A19563:205
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.
Canterbury.
Caunterbury.
1IF I granted for your pleasure that the bare bread (having no further §1respect) were but only a bare figure of Christs body, or a bare token (because that term liketh you better, as it may be thought for this consideration, that men should think that I take the bread in the holy mystery to be but as it were a token of I recommend me unto you) but if I grant I say, that the bare bread, is but a bare token of Christs body, what have you gained thereby? Is therefore the whole use of the bread in the whole action and ministration of the lords holy supper, but a naked or nude & bare token? Is not one loaf being broken and distributed among faithful people in the lords supper, taken and eaten of them, a token that the body of Christ was broken and crucified for them? and is to them spiritually and effectually given, and of them spiritually and fruitfully taken and eaten, to their spiritual and heavenly comfort, sustentation & nourishment of their souls, as the bread is of their bodies? And what would you require more? Can there be any greater comfort to a christian man then this? Is here nothing else but bare tokens?
1IF I graunted for your pleasure that the bare bread (hauyng no further §1respect) were but onely a bare figure of Christes body, or a bare token (because that terme liketh you better, as it may be thought for this consideration, that men should thinke that I take the bread in the holy mysterie to be but as it were a token of I recommend me vnto you) but if I graunt I say, that the bare bread, is but a bare token of Christes body, what haue you gayned therby? Is therfore the whole vse of the bread in the whole action and ministration of the lordes holy supper, but a naked or nude & bare token? Is not one lofe being broken and distributed among faithful people in the lordes supper, taken and eaten of them, a token that ye body of Christ was broken and crucified for them? and is to them spiritually and effectually geuen, and of them spiritually and fruitfully taken and eaten, to their spirituall and heauenly comfort, sustentation & nourishment of their soules, as the bread is of their bodies? And what would you require more? Cā there be any greater comfort to a christian man then this? Is here nothing els but bare tokens?