This tale telleth Guil. Durandus in his book called Rationale divinorum officiorum, & also Joannes Billet in his book de, divinis officiis, & Honorius in his treatise, de gemma animae: 1whereof thou mayest learn two things. First, that in the primitive church and •ong after, when ⟨p. 129⟩Christen religion was most pure: the words of the Lords Supper, or, as the papists term them, of consecration, were not spoken in hocker mocker, as they be now, but plainly, openly and distinctly, that all might hear them, understand them, and learn them unto their great comfort▪ and edifying. Secondly that the words of consecration were at that time of so great virtue, that whosoever pronounced them over the bread, were he Lay or Spiritual, priest or Ploughman, Bishop or Butcher: the bread was straightways turned into the natural body of Christ, as we may see here by the shepherds, which were lay men and not holy anointed, which were in the field and not in the Church, which had on their shepherds cloaks and not hallowed vestments, which had but a common stone to lay their bread on and no hallowed altar.2 And here mayest thou see, that any lay man, if he can pronounce the words of consecration, having bread laid on a stone, may make Christs body as well as the priest. For if the lay men by the virtue of the words could ⟨image 160⟩make Christs body at that time: be thou certain and well assured, that they be able to do the same even now also notwithstanding the holy fathers decrees to the contrary. For the virtue of God's word abideth always one. If the Massemonger therefore can make him, that made them, as their doctrine declareth, then can the Lay man likewise make their maker, and so may the Laity strive with the spiritualty to the uttermost in God making. Now that the popish priests can make God, which made them, although I could bring forth and allege many authorities even out of their own books: yet will I at this present content my self with one or two sentences, which are written in a book called Stella Clericorum. The authors words are these,3 I ste qui creavit me, dedit mihi creare se: qui creavit me sine me, creature mediante me.
Thys tale telleth Guil. Durandus in his booke called Rationale diuinorum officiorum, & also Ioannes Billet in his boke de, diuinis officiis, & Honorius in his treatise, de gēma animae: 1wherof thou mayest learne two thinges. Firste, that in the primatiue churche and •ong after, whē ⟨p. 129⟩Christen religion was moste pure: the wordes of the Lordes Supper, or, as the papistes terme them, of consecration, were not spoken in hocker mocker, as they be now, but playnely, openlye and distinctly, that al myght heare thē, vnderstand them, and learne them vnto their great comforte▪ and edifying. Secondly yt the words of consecration were at that time of so great vertue, yt whosoeuer pronounced them ouer the bread, were he Lay or Spiritual, priest or Ploweman, Byshop or Butcher: the breade was strayghtwayes tourned into the naturall bodye of Christ, as we may see here by ye shepeheardes, whiche were laye men and not holye annoynted, whiche were in the fielde and not in the Church, whiche had on their shepeheardes clokes and not halowed vestments, whiche had but a cō mon stone to laye their breade on and no halowed altare.2 And here mayest thou see, yt any laye man, if he can pronounce the words of consecration, hauing bread layed on a stone, may make Christes body as wel as ye priest. For if ye lay men by ye vertue of ye words could ⟨image 160⟩make Christes bodye at that tyme: be thou certayne and well assured, yt they bee able to doe the same euen nowe also notwythstandyng the holye fathers decrees to the contrarye. For the vertue of Goddes worde abydeth alwayes one. If the Massemonger therfore can make hym, yt made them, as theyr doctryne declareth, then can the Laye man lykewyse make theyr maker, and so maye the Laitie stryue with the spiritualtye to the vttermost in God makyng. Nowe that the popyshe priestes can make God, whiche made them, although I coulde bryng forth and alledge manye authorities euen oute of theyr owne bookes: yet will I at thys presente contente my selfe with one or two sentences, which are written in a boke called Stella Clericorum. The authors wordes ar these,3 I ste qui creauit me, dedit mihi creare se: qui creauit me sine me, creatur mediante me.
- 1Mark well.Marke well.
- 2☜
- 3Godmakers.
