A19563:917
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.
As for the use of figurative speeches to be accustomed in scripture is not denied. But Philip Melanchthon in an epistle to Decolampadius of the sacrament,1 giveth one good note of observation in difference between the speeches in gods ordinances and commandments, and otherwise. For if in the understanding of Gods ordinances and commandments,§1 2figures may be often received: truth shall by allegories be shortly subverted and all our religion reduced to significations. There is no speech so plain and simple but it hath some piece of a figurative speech, but such as expresseth the common plain understanding,3 and then the common use of the figure causeth it to be taken as a common proper speech. As these speeches, drink up this cup, or eat this dish, is in deed a figurative speech, but by custom make so common that it is reputed the plain speech, because if hath but one only understanding commonly received. And when Christ said: This cup is the new testament: the proper speech thereof in letter, hath an absurdity in reason, and faith also. But when Christ said, this is my body, although §2the truth of the literal sense hath an absurdity in carnal reason, yet hath it no absurdity in humility of faith, nor repugneth not to any other truth of scripture. And seeing it is a singular miracle of Christ whereby to exercise us in the faith, understanded as the plain words signify in their proper sense, there can no reasoning be made of other figurative speeches to make this to be their fellow and like unto them. No man denieth the use of figurative speeches in Christs supper, but such as be equal with plain proper speech, or be expounded by other Evangelists in plain speech.