A19563:992
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.
Nevertheless you interpret this word (Wherein) far from my meaning. For I mean not that Christ is spiritually either in the table, or in the bread and wine that be set upon the table: but I mean that he is present in the ministration and receiving of that holy supper, according to his own institution and ordinance. Like as in baptism Christ and the holy ghost be not in the water, or font, but be given in the ministration, or to them thant be duly baptised in the water.
Neuerthelesse you interpret this word (Wherin) farre from my meaning. For I meane not that Christ is spiritually eyther in the table, or in the bread and wine that be sette vpon the table: but I meane that he is present in the ministration and receauing of that holy supper, according to his owne institution and ordinaunce. Like as in baptisme Christ and the holy ghost be not in the water, or fonte, but be giuen in the ministration, or to them thāt be duly baptised in the water.
And although the sacramental tokens be only significations and figures,1 yet doth almighty God effectually work in them that duly receive his sacraments, those divine and celestial operations, which he hath promised, and by the sacraments be signified. For else they were vain and unfruitful Sacraments, as well to the godly as to the ungodly. And therefore I never said of the whole supper, that it is but a signification or a bare memory of Christs death, but I teach that it is a spiritual refreshing, wherein our souls be fed and nourished with Christs very flesh and blood to eternal life. And therefore bring you forth some place in my book, where I say, that the Lords supper is but a bare signification without any effect or operation of God in the same, or else eat your words again, and knowledge that you untruly report me.
And although the sacramental tokens be onely significations and figures,1