M. Harding of his courtesy should give us leave, to lay out our own reckonings, as we think best, having him self the advantage of controlment, if error happen to fall out. Of so great a number of Masses, as they have this day in their Churches, and say, they have had, and continued from the beginning, even from the Apostles time, if I require of him only the proof of five, I offer him no wrong: But, if he of that whole number, be able to show but only two, and if the same two in the end be found no Masses neither, but only public Communions, such as be now used in Reformed Churches, then is he a great dissembler, and doth no right. Upon what occasion M. Hardinges Masses grew first to this plenty, and to so great waste, Cochlaeus one of the chief patrons of that cause declareth it thus:1 Quòd olim tam frequentes non fuerint Missae, neque tot Sacerdotes, quot hodiè, inde accidisse arbitror, quòd olim omnes tum Sacerdotes, tum Laici, quicunque intererant Sacrificio Missae, peracta oblatione, cum Sacrificante communicabant: sicut ex Canonibus Apostolorum, & ex Libris, atque Epistolis antiquissimorum Ecclesiae Doctorum perspicuè cognoscitur. That in old times there were not so many Masses, nor so many Priests, as be now, I reckon the cause thereof to be this: for that in old times, all, that were present at the Sacrifice of the Mass, as well Priests, as Lay men, did Communicate together with the Minister, as it is plain to be seen by the Canons of the Apostles, and by the Books, and Letters of the most Ancient Doctors of the Church. He addeth further, Nunc verò &c. But now, seeing the order of Communion is no more observed amongst us, and that through the negligence, and slothfulness, as well of the Lay people, as of the Priests, the Holy Ghost by the often saying of Private Masses, hath found out • godly remedy for this want. Here we see, that Negligence, and Slothfulness, & Lack of Devotion, both in the people, and in the Priest, is a good leare to breed Masses. And that the Priests, as many as were present, did then Communicate with the Priest,2 that Ministered, it is plain by the Canons of the Apostles, and by sundry other good Authorities, which now I purposely pass by. And to this purpose it is written thus, in a little book set abroad under the name of S. Hierome:
M. Hardinge of his courtesie shoulde geue vs leaue, to lay out our owne reckeninges, as we thinke beste, hauinge him selfe the aduantage of controlment, if errour happen to fal out. Of so great a number of Masses, as they haue this daie in their Churches, and say, they haue had, and continewed from the beginninge, euen from the Apostles time, if I require of him onely the proufe of fiue, I offer him no wronge: But, if he of that whole number, be hable to shewe but onely two, and if the same two in the ende be founde no Masses neither, but onely publique Communions, suche as be now vsed in Refourmed Churches, then is he a greate dissembler, and dooth no right. Upon what occasion M. Hardinges Masses grewe firste to this plentie, and to so great waste, Cochlaeus one of the chiefe patrones of that cause declareth it thus:1 Quòd olim tam frequentes non fuerint Missae, neque tot Sacerdotes, quot hodiè, inde accidisse arbitror, quòd olim omnes tum Sacerdotes, tum Laici, quicunque intererant Sacrificio Missae, peracta oblatione, cum Sacrificante communicabant: sicut ex Canonibus Apostolorum, & ex Libris, atque Epistolis antiquissimorum Ecclesiae Doctorum perspicuè cognoscitur. That in olde times there were not so many Masses, nor so many Priestes, as be nowe, I recken the cause thereof to be this: for that in olde times, al, that were present at the Sacrifice of the Masse, as wel Priestes, as Laye men, did Communicate togeather with the Minister, as it is plaine to be seene by the Canons of the Apostles, and by the Bookes, and Letters of the most Ancient Doctours of the Church. He addeth further, Nunc verò &c. But now, seeinge the order of Communion is no more obserued emongst vs, and that through the negligence, and slouthfulnes, as wel of the Laye people, as of the Priestes, the Holy Ghost by the often saieinge of Priuate Masses, hath founde out • godly remedie for this wante. Here wée sée, that Negligence, and Slouthfulnesse, & Lacke of Deuotion, bothe in the people, and in the Priest, is a good leare to bréede Masses. And that the Priestes, as many as were present, did then Communicate with the Priest,2 that Ministred, it is plaine by the Canons of the Apostles, and by sundrie other good Authorities, which now I purposely passe by. And to this purpose it is written thus, in a litle booke set abroade vnder the name of S. Hierome:
- 110. Cochlaeus de Sacrif. Missae.
- 2Canons Apost. can. 9.Canones Apost. can. 9.
