The Buckler of the Faith, Part 2 · Article 38 · Subpart 6
With what libertie our aduersaries forge figures, and wrest the words of Iesus Christ and of the Apostles.
Sect. 29 Our aduersaries exclaime against vsus because we take these words, This is my body, in a figuratiue sence: although the figure which we make therein is ordinary, and perpetuall in the Scripture touching matter of Sacraments, and in regard that Iesus Christ could speake no otherwise, for that in his language there is not a word whereby he could say, This representeth or signifieth my body: as also that Iesus Christ expoundeth himselfe, saying, that it is a remembrance; and for that all the action, and all the words of the institution, and all the expositions added by the Apostles, enforce vsus to vnderstand it so, as we hauehave already shewed.
Notwithstanding they themselues, to shun this vsuall and naturall figure for the present action, forge a multitude of vnaccustomed figures, contrary to the nature of the action, and there is not one word found in the Scripture touching this matter, to the which in a manner they giuegive not a blow, and wherein they do not forge some figure, which diffigureth the sence, and corrupteth the doctrine.
1 In these words, This is my body, they say that by the word this, we must vnderstand vnderunder these species, and that this, is an indiuiduum vagum, which signifieth no certaine thing, but the sence whereof hangeth in suspence vntill such time as the words are fully pronounced.
2 They also say, that by the word is, we must vnderstand shall be, for they say that transsubstantiation is not done till the words are pronounced.
3 In these words, He tooke the cup, saying, This cup is the new couenant, they say that the word cup, is a word of two significations, and that at the first, the word cup signifieth the wine, and in the second place it signifieth the bloud.
4 So, when Saint Matthew saith, This is my bloud, the bloud of the new Testament, by the word Testament, they vnderstand the couenant of God. But when Saint Luke and Saint Paul say, This cup is the new Testament in my bloud, they will hauehave the Testament to be Iesus Christ himselfe, and that the Testament and the testator should be all one.
5 In these words, This cup is the new Testament in my bloud, they will hauehave vsus by the cup to vnderstand the bloud of Iesus Christ in the Eucharist, and that by the words my bloud, we must vnderstand the bloud shed vponupon the crosse, making another bloud of Iesus Christ to be powred into the bloud of Iesus Christ.
6 And when Christ calleth that which he dranke the fruite of the vine, they say, that by the fruite of the vine we must vnderstand the bloud, because it was wine before the conuersion, or because it hath an apparence thereof.
7 For the same reasons, when Saint Paul three times one after the other saith, that we eate bread, they will hauehave the word bread to signifie the body of Christ.
8 And when Saint Paul saith, The bread that we breake is the communion of the body of Christ, they say, that by the bread we must vnderstand the body, and denie that the bread is broken, because the body (as they say) remaineth whole in eueryevery peece of the host.
9 So when Iesus Christ so many times declareth, that he leaueth the world, and that he will be no more in the world, they adde, visibly, and so by the addition of one word, corrupt and peruert the meaning of many places of the Scripture.
10 And when the Lord, Ioh. 6.51. saith, That if any man eateth his flesh, he shall liue for euer; they plainly perceiue, that if in those words Iesus Christ speaketh of the participation of the Sacrament, it must of force follow, that Iudas and diuerse hypocrites which did, and do participate therein, shall liue for euer: which to auoide, they adde to the Lords words, and say, that his meaning is, that if a man eateth the flesh of the Lord worthily, he shall liue for euer. But we maintaine that a man cannot eate the flesh of the Lord vnworthily, seeing that it cannot be eaten but onelyonly spiritually and in faith; which cannot be done vnworthily.1. Cor. 11. It is true that the Scripture speaketh of eating the bread vnworthily, but not of eating the flesh of our Lord vnworthily.
11 So, when in the 53. verse the Lord saith, Except ye eate the flesh of the Sonne of man, and drinke his bloud, ye hauehave no life in you; they plainly see, that if there it is spoken of the holy Sacrament, the good theefe, and many faithfull persons, which died, and die without hauing meanes of participating therin, shall be excluded from euerlasting life. Therefore they adde another peece to the word, and tell vsus, that Iesus Christs intent was to say, If you eate not my flesh, when you hauehave meanes to do it, ye shall not hauehave life eternall. But the sentence of our Lord is true, simply and without exception. For whosoeuer eateth not the flesh of our Lord in faith, hath not life eternall.
12 And when our Lord saith, If you drinke not my bloud, you shall not hauehave life eternall: that they may not by this sentence be bound to minister the cup to the people, they say, that by the word drinke, the Lord vnderstood to take it without drinking, because the bloud also is in the host.
Now where are these men that are so great enemies to figures, and which sticke so fast and scrupulously to the letter? But therein they thinke they hauehave a priuiledge: for they say that the Church of Rome cannot erre in her interpretations:*Tit. 8. De concess. Praebend. cap. Proposuit in Glossa. Papa contra Apostolum dispensat: Item contra vetus Testamentum. Et Dist. 34. Can. Lector. Papá potest contra Apostolum dispensare. Et Caussa 25. Quaest. 1. Can. Sunt quidam. Dispensat in Euangelio interpretando ipsum. and therefore the Glosse vponupon the Decretals boldly saith, that the Pope may dispense against the Apostle, and against the old Testament, yea and that he dispenseth with the Gospell, giuing it interpretations.