Writings and Disputations of Thomas Cranmer Relative to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1844 edition. Excerpt: ...disputing and alteration to hinder tlie truth. Finally, all that this author rehearseth of absurdity, repugneth in his estimation only to the conclusion of philosophy, which should nothing move tlte humble simplicity of faith in a christian man, who marvelleth at God's works and reputeth them true, although he cannot comprehend the ways and means of tltem. CANTERBURY. Here in the beginning of this chapter, it is a strange thing to me that you should think strangeness in my saying, that natural reason and operation joined to God's word should be of great moment to confirm any truth: not that they add any authority to God's word, but that they help our infirmity; as the sacraments do to God's promises, which promises in themselves be most certain and true. For did not the eating and drinking of Christ, his labouring and sweating, his agony and pangs of death, confirm the true faith of his incarnation? And did not his eating with the apostles confirm and stablish their faith of his resurrection? Did not the sight of Christ and feeling of his wounds induce Thomas to believe that Christ was risen, when neither the report of the devout woman, nor yet of the apostles which did see him, could cause him to believe Christ's resurrection? And when they took our Saviour Christ for a spirit, did not he cause them by their sight and feeling of his flesh and bones to believe that he was very man, and no spirit, as they phantasied? Which sensible proofs were so far from derogation of faith, that they were a sure establishment thereof. Wherefore if your understanding cannot reach this doctrine, it is indeed very slender in godly things. And as for my reason of vacuum, you have not yet answered thereto, for nature suffcreth not any place to be without some...