A19571:575
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 S. Augustine,1 most plainly resolveth this matter in his book De civitate Dei, disputing against two kinds of heretics: Whereof the one said, that as many as were christened, and received the sacrament of Christs body and blood, should be saved, how so ever they lived or believed, because that Christ said: This is the bread that came from heaven, that whosoever shall eat thereof, shall not dye. I am the bread of life, which came from heaven, whosoever shall eat of this bread shall live for ever.
And moreouer S. Augustine,1 most plainly resolueth this matter in his booke De ciuitate Dei, disputīg agaīst two kinds of heretiques: Wherof the one said, that as many as were christened, and receaued the sacrament of Christs body and bludde, shuld be saued, howe so euer thei liued or beleued, bicause that Christe saide: This is the breade that came frō heauē, that whosoeuer shal eate thereof, shall not dye. I am the bread of life, which came from heauen, whosoeuer shall eate of this breade shall lyue for euer.
- 1De Civitate Dei lib. 21. capite. 25De Ciuitate Dei lib. 21. capite. 25
Therefore (said these heretics) all such men must needs be delivered from eternal death, ⟨image 100⟩and at length to be brought to eternal life. The other said, that heretics and schismatics might eat the sacrament of Christs body, but not his very body, because they be no members of his body. And therefore they promised not everlasting life, to all that received Christs baptism, and the sacrament of his body, but all such as professed a true faith, although they lived never so ungodly. For such (said they) do eat the body of Christ, not only in a sacrament, but also in deed, because they be members of Christs body.