A19563:313
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.
It is not a sufficient proof in Scripture, to say, God doth it, because he can do it.1 For he can do many things which he neither doth, nor will do. He could have sent moe then twelve Legions of Angels to deliver Christ from the wicked Jews,2 and yet he would not do it. He could have created the world and all things therein, in one moment of time, and yet his pleasure was to do it in six days.
It is not a sufficient proofe in Scripture, to say, God doth it, because he can doe it.1 For hee can doe many thinges which hee neither doth, nor will doe. He could haue sent moe then twelue Legions of Angels to deliuer Christ from the wicked Iewes,2 and yet he would not doe it. He could haue created the world and all thinges therin, in one moment of time, and yet his pleasure was to doe it in sixe dayes.
In all matters of our christen faith, written in holy Scripture, for our instruction and doctrine, how far so ever they seem discrepant from reason, we must repress our imaginations, and consider Gods pleasure and will, and yield thereto, believing him to be omnipotent: And that by his omnipotent power, such things are verily so as holy scripture teacheth. Like as we believe that Christ was borne of the blessed virgin Mary, without company of man: that our Saviour Christ the third day rose again from death: that he in his humanity ascended into heaven: that our bodies at the day of judgement shall rise again, and many other such like things, which we all that be true christen men, do believe firmly, because we find these things written in Scripture. And therefore we (knowing Gods omnipotency) do believe that he hath brought some of the said things to pass already, and those things that are yet to come, he will by the same omnipotency without doubt likewise bring to pass.