A19563:2153
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.
Here by the way it is to be noted, that D. Smith in reciting the words of S. Paul, doth alter them purposely, commonly putting this word sacrament, in the stead of these words, bread and wine (which words he seemeth so much to abhor, as if they were toads or serpents, because they make against his Transubstantiation) where as S. Paul ever useth those words, and never nameth this word, Sacrament.
Here by the way it is to be noted, that D. Smith in reciting the words of S. Paule, doth alter them purposely, commonly putting this word sacrament, in the steede of these wordes, bread and wine (which wordes he semeth so much to abhorre, as if they were toades or serpents, bicause they make agaynst his Transubstantiation) where as S. Paule euer vseth those wordes, and neuer nameth this word, Sacrament.
But to the matter: What need we to examine our selves (saith D. Smith) when we shall eat but common bread and drink wine of the grape? Is a man guilty of the body and blood of Christ which eateth and drinketh nothing else, but only bare bread made of corn, and mere wine of the grape? Who saith so good sir? Do I say in my book, that those which come to the Lords table, do eat nothing else, but bare bread made of corn, nor drink nothing but mere wine, made of grapes? How often do I teach and repeat again and again, that as corporally with our mouths we eat and drink the sacramental bread and wine, so spiritually with our hearts, by faith, do we eat Christs very flesh, and drink his very blood, and do both feed and live spiritually by him, although corporally he be absent from us, and sitteth in heaven at his fathers right hand. And as in baptism we come not unto the water as we come to other common waters, when we wash our hands, or bath our bodies, but we know that it is a mystical water, admonishing us of the great and manifold mercies of God towards us, of the league and promise made between him and us, and of his wonderful working and operation in us. Wherefore we come to that water with such fear, reverence and humility, as we would come to the presence of the father, the son and the holy ghost, and of Jesus Christ himself both God and man: although he be not corporally in the water, but in heaven above. And who soever cometh to that water (being of the age of discretion) must examine himself duly, least if he come unworthily (none otherwise then he would come unto other common waters) he be not renewed in Christ: but in stead of salvation receive his damnation.