A19563:1481
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.
Canterbury.
Caunterbury.
Here appeareth your sincerity in proceeding in this matter. For you §1leave out those words of S. Ambrose, which maketh his meaning plain, that the prophet spake of the mystery of Christs incarnation. Si negant quia in Christo etiam incarnationis adoranda misteria sunt. &c. If they deny (saith he) that the mysteries of the incarnation in Christ be to be honoured &c. And a little after Qua ratione ad incarnationis dominicae sacramentum spectare videatur, quod ait Propheta, Adorate scabellum pedum eius, consideremus. Let us consider, by what means this saying of the prophet (worship his foot stool) may be seen to pertain to the sacrament of Christs incarnation. And after the words by you rehearsed, followeth by and by, Cum igitur incarnationis adorandum sit Sacramentum. &c. Seeing then that the Sacrament of the incarnation is to be honoured. In these words showeth S. Ambrose plainly that the worshipping of Christs flesh is understand of the mystery of his incarnation. So that S. Ambrose meant not only that men should worship Christ, when they receive the Sacrament, but that all creatures, at all times, should worship him. And therefore he expresseth there by name, how the Angels did worship him, and also Mary Magdalene and the Apostles after his resurrection,1 when they received not the Sacrament.2 And so did also the shepherds and the wise men worship him, yet being in his infancy, and the prophet (after the mind of S. Augustine ⟨p. 249⟩and S. Ambrose) commanded to honour him before his incarnation, & we likewise honour him sitting now in heaven after his ascension. For so far is faith able to reach, without either tentering or stretching.