A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to a certaine booke lately set foorthe by M. Hardinge, and entituled, A confutation of &c. By Iohn Iewel Bishop of Sarisburie.

M. Hardinge.

The places of Gelasius, and Theodorite in apparence seeme to make mutche for you, and more then

any other Doctours. And though these twoo doctours were altogeather of this opinion, that af∣ter Consecration the Substance of Breade and VVine remaineth, what reason is it, they onely in so greate a matter shoulde preiudicate all other Holy and learned Fathers, and whiche is more, the ge∣neral Councels, and* 1.1 the whole Churche of Christe? The Catholike Faithe we finde in them bothe within fewe lines after the woordes of this Defenders obiection, firste by Gelasius thus expressed: Sacramenta Corporis & Sanguinis Domìni in diuinam transeunt, Spiritu Sancto perfici∣ente, Substantiam: permanent tamen in suae proprietate Naturae; The Sacramentes (saithe he) of the Body and Bloude of our Lorde passe ouer into a Diuine Substance by the woorkinge of the Holy Ghoste. Yet remaine they stil in the proprietie of their owne Nature. By diuine Substance he meaneth the ••leas he of our Lorde assumpted of the VVoorde.* 1.2 Nowe saithe Theodoritus, the Mysti∣cal tokens, be vnderstanded to be the thinges, whiche they be made, and are beleeued, and adored, as beinge the thinges whiche they are beleeued to be. But euery man knoweth they are beleeued to be made the Body and Bloude of Christe, and therefore be duely adored and woorshipped: so after the minde of Theodorite, they be the Body and Bloude in deede, not Breade and VVine, as before Conse∣cration.

The Substance or Nature of Breade and VVine ceasseth not to be, saithe Gelasius: (VVhereas your interpreter addeth of his owne heade this woorde So)† 1.3 we telle you and him, in Theodorite it us not so. Ergo it remaineth, saye ye. VVee graunte the Substance, or Nature of Breade and VVine re∣maineth after Consecration, so as Gelasius vnderstandeth by the name of Substance,* 1.4 whiche is no∣thinge elles but the very Nature (as commonly we speake of Nature) that is to saie,* 1.5 the natural pro∣perties of Breade and VVine: for so he expoundeth him selfe afterwarde, sayinge, Yet they remaine in the proprietie of their owne Nature. They remaine (likewise saithe Theodorite) in their Former Substance, Figure, and Forme, and be seene and felte as before.

And there to maie Damascenes definition of Substance perteine, who saieth, that Substance is euery that, what so euer by it selfe is beinge, and hath not beinge in an other. And therefore† 1.6 sht be the Accidentes haue their beinge by themselues in this Sacramente, and be not staied on any other thinge: in this consideration, Substance of them maye so be reported, as if them selues were Sub∣stance. VVhiche* 1.7 substantiall consistinge of the Accidentes lackinge a propre name, because it is the mighty and extraordinary hande of God, is also extraordinarely called of Gelasius, and The∣odoritus by the name, whiche the thinge had before, to witte, the Substance of Breade and VVine. And no maruell if they spake not in† 1.8 most exacte wise of this secrete pointe of Doctrine (of Fourmes and Accidentes) at what time it was not as yet by the Churche so clerely, and ful∣ly discussed: (as it was neuer pet vntil this daie). But sithens of the Schoolemen (ig∣norante and Fantastical Sophisters) it hathe benne more distinctly named the existence of Accidentes without their Subiect, that is, without an other thinge whereupon they mighte staye.

Againe whereas Breade and VVine by theire nature doo nourrishe,* 1.9 this vertue also remai∣neth in the Accidentes geuen to them by the Almightie VVoorde of God, who changeth Crea∣tures to theire betteringe, not to theire impairinge. This was the meaninge of Gelasius, and The doritus, where they saye, the Breade and VVine to remaine in theire Former Substance or Nature. Otherwise shoulde they be contrary to them selues, as they, whiche also doo acknow∣ledge the nature of Breade and VVine to be changed into a more excellent Substance, by the worke∣full woorde of Christe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vntruthe. For this fantasie vvas neuer allovved through the vvhole Churche of Christe: as it shal appeare.
• * 1.2

  The truthe cōfessed by Theodori∣t' Dialog. 1.
• † 1.3

  Vntruthe. VVithout que∣stion it is so. For the vvoordes be, Non definit esse Substantia Panis.
• * 1.4

  A peeuishe vn∣truthe. It had benne too great a folie.
• * 1.5

  Nature i•• Gelasius, and Sub∣stance in Theodorite is taken for naturall propertie. Dialog. 2. In Logi••s Cap. 23.
• † 1.6

  Vntruthe ma∣nifeste: Reade the Ansvveare.
• * 1.7

  Substantial consistinge of Accidentes: O folie.
• † 1.8

  O exacte folie. A heape of Vn∣truthes vvith∣out sense.
• * 1.9

  Vntruthe. M. Harding by one dreame expoū∣deth another.