A19563:2154
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 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.
But to the matter: What need we to examine our selues (sayth D. Smith) when we shall eate but common bread and drincke wine of the grape? Is a man gilty of the body and bloud of Christ which eateth and drinketh nothing els, but onely bare bread made of corne, and meare wine of the grape? Who sayth so good syr? Do I say in my booke, that those which come to the Lordes table, do eate nothing els, but bare bread made of corne, nor drinke nothing but meare wine, made of grapes? How often do I teach and repeate agayne and agayne, that as corporally with our mouthes we eate and drincke the sacramentall bread and wine, so spiritually with our hartes, by fayth, do we eate Christes very flesh, and drincke his very bloud, and do both feed and liue spiritually by him, although corporally he be absent from vs, and sitteth in heauē at his fathers right hand. And as in baptisme we come not vnto the water as we come to other common waters, when we washe our handes, or bath our bodies, but we know that it is a misticall water, admonishing vs of the great and manifold mercies of God towards vs, of the league and promise made betwene him and vs, and of his wonderfull working and operation in vs. Wherfore we come to that water with such feare, reuerence and humility, as we would come to the presence of the father, the sonne and the holy ghost, and of Iesus Christ himselfe both God and man: although he be not corporally in the water, but in heauen aboue. And who soeuer cōmeth to that water (beyng of the age of discretiō) must examine himselfe duely, least if hee come vnworthely (none otherwise then hee would come vnto other commō waters) he be not renewed in Christ: but in steede of saluation receaue his damnation.