A19571:561
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.
First Origen writeth plainly after this manner. The word was made flesh and very meat,1 which whoso eateth, shall surely live for ever, which no evil man can eat. For if it could be, that he that continueth evil, might eat the word made flesh, seeing that he is the word & bread of life, it should not have been written: Whosoever eateth this bread shall live for ever. These words be so plain, that I need say nothing for the more clear declaration of them. Wherefore you shall hear how Cyprian agreeth with him.
Fyrst Origen writeth plainly after this maner. The worde was made fleshe and very meat,1 whiche whoso eateth, shall surely liue for euer, whiche no euil man can eate. For if it could be, that he that contynueth euil, might eate the woorde made fleshe, seyng that he is the woorde & bread of life, it should not haue been written: Whosoeuer eateth this bread shall liue for euer. These wordes be so plaine, that I nede say nothyng for the more cleare declaracion of them. Wherfore you shal heare howe Cyprian agreeth with him.
- 1Origenes in Math▪ ca. 15.
1Cyprian in his sermon ascribed unto him of the Lords supper, saith: The author of this tradition said, that except we eat his flesh and drink his blood, we should have no life in us, instructing us with a spiritual lesson, and opening to us a way to understand so privy a thing, that we should know, that the eating is our dwelling in him, and our drinking is as it were an incorporation in him, being subject unto him in obedience, joined unto him in our wills, and united in our affections. The eating therefore of this flesh, is a certain hunger and desire to dwell in him.