A19563:585
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.
Wherefore having this mystery of Christs Supper, so many truths in it, the Church hath celebrate them all, and knowledged them all, of one certainty in truth, not as figures,1 but really and in deed, that is to say, as our bodies shall be in the general resurrection regenerate in deed: so we believe we feed here of Christs body in deed. And as it is true that Christs body in deed is betrayed for us: so it is true that he giveth us to eat his very body in deed. And as it is true that Christ was in earth, & did celebrate this Supper: so it is true that he commanded it to be celebrated by us till he come. And as it is true that Christ was very God omnipotent, and very man: so it is true that he could do that he affirmed by his word him self to do. And as he is most sincere truth: so may we be truly assured, that he would, and did, as he said. And as it is true that he is most just: so it is true that he assisteth the doing of his commandment in the celebration of the holy Supper. And therefore as he is author of this most holy Sacrament of his precious body and blood: so is he the maker of it, and is the invisible priest, who as Emissene saith by his secret power,2 with his word, changeth the visible creatures, into the substance of his body & blood. Wherein man, the visible priest and minister by order of the church is only a dispenser of the mystery, doing and saying as the holy ghost hath taught the church to do and say.
Wherefore hauing this mistery of Christes Supper, so many truthes in it, ye Church hath celebrate thē all, and knowledged them all, of one certainty in truth, not as figures,1 but really and in déede, that is to say, as our bodies shalbe in the generall resurrection regenerate in déede: so we beléeue we feede here of Christes body in deede. And as it is true that Christes body in déede is betrayed for vs: so it is true that he geueth vs to eate his very body in déede. And as it is true yt Christ was in earth, & did celebrate this Supper: so it is true that he commaunded it to be celebrated by vs till he come. And as it is true that Christ was very God omnipotent, and very man: so it is true that he could doe that he affirmed by his word him selfe to doe. And as he is most sincéere truth: so may we be truly assured, that he would, and did, as he said. And as it is true that he is most iust: so it is true that he assisteth the doing of his commaundement in the celebration of the holy Supper. And therfore as he is author of this most holy Sacrament of his precious body and bloud: so is he the maker of it, and is the inuisible priest, who as Emissene saith by his secret power,