A19563:1297
An answerAn aunsvvere
An answer by the Reverend Father in God Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England and metropolitan, unto a crafty and sophistical cavillation, devised by Stephen Gardiner Doctor of Law, late Bishop of Winchester against the true and godly doctrine of the most holy sacrament, of the body and blood of our saviour Jesus Christ Wherein is also, as occasion serveth, answered such places of the book of Doct. Richard Smith, as may seem any thing worthy the answering. Here is also the true copy of the book written, and in open court delivered, by D. Stephen Gardiner ...An aunsvvere by the Reuerend Father in God Thomas Archbyshop of Canterbury, primate of all England and metropolitane, vnto a craftie and sophisticall cauillation, deuised by Stephen Gardiner Doctour of Law, late Byshop of Winchester agaynst the true and godly doctrine of the most holy sacrament, of the body and bloud of our sauiour Iesu Christ Wherein is also, as occasion serueth, aunswered such places of the booke of Doct. Richard Smith, as may seeme any thyng worthy the aunsweryng. Here is also the true copy of the booke written, and in open court deliuered, by D. Stephen Gardiner ...
London: printed by John Daye, 1580London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1580
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And in the word (Sacrament) which is of your addition (is a subtle falax,1 called double understanding. For when the Sacrament is called only a figure (as you rehearse) wherein the body and blood of Christ be only figuratively, there the word (Sacrament) is taken for the outward signs of bread and wine. And after when you rehearse that the Sacrament is a visible preaching by the tokens and signs of bread and wine, in believing and remembering Christs benefits, there the word (Sacrament) is taken for the whole ceremony and ministration of the Sacrament. And so when you go about by equivocation of the word to deceive other men, you fall into your own snare, and be deceived your self, in that you think you convey the matter so craftily, that no man can espy you.
And in the word (Sacrament) which is of your addition (is a subtill falax,1 called double vnderstanding. For when the Sacrament is called onely a figure (as you reherse) wherin the body and bloud of Christ be onely figuratiuely, there the word (Sacrament) is taken for the outwarde signes of bread and wine. And after when you reherse that the Sacrament is a visible preaching by the tokens and signes of bread and wine, in beleuing and remembring Christes benefites, there the word (Sacrament) is taken for the whole ceremony and ministration of the Sacrament. And so when you goe about by equiuocation of the word to deceaue other men, you fall into your owne snare, and be deceaued your selfe, in that you think you conuey the matter so craftely, that no man can espy you.
- 1The word sacrament.The worde sacrament.
But to utter the matter plainly without fallax or cavillation, I teach that no man can eat Christs flesh and drink his blood but spiritually, which forasmuch as evil men do not, although they eat the sacramental bread until their bellies be full, and drink the wine until they be drunken, yet eat they neither Christs flesh, nor drink his blood, neither in the sacrament nor without the sacrament, because they cannot be eaten and drunken but by spirit and faith, whereof ungodly men be destitute, being nothing but world and flesh.