M. Hardinge. The .1. Diuision.
(144)* 1.1 Amonge the miracles of this blissed Sacrament, one is, that one, and the same bodie, maie be in many places at once, to witte, vnder al consecrated hostes. As for God, it is agreable to his God∣hed to be euerie where, Simpliciter, & propriè. But as for a creature, to be but in one place onely. But as for the bodie of Christ, (145)* 1.2 it is after a manner bytvveene both. For where as it is a creature, It ought not to be made equal vvith the creator in this behalfe, that it be euerie where. But whereas, it is vnited to the Godhead, herein it ought to excel other bodies, so, as it maie in one (146)* 1.3 time be in moe places vnder this holie Sacrament. For the vnitinge of Christes natural bodie vnto the almightie Godhead, duely considered, bringeth a true Christian man in respecte of the same, to forsake reason, and to leane to Faith, to put aparte al doubtes, and discourses of hu∣maine vnderstandinge, and to rest in reuerent simplicitie of beleefe.
Thereby through the holie Ghost persuaded, he knoweth, that although the Bodie of Christ be na∣tural, and humaine in deede, yet, throughe the vnion and coniunction, many thinges be possible to the same novve, that to al other bodies be impossible:* 1.4 as to walke vpon waters, to vanishe awaie out of sight,* 1.5 to be transfigured and made bright as the Sonne, to ascende vp through the Clowdes:* 1.6 and after it became immortal, death beinge conquered, to rise vp againe out of the graue, and to entre through doores fast shutte.* 1.7 Through the same faith, he beleueth, and acknowle∣geth, that (147)* 1.8 accordinge vnto his worde,* 1.9 by his power it is made present in the blessed Sacrament of the Aultare,* 1.10 vnder the forme of Breade and wine, where so euer the same is duely consecrated,* 1.11 ac∣cordinge vnto his institution in his holie supper: and that not after a grosse, or carnal manner, but spiritually, and supernaturally, and yet substantially, not by local, but by substantial presence: not by manner of quantitie, or fillinge of a place, or by changinge of place, or by leauinge his sittinge on the right hande of the Father, but in suche a maner, as God onely knoweth, and yet dothe vs to vn∣derstande by faith the trueth of his verie presence, farre passinge al mannes capacitie, to compre∣hende the manner howe.
VVhere as some against this pointe of beleefe doo allege the article of Christes ascension, and of his beinge in heauen at the right hande of God the Father, bringinge certaine textes of the scriptures perteininge to the same, and testimonies of auncient Doctours signifi••inge Christes absence from the earth: It maie be rightly vnderstanded, that he is verily both in heauen at the right hande of his Father, in his visible and corporal forme, verie God and man, after whiche maner he is there, and not here, and also in the Sacrament inuisibly, and spiritually, both God and man in a mysterie: so as the grauntinge of the one maie stande without denial of the other, no contradiction founde in these beinges, but onely a distinction in the waie, and manner of beinge.