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…

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 ⟨p. 282⟩matter, sith we have both the plain & manifest words of the scripture, and also the consent of the most learned & ancient writers to commend the prayers of the congregation in a known tongue. First, Paul to the Corinthians saith: ¹Let all things be done to edifying. Which can not be, unless common prayers & administration of sacraments be in a tongue known to the people. For where the prayers spoken by the minister, and the words in the administration of the sacraments, be not understanded of them that be present, they can not thereby be edified. For as when the trumpet that is blown in the field giveth an uncertain sound, no man is thereby stirred up to prepare him self to the fight: And as when an instrument of music maketh no distinct sound, no man can tell what is piped: