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. It is the spirit that giveth life, the flesh profiteth nothing. John vi. [THIS work is printed from a copy of 1550: but a few corrections, references, and marginal notes, have been taken from later editions, particularly from that of 1580, which is said to have had the benefit of the Archbishop's last revision. Some supplementary authorities also have been added, which were collected by Cranmer during his imprisonment, but were not published till after his death; when they were inserted in a Latin translation of the Defence printed at Embden in 1557, under the direction, as it is supposed, of Sir John Cheke. These form the notes marked EMBD. For reasons which he has given near the end of his Answer to Gardyner, Cranmer usually translates his citations. But it is very desirable, particularly as the disputants not unfrequently accuse each other of corrupting the ancient writers, to have ready access to the originals. On this account the most material authorities alleged on either side have been extracted at length from the best modern editions. As it often happens that the same passage is quoted in several different places, it has been thought best, for avoiding repetition and facilitating reference, to throw all the citations together: and the whole therefore have been inserted in the Appendix, arranged according to the dates of their respective authors.] THIS BOOK IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE PARTS. The first is of the true and catholic doctrine and use of the sacrament of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ The second is against the error of transubstantiation The third teacheth the manner how Christ is present in his holy Supper The fourth is of the eating and drinking of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ The fifth book is of the oblation and sacrifice of our PAGE. 291 313 425 447 293 295 The eating of the sacrament of his body The sacrament which was ordained to make love and concord, is turned into the occasion of variance and discord The spiritual hunger and thirstiness of the soul The spiritual food of the soul Christ far excelleth all corporal food Wherefore this sacrament was ordained in bread and wine The sacraments were ordained to confirm our faith The unity of Christ's mystical body This sacrament moveth all men to love and friendship 296 ibid. 297 298 300 301 302 304 The spiritual eating is with the heart, not with the teeth ibid. 308 blood of Christ The first is of transubstantiation The second is of the presence of Christ in this sacrament The fourth is of the daily sacrifice of Christ |