A19571:61
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.
Sixthly,1 it is to be noted, that as the bread and wine which we do eat,2 be turned into our ⟨image 16⟩flesh and blood, and be made our very flesh and very blood, and be so joined and mixed with our flesh & blood, that they be made one whole body together, even so be all faithful christians, spiritually turned into the body of Christ, and be so joined unto Christ, & also together among themselves, that they do make but one mystical body of Christ,3 as saint Paul saith: We be one bread and one body, as many as be partakers of one bread and one cup. 4And as one loaf is given among many men, so that every one is partaker of the same loaf: and likewise one cup of wine is distributed unto many persons, whereof every one is partaker, even so our saviour Christ (whose flesh and blood be represented by the mystical bread and wine in the lords supper) doeth give him self unto all his true members, spiritually to feed them, nourish them, and to give them continual life by him. And as the branches of a tree, or member of a body, if they be dead or cut of, they neither live, nor receive any nourishment or sustenance of the body or tree, so likewise ungodly & wicked people, (which be cut of from Christs mystical body, or be dead members of the same) do not spiritually feed upon Christs body & blood, nor have any life, strength or sustentation thereby.
Sixtely,1 it is to bee noted, that as the breade and wyne whiche we do eate,2