at the water of holy baptism is simply
water, but that it is a true sacrament of our regeneration, and of the
washing of our souls in the blood of Jesus Christ. So also we do not say
that the bread is simply bread, but the sacrament of the precious body
of our Lord Jesus Christ which was offered up for us. Yet we do not say
that this change takes place in the substance of the signs, but in the
use and end for which they are ordained." The reformer then touched
upon the doctrines of transubstantiation and consubstantiation; both of
which he rejected. "If then," he continued, "some one asks us, whether
we make Jesus Christ absent from His Holy Supper, we answer that we do
not. But, if we regard the local distance (as we must do, when His
corporeal presence and His humanity distinctly considered are in
question), we say that His body is as far removed from the bread and
wine as the highest heaven is from the earth; since, as to ourselves, we
are on the earth, and the sacraments also; while, as to Him, His flesh
is in heaven, so glorified that his glory, as says St. Augustine, has
not taken away from Him the nature, but only the infirmity of a true
body."

[Sidenote: Outcry of the theologians of the Sorbonne.]

The last words of the sentence were inaudible, except to those who were
close to the speaker. The words, "We say that His body is as far removed
from the bread and wine as the highest heaven is from the earth," had
fired the train to the magazine of concealed impatience and anger
underlying the studied external calmness of the prelatical body. An
explosion instantly ensued. The cry, "Blasphemavit! Blasphemavit Deum!"
resounded from every quarter.[1122] Beza's voice was drowned in the
noisy expressions of disapproval by which the theologians of the
Sorbonne sought to testify their own unimpeachable orthodoxy.[1123] It
seemed for the moment as if the ecclesiastics would continue their
repetition of the words and actions of the Jewish high-priest in the
ancient Sanhedrim, and break up the conference with the exclamation:
"What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his
blasphemy." Some of the prelates arose as if to leave, and Cardinal
Tournon went so far as to address himself to Charles and beg him either
to impose silence upon Beza, or to permit him and his brother
ecclesiastics to retire. But no notice was taken of his request.[1124]
On the contrary, the queen and the Cardinal of Lorraine felt