A19563:468
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.
And I pray you show in what place the Scripture saith, that under the forms of bread and wine, is the body of Christ really, corporally, and naturally, or else acknowledge them to be your own addition, beside Gods word, and your stout assertion herein to be but presumptuous boldness, and wicked temerity, affirming so arrogantly that thing, for the which you have no authority of Gods word.
And I pray you shew in what place the Scripture saith, that vnder the formes of bread and wine, is the body of Christ really, corporally, and naturally, or els acknowledge them to be your own additiō, beside Gods word, and your stout assertion herein to be but presumptuous boldnesse, and wicked temeritie, affirming so arrogantly that thing, for the which you haue no authority of Gods word.
And where you seem to be offended with the discussion of this matter, what hurt, I pray you, can gold catch in the fire, or truth with discussing? Lies only fear discussing. The Devil hateth the light, because he hath been a liar from the beginning, and is loth that his lies should come to light and trial. And all Hypocrites and Papists be of a like sort afraid, that their doctrine should come to discussing, whereby it may evidently appear, that they be endued with the spirit of error and lying. If the Papists had not feared, that their doctrines should have been espied, and their opinions have come to discussing, the scriptures of God had been in the vulgar and English tongue many years ago. But (God be praised) at the length your doctrine is come to discussing, so that you can not so craftily walk in a cloud, but the light of Gods word will always show where you be. Our Saviour Christ in the fifth of John,1 willeth us to search the scriptures, and to try out the trueth by them. And shall not we then with humble reverence search the trueth in Christs Sacraments?
And where you seeme to be offended with the discussion of this matter, what hurte, I pray you, can gold catch in the fire, or truth with discussing? Lyes onely feare discussing. The Deuill hateth the light, because he hath been a lyar from the beginning, and is loth that his lies should come to light and triall. And all Hipocrites and Papistes be of a like sorte afraide, that their doctrine should come to discussing, whereby it may euidently appeare, that they be indued with the spirite of error and lying. If the Papists had not feared, that their doctrines should haue bene espied, and their opions haue come to discussing, the scriptures of God had bene in the vulgare and English tounge many yeares ago. But (God be praysed) at the length your doctrine is come to discussing, so that you can not so craftely walke in a cloude, but the light of Gods word will alwaies shew where you be. Our Sauiour Christ in the fifth of Iohn,