A19571:9
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.
For he that taketh upon him, to supply that thing which he pretendeth to be unperfect in Christ, must needs make him self above Christ, and so very Antichrist. For what is this else, but to be against Christ, & to bring him in contempt? as one y• either for lack of charity would not, or for lack of power he could not, with all his bloudsheadyng and death, clearly deliver his faithful, and give them full remission of their ⟨image 3⟩since, but that the full perfection thereof must be had at the hands of Antichrist of Rome & his ministers? What man of knowledge & zeal to Gods honour, can with dry eyes see this injury to Christ, and look upon the state of religion brought in by the Papists, perceiving the true sense of Gods word subverted by false glosses of mans devising, the true christian religion turned into certain hypocritical & superstitious sects, y• people praying with their mouths & hearing with their ears they wist not what, & so ignorant in Gods word, that they could not discern hypocrisy & superstition from true & sincere religion? This was of late years the face of religion with in this realm of England, & yet remaineth in divers realms. But thanks be to almighty God & to the kings majesty, with his father, a prince of most famous memory, the superstitious sects of Monks & Fryers (that were in this Realm) be clean taken away, the scripture is restored unto the proper & true understanding, the people may daily read & hear Gods heavenly word, & pray in their own language which they understand, so that their hearts & mouths may go together, and be none of those people of whom Christ complained,1 saying: These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts be far from me. Thanks be to God many corrupt weeds be plucked up, which were wont to rot the flock of Christ, and to let the growing of the Lords harvest.
For he that taketh vpō him, to supply that thyng whiche he pretendeth to bee vnperfite in Christ, must nedes make him selfe aboue Christ, and so very Antichrist. For what is this els, but to be against Christ, & to bryng him in cōtempt? as one y• either for lacke of charitee would not, or for lacke of power he could not, with all his bloudsheadyng and death, clearely deliuer his faythfull, and geue them full remission of their