A19571:78
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.
But it is not the doctrine of Christ, but the subtle Inuension of Antichrist,1 first decreed by Innocent the third, and after more at large set ⟨image 20⟩forth by school authors, whose study was ever to defend and set abroad to the world all such matters, as the bishop of Rome had once decreed. And the devil by his minister Antichrist, had so dazzled the eyes of a great multitude of christen people in these latter days, that they sought not for their faith, at the clear light of Gods word, but at the Romish Antichrist, believing whatsoever he prescribed unto them, yea though it were against all reason, all senses, and Gods most holy word also. For else he could not have been very Antichrist in deed, except he had been so repugnant unto Christ, whose doctrine is clean contrary to this doctrine of Antichrist. For Christ teacheth, that we receive very bread and wine in the most blessed supper of the Lord as sacraments to admonish us, that as we be fed with bread & wine bodily, so we be fed with the body and blood of our saviour Christ spiritually. As in our baptism we receive very water, to signify unto us, that as water is an element to wash the body outwardly, so be our souls washed by the holy ghost inwardly.
But it is not the doctrine of Christe, but the subtill Inuension of Antechrist,1 fyrst decreed by Innocent the thyrd, and after more at large set ⟨image 20⟩furth by schole authors, whose studye was euer to defende and set abrode to the worlde all suche matters, as ye byshop of Rome had once decreed. And the deuil by his minister Antichrist, had so daseled the eyes of a great multitude of christen people in these latter dayes, that they sought not for their fayth, at the cleare light of Gods worde, but at the Romishe Antichrist, beleuyng whatsoeuer he prescribed vnto thē, yea though it were against all reason, all senses, and Gods most holy worde also. For els he could not haue been very Antichrist in dede, except he had been so repugnaunt vnto Christe, whose doctrine is cleane contrary to this doctrine of Antichrist. For Christ teacheth, that we receiue very bread and wyne in the most blessed supper of the Lord as sacramentes to admonishe vs, that as we be fedde with bread & wyne bodely, so wee be fedde with the body and bloud of our sauiour Christ spiritually. As in our baptisme we receiue very water, to signifye vnto vs, that as water is an element to washe the body outwardly, so be our soules washed by the holy ghost inwardly.