A19563:983
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.
I ask this question of you brethren and sisterne (saith S. Augustine:) answer me, Whether you think greater, the word of God, or the body of Christ? If you will answer the truth, verily you ought to say thus: That the word of God is no less then the body of Christ. And therefore with what carefulness we take heed when the body of Christ is ministered unto us, that no part thereof fall out of our hands on the earth, with as great carefulness let us take heed, that the word of God which is ministered unto us, when we think or speak of vain matters, perish not out of our hearts. For he that heareth the word of God negligently shall be guilty of no less fault, then he that suffereth the body of Christ to fall upon the ground thorough his negligence. This is the mind of S. Augustine. And as much we have in Scripture for the reverent hearing and reading of God his holy word, or the neglecting thereof, as we have for the sacraments.
I ask this question of you brethren and sisterne (sayth S. Augustine:) aunswer me, Whether you think greater, the word of God, or the body of Christ? If you will answer the truth, verely you ought to say thus: That the word of God is no lesse then the body of Christ. And therfore with what carefullnes we take heed when the body of Christ is ministred vnto vs, that no part therof fall out of our handes on the earth, with as great carefulnes let vs take heede, that the word of God which is ministred vnto vs, when we think or speake of vayne matters, perish not out of our hartes. For he that heareth the word of God negligently shall be giltie of no lesse fault, then he that suffereth the body of Christ to fall vpon the ground thorough his negligence. This is the mynd of S. Augustine. And as much we haue in Scripture for the reuerent hearing and reading of God his holy word, or the neglecting therof, as we haue for the sacramentes.
But it seemeth by your pen and utterance of this matter,1 that you understand not the ground and cause, whereupon should arise the great fear and trembling in their hearts, that come to receive the sacraments: for you show another consideration thereof, than the scripture doth. For you seem to drive all the cause of fear, to the dignity of the body of Christ, there corporally present and received, but the scripture declareth the fear to rise of the indignity and unworthiness of the receivers. He that eateth and drinketh unworthily (threateneth Gods word) eateth and drinketh his own damnation.