266.
Hereupon therefore the Apostle, in defence of Christ's real humanity, says, 'This is he that came by water and blood'.
'Water and blood,' that is 'serum' and 'crassamentum', mean simply 'blood,' the blood of the animal or carnal life, which, saith Moses, 'is the life'.

Hence 'flesh' is often taken as, and indeed is a form of, the blood,--blood formed or organized.

Thus 'blood' often includes 'flesh,' and 'flesh' includes 'blood.' 'Flesh and blood' is equivalent to blood in its twofold form, or rather as formed and formless.

'Water and blood' has, therefore, two meanings in St.John, but which 'in idem coincidunt': 1.

true animal human blood, and no celestial ichor or phantom: 2.