A19571:250
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.
They say, that Christ is really in the sacramental bread being reserved an whole year, or so long as the form of bread remaineth, but after the receiving thereof, he flieth up (say they) from the receiver, unto heaven, as soon as the bread is chewed in the mouth, or changed in the stomach: But we say, that Christ remaineth in the man that worthily receiveth it, so long as the man remaineth a member of Christ.
They saye, that Christe is reallye in the sacramentall breade beeynge reserued an whole yeare, or so longe as the fourme of breade remaineth, but after the receiuynge thereof, hee flyeth vp (say they) frome the receiuer, vnto heauen, as soone as the breade is chawed in the mouth, or chaunged in the stomacke: But wee say, that Christ remayneth in the man that worthely receiueth it, so longe as the manne remayneth a membre of Christe.
They say, that in the sacrament, the corporal members of Christ be not distant in place, one from another, but that wheresoever the head is, there be the feet, and wheresoever the arms be, there be the legs, so that in every part of the bread & wine, is altogether, whole head, whole feet, whole flesh, whole blood, whole heart, whole lunges, whole breast, whole back, and altogether whole, confused, and mixed without distinction or diversity. O what a foolish and an abominable invention is this, to make of the most pure and perfect body of Christ, such a confuse and monstrous body? And yet can the Papists imagine nothing so foolish, but ⟨p. 47⟩all Christian people must receive the same, as an oracle of God, and as a most certain article of their faith, without whispering to the contrary.
They say, that in the sacrament, the corporall membres of Christe be not distaunt in place, one from another, but that wheresoeuer the head is, there be the feete, and wheresoeuer the armes be, there be the legges, so that in euery parte of the bread & wyne, is altogither, whole head, whole feete, whole fleshe, whole bloud, whole hearte, whole lunges, whole brest, whole backe, and altogither whole, confused, and mixte withoute distinction or diuersitie. O what a foolishe and an abhominable inuencion is this, to make of the moste pure and perfect body of Christe, suche a confuse and monstruous body? And yet canne the Papistes imagine nothinge so foolishe, but