A19563:2180
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.
And so the true Church of Christ ever believed from the beginning with out repugnance, until Satan was let louse, and Antichrist came with his Papists, which feigned a new and false doctrine contrary to Gods word, and the true Catholic doctrine.
And so the true Church of Christ euer beleued from the beginnyng with out repugnaunce, vntill Sathan was let louse, and Antichrist came with his Papistes, which fayned a new and false doctrine contrary to Gods word, and the true Catholicke doctrine.
And this true faith God preserveth in his holy church still, and will do unto the worlds end, maugre the wicked Antichrist and all the gates of hell. And almighty God from time to time hath strengthened many holy Martyrs, for this faith to suffer death by Antichrist, and the great harlot Babylon, who hath imbrued her hands, and is made drunken with the blood of Martyrs. Whose blood God will revenge at length, although in the mean time he suffer the patience and faith of his holy Saints to be tried.
And this true fayth God preserueth in his holy church still, and will doe vnto the worldes end, maugre the wicked Antichrist and all the gates of hell. And almighty God from time to time hath strēgthened many holy Martirs, for this fayth to suffer death by Antichrist, and the great harlot Babilon, who hath embrewed her handes, and is made drunken with the bloud of Martyrs. Whose bloud God will reuēge at length, although in ye meane time he suffer the patiēce and fayth of his holy Saynts to be tried.
All the rest of his Preface containeth nothing else,1 but the authority of the Church, which (Smith saith) cannot wholly err: and he so setteth forth and extolleth the same, that he preferreth it above Gods word, affirming not only that it is the pillar of truth, and no less to be believed then holy scripture, but also that we should not believe holy scripture but for it. So that he maketh the word of men equal or above the word of God.