A19563:484
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.
If you did not, you wittingly and willingly defended a false error in the open Parliament. But sithens that time, you have called that belief (as it is in deed) very foolish. And if you confessed your ignorance in that matter, be no more abashed to confess it in this, if you have respect more unto Gods trueth, then to your own estimation. It is lawful and commendable for a man, to learn from time to time, and to go from his ignorance, that he may receive and embrace the trueth.1 And as for me, I am not (I grant) of that nature, that the Papists for the most part be, who study to devise all shameful shifts, rather then they will forsake any error, wherewith they were infected in youth. I am glad to acknowledge my former ignorance (as S. Paul, S. Cyprian. S. Augustine, and many other holy men did, who now be with Christ) to bring other to the knowledge of the trueth, of whose ignorance I have much ruth and pity. I am content to give place to Gods word, that the victory may be Christs. What a member had the church of God lost, if Paul would have been as froward as some Papists be, that will stick to their error tooth and nail, though the Scripture and ancient writers be never so plain and f•at against them? Although S. Paul erred,2 yet because his error was not wilful, but of ignorance, so that he gave place to the trueth, when it was opened unto him, he became of a most cruel persecutor, a most fervent setter forth of the trueth, and Apostle of Christ.
If you did not, you wittingly and willingly defended a false errour in the open Parliament. But sithens that tyme, you haue called that beléefe (as it is in deede) very folish. And if you confessed your ignorance in that matter, be no more abashed to confesse it in this, if you haue respect more vnto Gods trueth, then to your owne estimation. It is lawfull and commendable for a man, to learn from time to tyme, and to go from his ignorance, that he may receaue and embrace the trueth.1 And as for me, I am not (I graunt) of that nature, that the Papists for the most part be, who study to deuise all shamefull shiftes, rather then they will forsake any errour, wherewith they were infected in youth. I am glad to acknowledge my former ignorance (as S. Paul, S. Ciprian. S. Augustine, and many other holy men did, who now be with Christ) to bring other to the knowledge of the trueth, of whose ignoraunce I haue much ruth and pitie. I am content to geue place to Gods word, that the victory may be Christs. What a member had the church of God lost, if Paule would haue been as froward as some Papistes be, that will sticke to their errour tooth and nayle, though the Scripture and auncient writers be neuer so plain and fat against them? Although S. Paule erred,