A19563:2055
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.
but there were then no daily private Masses, where every priest received alone, like as until this day there is none in the Greek Churches, but one common Mass in a day. Nor the holy Fathers of the old Church would not have suffered such ungodly and wicked abuses of the Lords Supper. But these private Masses sprang up of late years, partly through the ignorance and superstition of unlearned Monks and Friars (which knew not what a sacrifice was, but made of the Mass a sacrifice propitiatory, to remit both sin, and the pain due for the same) but chiefly they sprang of lucre and gain, when priests found the means to sell Masses to the people, which caused Masses so much to increase, that every day was said an infinite number, and that no priest would receive the Communion at an other priests ⟨p. 379⟩hand, but every one would receive it alone:1 neither regarding the godly decree of the most famous and holy Council of Nice (which appointed in what order priests should be placed above Deacons at the Communion) nor yet the Canons of the Apostles, which command, that when any Communion is ministered, all the priests together should receive the same, or else be excommunicate. So much the old Fathers misliked, that any priest should receive the Sacrament alone. Therefore when the old fathers called the Mass or Supper of the Lord, a sacrifice, they meant that it was a sacrifice of lauds and thanks giving, and so aswell the people as the priest do sacrifice: or else that it was a remembrance of the very true sacrifice propitiatory of Christ: but they meant in no wise that it is a very true sacrifice for sin, and applicable by the priest to the quick and dead. For the priest may well minister Christs words and Sacraments, to all men both good and bad, but he can apply the benefit of Christs passion to no man (being of age and discretion) but only to such as by their own faith do apply the same unto them selves. So that every man of age and discretion, taketh to him self the benefits of Christs passion, or refuseth them him self, by his own faith, quick or dead. That is to say, by his true and lively faith (that worketh by charity) he receiveth them, or else by his ungodliness or feigned faith rejecteth them.
but there were then no dayly priuate Masses, where euery priest receiued alone, like as vntill this day there is none in the Greeke Churches, but one common Masse in a day. Nor the holy Fathers of the old Church would not haue suffered such vngodly and wicked abuses of the Lordes Supper. But these priuate Masses sprang vp of late yeares, partly through the ignoraunce and superstition of vnlearned Monkes and Friers (whiche knew not what a sacrifice was, but made of the Masse a sacrifice propitiatory, to remit both sinne, and the payne due for the same) but chiefly they sprang of lucre and gayne, when priestes founde the meanes to sell Masses to the people, whiche caused Masses so much to encrease, that euery day was sayd an infinite number, and that no priest would receiue the Communion at an other priestes