A19571:539
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.
Wherefore they that gather of him, either the natural presence of Christs body in the sacraments of bread and wine, or the adoration of the outward and visible sacrament, or that after the consecration there remaineth no bread nor wine nor other substance but only the substance of the body and blood of Christ: either they understand not Damascene, or else of wilful frowardness they will not understand him: which rather seemeth to be true, by such collections as they have unjustly gathered & noted out of him.
Wherfore they that gather of hym, either the natural presence of Christes body in the sacramētes of bread and wyne, or the adoration of the outward and visible sacrament, or that after the cōsecracion there remayneth no bread nor wyne nor other substaunce but onely the substaunce of the body and bloude of Christe: eyther they vnderstand not Damascen, or els of wilful frowardnes they wyll not vnderstande hym: whyche rather seemeth to bee true, by suche collections as they haue vniustly gathered & noted out of him.
For although he say, that Christ is the spiritual meat, yet as in baptism the holy ghost is not in the water, but in him that is unfeignedly baptised: so Damascene meant not that Christ is in the bread, but in him that worthily eateth the bred.
For although he say, that Christe is the spirituall meate, yet as in baptisme the holy ghost is not in the water, but in hym that is vnfaynedly baptised: so Damascene ment not yt Christ is in the bread, but in hym yt worthily eateth the bred.
And though he say that the bread is Christs body, and the wine his blood, yet he meant not that the bread considered in it self, or the wine in it self, being not received, is his flesh and blood: but to such as by unfeigned faith worthily receive the bread and wine, to such the bread and wine, are called by Damascene the body and blood of Christ, because that such persons, through the working of the holy ghost, be so knit and united spiritually to Christs flesh and blood, and to his divinity also, that