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…

Thus are we taught both by the scriptures and ancient doctors, that in the administration of Common prayer and Sacraments, no tongue unknown to the hearers ought to be used. So that for the satisfying of a Christian mans conscience we need to spend no more time in this matter. But yet to stop the mouths of the adversaries, which stay them selves much upon general decrees, it shall be good to add to these testimonies of scriptures and doctors, one constitution made by Justinian the Emperor, who lived five hundred and twenty and seven years after Christ, and was Emperor of Rome. The constitution is this. We command that ¹all Bishops and Priests do celebrate the holy oblation, and the prayers used in holy Baptism, not speaking low, but with a clear or ⟨p. 289⟩loud voice, which may be heard of the people, that thereby the mind of the hearers may be stirred up with great devotion in uttering the prayers of the Lord God, for so the holy Apostle teacheth in his first Epistle to the Corinthians, saying: Truly, if thou only bless or give thanks in spirit, how doth he which occupieth the place of the unlearned, say Amen at thy giving of thanks unto God, for he understandeth not what thou sayest? Thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. And again in the Epistle to the Romans, he saith: With the heart a man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Therefore for these causes it is convenient that among other prayers those things also which are spoken in the holy oblation, be uttered and spoken of the most religious bishops and priests, unto our Lord Jesus Christ our God, with the father and the holy ghost, with a loud voice. And let the most religious priests know this, that if they neglect any of these things, that they shall give an account for them in the dreadful judgement of the great God and our saviour Jesus Christ: Neither will we when we know it, rest and leave it unrevenged.

Thus are we taught both by the scriptures and auncient doctours, that in the administration of Common prayer and Sacramentes, no tongue vnknowen to the hearers ought to be vsed. So that for the satisfying of a Christian mans conscience we nede to spend no more tyme in this matter. But yet to stoppe the mouthes of the aduersaries, whiche stay them selues muche vpon generall decrees, it shalbe good to adde to these testimonies of scriptures and doctors, one constitution made by Iustinian the Emperour, who liued fiue hundred and twentie and seuen yeres after Christe, and was Emperor of Rome. The constitution is this. We commaunde that