M. Hardinge. The .4. Diuision.
And bicause our aduersaries doo muche abuse the simplicitie of the vnlearned, bearing them in hande, that after the iudgement, and Doctrine of thauncient Fathers, the Sacrament is (189)* 1.1 but a Figure, a Signe, a Token, or a Badge, and conteineth not the very Bodie it selfe of Christe, for proufe of the same alleginge certaine their saieinges vttered with the same termes: I thinke good by recital of some the chiefe suche places, to shewe, that they be vntruely reported, and that touchinge the Veritie of the Presence in the Sacramente, they taught in their daies the same Faith, that is taught nowe in the Catholique Churche.
Holie Ephrem in a booke, he wrote to those, that wil searche the Nature of the Sonne of God by mannes reason, saithe thus:* 1.2 Inspice diligenter, quomodo sumens in manibus Panem, bene∣dicit, ac frangit, in Figura immaculati Corporis ••ui, Calicem{que}, in Figura pretiosi San∣guinis sui Benedicit, & tribuit Discipulis suis: Beholde (saithe he) diligently, howe takinge Breade in his handes, he blesseth it, and Breaketh it,* 1.3 in the Figure of his vnspotted Bodie, and blesseth the Cuppe, in the Figure of his pretiouse Bloud, and geueth it to his Disciples. (190)* 1.4 By these woordes he sheweth the partition, diuision, or breakinge of the Sacrament, to be done no otherwise, but in the outwarde Formes, whiche be the Figure of Christes Bodie Present, and vnder them conteined. VVhiche Bodie nowe beinge gloriouse, is no more broken, nor parted, but is indiuisible, and sub∣iecte no more to any Passion: and after the Sacrament is broken, it remaineth whole, and perfite vnder eche portion.