A19571:627
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.
It is the spirit that giveth life, but the flesh profiteth nothing. The words which I have spoken unto you, be spirit and life. That which I have spoken, understand you spiritually. You shall not eat this body, which you see, and drink that blood which they shall shed, that shall crucify me. ⟨p. 103⟩I have commended unto you a sacrament, understand it spiritually, and it shall give you life. And although it must be visibly ministered, yet it must be invisibly understand.
It is the spirite that geueth lyfe, but the fleshe profiteth nothynge. The wordes whiche I haue spoken vnto you, be spirite and lyfe. That whiche I haue spoken, vnderstande you spiritually. You shall not eate this body, which you se, and drynke that blud whyche they shall shedde, that shall crucifie me. ⟨p. 103⟩I haue commended vnto you a sacramente, vnderstande it spiritually, and it shall geue you lyfe. And although it must bee visibly minystred, yet it muste be inuisibly vnderstande.
These words of saint Augustine with the other before recited, do express his mind plainly, that Christ is not otherwise to be eaten than spiritually, (which spiritual eating requireth no corporal presence) and that he intended not to teach here any adoration, either of the visible sacraments, or of any thing that is corporally in them. For in deed there is nothing really and corporally in the bread to be worshipped, although the Papists say, that Christ is in every consecrated bread
These wordes of sayncte Augustine with the other before recited, do expresse his mynd playnlye, that Christe is not otherwyse to bee eaten than spiritually, (whyche spirituall eatynge requyreth no corporall presence) and that he intended not to teache heere any adoration, eyther of the visible sacramentes, or of any thyng that is corporally in them. For in dede there is nothyng really and corporally in the bread to be worshipped, although the Papistes say, that Christe is in euery consecrated breade