Now, this Cake being so large, so thick, and so massive, and able to suffice so many, we may not well think, that the Priest co•lde conveniently divide it ⟨p. 444⟩into three parts, and receive all alone. But rather, as I have already said, the Breaking thereof, is an invincible proof of the holy Communion, and a manifest Condemnation of M. Hardinges Private Mass. For it was not divided into parts, to the end to Signify these Mystical Fantasies, that M. Harding, and others have imagined:1 but to be Distributed, and delivered to the people. Clemens Alexandrinus saith, Etiam Eucharisti•, cum quidam, ut mos est, diviserint, permittunt unicuique ex populo, partem eius sumere. After that certain (that is, the Priests) have Divided the Sacrament, they suffer every of the people to take a portion of it. So S. Augustine saith,2 Ad Distribuendum comminuitur, It is Broken, that it may be Distributed. And again, Confringunt oblations in Eucharistiam, They Divide the Oblations into the Sacrament (that the people may Communicate).3 So Dionysius, Velatum Panem in multa concîdens, & unitatem Calicis omnibus impertiens. Dividinge the Bread, that stood covered, into many parts, and delivering the Unity of the Cup unto all the people. 4In S. Basiles Communion, taken out of the Syrian Tongue, it is written thus: Sacerdos frangit, & Signat: Diaconus proclamat, Communionem. The Priest Breaketh, and Signeth (the Sacrament): The Deacon crieth aloud, 5The Communion. And what needeth the witness of so many?6 S. Paul saith, Panis, quem Frangimus, nonne Communicatio Corporis Christi est? The Breade, that we Break, is it not the Communication of the Body of Christ? 7Which Words Anselmus expoundeth thus: Panis, quem nos Sacerdotes Frangimus, & quem unū in multas partes Dividimus, ad designandam Charitatem accipientium. The Bread, that we being Priests do Break, and which Bread, being one Cake, we Divide into many portions, to express the love (or unity) of the receivers. 8Likewise Lorichius, Panis, quem Frangimus, Participatio Domini est: hoc est, Fractio Significat, nos esse unum Corpus. The Bread, that we Break, is the Participation of the Lord: that is to say, The Bread signifieth, that all we are one Body.
Now, this Cake beinge so large, so thicke, and so massie, and hable to suffice so many, wée may not wel thinke, that the Priest co•lde c•n•eniently diuide it ⟨p. 444⟩into thrée partes, and receiue al alone. But rather, as I haue already saide, the Breakinge thereof, is an inuincible proufe of the holy Communion, and a manifest Condemnation of M. Hardinges Priuate Masse. For it was not diuided into partes, to the ende to Signifie these Mystical Fantasies, that M. Hardinge, and others haue imagined:1 but to be Distributed, and deliuered to the people. Clemens Alexandrinus saith, Etiam Eucharisti•, cum quidam, vt mos est, diuiserint, permittunt vnicuique ex populo, partem eius sumere. After that certaine (that is, the Priestes) haue Diuided the Sacrament, they suffer euery of the people to take a portion of it. So S. Augustine saith,2 Ad Distribuendum comminuitur, It is Broken, that it may be Distributed. And againe, Confringunt oblationes in Eucharistiam, They Diuide the Oblations into the Sacrament (that the people may Communicate).3 So Dionysius, Velatum Panem in multa concîdens, & vnitatem Calicis omnibus impertiens. Diuidinge the Breade, that stoode coouered, into many partes, and deliuering the Vnitie of the Cuppe vnto al the people. 4In S. Basiles Communion, taken out of the Syrian Tongue, it is written thus: Sacerdos frangit, & Signat: Diaconus proclamat, Communionem. The Priest Breaketh, and Signeth (the Sacrament): The Deacon crieth alowde, 5The Communion. And what néedeth the witnesse of so many?6 S. Paule saithe, Panis, quem Frangimus, nonne Communicatio Corporis Christi est? The Breade, that wee Breake, is it not the Communication of the Bodie of Christe? 7Whiche Woordes Anselmus expoundeth thus: Panis, quem nos Sacerdotes Frangimus, & quem vnū in multas partes Diuidimus, ad designandam Charitatem accipientium. The Breade, that we being Priestes doo Breake, and whiche Breade, beinge one Cake, wee Diuide into many portions, to expresse the loue (or vnitie) of the receiuers.
- 1Clemens Alexandrin. stromat. li. 1.
- 2Augustin. ad Paulin. Epist. 59.
- 3August. ad Quoduultdeum De Ophitis.
- 4Dionysius Eccl. Hierar. Cap. 3.
- 5Liturgia Basilij.
- 61. Corin. 10.
- 7Anselmus in 1. Corin. 10.
- 8Lorichius de Missa pub. prorog. li. 3.
