A19563:901
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.
1And if you had read and considered a saying of Saynt Augustine De doctrina Christiana lib. 3. cap. 9. you might have understand this place of The odoret better than you do. He serveth under a sign (saith Augustine) who worketh or worshipeth any sign, not knowing what it signifieth. But he that worketh or worshipeth a profitable sign ordained of God, the strength and signification whereof he understandeth, he worshipeth not that which is seen and is transitory, but rather that thing, ⟨p. 135⟩whereto all such signs ought to be referred. And anon after he saith further. At this time when our Lord Jesus Christ is risen, we have a most manifest argument of our freedom, and be not burdened with the heavy yoke of signs, which we understand not: but the Lord and the teaching of his Apostles hath given to us a few signs for many, and those most ease to be done, most excellent in understanding, and in performing most pure: as the sacrament of baptism, and the celebration of the body and blood of our Lord: which every man when he receiveth, knoweth whereunto they be referred, being taught, that he worship not them with a carnal bondage, but rather with a spiritual freedom. And as it is a vile bondage to follow the letter, and to take the signs for the things signified by them: so to interpret the signs to no profit, is an error that shrewdly spreadeth abroad. These words of Saint Augustine being conferred with the words of Theodoret, may declare plainly what Theodoretes meaning was. For where he saith that we may not worship with a carnal bondage the visible signs, (meaning of water in baptism, and of bread and wine in the holy communion) when we receive the same, but rather ought to worship the things whereunto they be referred, he meant that although those signs or sacraments, of water, bread and wine ought highly to be esteemed, and not to be taken as other common water, bakers bread, or wine in the tavern, but as signs dedicated, consecrated, and referred to an holy use: and by those earthly things to represent things celestial, yet the very true honour and worship, ought to be given to the celestial things, which by the visible signs be understand, & not to the visible signs themselves. And nevertheless both S.
1And if you had read and considered a saying of Saynt Augustine De doctrina Christiana lib. 3. cap. 9. you myght haue vnderstand this place of The odoret better than you do. He serueth vnder a signe (sayth Augustine) who worketh or worshipeth any signe, not knowing what it signifieth. But he that worketh or worshipeth a profitable signe ordayned of God, the strength and signification wherof he vnderstandeth, he worshipeth not that which is seene and is transitory, but rather that thing,