Since it has been seen that the quantity remaining in the sacrament of the altar is not an absolute thing really distinct from the qualities remaining in the same place, it now remains to adduce some convincing arguments by virtue of which anyone might be able to see that before consecration there preceded one quantity which was not an absolute thing really distinct from the substance of the bread, which does not remain after consecration, as the substance of the bread does not remain.
And this could, indeed, be regarded as settled from the statements in the first and the last Chapters. For if a quality could be a quantum without a quantity really distinct, this could not be except by virtue of this, that a quality has parts really distinct and created to be separate in situation. But the distinction of parts of a material substance is as great as is the distinction of parts of a quality; so also the parts of a substance are created to be separate in situation, as the parts of a quality. On the contrary, by nature and by created virtue, as the parts of a quality can not be without a substance, so they can not be separate without separation of substantial parts. If, therefore, qualities be quanta without a quantity really distinct from qualities, it is necessary to say that a substance alone could be a quantum without an added quantity really distinct, and that that substance of the bread was a quantum not through a quantity, which was a thing other than a substance and consequently was the same. And, indeed, as the substance of the bread does not remain, so that quantity does not remain. Again, the substance of the bread was not a quantum from a quantity, which was really the same as a quality, and any quantity really distinct from a quality does not remain after consecration, as was proved.
Therefore, it is necessary to say that some accident is corrupted when the body of Christ is consecrated, which seems to refute the statements of the Holy Fathers, or it is necessary to say that the substance of the bread was a quantum from a quantity, which is not a thing really distinct from the substance of the bread and consequently does not remain, as the substance of the bread does not remain.
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