We confess, that in old times, the Scriptures were translated into the Vulgar tongue, and that S. Hierome turned them into the Sclavon tongue. Neither ever wist I any man, that made doubt hereof, but M. Harding. But being granted (saith he) that S. Hierome so translated the Scriptures, yet that proveth not, that the Service was then in the Vulgar Tongue. Good sir: much less it proveth, that the Service was then among the Sclavons in the Latin Tongue. He saith further, That labour may be thought, to have served to an other purpose. But to what other purpose, he showeth not. Surely what so ever is thought hereof by M. Harding, M. Eckius1 one of his own Doctors, confesseth that the same S. Hierome, that Translated the Scriptures into the Sclavon tongue, procured also that the Common Service there should be said in the Sclavon tongue. And it may well be thought, his Translation could serve to no better purpose. I grant, S. Chrysostom,2 and Origene, in their Sermons exhort the people to read the Scriptures in their houses at home: which purpose also no doubts, was very godly. But such Private reading at home, excludeth not the open reading in the Church. Chrysostom saith, It was the readers duty openly in the Church to pronounce the Scriptures. And S. Augustine saith unto the people, The Apostle 3S. Paul witnesseth, that this Psalm which ye have heard, pertaineth to that Grace of God, whereby we are made Christians: therefore I have caused the same Lesson to be read unto you. I think, M. Harding will grant, that these Lessons, that S. Chrysostom, and S. Augustine4 speaketh of, were uttered in such a tongue, as the people might understand. For else Origene saith,5 Alioqui non fuisset necessarium, legi haec in Ecclesia, nisi ex his aedificatio aliqua audientibus praeberetur. Otherwise it had not been necessary for these things to be read in the Church, onlesse some profit might come thereof unto the hearers.
Wee confesse, that in olde times, the Scriptures were translated into the Vulgare tongue, and that S. Hierome tourned them into the Sclauon tongue. Neither euer wist I any man, that made doubte hereof, but M. Hardinge. But beinge graunted (saith he) that S. Hierome so translated the Scriptures, yet that prooueth not, that the Seruice was then in the Vulgare Tongue. Good sir: muche lesse it prooueth, that the Seruice was then amonge the Sclauons in the Latine Tongue. He saith further, That labour may be thought, to haue serued to an other purpose. But to what other purpose, he sheweth not. Surely what so euer is thought hereof by M. Hardinge, M. Eckius1 one of his owne Doctours, confesseth that the same S. Hierome, that Translated the Scriptures into the Sclauon tongue, procured also that the Common Seruice there should be saide in the Sclauon tongue. And it may wel be thought, his Translation coulde serue to no better purpose. I graunte, S. Chrysostome,2 and Origene, in their Sermons exhorte the people to reade the Scriptures in their houses at home: which purpose also no doubtes, was very godly. But suche Priuate readinge at home, excludeth not the open readinge in the Churche. Chrysostome saith, It was the readers dewtie openly in the Church to pronounce the Scriptures. And S. Augustine saith vnto the people, The Apostle 3S. Paule witnesseth, that this Psalme whiche ye haue hearde, perteineth to that Grace of God, whereby wee are made Christians: therefore I haue caused the same Lesson to be redde vnto you. I thinke, M. Hardinge wil graunte, that these Lessons, that S. Chrysostome, and S. Augustine4 speaketh of, were vttred in suche a tongue, as the people might vnderstande. For els Origene saith,5 Alioqui non fuisset necessarium, legi haec in Ecclesia, nisi ex his aedificatio aliqua audientibus praeberetur. Otherwise it had not beene necessarie for these thinges to be redde in the Church, onlesse some profit might come thereof vnto the hearers.
- 1Eckius de Missa Latinè dicenda.
- 2Chryso. in Matt. hom. 2. & in Genes. hom. 28. Origen in levit. hom. 9.Chryso. in Matt. hom. 2. & in Genes. hom. 28. Origen in leuit. hom. 9.
- 3Chrysost. in Acta Apost. hom. 19.
- 4Augustin. in Psalm. 31.
- 5Origen. in Le•iti. ca. 7.
