The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

DOCT. XI. That by faith onely the true body of Christ is eaten.

BUt, whereas we say that the faith∣full onely receive the true body of Christ, not Sacramentally onely, but also truely: we understand it of eat∣ing, not with the mouth of the body, but the mind and Spirit endued with faith, and that by the operation of the holy Spirit effectually working in us, and applying Christ wholly un∣to us. For it is the food of the mind, (asa 1.1 Cyprian speaketh) and not of the belly. And (as Christ speaketh, and S^t. Augustine expounds it)b 1.2 It is the Spirit that quickeneth: the flesh pro∣fiteth nothing. And the Apostle teach∣eth, Thatc 1.3 by one Spirit we are all Baptised into one body, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. And if all our true union with Christ is by the holy Spirit, although he with his body be in heaven, and we on earth: It is necessarie also that the eating be after the same manner. For what is it to eat, but to receive and unite the food unto thee for the nourishment

of that part, for which it is appoin∣ted? Now the flesh of Christ (as we said before) is the food of the mind, and not of the belly. Neither truely do we eat the body of Christ any o∣therwise, but as it was delivered to death for us, & made without bloud, as the words do sound, and the breaking of the bread doth represent unto us, and also as the passeover and other sacrifices were wont to be eaten. But now the body liveth, and cannot be without bloud: As at the first Supper it was neither dead, nor without bloud. To say then, that properly that body doth passe into our bodyes, and that by the mouth, it is no lesse then sacriledge. To what end also is this, that as the bread is distributed without the wine, and the wine without the bread; so also the body without the bloud and the bloud apart without the body is gi∣ven in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. But that we may understand, that the body and bloud in their ve∣ry substance, and as they are in hea∣ven, do not passe through our mouthes, but are received onely by a

faithfull remembrance stirred up in us effectually by the holy Spirit? For this is the thing which the Lord re∣quired, saying,a 1.4 This do in remem∣brance of me. And again,b 1.5 This is my body which is given for you. For in so speaking he required faith of them by which they should believe this, and by believing eat: that is, apply it to themselves for the food and life of their souls. Wherefore we are verily perswaded, that they do true∣ly, and not imaginarily, eat the flesh of Christ, whosoever believe that it was delivered unto death for an ex∣piatorie sacrifice to cleanse them from their sins, and so believing, em∣brace with a faithfull mind, and ap∣ply it unto themselves. And whoso∣ever thus eat the body of Christ, as dead, we doubt not but they are more and more joyned and knit un∣to it now being living and quick∣ning, according to the promise of Christ, who having first said,c 1.6 He that eateth my flesh, afterwards added; dwelleth in me and I in him.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Cy∣prian. Serm. de Coena.
• b 1.2

  Ioh. 6.36.
• c 1.3

  1 Cor. 12.13.
• a 1.4

  Luk. 22.20.
• b 1.5

  19.
• c 1.6

  Ioh. 6.56.