A19563:1474
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.
1And where you speak of the humiliation of Christ in the sacrament, you speak without the book. For the scripture termeth not the matter in that sort, but calleth his humiliation only his incarnation and conversation with us here in earth, being obedient even unto death, and for that humiliation, he is now from that time forward exalted for ever in glory. And you would pluck him down from his glory,2 to humiliation again. And thus is Christ entreated, when he cometh to the handling of ignorant lawyers, blind sophisters, and popish divines, but the true worshippers of Christ, worship him in spirit, sitting in his high glory and Majesty, and pluck him not down from thence, corporally to eat him with their teeth, but spiritually in hart ascend up (as S. Chrysostom saith) and feed upon him where he sitteth in his high throne of glory with his father. To which spiritual feeding is required no bodily presence, nor also mouth nor teeth, and yet they that receive any sacrament, must adore Christ (both before and after) sitting in heaven in the glory of his father. And this is neither (as you say it is) a cold nor gross teaching of S. Augustine in this place, to worship the flesh and humanity of Christ in heaven: ⟨p. 247⟩nor your teaching is not so far from all doubts, but that you seem so afraid your self to stand to it, that when you have said, that Christ is to be worshipped in his humanity, as it were to excuse the matter again, you say, you speak not properly.
1And where you speake of the humiliatiō of Christ in the sacrament, you speake without the booke. For the scripture termeth not the matter in that sort, but calleth his humiliation only his incarnation and conuersation with vs here in earth, being obedient euen vnto death, and for that humiliation, he is now from that tyme forward exalted for euer in glory. And you would plucke him downe from his glory,2 to humiliation agayne. And thus is Christ intreated, when he commeth to the handling of ignoraunt lawyers, blynd sophisters, and popish diuines, but the true worshippers of Christ, worship him in spirite, sitting in his high glory and Maiesty, and pluck him not downe from thence, corporally to eate him with their teeth, but spiritually in hart ascend vp (as S. Chrisostō sayth) and feede vpon him where he sitteth in his high throne of glory with his father. To which spirituall feding is required no bodely presence, nor also mouth nor teeth, and yet they that receaue any sacrament, must adore Christ (both before and after) sitting in heauen in the glory of his father. And this is neyther (as you say it is) a cold nor grosse teaching of S. Augustine in this place, to worship the flesh and humanity of Christ in heauen: