A19563:1357
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.
Winchester.
And as for the Scriptures and doctors which this author allegeth to prove that only good men receive the body and blood of Christ, I grant it without contention §1speaking of spiritual manducation and with lively faith without the Sacrament. But in the visible sacrament evil men receive the same that good men do, for the substance of the sacrament is by God's ordinance all one. And if this author would use for a proof §2that in the sacrament Christs very body is not present, because evil men receive it, that shall be no argument, for the good seed when it was sown did fall in the evil ground and although Christ dwelleth not in the evil man, yet he may be received of the evil §3man to his condemnation, because he receiveth him not to glorify him as God, as S. Paule sayth (Non dijudicans corpus domini) not esteming our Lords body. And to all §4that ever this author bringeth to prove, that evil men eat not the body of Christ, may be said shortly, that spiritually they eat it not, besides the sacrament, and in the sacrament they eat it not effectually to life, but condemnation. And that is and may be called a not eating. As they be said not to hear the word of God, that here it not profitably. And because the body of Christ of it self is ordained to be eaten for life, those that unworthily eat to condemnation, although they eat in deed, may be said not to eat, because they eat unworthily, as a thing not well done, may be in speech called not done, in respect of the good effect wherefore it was chiefly ordered to be done. And by this rule, thou reader mayst discuss all that this author bringeth forth for this purpose, either out of Scriptures or doctors. For evil men eat not the body of Christ to have any fruit by it, as evil men be said not to hear gods word to have any fruit by it, and yet as they hear the word of spirit & life and nevertheless perish, so evil men eat in the visible sacrament the body of Christ and yet perish. And as I said, this answereth the Scripture §5