A19563:2182
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.
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.
ALl the rest of his Preface contayneth nothing els,1 but the authority of the Church, which (Smith sayth) cannot wholy erre: and he so setteth forth and extolleth the same, that he preferreth it aboue Gods word, affirming not onely that it is the piller of truth, and no lesse to bee beleued then holy scripture, but also that we should not beleue holy scripture but for it. So that he maketh the word of men equall or aboue the word of God.
- 1What Church it is that can not err.What Churche it is that cā not erre.
And truth it is in deed, that the church doth never wholly err, for ever in most darkness God shineth unto his elect, and in the midst of all iniquity he governeth them so with his holy word and spirit, that the gates of hell prevail not against them. And these be known to him although the world many times know them not, but hath them in derision and hatred, ⟨p. 406⟩as it had Christ and his Apostles. Nevertheless at the last day they shall be known to all the whole world, when the wicked shall wonder at their felicity, and say: These be they whom we sometime had in verision and mocked. We fools thought their lives very madness,1