A19563:2124
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.
1As for me I ground my belief upon gods word (wherein can be no error) having also the consent of the primitive church, requiring no man to believe me further, then I have gods word for me. But these Papists speak at their pleasure what they lift, and would be believed without God's word, because they bear men in hand, that they be the church. The church of Christ is not founded upon it self, but upon Christ and his word, but the Papists build their church upon them selves, devising new articles of the faith from time to time, without any scripture, and founding the same upon the Pope and his clergy, monks and fryers, and by that means they be both the makers and Judges of their faith themselves. Wherefore this Papist like a politic man, doth right wisely provide for himself and his church, in the first entry of his book, that all men should leave searching for the truth, and stick hard and fast to the church, meaning himself and the church of Rome. For from the true catholic church, the Romish church (which he accounteth catholic) hath varied and dissented many years passed, as the blindest that this day do live, may well see and perceive, if they will not purposely wink and shut up their eyes. This I have written to answer the title of his preface.
1As for me I ground my beleefe vpon gods word (wherin can be no errour) hauing also the consent of the primatiue church, requiring no man to beleue me further, then I hane gods word for me. But these Papistes speake at their pleasure what they lift, and would be beleeued without godes word, bicause they beare men in hand, that they be the church. The church of Christ is not founded vpon it selfe, but vppon Christ and his word, but the Papistes build their church vpon them selues, deuising new articles of the fayth from tyme to tyme, without any scripture, and founding the same vpon the Pope and his cleargy, monkes and fryers, and by that meanes they be both the makers and Iudges of their fayth themselues. Wherfore this Papist like a politike man, doth right wisely prouide for himselfe and his church, in the first entry of his booke, that all men should leaue searching for the truth, and sticke hard and fast to the church, meaning himselfe and the church of Rome. For from the true catholike church, the Romish church (which he accomteth catholike) hath varied and dissented many yeares passed, as the blindest that this day do liue, may well see and perceaue, if they will not purposely winke and shut vp their eyes. This I haue written to answere the title of his preface.