WORD, converted into FLESH *. And again he ob serves, in language still stronger: With respect to the true existence of the Body, and the Blood, there remains not a shadow of doubt: for according to the declaration of the Lord himself, it is truly his Body, AND HIS BLOOD †. St. Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, in the same century, also thus speaks, on this subject: Knowing, and with a firm faith, believing that this Bread, which we behold, is not Bread, although to our taste, it appear to be such, but is the BODY of Christ; and that the wine, which is presented to our eyes, although to the sense of taste, it seem to be wine, yet is not wine, but the BLOOD of Christ ‡.

To these testimonies, though themselves, they appear to me to be sufficient to establish the belief of the real presence, in the early ages of Christianity, I cannot refrain from adding that of the celebrated St. Ambrose. He thus speaks; Before the event of consecration, it is bread: but when the words of Christ have been pronounced, it is the BODY of Christ. Hear him speaking himself: Take, and eat of this all, for this is my BODY: And before the words of Christ, the cup is full only of wine and of water: But when the words of Christ have taken effect,

† Ibid.

S. Hil. de Trinit. 1. 8.

In Cath. 4. Ed. Parisiens. p. 237, 238.

then there is the BLOOD, which accomplished the redemption of man.-We have the testimony of the Lord Jesus, that we receive his BODY and his BLOOD. Does it become us to question the assurance of his word? *

**

As an additional proof, that, there is, at least, a great degree of probability, that we are not mistaken, in our interpretation of the words of Christ, you may refer Mr. *** to the conduct of those various denominations of Christians, who inhabit the regions of the East, and who had been separated from the communion of the Catholic Church, long before the period of the protestant reformation. By evidences, which no man of reason can possibly reject, it can be proved, that, at the period, in question, the belief of the real presence, was the established faith of the Greeks, of the Moldavians, of the Muscovites, of the Armenians, of the Cophts, and of the Nestorians: and if ever the faith of these people, on this head, was of a different complexion, let Mr. ******* 'point out, if he can, the precise time of its introduction amongst them. If this doctrine be the invention of man, and not the injunction of Christ, it cannot surely be a task of much difficulty, on a subject of such

* S. Amb. de Sacramentis, 1. 5.

importance to religion, to assign the date of its commencement, and to produce the name of its author.

In the early days of the protestant reformation, it is known, indeed, that an attempt was made, by the professors of that modern communion, to impose a belief on the world, that the doctrine of Calvin, on this, and on some other subjects of importance, was equally the established doctrine of the East. But it is also known, that the attempt failed completely of success; and that the charge, was indignantly repelled, as calumnious, by the spirited declarations of that people. The malice of certain heretics of France, says Methodius, who was elected to fill the patriarchal chair of Constantinople, in the year 1667, has been carried to such an excess, that, with a view of disguising their audacity, and bad conscience, they have presumed to involve, in the errors of Calvin, the orthodox Church of Jesus Christ, which is spread over the East, writing, and teaching that she was agreed in opinion, with the Calvanists, on the subject of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and some other opinions of theirs, which amongst us, are considered as blasphemous.

Were not this article already extended too far, for the limits of a letter, I could equally shew you, that even amongst protestants themselves, there are numerous societies of men, who admit the existence of the real presence, and only differ

from us, in opinion, respecting its mode of existence.

By every man, therefore, whose mind is not very strongly biassed, either by the unhappy prejudices of education, or by the still more unhappy influence of passion, 1 think, it must be allowed, that a doctrine, which is thus supported, by so many various, and powerful arguments, cannot reasonably, or safely be rejected, by any Christian, who values his eternal salvation.

I remain, &c.

J. C.

LETTER XVII.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Bath, Nov. 30, 1813.

When a Papist is asked to prove the transubstantiation of the Bread, he says, nothing can be plainer, THIS IS MY BODY. When asked to prove, that the Wine is converted into the same as the Bread, will he answer THIS IS MY BLOOD? If the Bread is converted into the Body, the Blood, Soul, &c. why should the other part of the Sacrament have been instituted?

FROM what defective source is derived Mr.

* information, on the Catholic Doctrine of Transubstantiation, I cannot determine, nor, indeed, can I possibly conceive. I will not charge him, nor would I, without the strongest of reasons, charge any man, with a design of misstating, or of misrepresenting the opinions of others, with a view of establishing his own. But that Gentleman must excuse me, if I say, that to me he appears to discover a degree of ignorance, or his language a degree of incorrectness, on this subject, which does not quite become a man, who makes himself an aggressor, in a controversial dispute. On reading his questions, as they are stated,