A19563:504
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.
Winchester.
In this comparison the former part, speaking of such men as be by baptism received §2into Christs church, is very true, confirmed by S. Paul, and ever since affirmed in the church, in the proof whereof here in this book I will not travel, but make it a demur as §1it were in law,1 whereupon to fly the truth of the hole matter, if that doctrine, called by this author the doctrine of the Papists, and is in deed the Catholic doctrine, be not in this point true, let all be so judged for me. If it be true, as it is most true, let that be a mark whereby to judge the rest of this authors untrue asseverations. For undoubtedly S. Augustine §3saith:2 We may not of mens matters esteem the Sacraments, they be made by him whose they be, but worthily used they bring reward, unworthily handled they bring judgement. He that dispenseth the Sacrament worthily, and he that useth it unworthily, lie not one, but that thing is one, whether it be handled worthily or unworthily, so as if is neither better ne worse, but life or death of them that use it. Thus saith S. Augustine, and therefore be the receivers worthy or unworthy,3 good or evil, the substance of Christs Sacrament is all one, as being Gods work, who worketh uniformly, and yet is not in all that receive of like effect, not of any alteration or diminution in it, but for the diversity of him that receiveth. So as the report made here of the doctrine of the Catholic Church under the name of Papists, is a very true report, and for want of grace reproved by the Author as though it were no true doctrine. And the second part of the comparison