A19571:81
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 although Christ in his humane nature substantially, really, corporally, naturally and sensibly, be present with his father in heaven, yet sacramentally and spiritually he is here present in water bread and wine, as in signs and sacraments, but he is in deed spiritually in the faithful christian people, which according to Christs ordinance be baptised, or receive the ⟨p. 17⟩holy communion, or unfeignedly believe in him. Thus have you hard the second principal article, wherein the Papists vary from the truth of God's word, and from the catholic faith.
And although Christ in his humayne nature substantially, really, corporally, naturally and sensibly, be present with his father in heauē, yet sacramentally and spiritually he is here present in water bread and wyne, as in signes and sacramentes, but he is in deede spiritually in the faythfull christian people, whiche accordyng to Christes ordinaunce be baptised, or receyue the ⟨p. 17⟩holye communion, or vnfainedly beleue in him. Thus haue you hard the seconde pryncipal article, wherin the Papistes vary from the truthe of Goddes worde, and from the catholike faith.
Now the third thing, wherein they vary, is this.
Nowe the thyrde thynge, wherin they varye, is this.
The Papists say,1 that evil and ungodly men receive in this sacrament the very body and blood of Christ, and eat and drink the self same thing, that the good and godly men do. But the truth of Gods word is contrary, that all those that be godly members of Christ, as they corporally eat the bread and drink the wine, so spiritually they eat and drink Christs very flesh and blood. And as for the wicked members of the devil, they eat the sacramental bread, and drink the sacramental wine, but they do not spiritually eat Christs flesh nor drink his blood, but they eat and drink their own damnation.