A19571:465
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.
Furthermore they do allege Tertullian,1 that he constantly affirmeth, that in the sacrament of the altar we do eat the body and drink the blood of our saviour Christ. To whom we grant that our flesh eateth and drinketh the bread and wine, which be called the body and blood of Christ, because (as Tertullian saith) they do represent his body and blood, although they be not really the same in very deed. And we grant also, that our souls by faith do eat his very body and drink his blood, but that is spiritually, sucking out of the same everlasting life. But we deny that unto this spiritual feeding is required any real and corporal presence.
Furthermore they do alleage Tertulian,1 that hee constantly affirmeth, that in the sacramente of the altare we do eate the body and drinke the blud of our sauiour Christ. To whō we graunte that our flesh eateth and drinketh the bread and wyne, whiche be called the bodye and bloude of Christ, bicause (as Tertulian saith) they do represent his body and bloude, although they bee not really the same in very deed. And we graunt also, that oure soules by faith do eate his verye body and drinke his bludde, but that is spiritually, suckinge out of the same euerlastinge lyfe. But we deny that vnto this spirituall feedinge is required any reall and corporall presence.
- 1The answer to Tertullanus de resure• ctione carnis.The aunswere to Tertullanus de resure• ctiōe carnis.
And therefore this Tertullian speaketh nothing against the truth of our catholic doctrine, but he speaketh many things most plainly for us, and against the Papists, and specially in three points. First in that he saith that Christ called bread his body. The second that Christ called it so, because it representeth his body. The third, in that he saith, that by these words of Christ, This is my body, is meant, This is a figure of my body.