A68658:60
A brief declaration of the Lords Supper, writtenA brief declaracion of the Lordes Supper, written
A brief declaration of the Lords Supper, written by the singular learned man, and most constant martyr of Jesus Christ, Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London prisoner in Oxford, a little before he suffered death for the true testimony of ChristA brief declaracion of the Lordes Supper, written by the syngular learned man, and most constaunt martir of Iesus Christ, Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London prisoner in Oxforde, a litel before he suffred deathe for the true testimonie of Christ
Emden: printed by E. van der Erve, 1555
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
These be the words of Chrysostom. But I trow that here many foul shifts are devised, to defeat this place. The author (sayeth one) is suspected. I answer. But in this place never fault was found with him, unto these our days. And whether this author was John Chrysostom him self the Archbishop of Constantinople, or no: that is not the matter. For of all it is granted, that he was a writer of that age, and a man of great learning: so that it is manifest, that this which he writeth, was the received opinion of learned men in his days.
These be the wordes of Chrisostome. But I trowe that here many fowle shiftes are deuised, to defeate this place. The autor (sayeth one) is suspected. I answer. But in this place neuer fault was foūde with hym, vnto these our dayes. And whether this autor was Iohn̄ Chrisostome him self the Archebishop of Constantinopole, or no: that is not the mater. For of all it is graunted, that he was a writour of that age, and a man of great learnyng: so that it is manifest, that this which he wryteth, was the receaued opiniō of learned men in his dayes.
Or else undoubtedly in such a matter, his saying should have ben impugned of some that wrote in his time,1 or near unto the same. Nay (sayeth an other) if this solution will not serve, we may say, that Chrysostom did not speak of the vessels of the Lords cup, or such as were than used at the Lords table, but of the vessels used in the temple in the old law. This answer will serve no more than the other. For here Chrysostom speaketh of such vessels, wherein was the which was called the body of Christ, although it was not the true body (sayeth he) of Christ, but the mystery of Christs body. Now of the vessels of the old law, the writers do use no such manner of phrase: for their sacrifices were not called Christs body. For than Christ was not but in shadows and figures, and not by the Sacrament of his body revealed. Erasmus which was a man that could understand the words and sense of the writer, although he would not be seen to speak against this error of transubstantiation, because he durst not: yet in his time declareth plainly that this saying of this writer is