A19563:2404
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.
Therefore Gods will and commandment is, that when the people be gathered together, the Ministers should use such language as the people may understand, and take ⟨p. 422⟩profit thereby, or else hold their peace. For as an harp or lute, if it give no certain sound that men may know what is stricken, who can dance after it, for all the sound is in veins: So is it vain and profiteth nothing, saith almighty God, by the mouth of S. Paul, if the priest speak to the people in a language which they know not, for else he may profit himself, but profiteth not the people saith S. Paul. But herein I was answered thus, that S. Paul spake only of preaching, that the preacher should speak in a tongue which the people did know, or else his preaching availeth nothing. But if the preaching availeth nothing, being spoken in a language, which the people understand not, how should any other service avail them, being spoken in the same language: And that yet S. Paul meant not only of preaching, it appeareth plainly by his own words, for he speaketh by name expressly of praying, singing, lauding, and thanking of God, and of all other things which the priests say in the churches, whereunto the people say Amen, which they used not in preaching, but in other divine service: that whether the Priests rehearse the wonderful works of God, or the great benefits of God; unto inankinde above all other creatures, or give thanks unto God, or make open profession of their faith, or humble confession of their sins, with earnest request of mercy and forgiveness, or make suit or request unto God for any thing: then all the people understanding what the Priests say, might join their minds and voices with them and say Amen, that is to say, allow what the Priests say, that the rehearsal of Gods universal works and benefits, the giving of thanks the profession of faith, the confession of sins, and the requests and petitions of the Priests and the people, might ascend up into the ears of God altogether, and be as a sweet savour, odour, and incense in his nose: And thus was it used many hundred years after Christs ascension. But the aforesaid things cannot be done, when the priests speak to the people in a language not known, and so they, or their clerk in their name say, Amen, but they cannot tell whereunto: where as S.
Therefore Gods will and commaundement is, that when the people be gathered together, the Ministers should use such language as the people may vnderstand, and take ⟨p. 422⟩