But Leo saith,1 They answer, Amen, in vain, that dispute against the same thing,2 that they receive. For clear understanding of which words, it behooveth thee, good Reader, to remember, that Leo, as well herein, as also in sundry other places, bendeth the whole force of his learning against the Heretic Eutyches, whose error was this, much like unto the common error, that is now defended, that Christs Body, after his Ascension, was turned wholly into the God-head, and so was no longer a Mans Body. Against which error Leo taketh an argument of the holy Mysteries: wherein the Faithful People, as with their Bodily Mouth they receive the Mystical Bread, and Wine, so with their Sprite, and Faith they receive the Body, and Blood of Christ, and that verily, and in Trueth: and in witness thereof the receiver saith, Amen. But, saith Leo, he saith, Amen, in vain, that denieth the same thing, that he receiveth: That is to say, That receiveth the Sacrament of Christs Body, and yet nevertheless is persuaded, as the Heretic Eutyches was, that Christ in deed hath no Body. And in this sense S. Augustine seemeth to say,3 Mors illi erit, non Vita, qui mendacem putaverit Vitam. The receiving of the Sacrament shall be Death, and not life unto him, that thinketh, that Christ, being the life it self, was a liar, Delivering these holy Mysteries, as the Sacrament, or Pledge of his Body, him self in deed having no Body. So likewise Prosper Aquitanus,4 Christum à Populo Judaico fuisse occisum, nullus jam ambigit Christianus: Cuius Sacrum Sanguinē omnis nunc terra accipiens, clamat, Amen: Ut neganti ludaeo, quòd occiderit Christum, recté dicatur à Deo, Vox Sanguinis fratris tui clamat ad me de terra: Whether Christ were slain of the Jews, or no, there is no Christian man now, that can stand in doubt. For now all the Earth receiveth his holy Blood, and crieth, Amen. Therefore, if the Jew will deny, that ever he slew Christ, God may justly say unto him, The voice of the Blood of thy Brother crieth unto me from the Earth. So S. Chrysostome,5 Haec afferentes Mysteria, ora ipsorum consuimus. Si enim mortuus Christus non est, cuius Symbolum, ac Signum hoc Sacrificium est? Layeinge foorth these Mysteries, we stop their mouths. For, if Christ dyed not, whose Sign then, and whose Token is this Sacrifice?
But Leo saith,1 They answeare, Amen, in vaine, that dispute against the same thinge,2 that they receiue. For cleare vnderstandinge of whiche woordes, it behooueth thée, good Reader, to remember, that Leo, as wel herein, as also in sundrie other places, bendeth the whole force of his learninge against the Heretique Eutyches, whoes erroure was this, muche like vnto the common erroure, that is nowe defended, that Christes Bodie, after his Ascension, was turned wholy into the God-head, and so was no lenger a Mannes Bodie. Against whiche erroure Leo taketh an argumente of the holy Mysteries: wherein the Faithful People, as with theire Bodily Mouth they receiue the Mystical Breade, and Wine, so with their Sprite, and Faith they receiue the Bodie, and Bloude of Christe, and that verily, and in Trueth: and in witnesse thereof ye receiuer saith, Amen. But, saith Leo, he saith, Amen, in vaine, that denieth the same thinge, that he receiueth: That is to saie, That receiueth the Sacramente of Christes Bodie, and yet neuerthelesse is persuaded, as the Heretique Eutyches was, that Christe in deede hath no Bodie. And in this sense S. Augustine seemeth to saie,3 Mors illi erit, non Vita, qui mendacem putauerit Vitam. The receiuinge of the Sacramente shal be Death, and not life vnto him, that thinketh, that Christ, beinge the life it selfe, was a lyer, Deliueringe these holy Mysteries, as the Sacramente, or Pleage of his Bodie, him selfe in deede hauinge no Bodie. So likewise Prosper Aquitanus,4 Christum à Populo Iudaico fuisse occisum, nullus iā ambigit Christianus: Cuius Sacrum Sanguinē omnis nunc terra accipiens, clamat, Amen: Vt neganti ludaeo, quòd occiderit Christum, recté dicatur à Deo, Vox Sanguinis fratris tui clamat ad me de terra: Whether Christe were slaine of the Iewes, or no, there is no Christian man nowe, that can stande in doubte. For nowe al the Earth receiueth his holy Bloude, and crieth, Amen. Therefore, yf the Iewe wil denie, that euer he slewe Christe, God maie iustly saie vnto him, The voice of the Bloude of thy Brother crieth vnto me from the Earth. So S. Chrysostome,5 Haec afferentes Mysteria, ora ipsorum consuimus. Si enim mortuus Christus non est, cuius Symbolum, ac Signum hoc Sacrificium est? Layeinge foorth these Mysteries, we stoppe their mouthes. For, yf Christe dyed not, whoes Signe then, and whoes Token is this Sacrifice?
- 1Augustin. in Psalm. 33.
- 2Leo De Jeiunio. 7. Mensis, Sermon. 6.Leo De Ieiunio. 7. Mensis, Sermon. 6.
- 3Bede. 1. Corin. 10.Beda. 1. Corin. 10.
- 4Prosper De promiss. Dei, parte 1. cap. 6.
- 5Chrysostom. in Matthae. hom. 83.
