A19563:1689
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.
Likewise where he saith the nature of the body and blood of Christ remain in the Sacrament, the word (remain) being of such signification, as it betokeneth not only to be there, but to tarry there, and so there is declared the sacrifice of the church, which mystery of sacrifice is perfected before the perception, and so it must be evident how the §7body of Christ is there, that is to say, on the alter before we receive it, to which altar S. Augustine saith, we come to receive it. There was never man overturned his own §6assertions more evidently, then this author doth herein this place, the like whereof I have observed in other that have written against this Sacrament, who have by he way said somewhat for it, or they have brought their treatise to an end.
Likewise where he sayth the nature of the body and bloud of Christ remayne in the Sacrament, the word (remayne) being of such signification, as it betokeneth not onely to be there, but to tary there, and so there is declared the sacrifice of the church, which mistery of sacrifice is perfited before the perception, and so it must be euident how the §7body of Christ is there, that is to say, on the alter before we receaue it, to which aulter S. Augustine sayth, we come to receaue it. There was neuer man ouerturned his own §6assertions more euidently, then this author doth herein this place, the like wherof I haue obserued in other that haue written agaynst this Sacrament, who haue by he way sayd somewhat for it, or they haue brought their treatise to an end.
It will be said here, how soever this author doth overthrow him self in the real presence of Christs very body, yet he hath pulled down Transubstantiation, and done §8as crafty wrestlers do, falling themselves on their back, to throw there fellow over them. But it is not like, for as long as the true faith of the real presence standeth, so long Transubstantiation standeth, not by authority of determination, but by a necessary consequence of the truth, as I said before, and as Zuinglius defendeth plainly, and as for these places of S. Augustine may be answered unto, for they speak of the visible nature and element, which remain truly in the propriety of their nature, for so much as remaineth, so as there is true real and bodily matter of the accidents of bread and wine, not in fantasy or imagination, whereby there should be illusion in the senses, but so in deed as the experience doth show, and the change of substance of the creatures into a better substance, should not impair the truth of that remaineth, but that remaineth, doth in deed remain, with the same natural effects by miracle that it had when the substance was there which is one marvel in this mystery, as there were diverse more in Manna the figure of it. And then a miracle in gods working doth not impair the truth of the work. And therefore I noted before, how S. Thomas did touch Christ after his resurrection truly, and yet it was by miracle, as S. Gregory writeth. And further we may say, touching the comparison, that when a resemblance is made of the