A19563:1466
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.
But to return to S. Augustine touching adoration, if the very flesh of Christ were not in the sacrament truly present, which is as much to say, as in substance present, if it were not in deed present, that is to say really present, if it were not corporally present §1that is to say,1 the very body of Christ there present God and man. If these truths consenting in one were not there, S. Augustine would never have spoken of adoration there. No more he doth saith this author there, but in heaven: let S. Augustine's words quoth I be judge, which be these, No man eateth that flesh but he first worshippeth it. It is found out how such a footstool of the Lords foot should be worshipped, and not only that we do not sin in worshipping, but we do sin in not worshipping it. These be S. Augustine's words, which I said before, can not be drawn to an understanding §2of the worshipping of Christs flesh in heaven, where it remaineth continually glorified and is of all men christened continually worshipped. For as S. Paul saith, Christ is so exalted that every tongue should confess, that our saviour Christ is in the glory of his father. So as the worshipping of Christ there in the estate of his glory where he §3reigneth, hath neither (afore) ne (after) but an (ever) continual worshipping in glory. Wherefore S. Augustine speaking of a (before) must be understanded of the worshipping §4of Christs flesh present in the Sacrament, as in the dispensation of his humility, which Christ ceaseth not to do reigning in glory, for although he hath finished his humble passible conversation, yet he continueth his humble dispensation in the perfection of his mystical body, and as he is our invisible priest for ever, and our advocate with his father, and so for us to him a mediator, to whom he is equal, so doth he vouchsafe in his supper which he continueth to make an effectual remembrance of his offering for us, of the new Testament confirmed in his blood, and by his power maketh him self present in this visible Sacrament, to be therein of us truly eaten, and his blood truly drunken, not only in faith, but with the truth and ministry of our bodily mouth, as God hath willed and commanded us to do: which presence of Christ in this humility of dispensation to relieve us and feed us spiritually, we must adore as S. Augustine saith before we eat: