M. Hardinge.
Vpon these woordes of S. Iohn,* 1.1 The Bishoppes and Phariseis gaue Commaundement, that if any knewe, where Iesus were, he shoulde shewe it, that they mighte apprehende him, S. Augustine ex∣poundinge the same, in a contrary sense, saithe: Let vs nowe shewe the Iewes, where Christe is: woulde God they woulde heare,* 1.2 and laie holde on him. VVhere he speaketh not of receiuinge Christe, so as we receiue him in the Sacramente,* 1.3 but of receiuinge him by Faithe Onely. And there he wisheth and exhorteth the Iewes to come to the Faithe, and teacheth them how they maie profitably laye holde on Christe, whome their Forefathers laide holde on with violent handes to their damna∣tion. Let them come to the Churche (saithe he) let them heare, where Christe is, and laie holde on him. After certaine woordes, he maketh this obiection to him selfe: VVel, the Iewe answereth me, howe shal I holde him, that is Absent? Howe shal I reache vp my hande to Heauen, that I maie laie holde on him, whiche sitteth there? Reache thither thy Faithe (saithe Augustine) and then thou haste laide holde on him. Then foloweth in the same line that, whiche plainely declareth all this to be meante of layinge holde of Christe by Faithe,† 1.4 not by receiuinge the Communion. Parentes tui tenuerunt carne, tu tene corde. Thy Forefathers (thou Iewe) tooke holde on Christe in Fleashe: take thou holde on him in thy Harte. There he sheweth howe Christe maye be hol∣den, though concerninge the visible and sensible presence of his Body, he be in Heauen at the Right hande of the Father. All this, and what so euer is saide there, vpon the Texte before recited, im∣plieth not so muche as any colour of argument againste the Truthe of Christes very Body in this moste Blessed Sacramente. And thus all your allegations and reasons concerninge this mater besuf∣ficiently answeared.