Touching Erasmus M. Harding hath already refused his authority, and turned him over to his own defence. Where he saith, every man was wont in old times to receive the Sacrament severally at home: it would much better have sounded of M. Hardinges side, if Erasmus had said, every man was wont then to say Mass severally at home. And all be it in that short not upon S. Hierome he seem to understand ⟨p. 53⟩these words of S. Paul, (have ye not houses to eat and drink in) of the private receiving of the Sacrament: yet otherwhere writing of purpose, and good deliberation upon the same, he saith S. Paul meant it only of common meats, and not of the Sacrament.1 In his Paraphrase he expoundeth it thus: Hie unanimitatis Christianae mysterium agitur &c. Here is practised the Mystery of Christian unity, and not provision made for the belly. For that ought ye to do in your private houses, and not in the public Congregation. If ye would fill your bellies, have ye not houses, where ye may do it by your selves alone? And again, if any man be so greedy of meat, that he can not tarry, let him eat at home. Thus saith M. Harding, Erasmus gathereth the Private Mass out of the Scriptures. M. Harding is over quick in his Conclusions. He maketh him self sure of the Consequent, before he see the Antecedent. For Erasmus hath not one word there neither of Private Mass, nor of single Communion. How then can he get that of Erasmus, that Erasmus him self hath not? Neither is this any necessary form of reason, Men received the Sacrament in their houses: Ergo, they received the Sacrament alone. For they might receive in their several houses with their wives and families altogether, as it is already proved by the example of Hippolytus Martyr.2 And S. Hierome sayeth, The Sacrament was sent home to the man and wife. Otherwise it might be said, God commanded that every man should eat the Easter Lam in his house, Ergo, God commanded that every man should eat that Lam alone. How be it I make small account of this matter, as nothing touching the Private Mass: but only show the feebleness of these Conclusions.
Touchinge Erasmus M. Hardinge hath alreadie refused his authoritie, and turned him ouer to his owne defence. Where he saithe, euery man was wonte in olde times to receiue the Sacrament seuerally at home: it would muche better haue sounded of M. Hardinges side, if Erasmus had saide, euery man was wonte then to say Masse seuerally at home. And al be it in that shorte not vpon S. Hierome he séeme to vnderstande ⟨p. 53⟩these woordes of S. Paule, (haue ye not houses to eate and drinke in) of the priuate receiuinge of the Sacrament: yet otherwhere writinge of purpose, and good deliberation vpon the same, he saithe S. Paule meante it onely of common meates, and not of the Sacrament.1 In his Paraphrase he expoundeth it thus: Hie vnanimitatis Christianae mysterium agitur &c. Here is practised the Mysterie of Christian vnitie, and not prouision made for the belly. For that ought ye to doo in your priuate houses, and not in the publike Congregation. If ye woulde fille your bellies, haue ye not houses, where ye may doo it by your selues alone? And againe, if any man be so greedie of meate, that he can not tarie, let him eate at home. Thus saithe M. Hardinge, Erasmus gathereth the Priuate Masse out of the Scriptures. M. Hardinge is ouer quicke in his Conclusions. He maketh him selfe sure of the Consequent, before he sée the Antecedent. For Erasmus hath not one woorde there neither of Priuate Masse, nor of single Communion. How then can he geate that of Erasmus, that Erasmus him selfe hath not? Neither is this any necessarie forme of reason, Men receiued the Sacrament in their houses: Ergo, they receiued the Sacrament alone. For they might receiue in their seueral houses with their wiues and families altogeather, as it is alreadie proued by the example of Hippolytus Martyr.2 And S. Hierome saieth, The Sacrament was sent home to the man and wife. Otherwise it might be saide, God commaunded that euery man shoulde eate the Easter Lamme in his house, Ergo, God commaunded that euery man shoulde eate that Lamme alone. How be it I make smal accoumpte of this mater, as nothinge touchinge the Priuate Masse: but onely shewe the féeblenesse of these Conclusions.
- 1Paraphrasis Erasmi in. 1. Corinth. 11.
- 2Hieronym in Apologia aduersus Jovinianū.Hieronym in Apologia aduersus Iouinianū.
