05.04.2013 Views

The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

2. And as to its locality is no longer on earth<br />

"That mode of visible converse, <strong>and</strong> that circumscribed <strong>and</strong> local<br />

form of the presence of His body, according to the condition <strong>and</strong> mode of<br />

this earthly life, according to the flesh, He has by His ascension TAKEN<br />

FROM US WHO are on earth. And this is what He means when He says:<br />

'Again. I leave the world,--me ye have not always.' <strong>The</strong>se words, therefore,<br />

speak oF A MODE OF PRESENCE, according to the respect <strong>and</strong><br />

condition of this world, A MODE VISIBLE, SENSIBLE, LOCAL, AND<br />

CIRCUMSCRIBED, according to which mode of presence CHRIST IS<br />

NOW NO LONGER ORDINARILY PRESENT WITH HIS CHURCH<br />

ON EARTH." 283<br />

3. Is not present through the properties of a glorified body, but in<br />

that mode is in heaven.<br />

"Since the body of Christ, neither in the (personal) union, NOR IN<br />

GLORY, is transmuted into an infinite or immense substance, therefore<br />

through itself (per se), of itself (ex se), EVEN IN GLORY, IT IS FINITE<br />

in properties of a glorified body, the property of its nature, AND BY THE<br />

MODE OF GLORIFIED BODIES IS SOMEWHERE (alicubi), the<br />

prerogative of the personal union, as I have said, being excepted. And in<br />

this visible form or condition of glorified bodies, Christ, in His body, Is<br />

NOT PRESENT to us in this life, in the Church militant on earth, but is in<br />

the heavens, whence He shall return to judgment, in that form in which<br />

He now offers Himself to be seen by the souls of the blessed, <strong>and</strong> by<br />

angels." 284<br />

4. Modes of presence rejected.<br />

"According to the natural properties of a true body, or by any<br />

essential attribute, the body of Christ (which is by the property of its nature<br />

finite) IS NOT PRESENT in all places where the Supper is administered,<br />

EITHER BY LOCAL CIRCUMSCRIPTION, OR BY ANY VISIBLE,<br />

SENSIBLE, OR NATURAL MODE, respect, or condition of this world.<br />

This mode has been taken from the world."<br />

"Nor is the presence such as that of glorified bodies: in that form He<br />

will not appear till the final judgment."<br />

"We by no means teach that the body of Christ, as a boundless mass,<br />

is exp<strong>and</strong>ed, distributed, diffused, drawn out, or<br />

283 De duab. Nat. 175. <strong>The</strong> limitation which Chemnitz designs to make by the word "ordinarily," has reference to<br />

such cases as the appearing of Christ to Saul on the way to Damascus, to Stephen, etc., as he shows at large. Do.<br />

176, 177.<br />

284 Do. 176. Cf. 177.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!