woordes thus gooinge before, it is easy to perceiue S. Hieromes meaninge:
- 1Ad Ephesi. 1.
- 2Hieronym. ad Ephes. ca. 1.
