Answer. Christ did celebrate these mysteries at night for two causes: For he would compare this new Sacrament which he instituted with the figure answering unto it. Now the passover was slain betwixt two evenings. And furthermore it is plain that this was the manner of the ancient, that they should sit down once, that is too say, in the evenings. For [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew] which the Latins (I think) called Prandium, that is, a dinner, as if a man should say, the leavings of the former meals, because that that very same day nothing in a manner was sodden, but somewhat was taken of the remnants of the former days ⟨image 160⟩meal in a manner they not sitting down neither was it of all, nor of full provision and junkets. It is no marvel therefore, forasmuch as Christ differed these same mysteries, as it were the sealing up of his Testament into his last banquet, that he rather instituted this rite in the Evening then in the Morning. Now it ought not too seem any wonder, that the old Church, whiles that those love feasts by little and little were taken away, that they did end their banquets with the celebration of this Supper: the which thing notwithstanding, that it was not every where kept, it appeareth not only by the last Apology of Justine, but also by other testimonies of the ancient fathers. But it cannot be gathered of any cir, cumstance of time out of the words of the institution, that Christ commanded any thing concerning the circumstance of time. Therefore custom hath very well prevailed, that the Supper of the Lord should be celebrated rather in the morning meeting, & of those that are fasting, then of those that have dined, ⟨image 161⟩that they may come to the hearing of Gods word and to this same heavenly mystery which is to be executed with great attention and high reverence, with the readier and better prepared minds.
Answeare. Christ did celebrate these mysteries at night for twoo causes: For hee woulde compare this newe Sacrament which he instituted with the figure answering vnto it. Now the passeouer was slaine betwixt twoo euenings. And furthemore it is playne that this was the manner of the ancient, yt they should sit downe once, that is too say, in the eueninges. For 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 which the Latines (I thinke) called Prandium, that is, a dinner, as if a man shoulde say, the leauings of the former meales, because that that very same day nothing in a manner was sodden, but somewhat was taken of the remnantes of the former dayes ⟨image 160⟩meale in a maner they not sitting down neither was it of all, nor of full prouision and iunquettes. It is no meruayle therfore, forasmuche as Christ differred these same mysteries, as it were the sealing vp of his Testament into his last banquet, that hee rather instituted this ryte in the Euening then in the Morning. Nowe it ought not too seeme any wonder, that the olde Churche, whiles that those loue feastes by little and little were taken away, that they did end their banquetes with the celebration of this Supper: the which thing notwithstanding, that it was not euery where kept, it appeareth not onely by the last Apology of Iustine, but also by other testimonies of the ancient fathers. But it cannot be geathered of any cir, cumstance of time out of the wordes of the institution, that Christ commaunded any thing concerning the circumstance of time. Therefore custome hath very wel preuayled, that the Supper of the Lorde shoulde be celebrated rather in the morning meeting, & of those that are fasting, then of those that haue dyned, ⟨image 161⟩that they may come to the hearing of Gods word and to this same heauenly mystery which is to be executed with great attention and highe reuerence, with the redier and better prepared myndes.
