really, more uniformly, before they can break down the strong holds opposed to them. The spark, which smoulders in our bosom, can kindle no flame in those around.
Although, then, Zuingli used occasionally the language "that[1] the sacramental body of Christ was given in the Supper," that[2] "we have the body of Christ with us in the Supper in the most excellent and noblest way," this meant but little, and had therefore the less influence. It was an approximation of words, not of belief. Zuingli's idea of the presence of Christ was only, that He was present to the mind which contemplated Him. "We have said long ago[3], that the body of Christ is in the Supper, by the contemplation of faith; now then, let the adversaries turn which way they will, they will find no help, whereby they may drag it into the Supper in any other way." "We[4] have never denied that the Body of Christ was sacramentally[5], and in a mystery, in the Supper, both on account of the contemplation of faith, and the whole action of the symbol." "We believe[6] that Christ is really in the Supper: yea, we believe not that it is the Lord's Supper unless Christ be present," seem plain words, yet are they immediately explained away; so that He is no further present, than in every other congregation of the faithful. "In proof of this," he proceeds, "'When two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' How much more, when the whole Church is gathered to Him!" And in the strongest passage which his Apologist[7], expressly writing upon the doctrine of the Eucharist, could find, we have still nothing more than a
- ↑ Epist. ad Principes German. Opp. t. ii. f. 548. v.
- ↑ Ad Lutheri Confess. Respons. ii. Ib. f. 608. v.
- ↑ Ad Princ. Germ. f. 549.
- ↑ Zuingli explains this (Fid. Christ. Expos. f. 556). "The bread has the name of the Body, yea, is the Body of Christ, but by title, and signifying it, which moderns call 'sacramentally,'" and p. 554. v. "To eat the Body of Christ sacramentally, is, to speak properly, to eat the Body of Christ in mind and spirit, the Sacrament being added (adjuncto Sacramento)."
- ↑ Ibid. f. 546. v.
- ↑ Fid. Chris. Expos, ib. f. 563.
- ↑ Hospinian, l. c. p. 55.
