Chapter 8: Scriptural Changes and Figures
bread unto him that is hungry. And Jeremiah in his Lamentations the fourth chapter: The little children desired their bread, and there was no man that would break unto them.) therefore I omit it and will bring nothing but that which is firm.
And now seeing the places before cited be very plain, they ought simply to be taken. But some cavil that it is called bread by reason of the natures which be converted, and to speak after their manner, this name is given of the end from which they have their nature, and they bring the like places.
When a serpent was made of the rod of Aaron, it devoured the serpents of the sorcerers, which they also made of their rods. It is said that the rod of Aaron devoured the serpents of the sorcerers. Further, in the holy scriptures, man is sundry times called earth, because his body was made thereof.
Woman also was by Adam called bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh, because she was framed thereof by God.
Chapter 8:
Scriptural Changes and Figures But these things are vainly objected, because in the holy scriptures there is plain mention made of these changes: So then the necessity of the history and words drive us unto these figures, and therefore we admit them. Let these men in like manner show unto us in the holy scriptures, that this change was made: namely of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, and we will also grant them these figures, to wit, that the bread should not be called the same which it is now, but which it was before.
And thereunto belongeth that which they say: If a man would give me wine, which straightway would turn to vinegar, and I having that vinegar in a pot,
I might fitly say: This is thy wine: not that it is then wine, but because it