A19571:219
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.
And therefore in the most part of the examples, which S. Ambrose allegeth for the wonderful alteration of natures, the substances did still remain, after the nature and proprieties were changed. As when the water of Jordan (contrary to his nature) stood still like a wall, or flowed against the stream towards the head & spring, yet the substance of the water remained the same that it was before. Likewise the stone, that above his nature and kind flowed water, was the self same stone that it was before. And the flood of Marath, that changed his nature of bitterness, changed for all that no part of his substance. No more did that iron, which contrary to his nature, swam upon the water, lose thereby any part of the substance thereof. Therefore as in these alterations of natures, the substances nevertheless remained the same, that they were before the alterations: even so doeth the substance of bread and wine remain in the Lords supper, and be naturally received and digested into the body, not withstanding the sacramental mutation of the ⟨image 48⟩same into the body and blood of Christ. Which sacramental mutation declareth the supernatural spiritual and inexplicable eating and drinking, feeding and digesting of the same body and blood of Christ, in all them, that godly and according to their duty, do receive the said sacramental bread and wine.
And therfore in the most part of the exāples, whiche S. Ambrose allegeth for the wonderful alteration of natures, the substaunces dyd styll remayne, after the nature and proprieties were chaunged. As whan the water of Iordane (contrary to his nature) stoode styll lyke a wall, or flowed against the streame towardes the head & spryng, yet the substaunce of the water remayned the same that it was before. Lykewyse the stone, that aboue his nature and kynde flowed water, was the selfe same stone that it was before. And the fludde of Marath, that chaunged his nature of bytternesse, chaunged for all that no part of his substance. No more did that yron, whiche contrary to his nature, swam vpon the water, lose thereby any parte of the substaunce thereof. Therfore as in these alteracions of natures, the substaunces neuerthelesse remayned the same, that they were before the alteracions: euen so doeth the substaunce of bread and wyne remayne in the Lordes supper, and be naturally receiued and digested into the body, not withstandyng the sacramental mutacion of the ⟨image 48⟩