A19571:110
A Defence of the True and Catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament
A defence of the true and catholic doctrine of the sacrament of the body and blood of our saviour Christ with a confutation of sundry errors concerning the same, grounded and stablished upon God's holy word, [and] approved by the consent of the most ancient doctors of the Church. Made by the most reverend father in God Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England and Metropolitan.A defence of the true and catholike doctrine of the sacrament of the body and bloud of our sauiour Christ with a confutacion of sundry errors concernyng the same, grounded and stablished vpon Goddes holy woorde, [and] approued by ye consent of the moste auncient doctors of the Churche. Made by the moste reuerende father in God Thomas Archebyshop of Canterbury, primate of all Englande and Metropolitane.
Imprinted at London : In Poules churcheyarde, at the sign of the Brazen serpent, by Reginald Wolfe. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum, Anno Domini. M.D.L. 1550Imprinted at London : In Poules churcheyarde, at the signe of the Brasen serpent, by Reginald Wolfe. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum, Anno Domini. M.D.L. 1550
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.
Our faith teacheth us to believe things that we see not, but it doth not bid us, that we shall not believe that we see daily with our eyes, and hear with our ears, and grope with our hands. For although our senses can not reach so far as our faith doth, yet so far as the compass of our senses doeth usually reach, our faith is not contrary to the same, but rather our senses do confirm our faith. Or else what availed it to S. Thomas,1 for the confirmation of Christs resurrection, that he did put his hand in to Christs side, & felt his wounds, if he might not trust his senses, nor give no credit thereto?
Our faithe teacheth vs to beleeue thynges that we see not, but it doth not byd vs, that wee shall not beleue that we see dayly with our eies, and heare with our eares, and grope with our handes. For although our senses can not reache so farre as our faithe doothe, yet so farre as the compas of our senses doeth vsually reache, our faith is not contrary to the same, but rather our senses doo confirme our faith. Or els what auailed it to S. Thomas,1 for the confirmation of Christes resurrectiō, that he did put his hand in to Christs side, & felte his woundes, if he might not trust his senses, nor giue no credit therto?
And what a wide door is here opened to Ualentinianus, Marcion, and other heretics, which said that Christ was not crucified, but that Simon Cyreneus was crucified for him, although to the sight of the people, it seemed that Christ was crucified? Or to such heretics as said, that Christ was no man, although to mens sights he appeared in the form of man and seemed to be hungry, dry, weary, to weep, sleep, eat, drink, yea and to dye like as other men do? For if we ones admit this doctrine, that no credit is to be given to our senses, we open a large field, & give a great occasion unto an innumerable rabblement of most heinous heresies.