The ansvvere of Master Isaac Casaubon to the epistle of the most reuerend Cardinall Peron. Translated out of Latin into English. May 18. 1612

To the first Instance concerning reall presence.

IF in the sacred mysteries of Christian religion, the faith∣full should bee thought to beleeue nothing but that, which they perfitly vnderstand according to the manner,

then surely they would be found to be vnbeleeuing in ma∣ny things, which now they doubt not but that they do most firmely beleeue. That Christ our Lord is the Sonne of God the Father, begotten of the Father before all worlds: that the same Christ being very God, did assume humane flesh in the wombe of the blessed Virgin: that hee was borne of her without any violation of the virginitie of this mother: that the diuine nature is vnited in the same person with the humane: these things, I say, and the like, all Christians doe make profession to beleeue: of whom notwithstanding if you demaund the manner how they are done, they will an∣swere that faith in matters of Theologie is one thing, and humane science is another: and they will religiouslie alleage Galen, who otherwaies is no good Master of reli∣gion: whose excellent words in his 15. booke De vsu par∣tium, are these: How this was done, if you enquire, you will be taken for one that hath no vnderstanding neither of your owne infirmitie, nor of the power of the Creator. And as for the Fa∣thers, * 1.1 how often they dehort vs from this question of the manner, and from curiositie of explaning the manner in di∣uine * 1.2 mysteries, I should be too long if I should goe about to rehearse. You know the words of Gregorie Nazianzene in his first oration, De Theologia: You heare the generation of the Sonne, be not curious to know the manner. You heare that * 1.3 the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father, be not busie to en∣quire how: and the same author in another place: Let the generation of God be honored with silence: it is much for thee to haue learned that hee was begotten, as for the manner how, wee grant it not to be vnderstood by the Angels, much lesse by thee. Gregorie had to deale with the Arrians, those peruerse heretikes, whose impious curiositie he goeth not about to satisfie with subtiltie of disputation, but forbiddeth them to search into the manner of so great a mysterie, and enioy∣neth them silence. Now if his Maiestie, and the Church of England doe vse this godly moderation about the mysterie of the sacred Eucharist, I pray you who ought to enuie it? We reade in the Gospels that our Lord instituting this Sa∣crament,

tooke the bread, and said, This is my body: but that our Lord did so much as by one word explane how it was his bodie, we doe not reade. The Church of England doth religiously beleeue that which she reades, and with the same religion she is not inquisitiue into that which she reades not. They acknowledge, and teach that this is a great mysterie which cannot be comprehended, much lesse declared by the facultie of mans wit: but concerning the power and efficacie of it, their opinion is with all sacred re∣uerence. They command those which come vnto this ho∣lie table diligently to search all the secret corners of their consciences: to make confession of their sinnes vnto God, and if need be to the Priest also. They carefully warne the commers that they compose their mindes vnto all humili∣tie, and deuotion: they receiue the Communion of the bodie of Christ vpon their knees: and they doe not onely diuide the mysticall bread amongst the faithfull in their publike assemblies, but they giue it also to those which be towards death, pro viatico; that is, for victuals in their iour∣ney, as the Fathers of the Nicene Councell, and all antiqui∣tie doe call it. Lastly, his Maiestie, although he would haue his to abstaine from all manner of curiositie, yet alloweth also of whatsoeuer the holie Fathers of the first ages haue spoken in the honour of that vnspeakable mysterie. Neither doth he reiect the words of the Fathers, as transmutation, alteration, transelementation, and such like, if they be vnder∣stood * 1.4 and expounded agreeably to their intention. If this doctrine of his Maiestie, and the Church of England doe not giue you satisfaction, then what remaines but that hee yeeld vnto the opinion of Transubstantiation, if he will be friends with you? But that is not piously to beleeue the ve∣ritie of the thing, but with importunate curiositie to decree the manner thereof: which the King and his Church will neuer doe, will neuer allow. But his excellent Maiestie wondreth, that whereas your Honour granteth that you require not primarily the beleeuing of Transubstantiation, but that there be no doubt of the truth of the presence, * 1.5

yet the Church of England hath not satisfied you in this point, which in publike writings hath so often auouched her beleefe hereof. Wherefore that you may certainly know what is beleeued, and what is taught in this Church concerning that matter, I haue heere set downe a whole place out of the right reuerend the Lord Bishop of Ely his booke against Cardinall Bellarmine, which some few mo∣neths agoe he published. Thus he saith in the first chapter: Our Sauiour Christ said, this is my bodie, not, after this man∣ner is my bodie: whereof the Cardinall is not ignorant vnlesse willingly, and wittingly. We agree with you concerning the ob∣iect, all the strife is about the manner. Concerning this is, wee beleeue firmely that it is: concerning after this manner it is, to wit, that the bread is transubstantiate into his bodie, after what manner it is done, whether by, or in, or vnder, or beyond, there is not a word in the Gospell: and because there is no word; therefore we haue reason to banish it from beleefe. We number it per aduenture amongst the decrees of the schoole, but not a∣mongst the articles of faith. That which Durandus is repor∣ted to haue said, doth not dislike vs: we heare the word, we per∣ceiue the sound, we know not the manner: we beleeue the pre∣sence, we beleeue, I say, the true presence aswell as you: concer∣ning the manner of the presence we doe not vnaduisedly define. Nay more, we doe not scrupulouslie enquire: No more then we doe in Baptisme how the blood of Christ clenseth vs: no more then we doe in the incarnation of Christ how the diuine nature is vnited in one person with the humane. We reckon it amongst the mysteries (and indeed the Eucharist is a mysterie) the re∣mainders whereof should be consumed with fire: That is, (as the fathers doe elegantly vnderstand it) which should be adored by faith, not debated by reason. This is the saith of the King, this is the faith of the Church of England. Who (that I may summarily comprise the whole matter) doe beleeue that in the Supper of the Lord they are made really partakers of the bodie and blood of Christ, (as the Greeke Fathers speake, and as Bellarmine himselfe confesseth) spiritually. For by faith they apprehend, and eate Christ: and they be∣lecue

that there is no other kind of eating profitable to sal∣uation, which all your men also haue confessed.

Notes

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