A19563:2047
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 partly they used them as certain ceremonies, whereby such persons as had offended against the law of Moses, and were cast out of the congregation, were received again among the people, and declared to be absolved. As for like purposes we use in the church of Christ, sacraments by him instituted. And this outward casting out from the people of God, and receiving in again, was according to the law and knowledge of man, but the true reconciliation and forgiveness of sin before God, neither the fathers of the old law had, nor we yet have, but only by the sacrifice of Christ, made in the mount of Calvary. And the sacrifices of the old law were prognostications and figures of the same then to come, as our sacraments be figures and demonstrations of the same now passed. Now by these foresaid things may every man easily perceive,1 that the offering of the priest in the Mass, or the appointing of his ministration at his pleasure, to them that be quick or dead, can not merit and deserve, neither to ⟨p. 374⟩him self, not to them for whom he singeth or saith the remission of their sins: but that such Popish doctrine is contrary to the doctrine of the Gospel, and injurious to the sacrifice of Christ. For if only the death of Christ be the oblation, sacrifice and price wherefore our sins be pardoned, then the act or ministration of the priest can not have the same office. Wherefore it is an abominable blasphemy, to give that office or dignity to a priest; which pertaineth only to Christ: or to affirm that the Church hath need of any such sacrifice: as who should say: that Christs sacrifice were not sufficient for the remission of our sins: or else that his sacrifice should hang upon the sacrifice of a priest. But all such priests, as pretend to be Christs successors in making a Sacrifice of him, they be his most heinous and horrible adversaries. For never no person made a sacrifice of Christ, but he him self only. And therefore Saint Paul saith,2 that Christs priesthood cannot pass from him to an other. For what needeth any moe Sacrifices; if Christs Sacrifice be perfect and sufficient?
And partly they vsed them as certayne ceremonies, whereby such persons as had offended agaynst the law of Moyses, and were cast out of the congregation, were receiued agayne among the people, and declared to be absolued. As for like purposes we vse in the church of Christ, sacramentes by him instituted. And this outward casting out from the people of God, and receiuing in agayne, was according to the law and knowledge of man, but the true recō ciliation and forgeuenes of sin before God, neither the fathers of the old law had, nor we yet haue, but onely by the sacrifice of Christ, made in the mounte of Caluary. And the sacrifices of the old law were prognosticatiōs and figures of the same then to come, as our sacramentes be figures and demonstrations of the same now passed. Now by these foresayd things may euery man easily perceiue,