A19563:546
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.
1This comparison of difference is clerkly conveyed, as it were of a riddle, wherein, nay and yea, when they be opened, agree and consent. The fathers did eat Christs body and §1drink his blood in the truth of promise, which was effectual to them of redemption to be wrought, not in trueth of presence, (as we do) for confirmation of redemption already wrought. They had a certain promise, and we a certain present payment: they did eat Christ spiritually, believing in him that was to come, but they did not eat Christs body present in the Sacrament, sacramentally and spiritually, as we do. Their Sacraments were figures of the things, but ours contain the very things. And therefore albeit in a §2sense to the learned men, it may be verified, that the fathers did eat the body of Christ, and drink his blood, yet there is no such form of words in scripture, and it is more agreeable §3to the simplicity of scripture, to say the fathers before Christs nativity, did not eat the body and blood of Christ, which body and blood, Christ himself truly took of the body of the virgin Mary. For although S. Paul in the tenth to the Corinthians, be so understanded of some, as the fathers should eat the same spiritual meat, and drink the same spiritual drink that we do, to which understanding, all do not agree, yet following that understanding, we may not so press the words, as there should be no difference at all, and this one difference S. Augustine noteth how their sacraments contained the promise of that, which in our sacrament is given.2 Thus he saith: And this is evident of it self, how to us in the holy supper (Christ saith) This is my body that shall be betrayed for you, take §4