A19563:522
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.
Canterbury.
Caunterbury.
Who is so ignorant that hath red any thing at all, but he knoweth that §1distinction of three eatings? But no man that is of learning and judgement, understandeth the 3. diverse eatings in such sort as you do but after this manner.1 That some eat only the sacrament of Christs body, but not the very body it self, some eat his body and not the Sacrament, and some eat the Sacrament and body both together. The Sacrament (that is to say, the bread) is corporally eaten and chewed with the teeth in the mouth. The very body is eaten and chewed with faith in the spirit. Ungodly men when they receive the Sacrament, they chaw in their mouths (like unto Judas) the Sacramental bread, but they eat not the celestial bread, which is Christ. Faithful Christian people (such as be Christs true disciples) continually from time to time record in their minds the beneficial death of our Saviour Christ, chawing it by faith in the cud of their spirit, and digesting it in their harts, feeding and comforting themselves with that heavenly meat, although they daily receive not the Sacrament thereof, and so they eat Christs body spiritually, although not the sacrament thereof.2 But when such men for their more comfort and confirmation of eternal life, given unto them by Christs death, come unto the Lords holy Table, then as before ehey fed spiritually upon Christ, so now they feed corporally also upon the sacramental bread. By which sacramental feeding in Christs promises, their former spiritual feeding is increased, and they grow and wax continually more strong in Christ, until at the last they shall come to the full measure and perfection in Christ. This is the teaching of the true Catholic Church, as it is taught by Gods word. And therefore S. Paul speaking of them that unworthily eat, saith, that they eat the bread, but not that they eat the body of Christ,3