The opinion of D. Peter Martyr Vermil∣lius, as touching the presence of the bo∣die of Christ in the Eucharist, propoun∣ded by him in the communication that was had at Poissy.
YEe reuerend Prelats and most learned men, séeing there séemed to be in a maner a consent as touching the presence of the bodie of Christ in the vse of the supper; yester∣daie I professed to you, what my opinion, faith and iudgement should be thereof. Which as I then expressed in words, so am I now minded to rehearse it by writing; whereby I may make the same more certeine, and more euident vnto you. Wherefore I iudge, that the reall and substantiall bodie of Christ is onelie in the heauens; but yet, that the faithfull, in communicating, do•• spirituallie and by faith truelie receiue his verie bodie, and verie bloud, which was giuen for vs vpon the crosse. Where∣fore I allow no transubstantiation, and consub∣stantiation in the bread and wine of the supper. Further, I affirme that the distance of places is no let to our coniunction with the bodie and bloud of Christ: bicause the supper of the Lord is a heauenlie thing; and although that with the mouth of the bodie we receiue vpon the earth bread and wine, being sacraments of the bodie and bloud of the Lord; yet, by faith and by the helpe of the holie spirit, our minds, wherevnto speciallie belongeth this spirituall and heauen∣lie food, being carried vnto heauen, doo inioie the present bodie and bloud of Christ. And therefore I affirme, that it is not néedfull to determine the bodie of Christ to be truelie, substantiallie, and corporallie present, either to vs, or in the signes, by a presence not locall.
I saie moreouer, that the things signified, are no otherwise ioined vnto the outward signes, than sacramentallie; forsomuch as by them they are not prophanelie and lightlie, but effectuallie signified, by the institution of the Lord. This is the summe of my faith, which I hold in this opi∣nion. And therefore the consents brought in writing, I doo admit in this respect, as they are referred, or may be applied vnto the sense now declared; against which, if anie man doo either wrest them, or interpret them, I professe that I dissent from him. And whereas in these spéeches, there is mention made of the substance of Christs bodie; I vnderstand no other thing by that name or word, but the true bodie of Christ. For our faith is not directed vnto a feined thing or phantasie, but vnto the true, humane, and naturall bodie, which the word of God tooke of the blessed virgine, and gaue for vs vpon the crosse. Wherefore there is no cause whie by that word we should be thought to beléeue, that his reall presence is else-where than in heauen.
I Peter Martyr Vermillius, a Flo∣rentine borne, haue written these things with mine owne hand, and haue professed them with mine owne mouth, before the re∣uerend and honourable personages of this Conference.