A19563:1709
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.
And it is untrue that you say, that the sacrifice is perfected before the perfection. For if the sacrifice be perfected before the perception, it is perfected also before the consecration. For between the consecration and perception was no sacrifice made by Christ (as appeareth in the Evangelists) but the one followed immediately of the other. And although Christ being in heaven be one of the parts whereof the sacrifice consisteth, & be present in the sacrifice, yet he is not naturally there present, but sacramentally in the sacrament, and spiritually in the receivers.
And it is vntrue that you say, that the sacrifice is parfited before the perfection. For if the sacrifice be parfited before the perception, it is parfited also before the consecration. For betwene the consecration and perception was no sacrifice made by Christ (as appeareth in the Euangelistes) but the one followed immediately of the other. And although Christ being in heauen be one of the partes wherof the sacrifice consisteth, & be present in the sacrifice, yet he is not naturally there present, but sacramentally in the sacrament, and spiritually in the receauours.
And by this which I have now answered, I have wrestled with you so in the matter of Christs presence, that I have not fallen upon my back my self to pull you over me, but I standing up right my self, have given you such a fall, that you shall never be able to recover. And now that I have brought you to the ground (although it be but a small piece of manhood to strike a man when he is down) yet for the truths sake, (unto whom you have ever been so great an adversary) I shall beat you with your Transubstantiation (as they say) both back and bone. Now say you sir, is whiteness or other colours the nature of bread and wine? (for the colours be only visible by your doctrine) or be they elements, or be accidents the bodily matter? Lye still, ye shall be better beaten yet, for your wilfulness. Be the accidents of bread substances, as you said not long before? And if they be substances, what manner of substances be they: corporal ⟨p. 302⟩