A19571:564
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 Athanasius speaking of the eating of Christs flesh and drinking of his blood,1 saith that for this cause he made mention of his ascension into heaven, to pluck them from corporal fantasy, that they might learn hereafter, that his flesh was called the celestial meat that came from above, and a spiritual food which he would give. For those things that I speak to you (saith he) be spirit and life. Which is as much to say, as that thing which you see, shall be slain, & given for the nourishment of the world, that it may be distributed to every body spiritually and be to all men a conservation unto the resurrection of eternal life.
And Athanasius speakinge of the eatinge of Christes fleshe and drinking of his bloud,1 sayth that for this cause he made mention of his ascē cion into heauen, to plucke them from corporall phantasie, that thei might learne hereafter, that his fleshe was called the celestiall meate that came from aboue, and a spirituall foode which he would geue. For those thinges that I speake to you (saithe he) be spirite and life. Whiche is as muche to say, as that thinge which you see, shalbe slayne, & gyuen for the norishment of the worlde, that it maye bee distributed to euerye body spiritually and be to all men a conseruacion vnto the resurrection of eternall lyfe.
- 1Athanasius de peccato in spiritum sanctum.
In these words Athanasius declareth the cause why Christ made mention of his ascension into heaven, when he spake of the eating and drinking of his flesh and blood. The cause after Athanasius mind was this, that his hearers should not think of any carnal eating of his body with their mouths (for as concerning the presence of his body, he should be taken from them, and ascend into heaven, but that they should understand him to be a spiritual meat, and spiritually to be eaten, and by that refreshing to give eternal life, which he doth to none, but to such as be his lively members.