THE ARCHBISHOP'S LETTER TO PROCURE WOLF, THE PRINTER, A LICENSE TO PUBLISH HIS BOOK. AFTER my very hearty commendations. These be to Sir W. H[icke's] signify unto you, that Rayner Wolf, at my desire, hath MSS. fully finished the printing of my book, for answer to the late bishop of Winchester's, written against mine of the doctrine of the Sacrament. And forasmuch as both printing and selling of any matters in the English tongue is prohibited by a proclamation set forth, unless the same matter be first allowed by the king's majesty, or six of his majesty's privy-council, as you shall more plainly perceive by the proclamation, which herewith I send unto you; therefore I heartily pray you to be a suitor to the king's majesty, or to the privy-council, that Mr. Rayner may have license for the printing and selling of my said book accordingly; and the same so obtained to send me with convenient speed. For in the beginning of the term I think it were very necessary to be set forth, for the contentation of many which have had long expectation of the same. As soon as I shall receive advertisement when the king's majesty will be at Hampton Court, I will come thither to see his grace, and do my duty towards the same. Thus fare ye heartily well. From my manor at Croydon, the xxixth of September, 1551. Your loving friend, T. CANT. To my very loving friends, Mr. Cecyl, one of the king's majesty's two principal secretaries; or to Mr. Cheke. Foxii MSS.d NUMBER LXIII. ARTICLES WHEREUNTO WILLIAM PHELPS, PASTOR AND CURATE FIRST, that the holy word of God doth acknowledge, confess, maintain, avouch, hold, and defend, that in the holy sacrament and communion of Christ's precious body and blood, the very substance, matter, nature, and con157 dition of bread and wine to remain after the words, (as they be commonly called), of consecration, as verily and truly as they were in substance and matter bread and wine before: although that the use of the bread and wine in the sacrament be changed. For whereas before it was common bread and common wine, now by the virtue of God's word it is made the sacrament of the precious body and blood of Christ, and a seal, confirmation, and augmentation of God's mercy and gracious promise to all men that receive it in the faith of Christ Jesus, with hatred of sin, and intent, purpose, and mind, to live always a virtuous life. And that is the very transubstantiation and change, that God delighteth in, in the use of the sacraments, most, that we should earnestly and from the bottom of our hearts, be converted into Christ, and Christ's holy commandments, to live a Christian life, and to die from sin, as he gave us example, both by his life and doctrine; and meaneth not, that the bread and wine should in substance be turned or d [Harl. MSS. 425. Plut. lxv. E. fol. 71; British Museum. Original.] converted into the substance of his body and blood, or else that the substance of the bread should be taken away, and in the place thereof to be the substance, matter, and corporal presence of Christ's corporal, holy, human, and natural body. Item, That the same holy word of God doth confess, hold, defend, acknowledge, and maintain, that the very natural, substantial, real, and corporal body of Christ, concerning his humanity, is only and solely in heaven, and not in the sacrament and communion of his precious body and blood. But whosoever worthily, with true repentance, and lively faith in the promise of God, receiveth that holy sacrament, receiveth sacramentally by faith all the mercies, riches, merits, and deservings that Christ hath deserved and paid for in his holy blood and passion. And that is to eat Christ and to drink Christ in the holy sacrament, to confirm and seal sacramentally in our souls God's promises of eternal salvation: that Christ deserved for us, not in nor by his body eaten, but by and for his body slain and killed upon the cross for our sins: as St. Paul saith, Col. i., Eph. i. 3, Heb. ii. 7, 8, 9, 10. : As for the eating of his flesh, and drinking of his blood, really, corporally, materially, or substantially, it is but a carnal and gross opinion of man, besides and contrary to the word of God, and the articles of our faith, and Christian religion that affirmeth his corporal departure from the earth, placeth it in heaven above at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, and keepeth, retaineth, holdeth, and preserveth the same corporal body of Christ there, till the general day of judgment, as the word declareth: "From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead." And that heretofore I have been in the contrary opinion, and believed myself, and also have taught other to believe the same, that there remained no substance of bread and wine in the sacrament, but the very selfsame body and blood of Christ Jesus, that was born of the blessed Virgin Mary, and hanged upon the cross, I am with all my heart sorry for mine error, and false opinion, detesting and forsaking the same from the bottom of my heart, and desire God most heartily, in and for the merits of his dear Son's passion, to forgive me, and all them that have erred in the false opinion by and through my means, praying them in the tender compassion and great mercies of God 158 now to follow me in truth, verity, and singleness of God's most true word, as they were contented to follow me in error, superstition, and blindness, and be no more ashamed to return to the truth, than they were ready to be corrupted by falsehood. If the holy apostle St. Paul, and the great clerk St. Augustine, with many more noble and virtuous members of Christ's church, were not ashamed to return, acknowledge, and confess their error and evil opinions; what am I, miserable creature of the world, inferior unto them both in knowledge, holiness, and learning, that should be ashamed to do the same? Nay, I do in this part thank and rejoice from the bottom of my heart, that God hath revealed unto me the truth of his word, and given me leave to live so long to acknowledge my fault and error: and do here before you protest, that from henceforth I will, with all diligence, study, and labour, study to set forth this mine amended knowledge and reconciled truth as long as I live, by the help of God in the Holy Ghost, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate, to whom be all honour for ever and ever. Amen. Subscribed and confirmed 29 of April, 1551, in the presence of John, bishop of Gloucester, and divers others there present. MSS. AFTER my very humble recommendations unto your Sir W. good lordships. I have sent unto the same the book of Hicke's] articles, which yesterday I received from your lordships. I have sent also a schedule inclosed, declaring briefly my mind upon the said book: beseeching your lordships to be means unto the king's majesty, that all the bishops may have authority from him to cause all their preachers, archdeacons, deans, prebendaries, parsons, vicars, curates, with all their clergy, to subscribe to the said articles. And then I trust that such a concord and quietness in religion shall shortly follow thereof, as else is not to be looked for many years. God shall thereby be glorified, his truth shall be advanced, and your lordships shall be rewarded of him, as the setters forward of his true word and gospel. Unto whom is my daily prayer, without ceasing, to preserve the king's majesty, with all your honourable lordships. From my house at Ford, the 24 of this present month of November. [1552.] Your lordships' ever to command, To my very good lords of the king's majesty's most honourable council. T. CANT. |