A19563:2051
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.
Whosoever therefore will be spiritually regenerated §3in Christ, he must be Baptised him self. And he that will live him self by Christ, must by him self eat Christs flesh and drink his blood. And briefly to conclude, He that thinketh to come to the kingdom of Christ him self, must also come to his Sacraments him self, and keep his Commandments him self, and do all things that pertain to a Christian man, and to his vocation him self, least if he refer these things to an other §4man to do them for him, the other may with as good right claim the kingdom of heaven for him. 1Therefore Christ made no such difference between the priest and the lay man, that the priest should make oblation and sacrifice of Christ for the lay man, and eat the Lords Supper from him all alone, and distribute and apply it as him liketh. Christ made no such difference, but the difference that is between the priest and the lay man in this matter, is only in the ministration: that the priest (as a common minister of the Church) doth minister and distribute the Lords Supper unto other, and other receive it at his hands. But the very Supper it self, was by Christ instituted and given to the whole Church, not to be offered and eaten of the priest for other men, but by him to be delivered to all that would duly ask it. As in a princes house the officers and ministers prepare the Table, and yet other (aswell as they) eat the meat, and drink the drink: so do the priests and ministers prepare the Lords Supper, read the Gospel, and rehearse Christs words, but all the people say thereto: Amen. All remember Christs death, all give thanks to God, all repent and offer them selves an oblation to Christ, all take him for their Lord and Saviour, and spiritually feed upon him, and in token §1thereof they eat the bread and drink the wine in his mystical Supper. And this nothing diminisheth the estimation and dignity of priesthood and other ministers of the Church, but advanceth and highly commendeth their ministration. For if they are much to be loved, honoured and esteemed,§2 that be the kings Chancellors, Judges, officers, and ministers in temporal matters, how much than are they to be esteemed that be ministers of Christs words and Sacraments, and have to them committed the keys of heaven,