A19563:2049
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 that by his own faith, every man may apply the same unto him self, and not take it at the appointment of Popish priests, by the merit of sacrifices and oblations. ⟨p. 375⟩If we be in deed (as we profess) Christian men, we may ascribe this honour and glory to no man, but to Christ alone. Wherefore let us give the whole laud & praise hereof unto him, let us fly only to him for succour, let us hold him fast and hang upon him, and give our selves wholly to him. And forasmuch as he hath given him self to death for us, to be an oblation and sacrifice to his father for our sins, let us give our selves again unto him, making unto him an oblation, not of goats, sheep, kine and other beasts that have no reason (as was accustomed before Christs coming) but of a creature that hath reason, that is to say, of our selves, not killing our own bodies, but mortifying the beastly and unreasonable affections, that would gladly rule and reign in us. So long as the law did reign, God suffered dumb beasts to be offered unto him, but now that we be spiritual, we must offer spiritual oblations. In the place of calves, sheep, goats and doves: we must kill devilish pride, furious anger, insatiable covetousness, filthy lucre, stinking lechery, deadly hatred and malice, foxy wiliness, wolfish ravening and devouring, and all other unreasonable lusts and desires of the flesh.1 And as many as belong to Christ, must crucify and kill these for Christs sake, as Christ crucified him self for their sakes. These be the sacrifices of Christian men, these hosts and oblations be acceptable to Christ. And as Christ offered him self for us, so is it our duties after this sort to offer our selves to him again. And so shall we not have the name of Christian men in vain, but as we pretend to belong to Christ in word and profession, so shall we in deed be his in life and inward affection. So that within and without, we shall be altogether his, clean from all hypocrisy or dissimulation. And if we refuse to offer our selves after this wise unto him, by crucifying our own wills, and committing us wholly to the will of God, we be most unkind people, superstitious hypocrites, or rather unreasonable beasts, worthy to be excluded utterly from all the benefits of Christs oblations.
and that by his own fayth, euery man may apply the same vnto him selfe, and not take it at the appointment of Popish priestes, by the merite of sacrifices and oblations.