Chapter 19: Baptism and the Eucharist
understanding. These men also divide in very deed, so as the parts divided may most manifestly be seen.
In Jeremiah we read, "Let us cast wood upon his bread," which place is cited by Tertullian and Lactantius, and they interpret that this was spoken of putting the wood of the cross into the body of Christ: and they will that mention was made of bread, because through bread Christ was to give
Himself unto us. And that which the Prophet speaketh, they will have to be a figure of the bread of the sacrament: which seeing these men take away, and only leave a figure unto us, they affirm a figure of a figure, so as no sound thing remaineth. The very same may be gathered by that which is oftentimes alleged by the fathers as concerning Melchizedek, who brought the bread and the wine, the figure whereof is not by these men observed, when they remove away the bread and the wine. And the same thing followeth as touching the shewbread.
Chapter 19:
Baptism and the Eucharist Again, we will bring a reason taken from baptism. A little before, we argued from thence that for the truth of that sacrament it was not requisite that water should be transubstantiated: now we reason from the men themselves which be baptized, of whom the Scripture plainly saith that they lay away the old man, and are again begotten: and yet is there no transubstantiation imagined in them; nevertheless, generation is described to be a motion whereby a new substance is gotten. Wherefore it is no marvel that Nicodemus took offence at the words of the Lord, wherein it was showed him that he should be born again. For while he thought with himself that a new generation was preached unto man already brought forth and well in years, he stood in doubt. But if we interpret that generation to be new, and