A19563:1531
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.
1But all truths agree to the truth, and falsehood agreeth not with it self, so it is a plain declaration of untruth, that the Papists vary so among themselves. For some say that Christ consecrated by his own secret power without sign or words: some say that his benediction was his consecration: some say, that he did consecrate with these words, Hoc est corpus meum, and yet those vary among themselves: for some say that he spake these words twice, once immediately after benediction, at what time they say he consecrated, and again after when he commanded them to eat it, appointing than to his Apostles the form of consecration. And lately came new Papists with their v. eggs, and say that the consecration is made only with these. v. words Hoc est enim corpus meum. And last of all come you and Smith with yet your newer devises,2 saying that Christ spake those words before he gave the bread & immediately after the breaking, manifestly contrary to the order of the text (as all the Evangelists report) and contrary to all old authors of the Catholic Church (which all with one consent say, that Christ gave bread to his Apostles) and contrary to the book of Common prayer by you allowed, which rehearseth the words of the Evangelists thus, that Christ took bread, and when he had blessed and given thanks, he brake it and gave it to his disciples, where all the relation is made to the bread. Is this your faithful handling of Gods word, for your pleasure to turn the words as you list? Is it not a thing much to be lamented, that such as should be the true setters fourth of Christs Gospel, do trifle with Christs words after this sort, to alter the order of the gospel after their own fantasy? Can there be any trifling with Christs words, if this be not? And shall any christen man give credit to such corrupters of holy scripture? Have you put upon you harlots faces, that you be past all shame, thus to abuse gods word to your own vanity?
1But all truthes agree to the truth, and falsehode agreeth not with it selfe, so it is a playne declaration of vntruth, that the Papistes varie so among themselues. For some say that Christ consecrated by his owne secret power without signe or wordes: some say that his benediction was his cōsecration: some say, that he did consecrate with these wordes, Hoc est corpus meum, and yet those vary among themselues: for some say that he spake these wordes twise, once immediatly after benediction, at what tyme they say he consecrated, and agayne after when he commaunded them to eate it, appointyng than to his Apostles the forme of consecration. And lately came new Papistes with their v. egges, and say that the consecration is made onely with these. v. wordes Hoc est enim corpus meum. And last of all come you and Smith with yet your newer deuises,