A Short Recital of Certain Holy Doctors

sig: [A1]

Here is a shorte Resytal of certayne holy Doctours whych proueth that the naturall body of christ is not conteyned in the Sacrament of the Lordes supper but fyguratyuely / collected in myter by Ihon_Mardeley

sig: [A1v]

IT is marueled moche

Mens myndes is soch

To sow discorde

In hande to take

Any boke to make

That dothe not accord

Wyth Goddes holy worde

That twoo-edged sworde

Whych cutteth bothe wayes

Frome that Testament

They do dyscente

Into prophane wayes

For many whych lokes

Upon soche bokes

Playnly dothe see

Wythe woordes confuse

Suche doo a_buse

The verytye

For where they saye

Presente alwaye

Is flesshe carnall

As they defyne

Under bread and wyne

A bodye naturall

That is easyer sayed

Than can be proued

By the scriptures

For bread and wyne

To all mens eyen

Be two creatures

sig: A2

Of theyr probacion

To make relation

Where-as they veryfye

Christ at his maundye

Gaue hys naturall body

That scripture dothe denye

They saye he is almyghtye

And able for to supplye

And performe hys sayinge

Or els it shulde be counted

In hym somwhat wanted

And not able to do all-thynge

To answere thys

The scripture is

Heare my defence

And Doctours auncyent

Doo full consente

To thys pretence

Where Christ at hys maundye

Spake these woordes truly mat .xvi

It was but fyguratyuely

When-as he sayde

Take eate thys bread

Thys is my bodye

Whych is for many broken

When he had so spoken

He toke the cup sayinge

Thys cuppe here presente

Is the newe testament

In my bloude-sheddynge

sig: [A2v]

Saynct Augustyne doth saye

Loke where ye haue allwaye

Any scripture whych seameth to be

Of any-thyng commanded

That muste then be applyed

To be spoken but figuratyuely Augu. in libro .iii de doctrina christiana. si aut flagitium aut facimus iubere videtur figurata locutio est .xvi

And also Orygen that clerke

Wylleth vs for to marke

Wyth our myndes spiritually

Sayinge all soche scriptures

That they be but fygures

And not to be taken carnally Origen in le[u]it homi .vii agnosce quod figure sunt que in [u]oluminibus, domini scripte sunt .etc.

Now take thys and eate

Is after the letter meate

For they dyd eate in-dede

That bread mistycally

So eate we hys body

Yf we be spiritually-mynded

Now to vse that ordynaunce

Is but a remembraunce

Of Christes payne and passion

For by it we do knowe

And to the faythful showe

Hys deathe vntyll he come

S. Augustyn also affyrmeth

And to Bonyface wryteth

Christes body and bloude to be

Celebrated but vnder

A shadowe and fygure

Of a secret mysterye Augu. in libro .ii. de doctrina christiana

sig: [A3]

So that thys holy mysterye

Of christes bloude and bodye

It is spirituall in operacion

For it geueth lyfe by faythe

Thus S. Augustyn saythe

And of his death a representacion

For to make relation

Of the true signification

Thys is hys sayinge

100

He saythe a sacrifice playnly

Is a thyng done whych is holy

Or a holy thyng in doyinge s. ysodore in his boke of true signification of wordes saithe

For by a woorde mysticall

It is consecrate in the memoriall

105

Of the Lordes deathe and passion

And to be called the bodye

And bloude of Christ verely.

Thys is hys declaration

Though it be made he saythe

110

Of the fruytes of the earthe

Yet is it made and sanctifyed

A sacrament by worke inuysyble

Of the holy-ghost incomprehensible

When that the worde is pronounced

115

The Grecians they do call

Thys sacrament eucharistia all

That is by interpretacion

Good grace, as nothing more holy

Then Christes bloude and bodye

120

Fygured in thys celebracion

sig: [A3v]

Thys bread and wyne mystically

Be compared vnto the bloud and bodye

Of Christe, because the inuysyble

Substaunce, of wyne and bread

125

Doth inebriate norryshe and fead

The externe man corruptyble

By the woorde of god beleued

Is that lyuely bread fygured

By hys participation

130

Whych dothe the myndes recreate

And the faythfull renouate

To the memoriall of hys passion

Thys he sayth that a mysterye Thys=Thus

Is the signification and certentye

135

Of a secrete hid disposycion

So that a deuyne vertue

Dothe inwardly therin insewe

By that visible operacion

Thus declareth he in soome

140

That the Lordes deathe and passion

Was ones done for all

So that the remembraunce of it

Is represented to vs yet

In thys holy thynge solempnisal

145

S. Ambrose wryting of thys mistery

Of Christes bloude and body

Sayth ther is a commutacion

Whych is maruelously wroughte

Sayinge that it is broughte

150

To an incomprehensyble alteracion s. ambro in hys .i. boke of Sacraments wryteth thys

sig: [A4]

Now here sayth he let them

The whych dothe not esteme

This secrete vertue so hyd

But thynke that the hole body

155

To appere therin visibly

And to [be] carnally presented be] 1548 omits

Thynke in what poynte and howe

Here happeneth let them saye nowe

Any soche holy commutacion

160

For bread and wyne we fynde

Whych styll appere in kynde

Before and after consecracion

Therfore it is made internly

By powre of gods spirite verely

165

Whych onely fayth loketh vpon

That whych the soule fedeth

And euerlastynge lyfe mynistreth

Is beleued in that mutacion

Wherfore yf ye saye I see

170

Christes body and bloude to bee

In order of nature here

You coulde not then saye

I beleue the body and bloude allwaye

Of Christ for to be there

175

Than for-asmoche as faythe

Loketh vpon the hole he saythe

And the fleshe apprehendeth nothing

So that the body and bloud of Iesu

Be not in the forme but in vertue

180

Of that sacramentall ministring

sig: [A4v]

Affyrmynge also the ministrie suche

Whych is done in the churche

To be but a sacrament memoriall

Of that fleshe wherin christ suffered

185

And was crucified dead and buryed

Whych was very flesh naturall

But thys fleshe saythe he

In symilitude conteyned to be

Of that very fleshe in mysterye

190

Yet is it not fleshe in kynde

Nor in forme we fynde

But in sacrament verely

Yet in this sacrament Christ is

But yet he saythe not thys

195

That wyne and bread is hys bodye

For then Christ muste pronounciat

Hys body for to be corporat

And subiecte to mortalitye

For what-soeuer is perceaued

200

And in meate corpor[a]ly tasted corporaly] corporly 1548

That is subiecte to corruption

But here it is spirituall

And not tasted corporall

Thys is saynct Ambrose conclusion

205

Can then the worde sayd

Transforme the breade

Into fleshe naturall

Then muste it bee

That we shulde see

210

A bodye anymall

sig: [A5]

For and yf it turne

From the fyrste forme

Of bread and wyne

Then must the bodye

215

Appere to vs openly

Before euery mans eyen

Yf when a thynge

Is brought from hys beynge

And actually chaunged

220

Into that whyche

Hath bene none suche

Neades must be perceyued

As when qualities be altered

As blake to whyte chaunged

225

By wordes of consecracion

So chaunged in colloure

Sight taste and sauoure

Then is transubstaunciacion

But in thys permutacion

230

Is made no innouacion

Then in the fyrste certeigne

For that kynde of creature

Whych was theyr before

Is knowen styll to remeigne

235

Nowe yf we fynde

No chaunge in kynde

But as it was before

Howe nowe let vs see

Than can it bee

240

That bread remayneth no more

sig: [A5v]

For it can be no sacrament

Yf the body be present

That the whyche it dothe fygure

S. Augustyn he saythe

245

We apprehende by fayth

That mysticall nature

Other els it is playne

Our faythe to be vayne

Yf reason haue experience

250

Therfore the veritie

Calleth it a mysterye

Of a deuyne enfluence

So that thys holy sacrament

By olde fathers iudgement

255

Is but a mysterye hyd

As ther is in baptysme

Doctours dothe defyne

A promyse therto annixed

Christes fleshe and bloude he sayes

260

Is vnderstond twoo maner of wayes

Makyng therof a distinction

Betwext the body and bloude

That suffered death vpon the rode

And that which we receyue to our saluacion s. Hiero in his comentary of paules Epistles to the Ephe.

265

For that fleshe and bloude he saythe

Whych the faythful receyue in faythe

Is of a spirituall enfluence

From that fleshe whych was crucifyed

And bloud which on the crosse was shed

270

He putteth a full great difference

sig: [A6]

As may be betwene thinges spiritual

And thinges visible and corporall

So moche they dyffer vndoubtedly

From that fleshe whych was crucifyed

275

And that bloude the whych was shead

Thys doctour affirmeth playnly

For they be not all one sayth he

For that Crucifyed fleshe pardy

Was made of the fleshe of a vyrgyn

280

Compact of bones synewes and vayne

With the liniaments of mans members playne

And quyckened with the spirite deuy[n]e

Hauing also a reasonable soule

Thus the proper mocions he doth exstole

285

Of hys naturall fleshly body

But this fleshe which fedeth the faithfull

Hath hys forme of corne frutefull

And is eaten of them spiritually Spiritus ante faciam nostram christ[u]s christus] christes 1548 dominus. christus] christes 1548

Yet this body we do vnderstande

290

Is made by an artificers hande

Without any reasonable substaunce

Compact with nether synewes nor fingers

Distinct with no varietie of members

Nor able to exercise ani proper puissaunce

295

But what substaunce soeuer geueth life

Parteyneth to a spirit intelectyfe

Which worketh an inuisible efficacye

Now this is cleane an-other thynge

Whych externally is perceyued be seing

300

From that beleued in the misterye

sig: [A6v]

Thus S. ambrose maketh distinction

Betwene christes fleshe and the communyon

As here I haue declared

Yf ye doubt loke in hys comentarye

305

Then shal ye se yf I do varye

From hys sentences before resyted

Now S. augustyn sayth playnly

Where-as he spake of hys body

It was a spirituall vnderstandinge

310

For it saueth hym that beleueth

Where-as the letter kylleth

But the spirite quyckeneth all-thynge Augu in sermone ad infantes .xix Quando loquebatur dominus noster Iesus_christus de corpore suo etc

Where christ saythe except ye eate

My fleshe whyche is very meate

315

Ye shall haue no lyfe in you

It seamethe here saythe he

To commaund a thyng to be

Fowle wycked and vntrue

By these wordes ye shall knowe

320

That christ ment it not soo

To geue hys fleshe to be eate

Wyth your tethe, but thys vnderstande

To heauyn whole he shal assende

Up to hys fathers seate

325

Nowe syth he it called

To be a fowle thyng and a wycked

To eate hys flesshe naturall

You maye perceaue playnly

For to eate hys bodye

330

Were wycked and brutall

sig: [A7]

Seyng hys body is fleshe in-dede

Then consequently must procede

To take and eate must be taken

But spoken mere spiritually

335

Or els this is my body

Muste be figuratyuely spoken

Now he that abydeth not in me

And in whom I abyde not sayth he

Let hym not saye nor thynke

340

That he dothe eate

My body as meate

Nether yet my bloude dothe drynke

Christ sayth they byde not in me

Nor yet they my membres be

345

Whych dothe theym-selues blote

In fylthynes beyng vncleane

For then do they remayne

The members of an harlote Aug. de ciuitate dei libro xxi.

S. augustyn and venerable bede

350

Sayth the vnfaythfull and wycked

Whych be not members to christ our brother

They do not eate hys body

Nor drynke hys bloud verely

Yet eat they the sacrament as wel as the other s. Augu. and bed super Corint .vi. et .i. cor .x. Idem Cori .xi.

355

Therfore ye muste of necessite

Graunte the sacrament not to be

Christes body naturall

But a fygure and token

Of hys body once broken

360

Therof to be a memoriall

sig: [A7v]

Thus S. Augustyne doth deny

That we eat not hys naturall body

Wherfore it must neades insewe

Yt is but a mistacall fygure

365

Thus he approuethe by the scripture

Representyng hys passion new Roma .v

And also Bead that worthy prieste

Saythe he eateth not Christ

Whych is wycked in hys lyuynge

370

Nor yet drinketh hys blood

Nether hys flesshe doth hym no good

Though he receyue so worthy a thyng bed super cori .i. et .x. chapi.

Yf thys be not true ye must deface

Saynct Augustyn in this place

375

And not to be approued

A holy doctour of the churche.

But I truste theyr be none suche

That wyth hym wylbe offended

Nowe where he is almyghtye

380

No man wyll that denye

But he may do what he lyste

At hys good pleasure all-thyng

Because theyr is no superiour power beynge

Hable his might to resiste

385

Yet all-thyn[g]e he can not doo thynge] thynke 1548

S. Hierome and S. Thomas sayth so Paula and eustochium.

Wrytyng of virginytie

He cannot synne sayth Dunce at all

He cannot deny him-self sayth Paul

390

In hys Epystle vnto Timothie

sig: [A8]

I thynke yet god by his sonnes blood

Myght haue saued all men bad and good Ihon .iii.

Yf he had so intended

But the scriptures thus standinge

395

He cannot now do that thynge

And yf he were so mynded

Then hys woord he muste forsake

And hys sonne a lyer make

For he sayth the vnfaythfull is dampned

400

Nor the vnbeleuers shall no lyfe se

But gods wrath is vpon them sayth he

Coulde they then haue bene saued

Nowe here for to conclude

I truste noo man is so rude

405

To construe any-thynge amisse

Whyche playnly devulgate

And also truely insinuate

What these Doctours iudgementes is.

For seyng they do it call

410

The Sacrament of a fygure mystical

Of Christes bloude and body

They ought to be beleued

By_cause theyr doctryne is receyued

Of the Catholike churche verely

415

Now bycause ye shall fynde

More Doctours of that mynde

Whych hath wrytten manyfestlye

As prosper, crisostim, Eusebius and Tertulian

Fulgentius , athanasius , Bartram and Ciprian

420

Al these declare it to be a misterie prosper in lib. sentenciarum . crisostim super mat. et ad hebre ho .xvii. Eusebius quia corpus etc. tertulian lib .ii et .li .iiii ad mercione fulgentius .ii li. de fide bartram ad carelos emperatur Cyprian ad cecilium Athana .iii. li qui dix verb also druthmarius saith hoc est corpus meum in misterio

sig: [A8v]

Therfore all those whych be anoynted

And by gods holy spirit appointed

Iudge you here now indifferently

Whether these fathers doctryne

425

And the papisticall leuen

To be beleued is moste worthy

FINIS

¶IMPRINTED AT LONdon in Sainct_Andrewes Paryshe in the_Waredrop, By Thomas_Raynalde

Cum priuilegio