The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

And although there are retained by the order of the church of England, besides these two, certain other Rites and Ceremonies about the institution of ministers in the Church, Matrimony, Confirmation of children, by examining them of their knowledge in the articles of the faith, & joining there to the prayers of the Church for them, and like wise for the visitation of the sick: yet no man ought to take these for sacraments in such signification & meaning, as the sacrament of Baptism and the Lords Supper are: but either for godly states of life, necessary in Christs church, and therefore worthy to be set forth by public action and solemnity by the ministry of the Church, or else judged to be such ordinances, as may make for the instruction, comfort, and edification of Christs Church.

And although there are reteined by thorder of ye church of England, besides these two, certayne other Rites and Ceremonies about the institution of ministers in the Churche, Matrimonie, Confirmation of children, by examining them of theyr knowledge in the articles of the faith, & ioynyng there to the prayers of the Church for them, and like wise for the visitation of the sicke: yet no man ought to take these for sacramentes in suche signification & meaning, as the sacrament of Baptisme and the Lordes Supper are: but eyther for godly states of life, necessarie in Christes church, and therfore worthy to be set foorth by publique action and solempnitie by the ministerie of the Church, or els iudged to be such ordinaunces, as may make for the instruction, comfort, and edification of Christes Churche.

Now, understanding sufficiently what prayer ⟨p. 281⟩is, and what a sacrament is also, and how many sorts of prayers there be, and how many sacraments of our saviour Christs institution: let us see whether the scriptures and the examples of the primitive Church will allow any vocal prayer, that is, when the mouth uttereth the petitions with voice, or any manner of sacrament, or other public & common rite or action, pertaining to the profit and edifying of the poor congregation, to be ministered in a tongue unknown or not understand of the Minister or people: yea, and whether any person may privately use any vocal prayer, in a language that he him self understandeth not. To this question we must answer, no. And first of Common prayer and administration of Sacraments. Although reason, if it might rule, would soon persuade us to have our common prayer & administration of sacraments in a known tongue, both for that to pray commonly, is for a multitude to ask one & the self thing with one voice and one consent of mind, and to administer a sacrament, is by the out ward word and element, to preach to the receiver the inward & invisible grace of God, & also for that both these exercises were first instituted, and are still continued, to the end that the congregation of Christ might from time to time be put in remembrance of their unity in Christ, and that as members all of one body, they ought both in prayers & otherwise to seek and desire one another's commodity, and not their own without others: Yet shall we not need to flee to reasons proofs in this