Dionysius Alexandrinus about the year of our Lord .200. as Eusebius Caesariensis reciteth, manifestly declareth,1 how that an old man called Serapion, was houseled under one kind at his end. This Serapion after that he had lain speechless three days, sent for the Sacrament. The Priest for sickness not able to come him self, gave to the lad that came of that errant, a little of the Sacrament, commanding him to wet it, and so being moisted to pour it into the old mans mouth. Thus much is expressed by the words there, as the Greek is to be construed.2 The lad being returned home, moisted with some liquor that divine meat, to serve the old man withal, lying now panting for desire to be dismissed hence, and to hast him away to Heaven, and poured it into his mouth. For that this old mans mouth and throat, had long been dry by force of his sickness, the Priest, who had experience in that case, providently gave warning, to moist the Sacrament with some liquor, and so together to pour it into his mouth. Which was so done by the lad, as Dionysius expresseth. Now if the form of wine had then also been brought by the lad to be ministered, there had been no need of such Circumstance, to procure the old man a moisture to swallow down that holy food. And that this was the manner of ministering the Sacrament to old men at their departing, it appeareth by record of Theodoritus, who writeth in his Ecclesiastical story, how one Bassus an Archpriest ministered unto an old man called Simeones, of great fame for his holiness. Bassus, saith he, as he visited his Churches, chanced upon holy Simeones that wonder of the world, lying sick, who through feebleness was not able to speak, nor move. ⟨p. 134⟩When Bassus saw he should dye, he giveth him his rights before. But after what sor•e, it is to be marked. Spongia petita Simeoni o• hum•ctat atque eluit, ac tum ei divinum obtulit Sacramentum. He calleth for a sponge (saith Theodoritus) and therewith moisteth and washeth Simeones mouth, and then giveth him the holy Sacrament. If at that time the receiving of the Sacred Cup had been in use, such procuring of moisture, for the better swallowing down of the Sacrament under one kind, had been needless.
Dionysius Alexandrinus aboute the yere of our Lorde .200. as Eusebius Caesariensis reciteth, manifestly declareth,1 how that an olde man called Serapion, was houseled vnder one kinde at his ende. This Serapion after that he had laien speechelesse three daies, sent for the Sacrament. The Priest for sicknesse not hable to come him selfe, gaue to the ladde that came of that errant, a litle of the Sacrament, commaunding him to weate it, and so being moisted to powre it into the olde mans mouthe. Thus much is expressed by the woordes there, as the Greeke is to be construed.2 The ladde beinge returned home, moisted with some liquor that diuine meate, to serue the olde man withal, licinge now pantinge for desier to be dimissed hence, and to hast him away to Heauen, and powred it into his mouthe. For that this olde mannes mouthe and throte, had longe benne drie by force of his sickenesse, the Priest, who had experience in that case, prouidently gaue warninge, to moiste the Sacrament with some liquour, and so togeather to powre it into his mouthe. Which was so doone by the ladde, as Dionysius expresseth. Now if the forme of wine had then also been brought by the ladde to be ministred, there had been no neede of suche Circumstance, to procure the olde man a moisture to swallow downe that holy foode. And that this was the manner of ministring the Sacrament to olde men at their departinge, it appeareth by recorde of Theodoritus, who writeth in his Ecclesiastical storie, how one Bassus an Archepriest ministred vnto an olde man called Simeones, of greate fame for his holinesse. Bassus, saith he, as he visited his Churches, chaunced vpon holy Simeones that vvoonder of the vvorlde, lieinge sicke, vvho throughe feeblenesse vvas not hable to speake, nor moue. ⟨p. 134⟩VVhen Bassus savve he shoulde dye, he geueth him his rightes before. But after vvhat sor•e, it is to be marked. Spongia petita Simeoni o• hum•ctat atque eluit, ac tum ei diuinum obtulit Sacramentum. He calleth for a sponge (saithe Theodoritus) and therevvith moisteth and vvassheth Simeones mouthe, and then geueth him the holy Sacrament. If at that time the receiuinge of the Sacred Cuppe had beene in vse, suche procuringe of moisture, for the better swalowinge downe of the Sacrament vnder one kinde, had beene needelesse.
- 1Ecclesias. hist. lib. 6. ca. 44.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
