A19563:362
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.
Seventhly, it is to be noted,1 that where as nothing in this life is more acceptable before God, or more pleasant unto man, than christen people to live together quietly in love and peace, unity and concord this Sacrament doth most aptly and effectually move us thereunto. For when we be made all partakers of this one table, what ought we to think, but that we be all members of one spiritual body, whereof Christ is the head, that we be joined together in one Christ, as a great number of grains of corn be joined together in one loaf. Surely, they have very hard and stony hearts, which with these things be not moved: and more cruel and unreasonable be they then brute beasts, that cannot be persuaded to be good to their christen brethren and neighbours, for whom Christ suffered death, when in this Sacrament they be put in remembrance that the Son of God bestowed his life for his enemies. For we see by daily experience, that eating and drinking together maketh friends, and continueth friendship: much more then ought the table of Christ to move us so to do. Wilde beasts and birds be made gentile by giving them meat and drink, why then should not christen men wax meek and gentle with this heavenly meat of Christ? Hereunto we be stirred, and moved, as well by the bread, and wine in this holy Supper, as by the words of holy Scripture, recited in the same. Wherefore, whose hart soever this holy Sacrament, Communion, and Supper of Christ, will not kindle with love unto his neighbours, and cause him to put out of his hart, all envy, hatred, and malice, and to grave in the same all amity, friendship, and concord, he deceiveth him self, if he think that he hath the spirit of Christ dwelling within him.
Seuenthly, it is to be noted,1 that where as nothing in this life is more acceptable before God, or more pleasant vnto man, thē christen people to liue together quietly in loue and peace, vnity and concord this Sacrament doth most aptly and effectuously moue vs thereunto. For when we be made all partakers of this one table, what ought we to thinke, but that we be all members of one spirituall body, wherof Christ is the head, that we be ioyned together in one Christ, as a great number of graynes of corne be ioyned together in one loafe. Surely, they haue very hard and stony hartes, which with these thinges be not moued: and more cruell and vnreasonable be they then bruit beastes, that cannot be perswaded to be good to their christen brethren and neighboures, for whom Christ suffered death, when in this Sacrament they be put in remēbrāce that the Sonne of God bestowed his life for his enemies. For we see by daily experience, that eating and drinking together maketh frendes, and continueth frendshippe: much more then ought the table of Christ to moue vs so to doe. Wilde beastes and birdes be made gentile by geuing them meate and drinke, why then should not christen men waxe meeke and gentle with this heauenly meate of Christ? Hereunto we be stirred, and moued, as well by the bread, and wine in this holy Supper, as by the wordes of holy Scripture, recited in the same. Wherefore, whose hart soeuer this holy Sacrament, Communion, and Supper of Christ, wil not kindle with loue vnto his neighboures, and cause him to put out of his hart, all enuy, hatred, and malice, and to graue in the same all amity, frendshippe, and concord, he deceaueth him selfe, if he thinke that he hath the spirite of Christ dwelling within him.