But, for as much as M. Harding saith, the understanding of the Priest, is a hinderance unto Private Devotion, in favour whereof he utterly defaceth the public prayers, it shall behoove us to consider, what the old Fathers have ⟨p. 215⟩thought in that behalf.1 Chrysostom thereof writeth thus: Non aequè exoras, cùm solus Dominum obsecras, a•que cum fratribus tuis. Est enim in hoc plus aliquid, videlicet, concordia, conspiratio, copula amoris, & charitatis, & sacerdotum clamores. Praesunt enim ob eam rem Sacerdotes, ut populi orationes, quae infirmiores per se sunt, validiores illas complexae simul in coelum evehantur. 2Thou doest not so soon obtain thy desire, when thou prayest alone unto the Lord, as when thou prayest with thy brethren. For herein there is somewhat more, the concord, the consent, the joining of love and charity, and the cry of the Priests. For to that end the priests are made overseers, that they being the stronger sort, may take with them the weaker prayers of the people, and carry them up into Heaven. 3Likewise again he saithe, Quod quis apud se ipsum precatus accipere non poterit, hoc cum multitudine preca•us accipiet. Quare? Quia etiamsi non propria virtus, tamen concordia multum potest. The thinge, that a man can not obtain praying by him self alone, praying together with the multitude he shall obtain. And why so? For although not his own worthiness, yet the Concorde, and Unity prevaileth much. Thus then stood the order of Christs Church: The whole multitude gave ear unto the Priest, and at the end of his prayer lifted up their voices unto heaven all together, and said, Amen: which voice oftentimes was so great, that, as it is afore said, S. Hierome likeneth it unto a thunder clap: S. Basil unto the roaring of the sea. At that time, M. Hardinges Private Devotion, as it is now used in his Church, would have been called Private Superstition. And where as he thus strangely saith, Devotion is hindered by understanding, his own Doctor Nicolas Lyra saith otherwise, and condemneth him.4 Si populus intelligat orationem sacerdotis, melius reducitur in Deum, & devotius responder, Amen: If the people understand the prayer of the Priest, they are the better reduced unto God, and with more devotion they answer, 5Amen.
But, for as muche as M. Hardinge saithe, the vnderstandinge of the Prieste, is a hinderance vnto Priuate Deuotion, in fauour whereof he vtterly defaceth the publique praiers, it shal behooue vs to consider, what the olde Fathers haue ⟨p. 215⟩thought in that behalfe.1 Chrysostome thereof writeth thus: Non aequè exoras, cùm solus Dominum obsecras, a•que cum fratribus tuis. Est enim in hoc plus aliquid, videlicet, concordia, conspiratio, copula amoris, & charitatis, & sacerdotum clamores. Praesunt enim ob eam rem Sacerdotes, vt populi orationes, quae infirmiores per se sunt, validiores illas complexae simul in coelum euehantur. 2Thou doest not so soone obteine thy desire, when thou prayest alone vnto the Lorde, as when thou praiest with thy brethren. For herein there is somewhat more, the concorde, the consente, the ioyninge of loue and charitie, and the crie of the Priestes. For to that ende the priestes are made ouerseers, that they beinge the stronger sorte, maie take with them the weaker praiers of the people, and carrie them vp into Heauen. 3Likewise againe he saithe, Quod quis apud se ipsum precatus accipere non poterit, hoc cum multitudine preca•us accipiet. Quare? Quia etiamsi non propria virtus, tamen concordia multum potest. The thinge, that a man can not obteine praieinge by him selfe alone, praieinge togeather with the multitude he shal obteine. And why so? For although not his owne woorthinesse, yet the Concorde, and Vnitie preuaileth muche. Thus then stoode the order of Christes Churche: The whole multitude gaue eare vnto the Prieste, and at the ende of his praier lifted vp their voices vnto heauen al togeather, and saide, Amen: whiche voice oftentimes was so greate, that, as it is afore saide, S. Hierome likeneth it vnto a thunder clappe: S. Basile vnto the roaringe of the sea. At that time, M. Hardinges Priuate Deuotion, as it is nowe vsed in his Churche, woulde haue beene called Priuate Superstition. And where as he thus strangely saithe, Deuotion is hindred by vnderstandinge, his owne Doctour Nicolas Lyra saithe otherwise, and condemneth him.4 Si populus intelligat orationem sacerdotis, melius reducitur in Deum, & deuotius responder, Amen: If the people vnderstande the praier of the Prieste, they are the better reduced vnto God, and with more deuotion they answeare,
- 1Prayers Common and private.Praiers Commō and priuate.
- 2Chrysost. de incomprehensibili Dei natura homi. 3.
- 3Chrysost. in 2. ad Thessal. hom. 4.
- 4Lyra in. 1. Corin. Ca. 14.
- 5In Novellis, De Ecclesiasticis diversis capitulis. [Greek or Hebrew].In Nouellis, De Ecclesiasticis diuersis capitulis. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
