A19563:2050
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 if we put the oblation of the priest in the stead of the oblation of Christ,1 refusing to receive the Sacrament of his body and blood our selves (as he ordained) and trusting to have remission of our sins by the Sacrifice of the priest in the Mass, and thereby also to obtain release of the pains in Purgatory, we do not only injury to Christ, but also commit most detestable Idolatry. For these be but false doctrines, without shame devised, and feigned by wicked Popish priests, Idolaters, Monks and Friars, which for lucre have altered and corrupted the most holy Supper of the Lord, and turned it into manifest Idolatry. Wherefore all godly men ought with all their hart to refuse and abhor all such blasphemy against the son of God. And forasmuch as in such Masses is manifest wickedness and Idolatry, (wherein the priest alone maketh oblation satisfactory, and applieth the same for the quick and the dead at his will and pleasure,) all such Popish Masses are to be clearly taken away out of Christian Churches, and the true use of the Lords Supper is to be restored again, wherein godly people assembled together, may receive the Sacrament every man for him self, to declare that he remembereth, what benefit he hath received by the death of Christ, and to testify that he is a member of Christs body, fed with his flesh, and drinking his blood spiritually. Christ did not ordain his Sacraments to this use,2 that one should receive them for another, or the priest for all the lay people, but he ordained them for this intent, that every man should receive them for him self, to ratify, confirm ⟨p. 376⟩and stablish his own faith and everlasting salvation. Therefore as one man may not be Baptised for an other (and if he be, it availeth nothing) so ought not one to receive the holy Communion for an other. For if a man be dry or hungry, he is never a whit eased, if an other man drink or eat for him: or if a man be all befiled, it helpeth him nothing, an other man to be washed §2for him: So availeth it nothing to a man, if an other man be Baptised for him, or be refreshed for him with the meat and drink at the Lords Table: And therefore said S. Peter:3