this ys my bodye callâng the sacrameÌt signe tokeÌ and memoriall of so great a thinge euyn w t the name of the verye thinge yt sellfe thus doth s. Ambrose choke our sophisters Neuerthelesse I will allege one place more oute of s. ambrose where he sayth Dicit sacerdos fac nobis haÌc oblationeÌ scriptaÌ rationabileÌ qd est figura corporis DnÌi nostri resu xpi That ys the prest saith make vs this oblacioÌ acceptable c. For yt is a figure of the bodie of our lorde Iesu christ Here he caulleth yt playnly a figure of christes bodie w c thinge you can not auoyde Therfore geue prayse vnto God aÌd âett his trouth sprede w c ys so playnlye testified bi theis holye fathers How lett vs se what s. Hierom sayth Saincte Hierom writynge vppon Ecclesiaste sayth on thys maner Caro DOMINI uerus cibus est sanguis eius uerus potus est hoc solum habemus in praesenti saeculo bonum si uescamur carne eius cruoreque potemur non solum in misterio sed etiaÌ in scripturaruÌ lectione verus emÌ cibus est potus q ex uerbo dei sumitur scientia scripturaruÌ That ys to saye the fleshe of the lorde ys verye meate and his bloude ys verye drynke This ys onlye the pleassure or profite that we haue iÌ this wordle that we maye eate his fleshe aÌd drinke his bloude not only in a misterry but allso in the readinge of scriptures âor yt is very meate and drinke â w c ys taken oute of Goddes worde by the knowelege of scriptures Here maye ye se s. Hieroms mânde in fewe wordes For furste he sayth that we eate his fleshe and drinke his bloudâ in a misterye w c ys the sacrameÌt of his râmâmbraunce and memoryall of his passion And aâter he addeth that we eate hys fleshe drinke his bloude in the redinge aÌd knowelâge of scriptures and calleth that very meate very driâke And yet I am sure ye are not so grosse as to thinke that the letters w c you reade are torned in to naturall fleshe bloude And likewise yt ys not necessarie that the bred should be torned in to his bodye no more than the letters in scripture are tournâd in to his fleshe And neuerthelesse thorough fayth we may as well âate his bodie in recâyuinge of the sacrameÌt as eate his fleshe in readinge of the letters oâ the scripture Besides that s. Hierom cauâeth the vnderstondinge oâ the scripture verye mâate and very drinke w c you muste nedes vnderstond in a misterie and spuÌall sense for yt ys nother materiall meate nor driÌke that ys receiuyd w t the mouth and teth but yt is spnÌall meate drinke and ys so called for a similitude and propertie be cause that as meate drinke comforte the bodye and outward man so doth the readinge and knowelege of sâripture coÌforte the soule and inward man And likewise yt ys of christes bodye w c ys caulled verye meate and very drinke w c you muste nedes vnderstond in a mysterie or spuÌall sense as s. Hierom called yt for his bodye is no materiall meate nor drinke that ys receyued w t the mouth or teth but yt is spirituall meate drinke and so called for a similitude êpertiâ because that as meate and drinke coÌforte the bodye so doth the fayth in his bodye breakinge bloudsheding refreshe the soule vnto liffâ euerâasting We vse yt cuÌstomablye in our daylye speache to saye when a chylde setteth all hys mynde and delyght on sport and playe It ys meate aÌd drinke to this childe to plaie And allso we saye by a man that loueth well hawkinge huntyng It ys meate and drinke to this maÌ to hawke hunte Where no man doubteth but yt ys a figuratiue speache And therfore I woÌdâr that they are so blinde in this one poynt of Christes bodye And can not allso take the wordes figuratiuelye as thesse olde doctours did Agayne s. Hierom sayth Postquam mystiâum pascha fuerat impletuÌ agni carnes cuÌ apostolis comederaâ assumit paneÌ qui coÌfortat cor hominis ad ueruÌ paschae transgreditur sacramentuÌ quomodo in praefiguratione eius Melchisedech uinuÌ paneÌ pro ferens fecerat ipse quoque ueritatem corporis repraesentaret That ys to saye after the misticall ester lambe fullfylled and that Christe had eaten the lambes fleshe w t the apostles he toke brede w c coÌforteth the herte of maÌ and passeth to the true sacrameÌt of the easter lambe that as Melchisedech brought for the bred and wyne figuring hiÌ so might he likewise repÌsent y â trueth of his bodie Here doth s. Hiârom speake after the maner that tertulliaÌ did before that âhrist w t brede and wine did represent the truth oâ his bodie For âxcept he had had a ârue bodie he could not lâaue a figure of yt nor repÌsent yt vâto vs. âor a vayne thinge or phaÌtasâe can haue no figure nor caÌ not be repÌsented as by exaÌple how shoulde a maÌ make a figure of his drâame or repÌsent yt vnâo our memorie Buâ christ hath leât vs a figure aÌd repÌsentacioÌ of his bodie in bred and wine therfore yt folowyth thaâ he had a true bodye And that this was s. Hieroms mââde doth maââfeastlye apere by the wordââ ãâã ââda w c doth more copiousâiâ sett out this sayinge of Hierâm For he writeth on this maner Fiâitis paschae ueterisso lennijs q in coÌmemorationeÌ antiquae de aegypto liberatioÌis agebant traÌsit ad nouuÌ qd in suae redemptionis memoriaÌ ecclesia frequentare desidârat ut uidelicet pro carne agni uel sanguine suo carnis sanguinisque sacramentuÌ in panis ac uini figuâa substituens iâsum se esse moâsââaâet cui iurauit DnÌs Tu es sacerdos in aeterâuÌ seâunduÌ ordineÌ Melchisedech ârangit auteÌ ipse panem queÌ porrigit ut osâendat corporis sui fractioneÌ non sine sua sponte futuram Similiter calicem posiq ãâã nauit dedit eis Quia ergo panis carnem confirmat uiâum uero sanguinem operatur in carne hic ad corpus Christi mystice illud refertur ad sanguinem That ys to saye After the solemnite of âhe olde âaster âambe was fynished which was âl sârued in the râmembraunce of âhe olde delyueraunce oute of Egypt he goth vnto the newe whiche the churche gladlye obseruith in the remembrauÌce of hys râdâmptyon that he in the sâede of the flâiche aÌd bloude of the lambe myght institute and ordeyne the sacrament of his fleshe bâoude in the fygure of brede and wyne and so decâare hym sellf to be the âame vnto whom the lorde sware thou arte a perpetuall prest after the order of Melchisedech And he hym sellf brake the brede which he gaue â to shewe that the breakynge of hys bodye shuld not be don with out hys owyn wyll And lâkewise he gaue them the cuppe after âe
they muâte nedes haue a signe token sacrament or comen badge by the w c they may knowe eche other And ther ys no defference betwene a signe or a badge and a sacrameÌt but that the sacrament sygnifyeth anÌ holy thinge and a signe or a badge dothe signyâie a wordly thinge as s. AusteÌâayeth signes wheÌ they are referred to holy thiÌges are called sacrameÌtes The secoÌde cause of their institucyon ys that they may be a meane to brynge vs vnto hys fayth and to enprent yt the deê in vs for yt doth costomably the more move a man to beleve wheÌ he êceyvyth the thynge expressed to diuerse senses at once as by exaÌple yf I promise a man to mete hym at a day apoynted he wyll somwhat truste my worde Notwtstondynge he trustyth not so moche vnto yt as yf I did both promise hym with my worde allso clape handes w t hym or holde vp my fynger for he counteth that this promiseys strong more faythefull then ys the bare worde because yt moveth mo senses For the worde doth but only certifie the thynge vnto a man by the sense of herynge but wheÌ w t my promise immediatly after I holde vp my fynger then do I not only certifye hym by the sense of hearynge But allso bâ hys sight he perceyvyth that that facte confyrmeth my worde And in the clapynge of handes he perceyvyth both by hys sight and fealyng be side the word that I wyll fullfyll my promise And lykewise yt ys in this sacramente Christ promised them that he wolde geve hys bodye to be slayne for their synnes And for to establishe the faythe of this promise in them he did institute the sacrameÌt w c he called hys bodye to th entent that the very name yt selfe might put them in remâmbraÌce what was ment by yt he brake the brode before them signifying vnto theÌ outwardly evyn the same thynge that he by his wordes hade before êtested evyn as his wordes hade enformed theÌ by their hearynge that he entended so to do so the brekynge of that brede enformed their ye sight that he wolde fullfyll hys promise Then he dide distribute yt amonge theÌ to enprynt the mater more depely in them signifinig therbye that evyn as that brede was devidid amonge them so should hys bodie and frute of his passyon be distributed vnto as manye as beleved his wordes Finaly he caused them âo eate yt that nothynge shoulde be lackynge to coÌfyrme that necessarye poynt of faythe in theÌ signifyinge therbye that as verely as they fellte that brede wtin them so sure should they be of hys bodye thorough fayth And that evyn as that brede doth norishe tâe bodye so dothe the fayth in hys bodye breakynge norishe the soule vnto ever lastynge lyffe This did our mercyfull saviour w c knowyth our fraylte weakenes to establishe aÌd strenghth their faâth in hys bodye breakynge blode shedynge w c ys our shoteanker and laste refuge w t oute w c we shoulde all perishe The thârd cause the instâtucyon profit that comythe of yt ys this They that haue receyved thes blessyd tidynges and worde of helth do love to publishe this felicite vnto other men And to geve thaÌkys before the face of the congregacyoÌ vnto their bountteons benefactour and as moche as in them ys to drawe all people to the praisinge of God with them which thinge though yt be partly doÌ by the prechynge of goddes worde fructefull exhortacyons yet dothe that visible token sacramente yf a man vnderstond what ys ment therbye more effectuously worke in them both fayth and thankisgeuynge then doth the bare worde but yf a man wot not what yt meaneth and seketh helthe in the sacrament and outeward signe then may he well be lykened vnto a fonde fellow which when he ys very drye and an honest man shewe hym an alepole tell hym that ther ys good ale ynough wolde goo and sucke the ale pole trustynge to get drynke oute of yt and so to quenche hys thurste Now a wise man wyll tell hym that he playeth the fole for the ale pole doth but signifie that ther ys good ale in the howse where the alepole stondyth and wyll tell hym that he must goo nere the howse and there he shall fynde the drynke not stond suckynge the alepole in vayne For yt shall not ease hym but rather make hym more drie for the ale pole doth signifie good ale yet the ale pole yt sellfe ys no good ale nother ys there ony good ale in the alepole And lykewise yt ys in all sacramentes For yf we vndersâond not what they meane and seke helth in the outeward signe then we sucke the alepole labour in vayne But yf we do vnderstond the meanynge of them than shall we seke what they signifye and go to the signyficacions ther shall we fynde vndoubted helth As to oure purpose in thys sacrament wherof we speake we muste note what yt signyfyeth and ther shall we fynde oure redempcyon It signifyeth that Christys bodye was broken vppon the crosse to redeme vs from the thrauldom of the deuell and that hys blode was shed for vs to washe oure synnes Therfore we mâste ruÌne thider yf we wyll be eased For yf we thynke to haue our synnes forgeuyn for eatynge of the sacrament or for seinge the sacrament onece a day or for prayinge vnto yt then suerly we sucke the alepole And of thys yow may perceyue what profyt comyth of thes sacramentes the which ether haue no signyficacyons put vnto them or els when ther sygnifycacions ar loste and forgotten For then no doubt they are not commended of God but are rather abhomynable for whan we knowe not what they meane then seke we helth in the outward dede and so are iniuryous vnto Christe and hys blode As by example the sacrifices of the Iewys were well alowed accepted of God as longe as they vsed them aryght and vnderstode by them the deth of Chryste the shedynge of hys bloude that holy oblacyon offered on the crosse once for euer But when they begon to forgett thys significacion aÌd sought there helthe rightwisnes in the bodely worke in the sacrifice ytsellfe theÌ were they abhominable in the sight of God and then he cryed oute of theÌ bothe by the êphet Dauid and Isaye And likewise yt ys w t our sacrameÌtes let vs therfore seke vp the significacioÌs and goo to the very thinge w c the sacrament ys set to presânt vnto vs. And ther shall we synde suchâ frutefull foode as shall never fayle vs but comâort our soules in to lyff euerlastynge Now wyll I in order answer to master moâes boke and as I fynde occasion gevyn me I shaâl indevoure my sellfe to supply that thynge w c lacked in the fyrste treatise I trust I shall shâwe suche lyght that all men whose eyes the prence of thys worlde hath not blynded shall êceyve the truthe of the
scripture glorye of christe And where as in my firste treaâise the truthe was set forthe w t all symplicite aÌd nothyng armâd agaynste the assauâe of sophesters that haue I somwhat redressed in this boke aÌd haue brought bones feyt for their teth which yf they be to busye may chaunce to choke them ¶ Thus begynnyth the preface of master Mores boke IN my moste hartye wise I recoÌmeÌde me vnto yow aÌd sende yow by thys brynger the wrytynge agyane whiche I receyved from yow Wherof I haue byn offered a cople of copies mo in y e meane while as late as ye wot well yt was Deare brotherne coÌsider thes wordes and prepare yow to the crosse that Christe shall laye vppon yow as ye haue ofte byn counseled For evyn as whan the wolffe howleth the shâpe hade nede to gather them sellfe to their shepard to be delyâered from the assaulte of the blodye beaste lykewise hade yow nede to flye vnto the shepard of your soules christ Ihesus aÌd to sell youre coetes and bye hys spuÌall swerd w c is the word of god to defende and deliure yow in this pÌsent necessyte for now ys the tyme that Christ tould vs of math 10. that he was come by hys word to se et variaunce betwene the sonne and hys fader betwene the doughter and her mother betwene the doughterlawe aÌd her motherlawe and that a mans owne househould shal be hys emnyes But be not dismayed nor thynke yt no wonder for christ chose .12 and one of theÌ was the devyll and betrayed hys master And we that are hys disciplis may loke for no better than he hade hym sellfe for the scoler ys not aboue hys master ¶ Saynt Paul protesteth that he was in perell emoÌge the false bretherne and suerly I suppose that we are in no lesse yeopardye For yf yt be so that hys mastership Receyvyd one copye and hade a coeple of copyes mo offered in the meane while then maye ye besure that ther are many faulse brethernÌ which pretend to haue knowelege and in dede be but pykthankes êuidyng for ther belye prepare ye therfore clokys for the wether wexeth cloudye and rayne ys lyke to folowe I meane not faulse excuses and forsweringe of your fellfes but that ye loke substancially on goddes worde that yow may be able to answer ther sotle obiectioÌs And rather chose maÌfully to dye for crist aÌd hys worde thaÌ cowardli to denye hym for this vaine aÌd traÌsitory lyffe coÌsâderinge that they haue no furder power but ouer this corruptible bodye w c yf they put yt not to deth muste yet at the length perishe of yt sellfe But I truste the lorde shall not suffer yow to be teÌpted aboue that yow may beare but acordinge to the sprite that he shall poure vppon yow shall he allso sende yow the scorge and make hym that hath receyuyd more of the sprite to suffer more hym that receyuyth lesse therof to suffer accordinge to his taleÌt I thought yt necessarie first to monyshe yow of thys matter and nowe I wyll recite more of master Mores boke Wher bye men may see how gredely thes newe named brethern wryt yt oute secretly spred yt a brode The name ys of great antiquite allthoughe yow âiste to iest For thei were called brethernerâ our bushoppes were called lordes and had the name geuyn them by Christe sayâge Math. xxiij all ye are brethern And luke the .xxij Confyrme they bretheân And the name was continued by the aposteles and ys a name that norysheth loue amite And very glad I am to here of ther gredye affection in wrytynge oute and spredynge a brode the worde of god for by that I do perceyue the êphesie of Amos to haue place whiche sayth in the êson of god I wyll send hoÌger thurste in to the yerth â not honger for mâate nor thurste for drynke But for âo here the worde of god Nowe begynyth the kyngdom of heuyn to suffer violence Now runne the pore publicanes which knowelege them sellfys synners to the worde of god puttynge bothe goodes and bodye in Ieoperdy for the soule health and though our Bishopes do caule yt heresye and all them herytyckys that honger after yt yet do we knowe that yt ys the gospell of the leuynge god for the helth and saluacyon of all that beleue And as for the name doth nothing offende vs though they calle yt heryse a thousand tymys For sainct Paulle testifyeth that the pharises and prystes whyche were counted the very churche in hys tyme did so calle yt and therfore yt forsyth not though they rulynge in ther roumes vse thesame namys ¶ Whiche youge man I here say hathe lately made diuers other thynges that yet runne in hoker moker so close amoÌge the brothern that ther comyth no copies abrode ¶ I answer that surely I can not spynne and I thinke noman more hateth to be idle than I doo Wherfor in suche thyngys as I am able to doo I shal be deligent as longe as god lendyth me my lyffe And yf ye thynke I be to busye yow may rid me the sonner for euyn as the shepys in the bochers handes ready bounde and loketh but euyn the grace of the bocher when he shall shede hys blode Euyn so am I bounde at the bushopes pleasures euer lokynge for the day of my dethe In so moche that playne worde was sent me that the chaunâelour of London sayd yt shuld coste me the best blode in my body which I wolde gladly were shede to morow yf so be yt myght opyn the kynges graces eyen And verely I marvyll that any thynge can rune in hoker moker or be hyde from yow For sythe yow mought haue suche store of copyes coÌcernynge the thynge which I moste desyred to haue byn kept secreat how shuâd yow thaÌ lake a copye a those thynges w c I moste wolde haue published And here of ye may be sure I care not though yow alâ the bushoppes w t in engloâd loke on all that euer I wrote but rather wolde be glade that ye so did For yf there be any sparke of grace in youre breastes I trust yt shulde be an ocâaâioÌ somwhat âo kyndle yt that you may coÌsyder and knowe your sellâes w t ys the fyrst poynt of wysdom And wolde God for nys mercye sayth M more that syth ther can nothynge refrayne ther âtudye from deuise and compassyng of euyll vngracyous wryting that they wolde coulde kepe yt so secreatly thaâ neuer man shulde se yt But suche as are so ferre corrupted as neuer wolde be cured of ther canker It ys not possyble for hym that hathe hys eyen and seth hys brother w c lackyth sight in Ieoêdye of peryshynge at a peryâous pyt but that he must com to hym and guyde hym tyll he be past that Ieoêdye and at the lest wiâe yf he can
downe and wepte before the lorde and fasted that day vntyll evyn and asked hym agayne whether they shulde any more fight agaynst theyr brethern or not God sayd vnto theÌ yes â to morow I will deliuer theÌ in to your haÌdes And the nâxt day was the trybe of beniamin vtterly distroyed sauyng .600 men whych hyd them selves in the wildernes Here yt ys evydent that the chylderne of Israell loste the victorye twise and yet not with sonding had a iuââe cause and faught at goddes commandement Besides that Iudas machabeus was slayne in a ryghtwyse cause as yt ys manyfest in the fyrst boke of the Machabâes And therfore yt can be no euydent argument of the vengâaunce of GOD that he was slayne in baâayle in a ryghtwise cause and therfore me thinketh that this man ys to malaparte so bluntly to enter in to Goddes Iudgâment and geue sentence in that mater before he be caulled to counsell Thus âaue I sufficiently touched hys preface for those pointes that âe afterward touched more largâly haue I wyllyngly passed be cause I shall touche thâm ârnestly here after Nowe lett vs se what he proueth ¶ It ys a great wonder to see vppon how light sleight occasions he ys fallen vnto thes abhomynable heresyesââor he deâyeth not nor can not say nay â but that our sauyour sayd him selfe my fleshe ys verely meaâe and my blode ys verely ârynke he denyeth not allso that Christ hym sellfe at hys last souper taâynge the brâde in to hys blessed handes after that he had blessâd yt sayd vnto hâs disciplesâ Take yow thys and eate yt thys ys my bodye â that shal be geuyn for yow And lykewise gaue them the chalece after hys blessyng and consecracyon and sayd vnto them thys ys the chalice of my bloude of the new testament whyche shal be shed oute for many do ye thys yn remembrance of me ¶ It ys a great wounder to see howe ygnoraunt theyr proctour ys in the playne textes of scrypture For yf he had any Iudgement at all he might well perceyue that when Chryste spake thes wordes my fleshe ys verely meate and my bloude ys verely drynke he spake nothynge of the sacrament For yt was not institute vntyll hys laste souper And these wordes were spokyn to the Iewys longe before and meÌt theÌ not of the carnall eatynge or drynkynge of hys bodye or bloude but of the spirituall âatynge which is done by faythe aÌd not with tothe or bellye Wher of Saint Austyn sayeth vppoÌ this gospell of IohnÌ whi preparest thou other tothe or bellyeâ beleue and thou haste eatyn hym So that chrystys wordes muât here be vnderstonde spiritualy And that he cauleth hys fleshe very meat because that as meate by the eatyng of yt and disgestyng yt in our bodye dothe strengthen thes corruptyble membres so lykewise doth christes fâeshe by the belâuynge that yt taketh our synne vppoÌ yt selfe aÌd suffered the dâth to delyuer vs aÌd strengtheÌ our immortall soule And lykewise as drynke when yt ys dronkyn doth comforte and quickyn our frayâe nature So lykewise doth Christes bloude by the drynkinge of yt in to the bouwells of our soâle that ys by the beleuyng and remâmbryng that yt ys shed âor oure synnes comforte and quicken our soule vnto euerlastyng lyffe And this ys the eatyng and drynkyng that he speakyth of in that place And that yt ys so yow may perceyue by the text followyng which sayth he that eatyth my bodie aÌd drynketh my bloude dwellyth in me aÌd I in hym which ys not possible to be vndersâonden of the sacrameÌt For it is falsâ to say that he that eateth the sacrameÌt of his bodye and drynketh the sacrameÌt of hys bloude dwelleth in christe christâ in hym For some man recâyueth yt vnto his condempnacion And thus doth S. Austen expound yt sayingâ Hoc est enim Christum manducare in illo manere illum manentem inseâaâere This ys the very eatinge of Christ to dwell in hym and to haue hym dwelling in vs So that who so euer dwellith in Christ that ys to saye beleueth that he is sent of God to saue vs from our sinnes doth verely eate drinke his bodie and bloude although he neuer receyued the sacrament This is the spuÌall âaâing necessarie for all that shal be saued for there is no man that ââmith to God wtoâte this eating of Christ that is the bâleuing in hym And so I deney âot but that Christ speaketh thes wordâs but surelye he ment spiritually â as s. Austen declareth and as the place playnly proueth And as touching the other wordâs that Christe spake vnto his disciples at the laste souê I deney not but that he sayd so but that he so flesly ment as ye falsely faine I vtterley deney For I saye that his wordes wâre then allso sprite and liff and were spirituallyâ to be vnderstoÌden and that he called yt his bodie For a certaine propartie euyn as he câlled him self a vâry vine and his disciples very vine braunches aÌd as he called him sellffe a doremot that he was so in dede â but for certayne propertâes ân the sâmilitudes as a man for some proêtie saieth of his neâgâbours horsse this horsse is myn vp downe meaning that yt is in euery thinge so lyke And lyke as Iaâob buylded anÌ aulter and caulled yt the God of Israell and as Iacob called the place where he wrasteled w t the angell the face of god and as the pascal laÌbe was caulled the passing bye of the lorde And as a brokyn potsherd was caulled Hierusalem not for that they were so in dede but for certayne similitudes in the properties and that the very name yt selâfe might put men in remembrance what ys mânt by the thing as I suffeciently declared in my fiâste treatise He muste nedes confesse that they âhaâ beleue that yt is the very bodie and his very bloude in dede haue the playne wordes of our sauiour hym sellfe vppon ther syde for the grouÌde and foundacâon of ther fayth That is very true and so haue they the very wordes of god which saye a brokeÌ pottsherd ys Hierusalem and that Christe is a stone aÌd that Christe is a vine and a dore And yett yff they should beleue or thinkâ that he were in dede any of thesse thingâs they were neuerthelesse deceyued For though he so sayd yet I saye his wordes were spirituall spiritually to be vnderstoÌd And were yow saye that I flye from the faythe of playne and open scriptures and for the allygorie destroie the true sence of the letter I answer that some textes of scripture are onlye to be vnderstonden after the letter As wheÌ Paulle sayth Christ died for our synnes and arose agayne for our iustification And some textes are only to be vnderstond spuÌally or in the waye of an allegorye As when Paule sayeth Christe was the stone and when Christe sayth
hym sellfe I am a very vyne I am the doore and some muste be vnderstond both literalye spiritualie As when God sayd oute of egipte called I my sonne whiche allthough it were literalye fulfillyd in the childern of Israell when he brought them oute of Egipte with great power and wonders â yet was yt allso ment and verified in Christ hymsellfe hys very spirituall sonne which was caulled oute of Egipt after the deth of Herod And agayne yt is very spuÌally fulfiâlâd in vs whiche thorou Christes blode are deliuered from the Egipt of synne and from the power of Pâarro the deuyll Anâ I say that this text of scripture This ys my bodie ys only spuÌally to be vnderstondeÌâ and not litâeralie And that doth S. Austen allso coÌfirme w c wryteth vnto adamantus saythâ Thes sentenses of scripture christ was the ââone The bloude ys the soule and this ys my bodieâ are figuratiuelie to be vnderstoÌden that ys to say spuÌally or by the way of an allegorie and thus haue I S. Austen whollie on my side whiche thinge shall yet here after more playnly apere Nowe his exaÌple of his bridgromes ring I very well a lowe for I take the blessed sacrameÌt to be left w t vs for a very tokeÌ a memoriall of christe in dede But I say that the hole substance of the same tokeÌ memoriall is his owyn blessed bodie And so I saye that christe hathe lefte vs a better tokyn then this maÌ wolde haue vs take yt for And therin he fareth like a maÌ to whoÌ a bridgrome had deliuered a goodlye golde ringe w t a riche rubie therin to deliuer to his bryde for a token And then he wolde like a faulse shrewe kepe awaye that golde ring and geue the bride in stede therof a proper ringe of a rishe and tell hyr that the bridgroÌ wolde sende hyr no better Or els like one that when the bridgrom hade geuyn soche a ring of golde to his bride for a token wyll tell her playne and make hyr beleue that the ringe were but coper or brasse to minishe the bridgromes thanke ¶ I am right glad that ye admit teth myn exaÌple and graunte that the sacrament ys left to be a very token and a memoriall of Christe in dede But where you saye that the hole substance of the samâ token and memoryall ys hys owyn blessed bodye that ys soner sayd than proued For Saynt Austen shewyth the contrary as yt is partelye before touched and here after shal be dâclared more playnlye And where yow saye that we fare lyke a faulse shrew that wolde kepe the gold ringe from the bride and geue hyr a ringe of a rishe or tell hyr that hyr golde ringe were coê or brasse to minishe the bridgromes thanke I answer that we denye not but that the ringe ys moste fine gold and is sett wiâh as ryche Rubyes as can be gotton For that ringe I meane the sacrament ys not onlâ a moste parfayte tokyn and a memoryall of they brydgromes benefytes and vnfayned fauour on hys partye but yt is allso on the other partye eucharistye that ys to saye a thankes geuynge for the gracyous gyftes which she vndoubtedly knowelegeth her sellf to haue receyued For as verely as that bred ys broken amoÌge them so verely was Christes bodye brokyn for ther synnes And as verâly as they receyue that brede in to ther bellye thorough eatinge yt so vereâye do they receyue the frute of his deth in to ther soulys by beleuinge in hym And therfore they assemâle to that soâê not for the valure of the bred â wyne or meate that ys ther eatin but for th entent to geue hym thankes commenlye amonge them all for hys iâestâmabâe goodnes But to procede vnto oure purposse yt a maÌ wolde coÌme vnto the bryde tell hyr that tâis goodly gold ringe were her owyn brydgrome both fleshe bloude and bones as you doo then I thyâke yf she haue any wyt she might answer hym that he mocked and the more he sayd yt the lesse she might beâeue hym â and saye that yf that were her owyn brydgroâe what shulde she then nede any remembraunce of hym or why shoulde he geue yt her for a remembraÌâe For a remembraÌce pÌsuposeth the thynge to be abseât and therfore yf this be a remembrance of hym tâan can he noâ here be present I meruell me therfore moche that he ys not aferde to affirme that thes wordes of Christe of hys bodie and of his bloude muste nedes be vnderstond by waye of a similitude or an allegorye as the wordes be of the vyne and the doore Nowe this he wottes well that though some wordâs spokyn by the mouthe of Christ âe to be vnderstonden only by way of a similitude or an allegorye yet followyth yt not ther vppon that euery lâke worde of christe in other places was non other but an allegorie for suche was the shyfte and cauillacion that the wycked arrians vsed w c toke from Christes parson his omnipotent godhed I graunt that the Arrians erred for as master More sayth though in some place a worde be taken figuratifeây yt followyth not therfore in euery other place yt shulde likewise be takeÌ But one questyon muste â aske hys mastership how dothe he knowe that ther ys any worde or text in scripture that muste be taken figuratuely that ys by the waye of a similitude or as he cauleth yt a necessarie allegorie I thiÌke though some men may assygne other good causes euidences that the first knowelege ys by other textes of scrâpture For yf other textes be conferred vnto yt â and wyll not stonde w t the literall sence then I thynke yt muste nedes be takeÌ spirituaâlâ or figuratiuelie as ther are infinite textes in scripture Now when I see that S. Thomas w t felt Christe his wondes put his fynger in hys syde called hym hys lorde aâd god and that no tâxt in scripture repungneth vnto the same but that they may well âtond to gether me thynketh yt were folye to affirme that thys word god in that text shulde be taken figuratiuely or by waye of an allegorye But nowe in our mater the processe of scripture wyll not sâonde with the liâterall sense as shall here after apere And therfore necessite coÌpellâthe vs to expounde yt figuratiuelye as doth allso S. Austen other holy doctors as here after shall playnly apere If euery man that can finde outâ a newe fonde phantasâe vppon a text of holy scripture may haue his owyn minde taken his owyn exposicioÌ beleued agaynstâ the exposâcioÌs of the old coninge doctors sayntes then may you surely see that non article of the christen fayth can stoÌde endure loÌge And then he allegith s. Hierom w c sayeth that yf the eâposiââoÌ of other interpretours aÌd the coÌsent of the coÌmen catholike churche wâre of no more streÌgth but that euery maÌ might
be beleuâd that coulde bâinge som textes of scripture for hâm expounded as yt pleassed hâm self then coulde I saytâe thys holy man brynge vppe a new sect allso and saye by scrypture â that no man were a true Chrysten man nor a mâmbrâ of the churche â that kepeth two cotes And in good faytâ sayth master More âf that waâe were âowâd I were able my sâllfe to fynde oute fyftene newe sectes in one fore none Sayncte Peter saâth that the scripture ys not expounded after the appetyte of any priuate person but âuyn as yt was geuyn by the sprite of god noâ by mannes wyll So mâste yt be declared by the same spryte And therfore I wyll not that any man sâalbe beleued by bringinge hys owyn mynde and phantasie But yf he wyll be beleued lett hym brynge eyther an other playne texte which shall expounde the firste or els at the leste he muste bringe suche a sentense as wyll stonde with the processe of the scrypture Whye was Saynct Hierom alowâd agaynst the determânacyon of the counsell of meldelcy syth he was alone and they a great multitudeâ but onlye be cause he brought euydent scrypture which at the tyme of their sentense non of them remembred and yet when yt was brought they coulde not auoyde yt And lykewise except I brynge euydent scrypture which they all shall expounde as I doo I desyre not to be beleued And where master More sayeth that in good fayth he wâre able to âynde oute fyftene newe sectes in one sore none he may thanke GOD that he hathe suche a prengâant wytte But yet I truste he shulde not fynde one yf there were any parâll of dampnacyon therin but that we wolde with a playne texte confute yt which he shuld not be able to auoyde ¶ And ouer this the very circumstances of the places in the gospell in which our sauyour speaketh of that sacrament may well make open the defference of hys speache in this mater and of all those other and that as he spake all those but in an allegorye so spake he ââys playnly meaninge that he spake of hys very bodye and hys very bloud besyde all allâgoryes For when our lorde sayd he was a very vyne nor when he sayd he was the dore there was non that harde hym that any thynge meruelyd therof And whye For be cause they perceyued well that he ment not that he was a materyall vyne in dede nor a dore nether But when he sayd that hys fleshe was very meate and hys bloude very drynke and that they shuld not be saued but yf they did eate hys fleshe and drynke hys bloude then were thây all in suche a wonder therof that they coulde not they coulde not abyde And whârfore but because they perceyued well by hys wordes and hys maner of cirâunstaunces that Câriste spake of hys very flesâe and hys very bloude in dede It ys openly knowen confessed amonge all lerned men tâat in the .6 chapitre of IoaÌ christe spake not one worde concernynge the sacracrameÌt of hys bodye and bloude w c at that tyme was not yet institute but all that he ther spake was of the spâÌall eatinge drinkynge of his bote bloude in to our souleâ w c ys the faytâe in hâs bodye and bloude as I haue touched before And the cyâcunstances of this place do ân dede proue that they were fleshly mynded and vnderstoâe not the spirituall wordes of our saviour Christ and thefore wondered murmered In somoch that Christ sayd vnto theÌ doth this oâfende âoâ What wâlâ ye say then wheÌ ye shall see the sone of man ascendynge thither where he was before Then addeth S. Austen you sâall knowe tâat he ment not to geue hys fleshe to eate w t youre teth for he shall ascende hoole And Christ addeth â yt ys the spirete that quickneth the fleshe profiteth notâânge the word that I speakâ are spiret aÌd lyste that ys to saye saith S. Austyn are spuÌaly to be vnderstond And where Christ sayeth â that the fleshe profiteth nothyng meanyng of hys owne fleshe as S Austen sayth he mâaneth that yt profitâth not as they vnderstode hâm that ys to saye yt profiteth not yf ât were eateÌ But yt doth moche êfite to be slayne that thorough yt and the shediÌge of hys bloude the wâathe of god our father ys pacified and oure synnâs for geueÌ And wher his mastership saythe that the people êceyâed well what he ment and therfore woÌdâred so sore and couâde not abyde be cause they perceyued well by his wordes and maner of circunstaÌces what his meaning waâ I wyll saye as I did before that they vndârsâode hâm not Fowe here he will saye vnto me yf yt be but your naye and my yee then I wolde thynke to be beleued as soâe as yow and surelye that were but reâson âot wtstondyng thaÌkâs be to god I am able to bringe in auctorite to Iudge bâtwene vs bothe whose Iudgement I truste his mastership wyll admyt This auctor ys S. Ausâyn w c sayeth Disâipuli enââ eius qui eum sequebantur expauerunt exhorruerunt sermoneÌ noÌ intellegentes That ys to saye his disciples wcâolâowed hym were a stoyned and abhorred his wordes and vnderstode them not And be cause your masâershipe shall âot thynke that he ouer schott hym selâfe and spake he wyst not what we shall aliege hym saytnge the same wordes in an other placeâ Cum diceret Nisi quis manducauerit carnem c. Illi non intellegentes dixerunt ad inuicem Durus est hic sermo quis potest eum audire That ys when christ sayd except a man eate my fleshe and drinke my bloude â he shall haue no lyff in hym they beâausâ thây vâderstode hym not sayde to eche other this ys an harde sayinge who can heare hym Thus I trustâ you will geue place allthough not to me yet at the lest vnto S. Austen and receyâe the trueth w c ys so playnly proued And where his mastership allegetâ this text for the sacrament that except they did eate his fleshe drynke his bloude they could not be saued yt semeth that he ys falleÌ in to the errour of pope innoceÌt â whiche like wise vnderstondyng this text vppon the sacrameÌt as master More doth caused yoÌge chyldern infantes to receiue the sacrameÌt â as though thei had all by a daÌpned w c died had not receyued yt And of this carnall minde were many mo Bushoppes a great while as are now the bohemes â whom he after dispraysethâ and yet expouÌdeth the text as they dooâ but afterward they loked more spuÌally vppoâ the matter and coÌfessed ther ignoraÌce as I truste master more wyll but nowe will I shew you s. AusteÌs minde vppoÌ this text w c shall hâlpe for the exposicioÌ of all this matter s. AusteÌ in the thirde boke de doctrina christiana the .16 chapitre teachiÌge howe we shall knowe the tropes figures allegories
and phrases of the scripture saith Si auÌt flagitiuÌ aut facinus iubere uidet figurata locutio est Nisi maÌducaueritis inqt carneÌ filiâ hoiÌs et biberitis eiê° sanguineÌ noÌ habebitis uitaÌ iÌ uobis âacinusuel flagitiuÌ uidetur iubereâ Figura est ergo precipieÌs passioÌis dnÌicae esse coÌicanduÌ et suauiter atque utiliter in memoria recondenduÌ qd pro nobis caro eius câucifixa uulnerata sit That ys to saye when so euer the scripture or Christ semeth to coÌmaunde any fowle or wicked thynge than muste that text be takeÌ figuratiuelye that ys yt ys a phrase allegorie and maner of speaking and muste be vnderstoÌd spuÌally not after the letter Except sayth christ ye eate the fleshe of the sonne of maÌ and drinke his bloude ye shall haue no lyffe in you He âeamethe saith S. Austen to coÌmaunde a fowle and a wycked thinge It ys therfore a figure commauâding vs to be partakers of his passyon and sweâly and êfitablye to prent in oure mynde that hys fleshe was crucifyed and wonded for vs. This trueth thaÌkes be to god doth S. Austen declare vnto vs w c thinge beside the openiÌge of this text agaynst master mores mynde doth playnlye shew what he thought in the woâdes of christes souper For syth he cauâed yt a sowâe and a wicked thinge to eate his fleshe than may you sone êceyue that he thought yt as sowie aÌd as wicked a thinge to eate his bodye seinge hys bodie ys fleshe and then coÌsâquently yt shall folowe that ether this worde âaâe wher Christe sayd take this eate yt muste be takyn spuÌally or els that this sayng of christe this ys my bodie muste be figuratiuely spoken but thys worde eate ys takeÌ after the lettâr âor thei did in dede eate the bred therfore yt muste nedes folowe that this sentence this ys my âodie muste be figuratiuely spoken Or els ys s. Austen not to be approued in this place w t thynge our bushoppes I thynke wyll not saye naye Besydes thatâ s. Austen sayeth QuaÌdo loquebatur dnÌs noster Iesus Christus de corpore suo nisi inqt qs maÌducauerit carneÌ mâaÌ et biberit sangui neÌ meuÌ non habeâit in seuitaÌ Caro emÌ mea uere est cibus sanguis meus uere est potus intellectê° spiritualis credentem âaluuÌ faciâ quia littera occidit spuÌs est q uiuificat That ys to saye wheÌ our lorde Iesus Christe spake of his bodie except quod he a man eate my fleshe and drynke my bloude he shall haue no lyff in hym sellf for my fleshe ys verye meate and my bloude ys verie drinke The spirituall vnderstonding saueth hym that beleueâh for the letter kyâââh but the spirâte quyâkeneth Here may you playnlie perceiue that this text muste onlye be taken spirituallie For he sayeth that to take yt after the letter yt killeth and profiteth nothyng at all and therfore I wonder that we haue ben ledde so longe in this grosse erroure This sayinge doth that famous clark Origine confirme sayng Agnosce ê figurae sunt quae in uolumiâibus Domini scriptae sunt ideo tanq spirituales non tanq carnales examinate intelââgite quae dicuntur Si enim secundum literam seqâatis hoc ipsum quod dictum est Nisi manduc mâritis carnem c. occidiâ hââc liâera That is to saye Marke that thây are figures w c are wryten in tââ scripture of god And thârfore examine theÌ as spârituall mân and not as carnall and vndârstond those thinges that are spoken For if thou followe after tâe letter this thinge that ys spoken excepte ye eate the flâshe oâ thâ sone of man and drynke his bloude you can haue no liffe in in you this leâtâr killeth Alas deare brethern why shoulde aây mân be offended w t this doctrine syth yt ys âproued so playnlie by suche aunâient and hoâie faâhers Agayne S Austen sayeth Qui manducat carnem meam bibit meum sanguinem in me manet ego in illo Hoc est ergo maÌducare illaÌ esâ am illum bibere potum in Christo manere illum manentem in se habere ac per hoc qui noÌ manet in Christo in quo non manet Christus procuâdubio non manducat eius carnem nec bibit sanguineÌ etiaÌ si tantae rei sacramentuÌ ad iudicium sibi manduceâ bibit â That is to say he that eateth my fleshe and drinketh my blode abideth in me and I in hym This is therfore the eatinge of that meate drinkinge of that blode to abyde in christ and haue him abiding in vs. And therfore he that abideth not in Christ and in whom Christ abideth not w t oute doubt he eateth not his fleshe nor drinketh not hâs bloude although he eate and drinke the sacrament of so great a thinge vnto his daÌpnacion And euyn the same wordes hath bede vppon the Corinthians 1. Corin 10. This one place is sufficient for to proue mi purposse though he sayd not one worde more For here he doth playnlye determin that he w c abideth not in Christe that is to saye he that is wicked or vnfaythfull doth not eate his fleshe nor drinke his bloude although he eate and drinke the sacrameÌt of so great a thinge And so must yt nedes followe that the sacrament yt not the verye naturall bodie of christe For then the vnfaythfull shuld eate his fleshe seing he eateth the sacrament of his bodye But that doth s. AusteÌ deney wherfore yt muste nedes followe that yt is but only a token of a remembrance a signe of his bodie breakinge and a representacioÌ of his passioÌ that we might kepe hys âacte in memorâe geue him thankes for his tender loue aÌd kindenes w t when we were his ennemies toke vppon him to suffer moste vile deth to reconcile vs vnto his father and make vs his frendes Thys sainge hath s. Austen in a nother place allso where he wryâeth on this maner Qui non in me manet in quo ego noÌ maneo noÌ se dicat aut existimet maÌducare corpus meuÌ aut bibere sanguinem meuÌ Non itaque maneÌt in Christo qui non sunt eiuâ membra noÌ sunt aâÌt membra Christi qui se faciuÌt membra meritricis That ys to saye he that bydeth not in me And in whom I abyde not lett hiÌ not saye or thinke that he eateth mi bodie or driÌketh mi blode They abyde not in Christ w c are not his membres And they are not his meÌbres w c make theÌ selues the membres of an harlete And these are allso the very wordes of Bede Here ys yt playne proued agayne by the auctorite of s. Austen Bede that the wicked and vnfaythfull w c are not the membres of Christ do not eate his bodye nor drinke his bloâde aÌd yet they do eate
the sacrament as well as the other Wherfore you muste nedes grauÌt that the sacrameÌt ys not the naturall bodye of christ but a figure tokeÌ or memoriall therof Nowe good christeÌ people count not this new lerninge w c is firmed by suche olde doctors faithfull fathers Nowe were this ynough for a Christen man that loued no coÌtencyon But because there are so many sophisters iÌ the world w c care not what they saye so they hold not ther peace I muste nedes sette som bulwarke by this holye doctoure to helpe to defende hym for els they will shortly ouer ruÌne hym as they do me and make hym an hereâyck to Therfore I wyll allege hys master s. Ambrose Sainct Ambrose sayth NoÌ iste panis q uadit in corpus a nobis âam anxie querituâ sed panis uitae aeternaeq aiÌae nrÌae substaÌciaÌ fulscit q auÌt discordat a christo noÌ manducat carneÌ eiê° nec bibit sanguineÌ eius si taÌtae rei sacrameÌtuÌ iudiciuÌ sue perditionis accipit That ys thys bred that goth in to the bodye ys not so gredelye sought of vs but the bread of euerlasting liffe w c vpholdeth the substaÌce of our soule For he that discordeth from Christ doth not eate his fleshe nor drinke hys bloude allthough he receyue the sacrament of so great a thinge vnto hys dampnacyon and distructyon Forthermore the great clarke prosper coÌfyrmeth the same sayinge Qui discordat a Christo nec carneÌ Christi manducat nec sanguineÌ bibit etiaÌ si tantae rei sacramentuÌ ad iudiciuÌ suae praesumptioÌis quotidie indiffereÌter accipiat That ys he that discordeth from Christ doth nether eate hys fleshe nor drinke hys bloude allthough he receyue indifferently euery day the sacrameÌt of so great a thinge vnto the coÌdempnation of his pÌsumption And thes are allso the very wordes of bede vppon the .xi. Chapiter of the fyrste pystyll to the Corinthians Nowe you may see that yt ys not Saynct Austens mynde onlye But allso the sayinge of many mo And therfore I truste you wyll be good vnto hym And yf ye condempne not thes holye fathers then am I wrongfullye punished But yf you condempne them then muste porefryth be content to beare the burthen w t them ¶ The mynde and exposicyon of the olde Doctours vppon the wordes of Christes maundey ANd where Master More sayth that yf Christe had not ment after the playne literall sense that both the hearers at that tyme and the expositors syns all Christen people beside this xv.c. yere wold not haue taken onlye the leterall sens being so straunge and meruâlous that yt might seame impossible and decline from the letter for allegories in all suche other thinges beinge as he saith and as in dede they be so manie ferre in noumbre moo As touchinge the hearers they were deceiued vnderstod hym not I meane as manye as toke his wordes fleslye as you do And they had ther answer of Christe when they murmured that hys wordes were sprite and lyffe that ys as S. Austen sayeth spiritually to be vnderstond and not fleslye as ys before declared And as for the exposâtours I thynke he hath not one of the olde fathers for hym but certen new fellowys as Dominic s. Thomas Oââam and suche other w c haue made the pope a God And as I haue shewed s. Austen maketh full for vs and so doo all the olde fathers as Oecolampadius hath well declared in hys âoke qâid ueâeres senserint de sacramento eucharristiae And some of theyr sayinges I shall allege anon And wher you saye that all chrysten people haue so beleued this .1500 yeres that is very faulse For ther ys no doubte but that the people thought as holye Saint austen and other fayth full fathers taught them Which as I sayd make with vs. Not with stondynge in dede sith oure prelates haue byn made lordes haue sett vp their lawes and decres coÌtrarye to the prerogatyue of all prynces and lyke moste sotâe traytours haue made all men beleue that they maye make lawes and bynde mens conscyences to obey them aÌd that theyr lawes are godds lawes blyndinge the peoples yen with too or .3 textes wrongfullye wrested to avaÌce their pryde where they ought to obeye kynges prynces and be subiecte to ther lawes as christ and hys aposteles were euen vnto the deth Sith that tyme I saye they haue made meÌ beleue what they lyst and made articles of the fayth at their pleasure One article muste be that they be the churche can not erre And this ys the grouÌde of all their doctryne But the trueth of this article ys nowe suffecieÌtly knoweÌ For yf quene katerine be kynge heÌries wyffe theÌ they do erre yf she be not theÌ thei haue erred to speake no more cruel lye It ys nowe be coÌe an article of our fayth that the pope of Rome muste be the hede of the churche the vicar of christe that bi goddes lawe yt ys an article of our fayth that what so euer he byndeth in yerth ys bouÌde in heuiÌ in so moche that yf he cuââe wrongfullye yet ye muste be feared infinite suche other w c are not iÌ our crede but blessed be god that hath geueÌ some light in to our priÌces herte For he hath lateââe putforth a boke called the glasse of trouth w c êueth many of thes articles verye folishe phaÌtaâies that euyn by theyr owin doctours aÌd so I truste you shaâbe êued iÌ this poiÌt of the sacrameÌt for though it be an article of our faith yt is noÌ article of our crede in the .xij. articles wherof are sufficient for our saluatioÌ And therfore we may thynke that you lye w t oute all Ieoperdye of dampnacyon Neuerthelesse seinge his mastership saith that all make for him aÌd I say clene coÌtrarie that all the olde fathers make agaynste hym or at the lest wise not w t him It were necessarie that one of vs shulde proue his purpoâse But in dedâ in this poynt he wold loke to haue the vâÌtayge of me For he thinketh that men will soner beleue hym w c ys a great man then me w c am but a poore man and that therfore I had more nede to proue my parte true then he to proue his Well I am content and therfore geue eare dere reader and Iudge betwene vs. First I will begin w t Tertulian because he is of moste antiquâteâ Tertullian saith Ipse Christus nec paneÌ reproâauit qd ipsum corpus suuÌ representat That ys to saye Christ him sellfe dyd not reproue or discoÌmende bred w t doth repÌsent his very bodie For the vnderstonding of thys place you must knowe that there was an hereticke caulled marcion w c did reêue creatures said that all maner of creatures were euelâ This thinge doth Tertullyan improue by the sacrament and sayeth Christ did not reproue or discomende bred
fayth For yt ys no nother thynge to beleue then to haue fayth and therfore when a man answereth that the infant beleueth which hath not the affecte of fayth he answerethe that yt hathe faythe for the sacrament of fayth And that yt turneth yt sellfe to GOD for the sacrament of conuersyon For the answere yt sellfe perteyneth vnto the mynistryng of âhe sacrament As the apostle wryteth of baptyme we are buryed sayeth he with Christe thorough baptyme vnto deth He sayâth not we signyfye buryinge but vtterlye sayeth we are buryed He called therfore the sacrament of so great a thynge euyn with the name of the verye thynge yt sellfe c. Iff a man wolde auoyde contencyon and loke soberly on thosse wordes of Sayncte Austen he shall sone perceyue the mysterye of thys matter For euyn as the next good frydaye shal be caulled the day of Christes passyon and yet he shall not suffer deth agayne vppoÌ that daye for he dyed but onece and ys nowe immortall euyn so ys the sacrament called Chrystes bodye And as that daye ys not the verye daye that he dyed on but onlye a remembrance therof So the sacrament ys not hys verye naturall bodye but onlye a remembrance of hys bodye breakynge and bloude she dynge And lykewyse as the next ester daye shall be called the day of hys resurrectyon not that yt ys the very same daye that Chryste dyd ryse in but a remembraunce of the same Euyn so the sacrament ys called hys bodye not that yt ys hys bodye in dede but only a remembraÌce of the same And furdermore euyn as the prest doth offer hym that ys to saye crucyfye hym at masse euyn so ys the sacrameÌt hisâ bodye But the masse doth but only repÌsent his passyoÌ And so doth the sacrameÌt represent hys bodye And âet though the masse dothe but repÌsent his crucifying we maye trulye saye he ys cruâified euân so though the sacrameÌt do but signifie or repÌsent hys bodye yet may we trulye saye that yt ys hys bodye Why so verely sayeth he for the sacramentes haue a certayne similitude of thosâ thinges wherof theâ are sacramentes And for this simiâitude for the moste ête they take the namys of the verâe thynges Blessed be god w t hathe so clerely discussed this matt by this faith full father Notwtstonding he doth yet expresse yt more playnlye saying after a certayne maâer the sacrameÌt of Christes bodye ys Christes bodye Be holde deare brethern he sayth after a certayne maner the sacrament ys Christes bodye And by that you may sone knowe that he neuer ment that yt shulde be hys verye naturall bodie in dede but onlye a token and memoriall to kepe in mâmorie the deth of his bodye and so to norishe our fayth Besides that his similitude w c he after alâegeth of baptime doth holye expounde this matter for saieth he the apostle saieth not we signifie buryinge but he saieth we are buried aÌd yet in dede the baptyme doth but signifie yt And there vppon s. Austen addeth that he called the sacrameÌt of so great a thinge euyn w c the name of the very thinge yt sellfe And lyke wise yt ys in our sacrameÌt Finallye to be shorte I wyll passe ouer many places w c I haue gatherred oute of this holye father and wyll touche but this one moare Saincte Austen sayth Non ânim DâÌs dubitauit dicere Hoc est corpus meuÌ cuÌ daret signuÌ corporis sui Et in eodeÌ capite exponitâ Sic est emÌ sanguis anima quomodo petra erat christus nec tameÌ petra ait significabat Christum sed ait petra erat Christus That is to sayâ The lorde doubted not to saye this ys my boâye when he gaue a signe of his bodye And after in the same chapiter he expoundeth yt For trulye so the bloude ys soule as Christe was the stone And yet the apostle sayth not the stone did signifye Christ but he sayth the stone was Christe Here. s. Austen saith playnlye that Christe called the signe of his bodye his bodye aÌd in this chapiter doth coÌpare these thre textes of scripture this ys my bodye the bloudâ ys the soule and Christe was the stone and declareth theÌ to be one phrase and to be expounded after one fasshyon Now ys there no maÌ so mad as to saye that Christ was a naturall stone except he be a naturall foole whose Iudgâmânt we nede not greatly to regard therfore we may well coÌclude that the sacrameÌt ys nat his naturall bodie but is caulled his bodie for a similitude that yt hath wherin yt signifieth representeth his bodye And that the sacrament of so great a thinge ys caulled euyn w t the name of the verye thinge yt sellf as s. Austen sayde immâdiatly before This were proffe ynough to coÌclude that all the olde fathers did holde the same opinion for who wolde once surmise seinge we haue s. austeÌ so pâayne for vs w c is the chesest emoÌge theÌ all who wolde once surmise I say that the dissented in this great matter from the other faithfull fathers or they froÌ him neuerthelesse I dare not leât hiÌ stoÌde post alone ieste ye dispice him And therfore I will shewe you the minde of certaine othâr allso and furââe of his master s. Ambrose S. Ambrose wrytynge vppon the Epistle of Paule to the CorinthiaÌs in the xiâ chap. sayth Quia emÌ morte DnÌi libeâati sumê° huiê° rei in eden do potaÌdo carneÌ sanguineÌ q ê nobis oblata sunt significamus That is to saye because we be deliuered by the deth of the lorde in eatyng and drynkinge of this thynge meanynge of the sacrament we signifye the fleshe bloude w c were offered for vs. Here doth s. ambrose saie ynough yf men were not sophisters but wolde be coÌtent w t reason For he sayeth that in eatyng aÌd drinkyng the sacrament of Christes bodye we signifie or represent the fleshe and bloude of our sauyour Iesus Natwtstondynge be cause you are so slybberye we shall bynde you a lytle â better by this mans wordes S. Ambrose saythâ Sed forte dices specieÌ sanguinis noÌ uideo sâd habet similitudineÌ Sicut emÌ mortis similitudineÌ sumpsisti ita etiaÌ similitudineÌ preciosi sanguinis bibis That ys to saye But êaduenture thou wylte saye I se no apperauÌce of bloude but yt hathe â similitude For euyn as thou haste taken the similitude of deth euen so thou drinkest the similitude of the pÌcyous bloude Here maye ye see by the coÌferrynge of thesse two sacramentes what s. Ambrose iââged of it For he sayeth euyn as thou haste taken a similituâe of hys deth in the sacrameÌt of baptyme so doste thou drinke a similitude of his preciouse bloude in the sacrameÌt of the auâter And yet as s. AusteÌ sayd before the apostle saith not we signifie buryinge but saâth we are buried And likewise here Christ sayd not this signifyeth my bodye but
hade soopâd And because brede doth confyrme or strengthe the fleshe and wyne worketh bloude in the âlâshe therfore ys the brâde misticallye referred vnto the bodye of Christe and the wyne referred vnto hys bloude Here maye you note furste that âs the lambe was a remembraunce of theâr delyueraunce oute of Egipt and yet the lambe delyuered theÌ not so ys the sacrament a remembrauÌce of our redeÌptyon and yet the sacrameÌt redemed vs not âesydes that he sayth that Christ in the stede of the fleshe and bloude of the lambe did institute the sacrament of hys fleshe and bloude in fygure of brede and wyne âarke well he sayth not that in the stede of lambes fleshe and bloude he dyd institute hys owyn fleshe and bloude but âayeth that he dyd institute the sacrament of hys fleshe and bloude What thynge ys a sacrament verelye yt ys the sygne of an holye thyng and there ys no defferrence bâtwene a sygne and a sacrament but that the sygne ys referred vnto a wordly thynge and a Sacrament vnto a spirituall or holye thynge As s. Austen sayth Signa cuÌ ad res diuinas pertinent sacramenta appellantur That ys to saye signes when they partayne vnto godly thinges are called sacramentes Theâfore when Beda saieth that thei did institute the sacrameÌt of his fleshe and bloude in the figure of bred and wine yt ys as moche to saye by s. Austens diffinitioÌ as that he did institute the figure of his holye fleshe and bloude in the figure of bred aâd wine that ys to saye that brâade and wyne shuld be thâ figure and signe repÌsentyng his holy fleshe bloude vnto vs for a perpetuall remembraÌce And afterward he declareth the proêtye âor w t the brede ys called the bodye and the wyne the bloude sauynge he speaketh âot so darkelye as I now doo but playnlye sayth that the brede is misâicallye refferred vnto the bodye of Christe be cause that as brede doth strengthe the flâshe so Christes bodye which ys figured by the brede doth sârengthe the soule thorough sayth in his deth And so doth he clerlye proue my purpose Now lett vs se what Chrisostome sayth w c shall describe vs the fayth of the olde greacyaÌs and I doubte not he had not loste the treue fayth how so euer the wordle goo now adayes Chrisostome sayth in this maner Si enim mortuus âesus noÌ est cuius signuÌ simbolum hoc sacrâficiuÌ est uides âuantuÌ ei studium fuerit ut semper memorâa teneamus pro nobis ipsum mortuuÌ fuisse That ys to saye for yf Iesus haue not died whosse memoriall and signe ys the sacrifyce Thow seyst what diligeÌce he gaue that we shulde contynuallye kepe in memorie that he dyed for vs. Here you maye see that Chrisostome calleth the sacrameÌt symboluâ et signuÌ that is to saye a mâmoryâll and signe of christ aÌd that yt was inâtitute to kepe hys deth in perpetuall remeÌbrauÌce But of one thinge thou muste beware or els thou arte deceyued hâ calleth it allso a sacrafice and there thou muste wyselye vnderstond hym For yf yt were the sacrafice of Christes bodye then mâste christes bodye be slayne ther agayne w c thynge God forbyd And therfore thou muste vnderstond hym wheÌ he calleth yt a sacrafice that he meaneth yt to a remembraunce of that holye sacrafice where christes bodye was offered on the crosse once for all For he caÌ be sacrafied no more seinge he ys immortall Not withstondyng our prelattes will here note me of presumption that I dare be so boolde to eâpounde hys mynde on thys fasyon For in dede they take hym otherwise thynke that yt ys a vârye sacrafice And therfore I wyll brynge one other text where Chrisostome shall expouÌd hiÌ sellf Chrisostome sayth Nâne ê singulos dies offerrimê° offerrimê° qde sed ad recordationeÌ mortis eiê° facieÌtes Hoc auÌt sacrificiuÌ sicut poÌtifex âed id ipsum semê facimus Imo recordati oneÌ sacrificij That ys to saye do we not dayly offer or do sacrafice yes suerlye But we do yt for the remembraunce of his deth for this sacraficâ ys as an example of that we offer not an other sacrafiâe as the bushop in the olde lawe did but euer the âame ye rather a remembraunce of the sacrafice Furst he sayeth that they daylye do sacrafice but yt ys in remembraunce of Christes dâth Tâen he sayth that the sacrifice ys an example of that Thyrââye he sayth that they offer âot an other sacryfyce that ys to saye an oxe or a goote as the bushoppes of the olde lawe but euer the sameâ Merke thys poynteâ for though yt seame at the fyrst syght to make with thâm yet doth yt make so derectlye agaynst them â that they shall neuer be able to auoyd yt Cârysostâmâ sayth they do not offer an other sacrifyâe aâ the bushoppes did but euer the sâme They oâfer other brede wyne thys daâe then they âyd yesterdaye they shall saye an other maââe to morowe then they dyd thys daye Now yf thys brede and wyne or the masse be a sacrifyce â then do they offer an other sacrifyce as well as the bushoppys of the olde lawe For thys sacrifyes dyd signifie that Christ shulde come and shâd hâs bâoude âs well as the bred wine and masse do represent that he hath done yt in dede And therfore yff yt be a sacrifyce then do they offer an other sacrifyce representyng hys passyon as well as the Bâshop of the old lawe But that doth chrysostâme denye and sayth that âhey offer euery day the same What same verâââe euân the same that was done and sacriâââed when Christe sheâ his bloude In thys sacrifyce ys Christe euery daye bounde and buffeââd and lede from ânna to Cayphas he ys broughâ to Pylaâe and condempned he ys scorged and crowned with thorne nayled on tâe crossâ and hys herte opeynned w t aspere and so shâdeth his bloude For our redempcion Why chrisostome and do you the seelfe same sacrifice euery daye ye verelie TheÌ why doth S. Paulle saye that christe ys risyn from deth and dieth no more yf he dye no more how do you daylie crucâfye hym For sothe Paulle sayeth trouthe For we do yt not actuallye in dede but ânlyâ in a misterie And yet we saye that we do saârifice hyâ and that thys ys his sacryfice for the celâbâaâioÌ of the sacrameÌt aÌd memorye of the passyoÌ which we kepe for this cause yt hathe the name of the thyâge that yt doth represent signifie And therfore I expoânde my minde be a rethoricall correâtiân and saye Imo recoâdationeÌ sacrifiââ that is to saye yee rather the remeÌbrauÌâe of the sacrifice Grauntmercyâs good Chrisostome now do I perceyue the pyth of thys matter euyn as the masse ys the very deth and passyoÌ of christe so ys yt a sacryfice Now yt doth but onlye represent the verey deth passyoÌ of
christe therfore yt doth folowe that the masse in very dede doth but only represent a sacrifice And yet nat w t staÌding many tymes yt is called a sacrifice of hollyâ doctoâs aÌd hathe the name of the very same thynge that yt doth represent signifie And euyn sâ we maye saye oft â is sacrameÌt that as the masse is the verye sacryâice and passyoÌ of christ so ys the sacrameÌt hys verye bodye and sacrifice that âs offered Nowe the mâsse doth bât oÌly repÌsent signifie the passioÌ so the sacrameÌt doth but oÌlye repÌsent signifie thâ bodye verye sacrifice onece offered for euer NatwtstoÌdinge many times the masse is called a sacrifice of hoââ âoctos so the the sacrament ys called the bodye aÌd a sacrifice And hathe the name of the verye same thynge that yt doth represent and signifye Furthermore Chrisostome sayth Ipse quoque bibit ex eo ne auditis uerbis illis dicereÌt Quid igitur sanguineÌ bibimus carnem coÌmedimus â ac ideo perturbarentur nam quando prius de his uerba fecit etiam uerbis ipsius offendabantur Ne igitur tuÌc id quoque accideret primus ipse hoc fecit utad coÌmunionem misteriorum induceret intrepidam That ys to saye he allso dranke of yt lest when they herde his wordes they shulde saye why do we than drinke bloude and eate fleshe and so shuld be trobled For when he spake before of thosse thinges they were offended w t his wordes And because that shulde not now also chauÌce he hym sellfe draÌke furst of yt that he might cause them to come w t oute feare to the êtakinge of those misteries here Chrisostome noteth that Christe dranke of yt to drawe theÌ from the grosse vnderstondinge of his wordes and by hys drinking to testifye vnto them that yt was not his naturall bloud nor his naturall fleshe in dede but only memoriallys and repÌsentacyones of his bodye and blode And therfore he calleth theÌ misterââs that ys to saye sacrameÌtes For in this place a sacramente aÌd a misterye ys all one thinge Notwtstondinge some tyme thys worde misterye ys more comen large in signifying then this worde sacrameÌt And I haue shewed you before that a sacrament ys the signe of an holye thinge and not the thinge yt sellfe that yt repÌsenteth albeit somtyme yt beare the name of the verye thinge yt sellfe as the Image ofâ Peter ys not saynct Peter hym sellfe and yet yt beareth hys name Chrisosâome sayth Caro noÌ prodest quicq hoc est secunduÌ spirituÌ uerba mea audienda sunt Qui secunduÌ carneÌ audit nihil lucratur nihil utilitatis accipit Quid est auteÌ carnaliter intelligere simpliciter ut res dicuntur neque aliud quippiam excogitare Misteria oiÌa interioribus oculis consideranda sunt hoc est spiritualiter That ys to saye The fleshe profiteth nothing that ys my wordes muste be vnderstond after the spryte he that vnderstondeth them after the fleshe winnith nothing nor taketh no profâete what meaneth this to vâderstonde after the fleshe or carnallye verelye to take the thingys simplâe as they are spoken and to thinke none other thynge All misteryes or sacramentes muste be considered w t the inwarde eyes that ys saye spirituallye And after he expoundeth hym sellfe on thys maner Interiores auteÌ oculi ut paneÌ uiderint creaturas transuolant noÌ de illo pane a pistore cocto cogitaÌt sed de eo qui dixit se paneÌ uitae qui per misticuÌ paneÌ significatur That ys to saye The inwarde eyes as sone as they see the bred thei passe ouer the creatures aÌd thinke not of that bred w c ys bakyn of the bakear but of hym that called hym sellfe the brede of lyffe w c ys sigâifyed by the misticall or sacrameÌtall brede Wolde you haue hym saâe any more he telleth you playne that Christe w c ys the verye bred of lyffe ys signifyed by this sacramentall brede And that ys the thiÌge w c our bushoppes so fleshlie deneie now adayes w c thinge yet you maye set the olde fathers conclude w c one aâsânt Notwtstonding yet I will allege mo olde doâtours so that from hence forward they mâye be asâamâd to calle yt newe âerrnângâ Fulgentius saith In illis emÌ carnalibus âêe legis uictimis significatio fâit carnis Christi quaÌ propâtis nostris ipse siâe pâtâÌ fuerat oblaturus sanguinis queÌ erat effâsurê° in reâissioneÌ peccatoruÌ nostroruÌ In isto auÌâ sacrificio gratiâruÌ actio atque coÌmemoratio est carânis Christi quaÌ ê nobis obtuliâ sanguinis queÌ ê nobis ideÌ Dâus effâdit Tâat is to saâe In thes carnall sacrificis in the tyme of the lawâ was a siânificaâioÌ of tâe fleshe of christe w c hâ w t oute syâne shulde offer for our synnes aâd of the bloâd w c he sâuld shede out in râmââsâon of our synneâ But in this sacrifice is a thaÌâes gâuiÌg remeÌbraunce of the fleshe of christe w c hâ oâfered for vs of tâe bloude w c the saââ god shed oute for vs Fârste note that he calleth yâ a sacrifice w c notwtstondingâ is but a remeÌbraunce of thât sacrifice oâfereâ oâ the croâse once for all aâ yt ys proued before oute of Chrisostome Then he âlayâly calleth ât a thankes gâuinge and remâmbrance of Chriâtes flesâe and bloude so coÌcludeth with vs. Neâerthelesse because sophysters wolde sonâ thynke to auoyde this plaâe I wâll allege one other saâinge of the same aucto w c they shall neuer be able to auoyde ¶ Fulgentius sayeth as Hâyâo âestifieth Hic calix nouum testamentum est id est hic calix quem âobis trado nouum testamentum signifiâat That ys to saye Thys cuppe or chalice ys the new testament That ys thys cuppe or chalice which I deliuer you doth sygnifye the newe testameÌt In thys place he doth playnlye shewe his mynde w c can âot be auoyded For euyn as the cuppe ys the newe testameÌt â so ys the brede the bodye âowe the cuppe dothe but sygnifye the new testament And therfore I may coÌclude that the brede doth but sygâifye the bodye Eusâbâus sayeth Quia corpus assumptum ablaturus erat ex oculis nostris syderibus allaturus nâcâssarium erat ut nobis in hac die âacramentum corporis sanguinis consecraret ut coleretur iugiter per mysterium quod semel offerebatur in precium That ys to saye Because he wolde take awaye outâ of oure eyes the bodye that he toke and carye yt in to heuyn It was necessarie that in thys tyme he sâulde coÌsecrate to vs the sacrament of his bodie and bloude that that w c was once offered for the price of our redeÌptyoÌ might coÌtânuallye be honored thorough the mysterye To coÌsecrate a thinge is to applyâ yt vnto an holyâ vsâ Here you maye see that he callâth yt the
saârameÌt of his bodie and bâoude w c bodie is caryâd vp in the heuen And allso he calleth yt a mistârye w c is ynowe for them that will see Allso druthmarius expoundeth thes wordes this is my bodye on thys maner Hoc est corpus meum in misterio That is to saye this remy bodye iâ a mystârie I thynke you knowe what a misterye meaneth âhriste is crucifiâd euery daye in a misterie that is to saye euery daye his deth ys represented by the sacramentes of remeÌbraunce The masse is Christes passyon is a misterye that ys to saye the masse doth repÌsented hys passion aÌd kepeth yt in oure memorie The brede ys Christes bodye in a misterie that is to saye ât repÌsenteth hâs bodye that was brokyn for vs â and kepâth yt in oure remembraunce Yow haue herde all redye the mynde of the doctours how the sacrament ys Christes bodye And now I shall shewe you how the sacrament ys oure bodye w c doth not a lytell helpâ to the vndstoÌding of theis wordes w c are in coÌtrouersie The sacrameÌt of the aulter ys oure bodye as well as yt ys christes bodye And euyn as yt is oure bodye so ys yt Christes But there ys no man that can saye that yt is oure naturall bodie in dede but onlye a figure signe memoriall or repÌsentacyon of our bodie Wherfore yt must allso folow â that yt ys but onlye a figure signe memoriall or repÌsentacyon of Christes bodie The furste ête of this argumeÌt maâe thus be proued S. Austen wryting in a sermone saâeth on this manerâ Corpus ergo Christi si uu tis intelligere apostoluÌ audite dicenteÌ Vos estis corpus Christi meÌbra 1. Cor. 12. Si ergo estis corpus Christi membra mysteriuÌ uestrumque in mensa DnÌi posituÌ est mysteriuÌ DnÌi posituÌ est misteriuÌ DnÌi accipitis ad id quod estis Amen respondetis respoÌdendo subscribitis That is to saye Yff you will vnderstoÌâ the bodye of Christe here the apostle w c sayeth ye are the bodye of Christe and membres â cor 12. thârfore yf ye be the bodye of christe aÌd membres âour misterie ys put vppon the lordes table ye receiue the misterie of the lorde vnto that you are you answer Amen And in answâringe subscribe vnto yt Here you maye see that the sacrament ys allso our bodye and yet ys not our natâral bodye but onlye our bodye in a misterye that ys to saye a figure signe memoriall or repÌsentation of our bodye for as the brede ye made of many graynes or cornes so we though we be many are one brede aÌd one bodye And for this êpertie and sâmilitude yt ys called oure bodye and beareth the name of the verye thynge w c yt doth represent and signifye Agayne s. Austen saythâ Quia Christus passusest pro nobis coÌmendauit nobis in isto sacramento corpus sanguineÌ suuÌ quod etiam fecit nos ipsos Nam â nos ipsius corpus facti sumus per misericordiaÌ ipsius quod accipimus nos sumus Et postea dicit Iam in noiÌe Christi tanquam ad caliceÌ DnÌi uenistis ibi uos estis in mensa ibi uos estis in caliceâ That ys because christ hath suffered âor vs he hath betaken vnâe vs in this sacrameÌt his bodie and bloude w c he hath allso made euyn our sellfes For we allso are made hie bodye and by his merâye we are euyn the same thinge that we receyue And after he sayth now in the name of christe ye are come as a man wold saye to the chalice of the lorde there are ye vppon the table and there are ye in the chalice Here you maye see that the sacrament is oure bodye And yet yt ys not oure naturall bodye but onlye in a misterye as yt ys before sayd Furthermore s. Austen sayethâ Hunc itaque cibuÌ potuÌ societateÌ uult intelligi corporis membrorum suoruÌ qd est sancta ecclesia in predestinatis uocatis iustificatis glorificatis sanctis fidelibus âius Huius rei sacramentuÌ alicubi quotidie alicubi certis interuallis dierum in dominico preparaturâ de menâa Domini sumitur quibusdam ad uitam quibusdam ad exitium Res uero ipsa cuius est sacramenâum est omni homini ad uitam âulli ad extium quiâunque eius particeps suârit That is to saye he wyll that âhis meate aÌd drike sâulde be vnderstond to be the felowship of his bodye membris which is the holye churches in the predestinate and called and iustifyed and glorifyed hys saynctes and faythfull The sacrameât of this tâinge ys prepared in some place daylye aâd in some place at certayne appoynted dayes as on the sondaie And yt is receiued ârâm tââ table of the lorde to some vnto ââffe and to some vnto distrucâion Buââhe thing yt sâââfe whose sacramânt this is â ys reââyâed of all meâ vnâo âiff and of no man vâto ãâã who so euer is partaker of yt Here doth âââuââen fursâe saye that thys sacrament ys the ââowshyp of hys bodye and memâres which are we And yet yt ys not oure naturall bodye as ys before sayd And then he sayth that tâe sacrament of thys thing ys râceyued of some vnto lyff and saluacyon and of sâme vnto dâtâ and dampnation For both âaythâull and ââfaythfull maye receyue the sacraâent And after he sayeth that the âhyng yt sellff whose sacrament yt ys ys receyued of al men vnto lyffe â and of no man vnto destructyon who so âuâr ys partaker of yt And of thys sayânge yt muste nedes follow that onlye the âaythfull eate CHRISTES bodye and the vnâaythfull eate him notâ For he ys receyued of no man vnto destructyon And of this yt muste allso followe that the sacrament ys not Christes bodye in dede but onlye in a mysterye For yff the sacrament were hys naâurall bodye then shulde yt foââowe that the vnfaythfull shâlde receyue hys bodye Whych ys contrarye to the mynde of sainct Ausâen aâd agaynst all truth Thus haue we suffecyentlye proued the âyrst part of oure argument that the sacrament ys oure bodye as well as yt ys CHRISTES And nowe wyll I proue the second parte more playnly although yt be ynough declared all redye to them that haue eares that ys that euyn as yt ys oure bodie so ys yt Christes Furste you shall vndersâond that in the wine which ys called Christes bloude is admixed water which doth signifye âhe people that are redemed w t his bloude so tâat tâe heed w c is Chrisâe ys not w t oute hys bodye w c ys the faythfull people nor the bodye w t oute hys heed Now yf the wyne when yt is coÌsecrated be torned bodelye in to Christes bloude then is yt also necessarie that thâ water w c is admixed be bodelie torned in to the bloude of the fayâhfull people For where as is one coÌsecratioÌ muste
euery sacrament is the signe of an hollye thinge but the sacrament of the aulter is a sacrament as all faythfull men confesse ergo yt must follow that the sacrament of the aulter is y â synge of an hollye thinge Nowe yf yt be the sygne of an hollye thinge then yt is not the hollye thinge yt sellfe w c yt doth signifye represent Why shulde we then feare to call that bred a figure that ys to saâe a sacrament of that holye bodye of our lord sauiour Besides that I wolde knowe of what necessite or profite his fleshe muste be present in the sacrament For the pÌsence of his fleshe can no more profit vs then doth the remembraunce of his bodie but this remembraunce maye as well be don by the sacrameÌt as though hys bodie were present And therfore sith God and nature make nought in vayne yt followethe consequentlye that his naturall fleshe is not there but onlye a memoriall therof Furthermore the ende aÌd finall cause of a thinge is euer beter then those thinges w c are prouided for the ende as the howse is better than the lyme stone and timber which are prouided for the howse but the ende and finall cause of the sacrament is the remembraunce of Christes bodye and ther vppon yt muste followe that yf the sacrameÌt be his naturall bodie that the remembraunce of Christes bodie shulde be better then his bodie yt sellfe Whiche thinge is to be abhorred of all faythfull men It were fondenes to fayne that the soule did other wise eate then do the angellys in heuen aÌd their meate is onlye ââe Ioye and delectatyon that they haue of god and of his glorie And euen so doth the soule w c is here vppon the yerth eate thorough fayth the bodye of Christe w c ys in heuen For yt deliteth reioyseth whyles yâ vnderstondeth thorough faith that christ hath taken our synnes vppon him and pacified the fathers wroth Nether yt is necessarie that for that or for thys cause that hys fleshe shulde be pÌsent For a man maye as well loue and reioyse in the thinge w c ys from hym not present as though yt were pÌsent by him of that maner Moreouer the brede is Christes bodye euin as the breaking of the brede is the deth of his bodie Nowe y â breakiÌge of bred at the mauÌdey is not the verye deth of Christes bodie but onlye a representation of the same allbeyt the minde thorough fayth doeth spâallye beholde his verye deth and euyn likewise that naturall brede is not the verye bodie of our lorde but onlye a sacrament signe memoriall or representatyon of this same albe yt thorough the monision therof the mynde thorough fayth doth spâalye beholde the verye bodye And surely therof yf a maÌ be faythfull the sprite of God worketh in hys harte verye swetlye at his communion Finallye yt was not lawfull to eate or drinke the bloude not onlye of man but also of a brute beaste and the apostelles themâ selues moued by the rule of charite did institute that men shulde abstayne from bloude somwhat fauorynge the infyrmyte of the Iewes Now yf the apostellys had taught as ye doo that in the sacrament hys verye fleshe and bloudâ ys âaten and dronke with the teth and mouthe of faythfull and vnfaythfull what coulde haue be ne a gâeater occasyon to haue excluded the Iewes from crystes fayth euyn at once Thynke you that the appostellys wolde not haue byn to scrupulous to haue dronken hys very bloude seynge yt was so playne agaynst Moses lawe yf they had vnderstonde hym so grosselye as ye doo Petâr had a clothe sent downe from heuyn in whych were all maner of beastes âorbidden by the lawe and was commaunded to sâe and âatâ them And he answered God forbyd for I neuer eate any vnclene thynge meanynge therbye that he neuer âate any thynge forbydden by the lawe Wherof yt moste nedes followe that ether he neuer recâyued the sacrament w c ys playne false or els that he more spiritually vnderstode the wordes of Chrisâes maundie then ye falselye fayne For yt was playnely forbydden by the lawe to eate or drinke any maner of bloude And I knowe but one reason that they haue w c they count an insoluble how beyt by goddes grace we shall sone auoyde yt There reason is this Paule sayth he that eateth and drinketh this sacrament vnworthylye shal be gyltye of the bodye bloude of the lord Now saye they â how sâuld they be gyltie of the lordes bodie bloud w c receiue yt vnworthelie except yt were the verye bodye and bloude of the lorde This argument I saye is verye weake slender For I can shewe many exampleâ by the w c yt may be dissolued for he that dispisseth the kinges sealle or letters offendeth agaynst his oweÌ parson and yet the letter or seale ys not hys owen parson He that vyolently plucketh downe hys graces armes or breakyth hys brode sâale wyth a furyoâse mynde or vyolence committeth treason agaynst hys owyn parson And yet hys armes and brode seale are not hys owyne person he that clepyth the kyngys coyne coÌmitteth treason agaynst the kynges parson and the commen welth and yet the mony ys nether hys graces parson nor the coÌmon welth And therfore your argument ys but weake and slender For euyn as a man doth offend agaynste the prynces parson by dispising hys armes seale or letters so doth a man offende agaynste Christes bodye and bloude by abusynge the sacrament of hys bodye and bloude although he be not there present as the kynges parson ys not present in his armes seale or letters Besides that s. paule saieth that euerye maÌ w c praieth or pÌcheth w t couered hâed shameth his heed his heed is christe shall we therfore ImageÌ that christe is naturallye in euerye mans heââ as your argument concludeth For soth that were a pretye phaÌtasâe Finally S. Ausâen saiâth that he doth no lesse synne w c negligentlye heareth the worde of god theÌ doth the other w c vnworthelye receyuith the sacrament of Christes bodye aÌd bloude Nowe yf thys be true theÌ ys your reason not worth a rishe for christes naturall bodie ys not in the worde w c is pÌched as all men knowe And yet he sâunââh no lesse that negligeÌtly heareth yt theÌ dooth he that vnworthelye receyuyth the sacrament And thus you see their insoluble easely dissolued ¶ But now muste this yong maÌ consider agayne that hym self confesseth that the cause for w t himsellf saieth that christ in so saying did so meane ys because that yf he shuld haue meÌt soo yt was impossible to god to brynge his meanenynge a bought that ys to saye that christes bodye might be in two places at once And therfore but yf he proue that thynge impossible for god to doo els he confessyth that god not onlye sayd yt but allso ment yt in dede And yet ouer thys yf christ had neuer sayde
Christ did institute this sacrament and knowe that yt was to put vs in remembraunce of hys bodye breakynge bloud sheding that we might geue him thankes for yt and be as sure of yt thorough faith accordinge to his promises as we are sure of the brede bâeatinge of yt yf as I saye ye remember this thynge for w c intent only the preste speaketh those wordes then yf the prest leue oute those wordes or parte therof he can not hurte you For you haue all readie the effecte aÌd finall purpose for the w c he shuld speake theÌ And againe yf he shuld whollie altre theÌ yet he caÌ not deceiue you For then ye be sure that he is a lyear aÌd though you se the prest brynge you the wine vncoÌsecrated yet neuer sticke at that For as surelye shall yt certifie youre coÌscience and outwarde senses âhough he coÌsecrate yt not so thou coÌsecrate yt thâ sellfâ that ys to saye so thou know what ys ment therbye and geue hym thaÌkes as though he made a thoussand blessynges ouer yt And so I saye that yt is euer consecrated in hys harte that beleueth though the prest coÌsecrate yt not And contrarye wyse yf they coÌsecrate yt neuer so muche â and thy coÌsecracion be not bye yt helpeth the not a rishe For except thou knowe what ys ment therby and beleue geuinge thankes for his bodye breakinge and bloudshedynge yt can not profyte the. Nowe where you saye that yf we se the thinge disordered by the prest Christes institucyon broken wyttinglye receyue yt we make our selffes partakers of the cryme I answer that yf the reformacyon therof laye in our haÌdes then sayd you trouth but sith this ys writin to priuate parsones w c maye not reforme this mater and that the reformacyoÌ therof reasteth onlye in the hande of your prince aÌd parliament for the erroure coÌsisteth not in the misorderyng of the mater by one prest onlie but rather of the doctrine of theÌ all sauyng suche as god hath lightened to thes pÌuate êsons I saye that youre doctrine shuld soner be the occasion of an insurrexion w c we labour to eshew then âny quietinge of them by Christes doctrine And therfore syth there ys an other waye to wode sauyng all vpright we wyll auoyde that parylous pathe But when ye se Christes institucyon broken and y â one kynd left out vnto y e laye peple why ar ye partaker therof How be yt as for his beleue that taketh yt no better but fore bare bred wine yt maketh him lytell matter coÌsecrated or not sauynge that the better yt is consecrated the more yt is euer noyous to him that receyuyth yt hauinge his coÌsciens combred w t suche an execrable heresie by w c well aperreth that he putteth no defference betwene the bodye of our lorde in the blessed sacrament and the comon brede that he eatyth at hys dynner But rather he estemeth yt lesse For the tone yet I thynke or he begyn yf he lacke a prest he wyll blesse yt hym sellfe the tother he careth not as he sayeth whether yt be blessed or no. What I reaken yt more then bred and wyne I wyll shew you here after in declarynge the mynde of S. paule vppon thys sacrament and that in the conclusion of this boke And in the meane season I will saye no more but that he be lyeth me And as for there blessinges coÌsecracion profite not me except I coÌsecrate yt my selfe with fayth in Christes bloude and with geuynge hym prayse and thankes for hys inestimable goodnes which when I was his enemie reconciled me vnto his father bi his owin deth This consecracyââ muste I set by yt yf I will haue any profyete of his deth w c the sacrament representeth vnto me And yf I my self do thus consecrate yt then shall I be sure of the frute of his deth And I saye againe that as the prestes do now vse to coÌsecrrate yt yt helpeth not the poore comeÌs of a rishe For there coÌsecracioÌ shuld stonde in preachinge vnto theÌ the dethe of christe w c hath delyuered them oute of the Egypt of synne and from the fyry fornace of Pharo the deuell And as for theyr wagginge of ther fingers ouer yt and sayng vi or .vij. wordes in laten helpeth them nothing at all for how can they beleue by the meanes of his wordes wheÌ they knowe not what he sayeth And as touchinge the comen breade that I eate at my dynner whether I haue a preste or not I blysse yt w t my harte and not w t my fyngers and hartely geue God thankes for yt For yf I haue an hundreth prestes to blesse yt yet am not I excused therbye For except I blesse yt my sellfe yt profiteth me no more then yf yt were vnblessed And yf I blesse yt my sellfe than I care not what the preste prate For as longe as I vnderstonde hym not yt profiteth me nothinge But in good faieth I wene the bushoppes ther proctoure wâte not what a blessinge meaneth Therfore deare brethern hearkyn to me To blysse god ys to geue him praise and thankes for his benefites to blisse a kynge or a prence is to thanke him for hys kindenes and to praye to god for hym that he maye longe reigne to the lawde of god aÌd welth of his coÌmens To blisse a mans neyghboure ys to praye for him and to doo hym good To blisse my brede or meate is to geue god thaÌkes for yt To blysse my sellfe is to geue god thaÌke for the great benefites that I haue receyued oâ him to pray god that of his infinite goodnes he will increase those gyftes that he hath geuin me and fynishe his worke w c he hath begon in me vnto his lawde and prayse and as touching this fleshe to fullfyll his will in yt and not to spare yt but scorge cut and burne yt onlye that yt maye be to his honore and glorie This ys the forme of blessynge and not to wage two fyngers ouer them But a lacke of thys blessing our bushoppes be ignorant But as for those that are good and faythfull folke and haue any grace or any sparcle of reason iÌ there hedes wyll I verely thiÌke neuer be so farre ouer sene as in this article the trouth wherof god hath him sellfe testified by as many open miracles as euer he testified any one to beleue this yonge man vppon his baren reasons agaynste the faithe and reason both of alâ olde holy wryteres and all good christen people thys xv C. yeres As for the miracles I meruell not at them neither may they make me the soner to beleue yt for Christe told vs before that suche delusions shuld come that yf yt were possible the very electe shuld be deceyued by them And s. Paule exorteth vs to be ware of suche signes wonders And therfore I doo as moses teacheth me
wheÌ I here of suche a wonder then strayght I loke on the doctrine that is annexed w t yt Yf yt teache me to referre all the honour to god not to creatures aÌd teache me nothinge but that will stond w t goddes worde then will I saye that yt is of god But yf yt teache me suche thinges as wyll not stond w t his worde then wyll I determyne that yt ys done by the deuell to deiude the people w t damnable Idolatrye When Paule and Barnabas preached at Lystra and had don a myracle emonge them the people ranne and wold haue don sacrifice vnto them But the apostles ranne amonge them and âare their clothes cryinge vnto them syrs what you doo we are euyn corruptible men as ye are and preache vnto you that you shuld laâue this vayne superstition worship the leuynge god w c made heuen erth the see all that in theÌâ c. here the apostelles refused suche honour worship And therfore I am sure they wolde not suffer ther Images to haue ytâ Now wheÌ I see a miracle done at any Image êceyue that yt briÌgeth men to the worshipping of yt sellfe coÌtrarye to the facte doctrine of the apostelles whiche wold not receyue yt theÌ selues I must nedes coÌclude that yt is but a delusioÌ done by the deuell to deceiue vs to briÌge the wrath of god vppoÌ vs. Euin soo I saie of the sacrameÌt sith the miracles that are done by yt do make meÌ thiÌke otherwise then scripture will cause meÌ to worship yt I doubte not but they are done by the deuell to delude the people Thou wilt êauenture saie that god will not suffer him to abuse the sacrameÌt of his bodie bloude Yes verelye god will suffer yt and doth suffer yt to see whetherâ we will be faithfull aÌd abide by his worde or not And meruell not ther of for god suffered hym to take vppe the very naturall bodye of his sonne Christ and set hym on a pynnacle of the temple And after he toke hym vppe agayne and leade him to an exceding mountaine And therfore thiÌke not but that he hath moâe power ouer the sacrameÌt then he hade ouer Christes owyn bodie And therfore when they tell me loo here is christ âoo there is christ as Christ prophecyed loo he is at this auitre loo he is at that I will not beleue them Neuerthelesse yf I shuld graunt that all the myracles whyche were done and ascrybed vnto the sacrament were very true miracles aÌd done of god himsellf as I doubt not but some of them be true yet there vppon yt doth not âolowe that the Sacrament shulde be the verye naturall bodie of Christe For we haue euydent stories that certayne persones haue byn deliuered froÌ bodelye diseases thorough the sacrameÌt of baptime And yet the watter is not the holye gost nor the very thinge yt sellfe wherof yt is a sacrament The shadow of Peter hath healed many And yet was not that shadow Peters owyn person We reade also that napkyns haÌd âherchers were caryed from Paule vnto them that were syke and possessed wyth vnclene spiretes and they receyued ther helth And yet yt were neuerthelesse madnes to thinke that Paules bodye had byn actuallie or naturallie in thosse thynges And therfore thys ys but a verye weake reason to Iudge by the myracles the presence of Chrystes bodye And surelye you mought be ashamed to make so slender reasons For god maye worke miracles thorough many thinges w c are not his naturall bodye And as touchinge the olde doctoures whom you fayne to make w t you and the trouth of your opinyon w c you saye hath byn beleued of all good christeÌ pâople this .xv. C. yeres is suffecyentlye declared before proued to be but a poynt of your old poetrye ¶ Doctoure barnes did graciouslye escarpe master mores haÌdes ANd also frere barnes albeyt that as ye wett well he is in many other thinges a brother of this youngmaÌs secte yet in thys heresie he sore abâorreth his heresye or els he lyeth hym sellfe For at his laste beinge here he wrote a letter to me Wherin he writeth that I laie that heresie wrongfullye to his charge And shewyth him sellfe so sore greued therew t that he sayeth he will iÌ my reproche make a boke agaynst me Wherin he wyll professe proteste his fayth concernynge this blessed sacrament But in the meane season yt well contenteth me that frere barnes beyng a man of more age And more rype discrecyon a doctour of diuinite and in those thinges better lerned then this yongmaÌ ys abhorreth this yongmaÌnes heresie in this poynt as well as he lyketh hym in many other The more your mastershipe prayseth doctour barnes the worse men maye like your mater For in many poiÌtes he doth coÌdeÌpne your daÌnable doctrine as in his boke apereth And therfore if suche credeÌce must be geueÌ to him then moche the lesse will be geuin to you But êaduenture you will saye that he is to be beleued in this poynt although he erre in other Wher vnto I answer that yf you will coÌsent vnto him I wolde be well apayd and will promise you to wryt no more in that mater For in thys we both agre that yt ought not to be worshipped ye and blessed be god all the other whom you calle heretyckes And so both of vs do auoide the Idolatrye w c you w c so great daunger do daylye coÌmit And therfore yf you alowe his lerning then am I content that you dissent froÌ me For lett yt not be worshipped and thinke as yow will for then is the parell paste And sith we agre in thys poynt doubt not but we shall sone agre in the residou and admitte eche other for faythfull brothers And where your mastership sayeth that he wrot you a letter proteâtinge that you laye that heresie wrongfullye to his charge I thinke yt was more wisdom for hym twise to haue wryten to you then once to haue comen and tell you of yt For yt was playnly told hym that you had conspiryd his deth aÌd that notwtstondinge his saffe conduyte you were minded to haue murthered hym And for that cause he was compelled bothe being here to kepe hym sellfe secreatlye also preuelye to departe the realme And blessed be god you haue suffecieÌtâye publyssed your purposse in your answer agaynst W tindale where you saye that you myght lawfullye haue brunâe hym Here meÌ maye see how êciable yow are addicte to our prelates And how êne ye were to fulâyll ther pleaâures contrarye to our princes pÌrogatiue royall And thankes be to god w c gaue yow suche grace in the sight of our soueraigâe that âe sâârtâye wtdrewe your power For els yt ys to be âeared that you wold further haue proceded agaynste his graces pÌrogatiue w c thynge whether yt be treason or not let other men dâfyne But this
I dare saye that yt is printed and publyshed to our princes great dishonore For what lârnâd maÌ maye in time to come truste to hys graces saffe coÌâuyte or come at his graces instaÌce or requeste sith not onlye the spuÌallye w c of ther professioÌ resyââe hys prerogatiue but also a laye man êmoted to suche êminence by hys graces goodnes dare presume so to depresse hys prerogatyue not onlye to saye but also to publishe yt in preÌt that notwtstondyng hys graces saffe conduyte they myght lawfullye haue burnte hym But here he wold saye vnto me as he dethe in his boke that he had forfayted his saffe coÌduyte aÌd therbye was fallyn in to his enemyes handes Where vnto I answer that this your sayinge is but a vayne glose For I my sellfe did reade the saffe coÌduyte that came vnto hym w c had but onlye thys one conditioÌ annexed vnto yt that if he came before the feaste of christmas theÌ next insuynig he shuld haue fre lyberte to deperte at his pleasure And this coÌdicyoÌ I knâwe was fullfylled How shulde he than forfayte hys saufe conduyte But master more hath lerned of hys masters our pÌlates whose procture he ys to depresse oure princes pÌrogatiue that men ought not to kepe any promisse w t heretyckes And so his saâfe coÌduyte cold not saue hym As though the kynges grace myght not admitte any maÌ to goo and come frelye in to hys graces realme but that he muste haue leue of our pÌlates For els they myght laye heresye agaynst the parson and so âley hym coÌtrarye to the kynges salfe coÌduyte w c thynge all wyse meÌ do knowe to be preiudiciall to his graces prerogatiue roâall And yet I am sure that of all the tyme of hys beynge here you can not accuse hym of one cryme albeit vnto your shame you saye that he had forfayted his salfe conduyte These wordes hade be very extreme and worthy to haue byn âoked vppon allthough they had byn wretyn by som presumptuoÌs prelate But that a laye man so heighlye promoted by hys prynâe shuld speake them and also cause them openlye to be publyshed amonge hys graces comes to deâecte the estymacyon of hys royall power doth in my minde deserue âorrection Natwithstondynge I leue the iudgemânt and determinacyon vnto the discrecyon of hys graces honorable counsell And as for that holy prayer that this deuoute yoÌgmaÌ as a new christe teacheth to make at the receiuiÌge of this blessed sacrameÌt all his coÌgregacioÌ I wold not geue the pariÌge of a pare for hys praier though yt were better theÌ yt is pullynge awaye the true fayth therfro as he doth How be yt hys prayer there ys so dyuised peÌned and paynted w t laysure studye that I truste eueri good christeÌ womaÌ maketh a moche better prayer at the tyme of hyr howsell by faythfull affectyoÌ aÌd by goddes good inspiracioÌ sodeÌlye Fryth ys an vnmete master to teache vs what we shuld praie at the receyuiÌge of the blessed sacrameÌt when he will not knowelege it as it is but take christes blessed bodie for nothing but bare bred so lytle esteme the receyuyng of the blessed sacrameÌt that he forsyth lytle whether yt be blessed or not Where he discoÌmendyth my prayer sayeth that I am an vnmete master to teache meÌ to praye seyng I take awaye the true fayth from yt and sayeth that euery woman caÌ make a better wheÌ she receyuyth the sacrameÌt I wolde to god that euery womaÌ were so wyll lerned that they coulde teache vs both And sureli I inteÌded not to prescrybe to all men that prayer onlye but hoped to help the ignorant that they might ether speake those wordes or els takyng occasion at theÌ to saye some other to the lawde aÌd prayse of god And as for your fayth w c you call the true fayth musâe I nedes improue For yt wyll not stonde w t the true text of scripture as yt playnââ apereth But to the fayth in christesâ bloude I exhorte all meÌ and teach theÌ to eate hys bodye w t fayeth and not w t teth w c is by hauynge his deth in contynuall remembraunce And degestynge yt in to the bowels of the soule And because yow so sore improue mi prayer to conclude my answer agaynst you I wyll wryte agayne And lett al meÌ Iudge betewne vs. Blessed be thou moste deare mercifull father w c of thy teÌder fauour benignite not wtstoÌding our greuous enormytis coÌmitted agaynst the wouchsauedst to send thyn owine onlie deare sone to suffre moste vile deth for our redeÌptioÌ Blessed be thou Christ Iesu our lorde sauiour w c of thine abundaÌt petye coÌsidering oure miserable estate willyngly tokest vppon the to haue thy moste innoceÌt bodie brokin bloude shed to purge vs aÌd washe vs w c are ladyn w t iniquite And to certifie vs therof hast left vs not only thy worde w c maye enstruce our hartes But allso a visible token to certifie eueÌ our outward sences of this great benefyte that we shuld not doubt but that the bodie and frute of thy passyon are oures thorough fayth as surelye as the brede which by our senses we knowe that we haue with in vs. Blessed be also that spirite of verite which ys sent from god our father thorough our sauiour Christ Iesu to lyghten our darke ignoraunce And leade vs thorough fayth in to the knowelege of hym which ys all verite Strengthe we beseche the our frayle nature and encrease our fayth that we maye prayse god our moste mercifull father and Christe his sonne our sauiour and redemer AMEN The paschal lambe and oure sacrament are here compared to gether NOw we shall shortly expresse the pith of our mater and borow the figure of the paschall lambe Which is in all poiÌtes so lyke That the offeringe of the pascall lambe did signyfye the offerynge of Christes bodye is playne by Paule which sayeth Christe our paschall lambe ys offered vp for vs When the childern of Israell were very sad and heuye for theyr sore appressyon vnder the power of Pharrao for the mo myracles were shewed the worse were they handeled God sent vnto them by âoyses that euâry howsâold shuld kyl a lambe to be a sacrifyce vnto GOD and that they shuld eate hym with their staues in their handes ther loynes gyrded and showes on their feeâe euin as men that were going an hastye Iorney Thys lambe muste they eate hastelye and make a merye maundye Now because thây shuld not saye that they could not be meryeâ For ther oppressyon and what coulde the lambe help them he added glad tydynges vnto yt and sayd thys ys the passing bye of the lorde Whiche thys nyght shall passe by you and ââe all the fyrste begotton with in the Londâ of Egipt and shall delyuer you oute of your bondage and brynge you in to the lond that he hath promissed vnto your fathers Marke the processe
and fellowship doth testyâye openlye vnto all men that he ys oure verye God whose cup we drinke before whom we eate in that fellowship and that we put all our fyaunce in hym in the bloude of hys sonne Christe Iesu geuinge god all honoure infinite thankes for his great loue wher w t he loued vs as ys yt testifyed in the bloude of his sonne w c was shed for oure synnes So that in this place and fellowship maye no man eate nor drynke with vs but he that is of our fayth knowelegeth thesame god that we doo As by example yf maÌ were well beloued emonge his neyghboures albe yt he haue some ennemyes and were longe absânt from his frendes in a strange contrye when he were come home his neighboures that loued hiÌ wolde greatlye reioyse êaduenture wolde biâ a copoÌ or a nother pece of meate to geue him his welcoÌ home get theÌ to some honest maÌs howse or to a tauerne and make good chere to gether to testifie openlye that he is welcome home and that they all whiche are at that baÌket reioyse of his cominge home Nowe I saye that this banket is more then another meale for at this banket his enemyes maye be loth to come because they can not reioyse at his cominge home therfore can not make good chere amoÌge them testifying that he is welcome home but reather abhorreth the meate and drinke that is there eaten because their hart doth not fauoure the parson for whose sake yt is prepared Natwtstondinge yf a capons legge were reserued for one of hys ennemyes and afterward geuyn hym whan the banket were don he might lawfullye eate yt For then yt were but bare meate suche as he eatyeh home And likewise the ennemyes of christe which beleue not that they haue remissyon of sinnes thorough his bloude sheding can not reioise of his bodye breaking And therfore can not make good chere amonge them but yf any be reserued after the maundye he maye lawfullye eate yt for yt is but bred And his loueres that are ther present do rather come thider to geue hiÌ his welcome home then for the meate and they more eate his welcome home then the meate But yf any of his enemyes fortune to be there they eate onlye the meate aÌd not his welcom home For they reioyse not at his coÌmynge home Lykewise the faithfull that are there present doo rather come thether to reioyse in the fayth of his bodye breakyng then in breakinge or eatinge of the bred or meate But yf any of the vnfaythfull fortune to be there they eate only the brede and not his bodie breakyng For they reioyse not at his bodie breakinge Here êaduenture some wold suppose that I were contrarye to my sellfe For before I sayd that yt was more then meate that was âaten at the geÌtiles feaste more then meate that was eateÌ at my neighboures welcome home more then bred that ys eaten at the receyuing of the sacrameÌt of the bodie bloude of christe And nowe I saye that yf a maÌs enemie be there he eateth onlye the meate and not the welcom home And lykewise the vnfaythfull eateth onlye brede and not the bodye and bloude of Christe How maye these wordes stonde to gether I answer that they eate but onlye bred or meate that profyteth them but in dede they eate more to theyr hynderaunce and euyn there owyn dampnacyon For they that did eate in the fellowship of gentiles dit but onlye eate the meate to there profyte but in eatynge theyr meate their facte dyd openly testyfye that they honoured that Idolle for ther GOD althought their herte were other wise wherin they comitted Idolatrye And besydes that they wounded the coâscyences of their weake brethern and so synned agaynst God Besydes that he that enuieth hys neighboure comyth to that banket âateth but onlye the meate that profiteth him natwtstonding in his oweÌ harte he eateth the rancor aÌd malice of his mynde to his greate greuaunce wheÌ he seeth them so reioyse And of his oweÌ coÌpanyoÌs w c are also these mannes enemyes he doth purchase himsellfe hatred because w t his facte he testyfiâth that he loueth him although his harte be wotherwise of god shal be condeÌpned For he that hatâth his brother ys a murtherer Furtheâmore he that ys vnfaythfull and comyth to the manudie eateth but onlie the bred that êfiteth him notwtstondyng he eateth beside that hys owyn dampnacyon because he beleueth not that the bodie of our sauyour w c the sacrament representeth is broken for his synnes and his bloudeshed to washe theÌ awaye This I am compelled to do to stope the chatâringe mouthes of sophisters albe yt to theÌ that he sober yt had byn ynough to haue said they eate onlie bred not the bodie breaking c. For they ryght well vndstoÌd yt by the coÌârarye antithesie knowe that I meÌt not by that onlye that he shuld eate thâ brede and nothinge els but onlye bred but that I meÌt by this worde onlye that he shulde eate the brede with oute the bodye And so lykewyse in other exaÌples Thus haue we suffecientlie declared paules mynd in the .10 Chapter In the .xi. chapter paule maketh moche meÌcioÌ of the mauÌdiâ discribeth yt to the vttermoste First he saith wheÌ ye come to gether iÌ one place a man caÌ not eate the lordes souê For euery maÌ begynnyth afore to eate his owyn souê aÌd one is houÌgrye an other ys dronkeÌ Haue ye not howses to eate driÌke in or els dispice ye the coÌgrigacioÌ of god shame theÌ that haue not what shall I saye vnto you shall I prayse you In this I prayse you not Paule did instructe accordinge to christes mynde that the Corynthians shuld come to gether to eate the lordes souê Whiche lyeth not so moche in the carnall eatynge as in the spirituall and is greatly dyssyred to be âateÌ not by the houÌger of the bodie but by the hounger of the faythful harte w c ys gredye to publyshe the prayse of the lorde geue him hartie thaÌkes moue other to the same that of many praise might be geuin vnto our moste mercifull father for the loue w c he shewed vs in the bloude of his owiÌ moste deare sonne christ iesu Wherw t we are washed froÌ our sinnes suerlie sealed vnto euerlastiÌge liffe w t suche houÌger did christe eate the paschal laÌde sayinge to his diciples I haue inwardlye dessired to eate this ester lambe w t you before that I suffer Christes inwarde desyre was not to fyll his bellye w t his disciples but he had a spuÌall honger bothe to praise his father w t theÌ for their bodelie deliueraÌce oute of the lande of egypt speciallye to alter the paschal laÌbe memorie of the carnall deliueraÌce in to a mauÌdie of myrth thaÌâ geuing for our spuÌall deliueraÌce oute of the boÌdage of synnâ In
so moche that wheÌ christ knewe that yt was his fathers will pleasure that he shuld suffer for ourâinnes wherin his honour glorie prayse shulde be published then was yt a pleasure vnto hiÌ to declare vnto his disciples that great benefite vnto hiâ fathers prayse and glorie and so did institute that we shuld come to gether aÌd breake the brede in the remeÌbrauÌce of his bodye breakynge bloudeshediÌge that we shuld eate it to gether reioysinge w t eche other declariÌge his bnÌfitesâ Now were the corinthians fallin froÌ this houÌger and caÌ not to gether to th enteÌt that goddes prayse shuld be published by theÌ in the myddes of the congrygacion but caÌ to fede their fleshe to make carnall chere In so moche that the ryche wolde haue meate and drincke ynough aÌd take suche aboundauÌce that they wolde be droÌke and so made yt ther owyn souper not the lordes as paule sayth aÌd did eate onlye the brede and meate aÌd not the bodye breakynge as I sayd before and the poore which hade not that is to saye that had no meate to eate where shamed hongrye aÌd so could not reiose aÌd prayse the lorde by the reason that the delicate fare of the riche was an occasion for the pore eo lameÌt their pourtye aÌd thus the riche did nether prayse god theÌselues nor suffered the poore to doo yt but were an occasioÌ to hynder them They shulde haue brought their meate drinke aÌd haue deuided yt w t their poore brothern that they might haue byn mery to gether aÌd so to haue geuyn theÌ occasion to be merye aÌd reioyse in the lorde w t thaÌkes geuinge But they had nether luste to prayse god nor to coÌforte their neighboure Ther fayth was feble aÌd their charite cold and had no regard but to fyll their bodye fede there fleshe And so dispised the poore congrygacion of god whom they shuld haue honoured for the spyrite that was in theÌ fauour that god had shewed indifferentlye vnto them in the bloude of his sonne christe When Paulâ perceyued that they were thus fleshlie minded had no mynde vnto that spuÌall maundye which chefelye shuld ther be aduertised he reproueth theÌ sore rehersinge the wordes of christe That w c I gaue vnto you I receyued of the lorde For the lorde Iesus the same night in the w c he was betrayed toke bred thaÌked and brake yt sayd take ye and eate ye this ys my bodie w c ys brokeÌ for you this do ye in the remeÌbrauÌce of me After the same maner he toke the cup wheÌ souper was don sayinge this cup is the new testameÌt in my bloude this do ye as ofte as ye drinke yt in the remembraunce of me For as ofte as ye shall eate thys bred and drynke this cup ye shall shewe the lordes deth tyll he come As though he shuld saye ye corinthians are moche to blame w c at this souper seke the foede of your fleshe For yt was institute of christe not for the enteÌt to noryshe the belye but to streÌghtheÌ the harte soule in god And bi this you maye knowe that christe so meÌt For he callyth yt his bodye w c is geuin for you so that the name yt sellf might testifie vnto yow that in this souê you shuld more eate hys bodye w c is geuyn for you by digestyng that in to the bowelles of your soule theÌ the breed w c by the breakiÌge the distributyng of yt doth repÌsent his bodie breakiÌge the distributyng theroff vnto all that are faythfull And that he so meaneth ys euydent by the wordes following w c saye this do in the remembraunce of me and likewise of the cup. And finallie âoncluding of both Paule sayth as often as ye shall eate this brede aÌd drinke this cup in this place and fellowship ye shall shewe the lordes deth vntill he come praisinge the lorde for the dethe of his sonne and exortinge other to do the same reioysinge in him w t infinite thankes And thefore ye are to blame w c seke onlye to fede the bellye w t that thinge w c was onlye institute to fede the soule And ther vppon yt followyth Wherfore who so euer doth eate of this bred or driÌke of this cup vnworthelie is giltye of the bodye bloude of the lorde He eateth this brede vnworthelie w c regardeth not the purpose for the w c Christ did insâitute yt w c comith not to it w t spuÌall honger to eate thorough faith his verye bodye w c the bred representeth by the breaking aÌd distributinge oâ yt whiche comith not w t a merye harte geuinge God hartye thankes for their deliuerance from synne Whiche do not moche more eate in their harte the deth of his bodye then they do the bred w t their mouth Now sith the Corinthians dyd onlye seke their bely and fleshe forgat goddes honour and prayse for which ât was institute that thankes shuld be geuyn by the remembraunce oâ his bodie breakinge for vs they eate yt to goddes dishonour to their neighboures hinderrance and to ther owin condempnacion and so for lacke of fayth were gâltye of Christes bodie w c by faith they shulde there cheffelye haue eatân to ther soules helth And therfore yt followith ¶ Lett a man therfore examyne hym sellfe and so let hym eate of the brede and drinke of the cup. THis prouynge or examinynge of a mans selfe is fyrste to thinke w t him sellfe w t what luste and disyre he comyth vnto the maundye wyll eate that bâed whether he besure that he is the childe of god in the fayth of Christe And whether hâs conscâence do beare hym wytnes that Christes bodye was brokyn for hym And whether the luste that he hath to prayse god aÌd thanke hym w t a faythfull harte in the myddes of the brethern do dryue hym thither warde Or els whether he do yt for the meates sake or to kepe the custome for then were yt better that he were awye For he that eateth or drinketh vnworthelye eateth aÌd drinkethe his owyn daÌnacyon because he maketh no difference of the lordes bodye That ys as yt ys sayd before he that regardeth not the purpose for which it was institute aÌd puteth no defference betwene this eatâng and othâr eating for other eatynge doth onlye serue the bellye but thys eatynge was institute and ordeyned to sarue the soule and inwarde man And therfore he that abuseth yt to the fleshe eateth and drinketh hys owyn dampnacyon And he comyth vnworthelye to the maundye where the sacrament of Christes bodye ys eaten ye where the bodye of the lorde ys eaten not âarnallye w t the teth and bâllye but spiritually w t the harte and faythe Uppon this followeth the text that master More allegeth and wresteth for his purpose For this cause manye are weake and sike amoÌge you manie slepe Yf we had trulie Iudged
oure selues we shuld not haue byn Iudged WheÌ we are Iudged of the lorde we are chastened because we shuld not be dampned w t the worlde Wherfore my brethern when ye come to gether to eate tarye one for another Yf any man hunger lett him eate at home that ye come not to gether vnto condempnacyon For this cause that is for lacke of good examininge of oure selues as ys before touched manie are weake and syke in the fayth manye slepe and haue loste their fayth in Christes bloude for lacke of remembraunce of his bodye breaking and bloude shedinge ye and not that onlie but manye were weake and sike euyn striken w t bodelye diseases for abusinge the sacrament of his bodye eatinge the bred w t their teth aÌd not his bodye w t their hart and mynde and êaduenture some slayne for yt by the sârocke of god w c yf they had truly Iudged and examined theÌ selues for what intent they cam thither and why yt was institute shuld not haue byn so Iudged and chastened of the lorde For the lorde doth chasten to bringe vs vnto repentaunce and to mortifie the rebellious membres that we maye remeÌber hym Here ye maye shortly perceyue y e minde of Pauâe Finis ¶ An Epitome and short rehersall of all this boke shewynge in what poyntes Frith dissenteth from our prelates NOw to be short in thes .iij. poyntes frith dissenteth from oure prelates from master More w c taketh vppon him to be their proctoure Oure prelates beleue that in the sacrament remayneth no bred but that yt ys torned in to the naturall bodye of Christ both fleshe bloude bones Frith sayth that yt is none article of oure Crede and therfore let them beleue yt that will And he thinketh that there remayneth bred styll And that he proueth iij. maner of wayes Fyrste by the scripture of Paule w c calleth yt bred sayinge the brede w c we breake ys yt not the fellowship of the bodie of christe For we though we be manye are yet one bodye and one bred as mannye as are partakers of one bred And agayne he saâeth as ofteÌ as ye eate of this bred or driÌke of this cuppe you shall shewe the lordes deth vnâyll he come Also luke callethe yt bred saying in the Actes they continued in the fellowship of the aposteles in the breakinge of the brede and prayer Also Christe called the cuppe the frute of a vyne saying I shall not from hence forward drinke of the frute of the vine vntill I drinke that newe in the kiâdom of my father Furthermore nature doth teache you that both the bred and wine continâe in their nature For the bred muldeth yf yt be kept longe ye wormis bred in yt And y e poore mouse will runne awaye w t yt and eate yt w c are euidence ynough that there remaynith bred Also the wine yf yt were reserued wold wax sower as they confesse them seluesâ And therfore they howsell the laye people but w t one kinde onlye because the wine can not coÌtinue nor be reâârued to haue readye at hande when nede were And surelye as yâ there remayned no bred yt could not mould nor wax full of wormes euyn so yf there remayned no wine yt could nât wax sower And therfore yt is but faulse doctrine thaâ our pÌlates so long haue taught published Finallie that ther remaineth bred might be êuyd by the auctorite of manie doctoures w t calle yt bred wine euyn as Christe his appostelis ded And though some sophisters wolde wreste their sayinge and expouÌd theÌ after their owyn âhantasâe yet shall I allege theÌ one doctoure w c was pope that maketh so plaine w t vs that they shall neuer be able to auoyde hym For pope Gelasius writeth on this maner Certe sacrameÌta q sumimus corporis sanguinis Christiâ diuinae res sunt propter qd per eadeÌ diuinae efficimur coÌsortes naturae Et tameÌ noÌ deâinit esse substaÌtia uel natura panis et uini sed êmanet in suae êprietate naturae Et certe imago et similitudo corporis sanguinis Christi in actioÌe misterioruÌ celebrantur That is to saie surelye the sacrameÌt of the bdye bloude of Christe w t we receyue are a godlye thynge therfore thorough thâm are we made êtakers of the godly nature And yet doth yt not cease to be the substaÌce or nature of bred and wine but they continue in the propertie of their owyn nature And surely the image and similitude of the bodye and bloude are celebrated in the acte of the misterys This I am sure that no maÌ can auoyd yt nor so wrest yt but that all men shall sone espye hys folye and therfore I maye conclude that there remayneth the substance and nature of brede wine The seconde poynte wherin Frith dissenteth from oure prelates and their proctoure THe prelates beleue that his verie fleshe is pÌsent to the teth of theÌ that eate the sacrament and that the wicked eate his verye bodye Frith sayth that yt is none article of our Crede and therfore he rekenith that he is in no Ieoperdye though he beleue yt not And he thinketh that his fleshe is not pÌsent vnto the teth of theÌ that receyue the sacrament For hys fleshe ys onlye in one place at once And that he proueâh both by the auctorite of Sainct Austen ad Dardanum and also by the auctorite of Fulgentius ad ThrasuuaÌdum libro 20. as before apereth in the boke And Fryth sayth that the wicked eate not hys verye fleshe allthough they receue the sacrament And that he proueth by the scripture doctoures and good reason grounded vppon the scryptures The scripture is this he that eateth christes bodie hath euerlastiÌge liffe but the wicked hath not euerlastinge liffe ergo then the wicked eate not his bodye Agayne the scrypture sayeth he that eateth christes fleshe drinketh his bloude abydeth in christe christe in hiÌ but the wicked abyde not in christe nor christe iÌ hiÌ ergo the wicked eate not his fleshe nor drinke his bloude This maye also be confyrmed by good auctorite For sainct Austen sayeth he that abâdeth not in christe in whoÌ christe abydeth not w t ouâe doubte he eateth not his fleshe nor driÌketh his bloude allthough he eate drinke the sacrameÌt of so great a thinge vnto his âampnacion And euen the same wordes hathe beda vppon the tenth chapter of the fyrste pistle to the Corinthians Agayne s. Austene sayeth he that abideth not in me in whom I abyde not let him not saye nor thinke that he eateth my bodye or drinketh my bloude And euen the same wordes hath Beda vppon the sixt chapter of the firste epistle to the CorinthiaÌs And euen the same senteÌce hath Ambrose and Prosper aÌd Beda vppon the .xi chapter of the firste pistle to the Corinthians Finallye
this maye be proued by good reason grounded vppon the scripture Christ wold not suffer marye though she loued him well to touche him because she lacked one poynt of faythe and did not beleue that he was equale w t his father And therfore be reason yt muste followe that he wil not suffer the wicked w c nether haue good faith nor loue towardes hiÌ both to touche him and eate him in to their vnclene bodies Now sith this is proued true that the wicked eate not his bodie yt must also therof nedes followe that the sacrameÌt is not his naturall bodie For they do eate the sacrameÌt as all men knowe Besides that the faithfull do not eate christes bodye w t their teth And therfore yt muste followe that the wicked do not eate yt w t ther teth The antecedeÌt or first ête of the reason is êued by the wordes of christe w c saith that the fleshe êfiteth nothinge at all meaning that yt doth not êfite as they vnderstode him that is to saie yt profiteth nothinge to be eaten carnallie w t their teth bellye as they vnderstode him For els yt profyteth moche to be eateÌ spuÌallye that ys to saye to beleue that thorough his bodye breakinge and bloud shedinge oure sinnes are purged And thus doth Origene s. Ausâen Beda Chrisostome and Athanasius expouÌd yt as apereth in the boke before And therfore Frith saith that onlie faithfull meÌ eate his bodie not w t ther teth and mouth but w t their faieth aÌd harte y â digest yt in to the bowelles of their soulles thorough beleuing that yt was brokeÌ on the crosse to washe awaye their synnes And the wicked eate not his bodye but onâye the bred and there daÌpnacyon because they eate him not spuÌallie that is because they beleue not in his bodie breakinge and bloude shedinge ¶ The third poynt wherin Frith dissenteth from your prelates and their proctoure THe pÌlates beleue that men oughte to worship the sacrament but Frith saith naye aÌd affyrmith that yt is Idolatrye to worship ytâ And he sayth that Christ and hys appostyllis taught vs not so to do nether did the holy fathers so teache vs. And Frith saith that the auctoures of this worshipinge are the childerne of êdicion w c haue ouerwhelmed this worlde w t synne Neuerthelesse we muste receyue yt reuerentlye because of the doctrine that yt bryngith vs. For it preacheth christes deth vnto vs discribeth yt before oure eyen euen as a faithfull pÌchar by the worde doth in still yt in to vs by our eares aÌd hearing And that yt supplieth the Roume of a prâchar is euident by the wordes of s. Ausâen w c sayeth Paulus quis portaret sarcinaÌ corporis quod aggrauat animaÌ potuit tamen significando predicare DominuÌâesum Christum aliter perlinguaÌ suam aliter per epistolam aliter per sacramentuÌ corporis Christi That is to saye though Paule did âere the burthen of the bodye w c doth honorate the soule yet was he able in sygâifying to preache the lorde Iesus christe one waye by his tonge and a nother waie bi a pistle and a nother waye by the sacrament of Christes bodye c. For as the people by vnderstonding the sygnifycacion of the wordes w c he spake did heare the glorious gospell of god aÌd as by the readynge of his pistle they vndersâod his mânde and receyued the worde of the soules helth so by the ministraâyon of the sacrament they might see w t ther eyen the thiÌge w c they harde reade so haue their sences occupied about the misserye that they might the more ernestlie prâynt it in their minde As by exaÌple The prophet Hieremie beinge in Hierusalem in the tyme of âedâchias kynge of the Iewes prophesyed pÌached vnto theÌ that they shuld be takeÌ pÌsoners of Nabugo doneâar the kynge of Babylon And the Iewes were angrye w t him wold not beleue his wordes And therfore he made a chaine or âetters of wode put theÌ a bout his nâcke êphâsid agayne preached that they shuld be taken pÌsoners lâde captiue in to Babylon And as his wordes did certifye their âares that they shuld be subdued so the chayne did pÌsent their captiuite euen before their eyen w c thinge did more vehemeÌtlye worke in theÌ thââ thââare wordes could doo euen so yt is in the sacrameÌt For likewise as the wordes diâ in still yt in to our eares that his bodie was geuin for vs his bloude shed for the remission of our sinnes eueÌ sâ did the ministratioÌ of the sacrameÌt expresse the same thinge vnto our sight do the more effectuouslye moue vs then the bare wordes might do and make vs more attent vnto the thinge that we maye wholye geue thaÌkes vnto god prayse hym for his bountuous benefites And therfore seynge yt is as a pÌchar expressinge vnto our sight the same thinge that the wordes doo to oure âares you muste receyue yt w t reuereÌs sober behavyoure aduertisinge the thing that yt repÌsenteth vnto you And eueÌ the same honoure is dewe vnto yt w c is geuin vnto the scripture that is the worde of god For vnto that muste a maÌ deuoutlie geue eare râuerentlie take the boke in his haÌde ye yf he kisse the boke for the docârânes sake that he lerneth there oute he is to be câÌmeÌded Neuerthelesse yf he shuld goo sence his boke men might well thinke that he were verie childyshe But yf he shuld knele downe praie to his boke then he did coÌmitte playne idolatrie Consider deare brethern what I saie auoyde this Ieoêdie w c thinge auoyded I care not as touchinge the presence of his bodye though you beleue that his naturall fleshe be there in dede not onlye in a misterye as I haue taught For wheÌ the Ieoperdye is paste he were a fole that wolde be contentyous for a thinge as longe as there comyth no âurte therbye The germanes w c beleue the presence of his bodye do not worship yt but playnly teache the contrarye and in that poynt thankes be to god all they whom you call herytickes do agre full-well Onlye auoyde thys Idolatrye and I desyre no more ¶ The conclusion of this treatise NOwe deare brethern I beseche you for the mercye that ye loke fore in Christ Iesu that you accept thys worke w t a syngle eye and no contentyons harte For necessite hath coÌpelled me to wryte yt because I was informed both of my lorde of winchester and other creadyble persons that I had by the meanes of my fyrst treatise offended many men Which thinge maye well be true For yt was to slender to enstructe all theÌ w c haue sins sene yt albâ yt yt were suffecyent for their vse to whom yt was fyrst deliuered And therfore I thought yt not onlye expedient but also necessarie to enstructe them further in the truth that they might se plaine euideÌce of