A19571:530
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.
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.
The sum of Damascene his doctrine in this matter is this. That as Christ beyng both God & man hath in him two natures, so hath he twoo natiuitees, one eternal, & thother temporall. And so lykewise we (beyng as it were double men, or hauyng euery one of vs two men in vs, the new man & the old man, the spirituall man & the carnall man) haue a double natiuitee: One of oure first carnall father Adam (by whom as by ancient inheritance cometh vnto vs malediction and euerlastyng damnation) & the other of our heauenly Adam, that is to saye, of Christ, by whom we be made heires of celestiall benediction, and euerlastyng glory and immortalitee.
And because this Adam is spiritual, therefore our generation by him must be spiritual, & our feeding must be likewise spiritual. And our spiritual generation by him is plainly set forth in baptism, and our spiritual meat and food ⟨p. 76⟩is set forth in the holy Communion & supper of the Lord. And because our sights be so feeble that we cannot see the spiritual water wherewith we be washed in baptism, nor the spiritual meat wherewith we be fed at the Lords table, therefore to help our infirmities, and to make us the better to see the same with a pure faith, our saviour Christ hath set forth the same, as it were before our eyes, by sensible signs and tokens, which we be daily used and accustomed unto.
And bycause this Adam is spirituall, therefore our generation by hym muste be spirituall, & our feedyng muste bee lykewise spirituall. And our spirituall generation by hym is playnly set forth in baptisme, and our spirituall meate and foode