“No chemical test could possibly prove or disprove the Catholic doctrine. Chemicals could affect only the qualities of bread, and at best would prove that the qualities of bread remain. As the Catholic Church declares that they do remain, no progress is made by chemical tests. The inner substantial reality cannot be reached by chemicals.”
The objection of Protestants was that in the Middle Ages, people who were tasting bread were told they were not tasting bread- sort of like the docetic heresy applied to the Eucharist. This above statement seems to reject that medieval superstition.
“The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another; but rather it is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christ’s death: insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith, receive the same, the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ; and likewise the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ.
Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by holy Writ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.” Article XXVIII
How plain can the Scriptures be: "This IS my Body"
I'll take the plain words of Christ and the clear witness of the Church Fathers long before any 16th century heretics.
The closer to the source of any element the more pure that element is. In this case we are talking about some 1500 years;0)
I submit it is a Sacrament by Christ's words: "This is my body"
I further submit that neither the individual disposition nor the faith of one receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist effects the change of bread into the Body of our Lord but rather once again his plain words: "This is my body"
I ask: If "to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith, receive the same, the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ" than how can those who receive unworthily be "guilty of not discerning the body of the Lord" seeing that it is not there on account of their not "worthily" receiving?
1Cor:11:29: 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. (DRV)