A19563:283
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.
By these words of Christ, rehearsed of the Evangelists, and by the doctrine also of Saint Paul, which he confesseth that he received of Christ, two things specially are to be noted.
By these wordes of Christ, rehearsed of the Euangelistes, and by the doctrine also of Saint Paule, which he confesseth that he receaued of Christ, two thinges specially are to be noted.
1First, that our Saviour Christ called the material bread which he brake, his body: & the wine which was the fruit of the vine, his blood. And yet he spake not this to the intent that men should think that the material bread is his very body, or that his very body is material bread:2 Neither that wine made of grapes is his very blood, or that his very blood is wine made of grapes. But to signify unto us,3 as S. Paul saith, that the cup is a communion of Christs blood that was shed for us, and the bread is a communion of his flesh that was crucified for us. So that although in the truth of his human nature, Christ be in heaven,4 and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father, yet whosoever eateth of the bread in the Supper of the Lord, according to Christs institution and ordinance, is assured of Christs own promise and testament, that he is a member of his body, and receiveth the benefits of his passion, which he suffered for us upon the cross. And likewise he that drinketh of that holy cup in the Supper of the Lord, according to Christs institution, is certified by Christs legacy and testament, that he is made partaker of the blood of Christ ⟨p. 25⟩which was shed for us. And this meant S. Paul, when he saith, is not the cup of blessing which we bless, a communion of the blood of Christ? Is not the can bread, which we break, a communion of the body of Christ so that no man contemn or lightly esteem this holy communion, except he contemn also Christs body and blood, and pass not whether he have any fellowship with him or no. And of those men S. Paul saith,