A19571:339
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.
Seldom (saith he) is any difficulty in proper words, but either the circumstance of the place, or the conferring of divers translations, or else the original tongue wherein it was written, will make the seuce plain. But in word that be altered from their proper signification, there is great diligence and heed to be taken. And specially we must beware, that w• take not literally any thing that is spoken figuratively. Nor contrary wise we must not take for a figure any thing, that is spoken properly Therefore must be declared (saith S. Augustine) the manner how to discern a proper speech from a figurative. wherein (saith he) must be observed this rule, that if the thing which is spoken, be to the furtherance of charity, than it is a proper speech, & no figure. So that if it be a commandment, that forbiddeth any evil or wicked act, or commandeth any good or beneficial thing, than it is no figure. But if it command any ill or wicked thing or forbid any thing that is good and beneficial, than is it a figurative speech. Now this saying of Christ ⟨p. 62⟩(Except you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood,1 you shall have no life in you) seemeth to command an heinous and a wicked thing, therefore it is a figure commanding us to be partakers of Christs passion, keeping in our minds to our great comfort and profit, that his flesh was crucified and wounded for us.2
Seldō (saith he) is ani difficulty in proper wordes, but either the circumstāce of ye place, or ye conferring of diuers translatiōs, or els the original tonge wherin it was written, wyl make the seuce plaine. But in woorde that be altered from their propre significatiō, there is great diligence and heed to be takē. And specially we must beware, that w• take not literally any thing that is spoken figuratiuely. Nor contrary wise we must not take for a figure any thing, that is spoken properly Therfore muste be declared (saith S. Augustine) the manner how to discerne a propre speache from a figuratiue. wherin (saith he) must be obserued this rule, that if the thing which is spokē, be to ye furtherance of charite, than it is a propre speache, & no figure. So that if it be a cōmaundemēt, that forbiddeth any euel or wicked act, or commaundeth any good or beneficiall thing, than it is no figure. But if it commaūd any yll or wicked thinge or forbid any thing that is good and beneficiall, than is it a figuratiue speache. Nowe this saying of Christ