A19563:1895
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.
Thus far have I rehearsed the wo••es of S. Ambrose, if the said book be his (which they that be of greatest learning and judgement do not think) by which words the Papists would prove, that in the supper of the Lord after the words of Consecration (as they be commonly called) there remaineth neither bread nor wine, because that S. Ambrose saith in this place, that the nature of the bread and wine is changed.
Thus far haue I rehearsed the wo••es of S. Ambrose, if the sayd book be his (which they that be of greatest learning and iudgemēt do not thinke) by which wordes the Papists would proue, that in the supper of the Lord after the words of Consecration (as they be commonly called) there remayneth neither bread nor wine, because that S. Ambrose sayth in this place, that the nature of the bread and wine is chaunged.
But to satisfy their minds, let us grant for their pleasure,1 that the foresaid book was S. Ambrose own work, yet the same book maketh nothing for their purpose, but quite against them. For he saith not, that the substance of bread and wine is gone, but he saith, that their nature is changed, that is to say, that in the holy communion we ought not to receive the bread and wine, as other common meats and drinks, but as things clean changed into a higher estate, nature and condition, to be taken as holy meats and drinks, whereby we receive spiritual feeding, and supernatural nourishment from heaven, of the very true body and blood of our saviour Christ, through the omnipotent power of God, and the wonderful working of the holy ghost. Which so well agreeth with the substance of bread and wine still remaining, that if they were gone away, and not there, this our spiritual feeding could be taught unto us by them.
But to satisfy their mindes, let vs graunt for their pleasure,