A19563:190
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.
Winchester.
But all this set apart, and putting aside all testimonies of the old church, and resorting only to the letter of the scripture,1 there to search out an understanding, and in doing thereof, to forget what hath been taught hitherto: How shall this author establish upon §1scripture that he would have believed? What other text is there in scripture that encountereth with these words of scripture (This is my body) whereby to alter the signification of them? There is no scripture saith, Christ did not give his body, but the figure of §2his body, nor the giving of Christs body in his supper, verily and really so understanded, doth not necessarily impugn and contrary any other speech or doing of Christ, expressed §3in scripture. For the great power and omnipotency of God, excludeth that repugnance, which mans reason would deem of Christs departing from this world, and placing his humanity in the glory of his Father.
But all this set apart, and putting aside all testimonies of the olde church, and resortyng onely to the letter of the scripture,1 there to search out an vnderstanding, and in doyng therof, to forget what hath bene taught hitherto: How shall this author establish vpon §1scripture that he would haue beleued? What other text is there in scripture that en•ountreth with these wordes of scripture (This is my body) wherby to alter the signification of them? There is no scripture sayth, Christ did not geue his body, but the figure of