A19571:529
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 moreover, the said Damascene was one of the bishop of Romes chief proctors against the Emperors, and as it were his right ⟨image 93⟩hand, to set abroad all idolatry by his own handwriting. And therefore if he lost his hand (as they say he did) he lost it by God's most righteous judgement, what soever they feign and fable of the miraculous restitution of the same. And yet what so ever the said Damascene writeth in other matters, surely in this place which the adversaries do allege, he writeth spiritually and godly, although the Papists either of ignorance mistake him, or else willingly wrest him and writhe him to their purpose, clean contrary to his meaning.
And moreouer, the sayde Damascene was one of the byshoppe of Romes chiefe proctoures against the Emperours, and as it were his ryght ⟨image 93⟩hande, to set abroade all ydolatrye by his owne handewrytynge. And therefore yf he loste his hande (as they saye he dyd) he lost it by Goddes moste righteous iudgemente, what soeuer they faine and fable of the miraculous restitution of the same. And yet what so euer the sayd Damascene writeth in other mattiers, surely in this place wiche the aduersaries doo alledge, he writeth spiritually and godly, although the Papistes either of ignorance mystake hym, or els willyngly wraste him and writhe hym to their purpose, cleane contrary to his meanynge.
The sum of Damascene his doctrine in this matter is this. That as Christ being both God & man hath in him two natures, so hath he two nativities, one eternal, & the other temporal. And so likewise we (being as it were double men, or having every one of us two men in us, the new man & the old man, the spiritual man & the carnal man) have a double nativity: One of our first carnal father Adam (by whom as by ancient inheritance cometh unto us malediction and everlasting damnation) & the other of our heavenly Adam, that is to say, of Christ, by whom we be made heirs of celestial benediction, and everlasting glory and immortality.