A19563:2183
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 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 and their end to be without honour. But now lo, how they be accounted among the children of God, and their portion is among the saints. Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, the light of righteousness hath not shined unto us, we have wearied our selves in the way of wickedness and destruction.
And truth it is in deed, that the church doth neuer wholy erre, for euer in most darcknes God shineth vnto his elect, and in the midst of all iniquity he gouerneth them so with his holy word and spirite, that the gates of hell preuayle not agaynst them. And these be knowne 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. Neuerthelesse at the last day they shalbe knowen to all the whole world, when the wicked shal wonder at their felicity, and say: These be they whom we sometime had in verision and mocked. We fooles thought their liues very madnes,1 and their end to be without honour. But now loe, how they be accounted among the children of God, and theyr portion is among the sayntes. Therfore we haue erred frō the way of truth, the light of righteousnesse hath not shined vnto vs, we haue wearyed our selues in the way of wickednes and destruction.
- 1S•p. 5.