A19563:1305
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.
1Now where you note here three manner of eatings, and yet but two §6manner of eatings of Christ, this your noting is very true, if it be truly understand. For there be in deed three manner of eatings, one spiritual only an other spiritual and sacramental both together, & the third sacramental only: and yet Christ him self is eaten but in the first two manner of ways, as you truly teach. And for to set out this distinction somewhat more plainly, that plain men may understand it, it may thus be termed, That there is a spiritual eating only, when Christ by a true faith is eaten without the sacrament: Also there is an other eating both spiritual and sacramental, when the visible sacrament is eaten with the mouth, and Christ him self is eaten with a true faith: The third eating is sacramental only, when the sacrament is eaten and not Christ himself. So that in the first is Christ eaten without the sacrament: in the second he is eaten with the sacrament: and in the third the sacrament is eaten without him: and therefore it is called sacramental eating only, because only the sacrament is eaten, and not Christ himself. After the two first manner of ways, godly men do eat (who feed and live by Christ) the third manner of ways the wicked do eat, and therefore (as S. Augustine saith) they neither eat Christs flesh nor drink his blood although every day they eat the sacrament thereof,2 to the condemnation of their presumption. And for this cause also S. Paul saith not, He that eateth Christs body, and drinketh his blood unworthily, shall have condemnation, and be guilty of the Lords body: but he saith, he that eateth this bread,3 and drinketh the cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the Lords body, and eateth and drinketh his own damnation, because he esteemeth not the Lords body.
1Now where you note here three manner of eatinges, and yet but two §6manner of eatinges of Christ, this your noting is very true, if it be truly vnderstand. For there be in dede three maner of eatinges, one spirituall onely an other spiritual and sacramentall both together, & the third sacramentall only: and yet Christ him selfe is eaten but in the first two manner of waies, as you truely teache. And for to set out this distinctiō somewhat more playnly, that playne menne may vnderstand it, it may thus be tearmed, That there is a spirituall eating only, when Christ by a true fayth is eaten without the sacrament: Also there is an other eating both spirituall and sacramental, when the visible sacrament is eaten with the mouth, and Christ him selfe is eaten with a true fayth: The third eating is sacramentall only, when the sacrament is eaten and not Christ himselfe. So that in the fyrst is Christ eaten without the sacrament: in the seconde he is eaten with the sacrament: and in the thirde the sacrament is eaten without him: and therfore it is called sacramentall eating onely, bycause onely the sacramente is eaten, and not Christ himselfe. After the two first maner of wayes, godly men do eate (who feede and liue by Christ) the thirde manner of wayes the wicked do eate, and therfore (as S. Augustine sayth) they neither eate Christes flesh nor drinke his bloud although euery day they eat the sacrament therof,