A19563:1996
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.
But there was never man that understood any author further from his meaning, then you do Theodoret and Chrysostom in this place. For they meant not of any real calling, by changing of substances, but of a sacramental change of the names remaining the substances. For Theodoret saith in plain words, that as Christ called bread his body, so he called his body corn, and called himself a vine. Was therefore the substance of his body transubstantiated and turned into corn, or he into a vine? And yet this must needs follow of your saying, if Christs calling were a putting away of the former substance, according to the doctrine of Transubstantiation. But that Theodoret meant not of any such changing of substances, but of changing of names, he declareth so plainly, that no man can doubt of his meaning. These be Theodorets own words. Our Saviour without doubt changed the names and gave to his body the name of the sign, and to the sign the name of his body, and yet (saith he) they kept their former substance, fashion, and figure. And the cause wherefore Christ doth vouchsafe to call the sacramental bread by the name of his body, & to dignify so earthly a thing by so heavenly a name, Theodoret showeth to be this, that the godly receivers of the Sacrament, when they hear ⟨p. 362⟩the heavenly names, should lift up their minds from earth unto heaven, and not to have respect unto the bread outwardly only, but principally to look upon Christ, who with his heavenly grace and omnipotent power feedeth them inwardly.
But there was neuer man that vnderstood any author further from his meaning, then you do Theodoret and Chrysostome in this place. For they ment not of any reall calling, by chaungyng of substances, but of a sacramentall chaunge of the names remaining the substaunces. For Theodoret sayth in playne wordes, that as Christ called bread his body, so he called his body corne, and called himselfe a vine. Was therefore the substance of his body transubstantiated and turned into corne, or he into a vine? And yet this must needes follow of your saying, if Christes calling were a putting away of the former substance, according to the doctrine of Transubstantiation. But that Theodoret ment not of any such chaunging of substances, but of chaunging of names, he declareth so playnely, that no man can doubt of his meaning. These be Theodorets owne wordes. Our Sauiour without doubt chaunged the names and gaue to his body the name of the signe, and to the signe the name of his body, and yet (sayth he) they kept their former substaunce, fashion, and figure. And the cause wherfore Christ doth vouchsafe to call the sacramental bread by the name of hys body, & to dignify so earthly a thing by so heauenly a name, Theodoret sheweth to be this, that the godly receiuers of the Sacrament, when they heare