A19563:2193
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.
What wonder is it then, that the open church is now of late years fallen into many errors and corruption, and the holy church of Christ is secret and unknown? seeing that Satan these 500. years hath been let lose, and Antichrist reigneth, spoiling and devouring the simple flock of Christ. But as almighty God said unto Elijah: I have reserved and kept for mine own self seven thousand,1 which never bowed their knee to Baal, so it is at this present. For although almighty God hath suffered these four or five hundred years, the open face of his church to be ugly deformed, and shamefully defiled by the sects of the Papists (which is so manifest that now all the world knoweth it) yet hath God of his manifold mercy, ever preserved a good number (secret to himself) in his true religion, although Antichrist hath bathed himself in the blood of no small number of them.
What wonder is it then, that the open church is now of late yeares fallen into many errours and corruption, and the holy church of Christ is secret and vnknowne? seing that Sathan these 500. yeares hath beene let lose, and Antichrist raigneth, spoyling and deuouring the simple flocke of Christ. But as almighty God sayd vnto Helias: I haue reserued and kept for mine ownne selfe seuen thousand,1 which neuer bowed their knee to Baall, so it is at this present. For although almighty God hath suffered these foure or fiue hundred yeares, the open face of his church to be vggely deformed, and shamefullye defiled by the sects of the Papistes (which is so manifest that now all the world knoweth it) yet hath God of his manifold mercy, euer preserued a good number (secret to himselfe) in his true religion, although Antichrist hath bathed himselfe in the bloud of no small number of them.
- 13. Reg. 19.
And although the Papists have led innumerable people out of the ⟨p. 409⟩