Answer unto a Crafy and Sophistical Cavillation, Debate · Confutation of book 3 · Section 25 – Section 26
Caunterbury.
IN this comparison I am glad that at the last we be come so neare together,A concord in the spirituall presence. for you be almost right hartely welcome home, and I pray you let vsus shake handes together. For we be agreed (as me seemeth) yt Christs body is present, and the same body that suffered: and we be agreed also of the manner of his presence. For you say that the body of Christ is not present, but after a spirituall maner, and so say I also. And if there be any difference betweene vsus two, it is but a little and in this point only: That I say, that Christ is but spiritually in the ministration of the Sacrament, and you say, that he is but after a spiritual maner in the Sacrament. And yet you say, that he is corporally in the Sacrament, as who should say, that there were a difference betweene spiritually, and a spirituall maner: And that it were not all one, to say that Christ is there onelyonly after a spirituall maner, and not onelyonly spiritually.
But if the substance of the Sonne be here corporally present with vsus vponupon earth,The presence of the Sonne. then I graunt that Christes body is so likewise. So that he of vsus two that erreth in the one, let him be taken for a vaine man, and to erre also in the other. Therfore I am content that the reader iudge indifferently betweene you and me, in the corporal presence of the sonne, and he that is found to erre, and to be a foose therin, let him be iudged to erre also in the corporall presence of Christes body.
But now maister Bucer help this man at need:M. Bucer… For he that hath euer hitherto cryed out against you, now being at a pinch driuen to his shiftes crieth for helpe vpō you. And although he was neuer your frend, yet extēd your charity to helpe him in his necessity. But maister Bucer saith not so much as you do: and yet if you both said that the beames of the sonne, be of the same substāce with the sonne, who would beleue either of you both? Is the light of the candle the substance of the candle? or the light of the fire the substance of the fire? Or is the beames of the sonne any thing but the cleere light of the sonne? Now as you said euen now of me, if you erre so farre from the true iudgement of natuarll thinges, that all men may perceiue your error, what maruaile is it if you erre in heauenly thinges?
And why should you be offended with this my saying, that Christ is spiritually present in the assembly of such as be gathered together in his name: And how can you conclude hereof, that this is a plaine abolitiō of the mistery of the Sacrament, because that in the celebration of the Sacrament, I say that Christ is spiritually present? HaueHave not you confessed your self, that Christ is in the Sacrament but after a spirituall manner? And after yt maner he is also among them yt be assembled together in his name. And if they yt say so, doe abolish the mistery of ye Sacramēt, then do you abolish it your selfe, by saying that Christ is but after a spirituall maner in the sacrament, after which maner you say also that he is in them that be gathered together in his name, as well as I doe, that say hee is spiritually in both. But he that is disposed to pick quarrels, and to calumi ate all thinges: what can be spoken so plainly, or ment so sinceerely, but he will wrast it into a wrong sence. I say that Chist is speritually and by grace in his supper, as he is when two or three be gathered togither in his name, meaning that with both he is spiritually, and with neither corporally, and yet I say not that there is no difference. For this difference there is, that with the one he is sacramētally, and with the other not sacramentally, except they be gathered together in his name to receaue the Sacrament. Neuerthelesse the selfe same Christ is present in both, nourisheth and feedeth both, if the Sacrament be rightly receiued But that is onelyonly Spiritually, (as I say) and onelyonly after a Spirituall maner, as you say.
And you say further, that before we receiue the Sacrament, we must come indued with Christ, and seemely cloathed with him. But whosoeuer is indued and cloathed with Christ, hath Christ present with him after a spirituall maner, and hath receaued Christ whole both God & man or els he could not hauehave euerlasting life. And therfore is Christ present as well in Baptisme, as in the Lordes Supper. For in Baptisme be we indued with Christ, and seemely cloathed with him,Gal. 3. as well as in his holy Supper we eate and drink him.
Winchester.
Thus I hauehave perused these differences, which well considered, me thinke sufficient to take away, and appease all such differences as might be moued against the Sacrament, the faith wherof hath euer preuayled against such as hauehave impugned it. And I hauehave not read of any that hath written against it, but somewhat hath against his enterprise in his wrytinges appeared, wherby to confirme it, or so euident vntruthes affirmed, as wherby those that be as indifferent to the truth, as Salomon, was in the iudgement of the liuing childe, may discerne the very true mother from the other, that is to say, who plainly entend the true childe to continue aliue, and who could be content to hauehave it be destroyed by deuision. God of his infinite mercy hauehave pitie on vsus, and graunt the true faith of this holy mistery, vniformely to be conceiued in our vnderstandinges, and in one forme of wordes to be vttered and preached, which in the booke of common prayer is well tearmed, not distant from the Catholick faith in my iudgement.