A19563:586
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.
Finally, as we be taught by faith all these to be true: so when wanton reason (faith being asleep) goeth about by curiosity to impair any one of these truths, the chain is broken, the links sparkle abroad, and all is brought in danger to be scattered and scambled at. Truths have been abused, but yet they be true, as they were before, for no man can make that is true, false: and abuse is mans fault, not the things. Scripture in speech, giveth to man as Gods minister, the name of that action which God specially worketh in that mystery. So it pleaseth God to honour the ministry of man in his Church, by whom it also pleaseth him to work effectually. And Christ said, they that believe in me,1 shall do the works that I do, and greater. When all this honour is given to man, as spiritually to regenerate, when the minister saith (I baptise thee) and to remit sin to such as fall after, to be also a minister in consecration of Christs most precious body, with the ministration of other Sacraments, benediction, and prayer. If man should then wax proud,2 and glory as of him self, and extol his own devotion in these ministries, such men should bewray their own naughty hypocrisy, & yet thereby impair not the very dignity of the ministry, ne the very true fruit and effect thereof. And therefore when the Church by the minister, and with the minister prayeth that the creatures of bread and wine, set on the altar (as the book of common prayer in this Realm hath ordered) may be unto us the body and blood of our saviour Christ, we require then the celebration of the same Supper, which Christ made to his Apostles, for to be the continual memory of his death, with all fruit and effect, such as the same had in the first institution.
Finally, as we be taught by faith all these to be true: so when wanton reason (faith being aslepe) goeth about by curiositie to empaire any one of these truthes, the chain is broaken, the linkes sparckle abroad, and all is brought in danger to be scattered and scambled at. Truthes haue béene abused, but yet they be true, as they were before, for no man can make that is true, false: and abuse is mannes fault, not the thinges. Scripture in spéeche, geueth to man as Gods minister, the name of that action which God specially worketh in that mistery. So it pleaseth God to honor the ministery of man in his Church, by whom it also pleaseth him to worke effectually. And Christ said, they that beleue in me,