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.

ut also of the very body <strong>and</strong> blood of our Lord....But by what mode (quo<br />

modo) this takes place, or can take place, it is not for me to search out<br />

(meum non est inquirere)."<br />

Andreae, 1590.<br />

ANDREAE (d. 1590), 488 to whom more, perhaps, than to any other<br />

theologian, we owe the Formula of Concord, says: “From the sinister <strong>and</strong><br />

perverted interpretation of Luther's meaning, as if he taught that Christ's<br />

body is affixed to the bread, or imprisoned in it, both he <strong>and</strong> those who<br />

st<strong>and</strong> with him are far removed. To say <strong>and</strong> teach that the bread signifies<br />

the body of Christ, is a figure, is also a sign of the body of Christ, if the<br />

terms be rightly understood, derogates nothing from the meaning of our<br />

Lord's words. For who denies that the bread is a figure or sign of the body<br />

of Christ?...But if any one contend that the bread is a naked sign, an empty<br />

figure, <strong>and</strong> signification, of a body not present but absent, he sets forth a<br />

doctrine at war with the teachings of Christ <strong>and</strong> of Paul....<strong>The</strong> word<br />

'corporeally' may be used in three ways: First. Naturally, as the<br />

Capernaites construed our Lord's words, when tie spoke of 'eating His<br />

flesh <strong>and</strong> drinking His blood.' Second. To indicate that not naked signs<br />

<strong>and</strong> figures of the body of Christ are present, but that there is given to us<br />

with the bread that very body which was crucified for us. Third. To mark<br />

the outward <strong>and</strong> corporate signs, bread <strong>and</strong> wine, inasmuch as Christ<br />

imparts to us His body, spiritual food, corporeally; that is, with corporeal<br />

things or signs. For bread <strong>and</strong> wine are corporate things, with which at the<br />

same time is extended spiritual food <strong>and</strong> drink...Luther used the terms to<br />

teach that with the bread <strong>and</strong> wine are imparted the body <strong>and</strong> blood of<br />

Christ as heavenly food, with which the soul is refreshed <strong>and</strong> the body<br />

strengthened to immortality...By the word 'spiritually,' we underst<strong>and</strong> is<br />

indicated a mode which is heavenly <strong>and</strong> spiritual, above the order of<br />

nature; a mode which can only be grasped by faith; a mode beyond the<br />

reach of our present reason <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing--one of God's greatest<br />

mysteries...<strong>The</strong> mode is no natural one, but recondite <strong>and</strong> heavenly...With<br />

this mystery, locality has nothing to do...If it had, one of these<br />

488 De Coena Domini. Francof. 1559, 12mo. 27, 29, 33, 36, 40, 48, 72, 76.

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!