A04474:3636
A reply unto M. Hardinges answerA replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare
A reply unto M. Hardinges answer by perusing whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weak, and unstable grounds of the Romaine religion, which of late hath been accounted Catholic. By John Jewel Bishop of Salisbury.A replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare by perusinge whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weake, and vnstable groundes of the Romaine religion, whiche of late hath beene accompted Catholique. By Iohn Iewel Bishoppe of Sarisburie.
Imprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the sign of the Black Oliphant, by Henry Wykes, Anno. 1565Imprinted at London : In Fleetestreate, at the signe of the Blacke Oliphante, by Henry VVykes, Anno. 1565
Article 20 › M. Harding. The .3. Division.Article 20 › M. Hardinge. The .3. Diuision.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
M. Harding. The .3. Division.
M. Hardinge. The .3. Diuision.
If the term, Mass, be taken for the act of the Priest, in respect of any his only doing, it is not able to remove Sin. For so we should make the Priest God's peer, and his act equal with the Passion of Christ, as our adversaries do unjustly slander us. Yet hath the Mass virtue, and effect in some degree, and is acceptable to God, by reason of the oblation of the Sacrifice, which in the Mass is done by the offerer, without respect had to Christs institution, even for the faithful prayer and devotion of the party, that offereth, which the Schooledoctours terme, ex opere operantis. For then the oblation seemeth to be most acceptable to God, when it is offered by some that is acceptable. Now the party that offereth, is of two sorts. The one offereth immediately, and personally: the other offereth mediately, or by mean of an other, and principally. The first is the Priest that consecrateth, offereth, and receiveth the Sacrament, who so doth these things in his own person, yet by God's authority, as none other in so offering is concurrent with him. The party, that offereth mediately or by mean of an other, and principally, is the Church militant, in whose person the Priest offereth, and whose minister he is in offering. For this is the Sacrifice of the whole Church. The first party that offereth, is not always acceptable to God, neither always pleaseth him, because oftentimes he is a Sinner. The second party that offereth, is evermore acceptable to God, because the Church is always Holy, beloved, and the only spouse of Christ. And in this respect the Mass is an acceptable service to God, Ex opere operantis, ⟨p. 598⟩and is not without cause and reason called a Sacrifice Propitiatory, not for that it deserveth mercy at God's hand of it self, as Christ doth, who only is in that principal and special sort a Sacrifice Propitiatory: but for that it moveth God to give mercy, and remission of Sin already deserved by Christ. In this degree of a Sacrifice propitiatory, we may put Prayer, a contrite Harte, Alms, forgiving of our neighbour, &c. This may easily be proved by the holy Fathers.