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Of the difference that ought to be had between excommunication and suspension from the Sacraments: and how that the Sacraments may not be administered to all those to whom the doctrine of the same is set forth.

Of the difference that ought to be had betvveene excommunication and suspension from the Sacraments: and hovv that the Sacraments may not be administred to all those to vvhom the doctrine of the same is set foorth.

M. IT seemeth to me to hear thee speak, that thou puttest some difference between excommunication and suspension touching the communion of the Sacraments.

M. IT séemeth to mée to heare thée speake, that thou puttest some difference betwéene excommunication and suspension touching the communion of the Sacraments.

P. It is also requisite to distinguish them. For many deserve to be suspended for a time from the communion of the sacraments, which deserve not at all to be excommunicated, ⟨p. 372⟩and namely in that extreme rigour, whereof thou even now spakest.

P. It is also requisite to distinguishe them. For many deserue to bée suspended for a tyme from the cōmunion of the sacraments, which deserue not at all to be excommunicated, ⟨p. 372⟩and namely in that extreme rigor, wherof thou euē now spakest.

M. Give me an example of that which thou sayest.

M. Giue me an example of that which thou sayest.

P. For so much as the Sacraments are seals & confirmations of the doctrine, thou dost understand already, that they belong but only to those which are first sufficiently instructed, at the least in the principal points of the doctrine whereof they be Sacraments, & without understanding whereof none may communicate but to his condemnation, in mocking of the ordinances of Jesus Christ, and of his Church.

P. For so muche as the Sacraments are seales & confirmations of the doctrine, thou dost vnderstand already, that they belong but onely to those which are first sufficiently instructed, at the least in the principall points of the doctrine wherof they be Sacramēts, & without vnderstanding wherof none may communicate but to his condemnation, in mocking of the ordināces of Iesus Christ, and of his Church.

M. I do well understand that.

M. I do well vnderstand that.

P. And therefore men may lawfully set forth the doctrine to the most ignorant of the world, and to those in deed which never heard speak of it. For it is ordained to teach such men. But the sacraments may not be administered but to those which first are sufficiently instructed, in such sort, that they understand as much as is required for their salvation, of the mysteries contained in the same.

P. And therfore men may lawfully set foorth the doctrine to the most ignorant of the world, and to those in déede which neuer heard speake of it. For it is ordeined to teach such men. But the sacraments may not be administred but to those which first are sufficiently instructed, in suche sort, that they vnderstande as muche as is required for their saluation, of the mysteries conteyned in the same.

How necessary particular instructions are in the Church.

Hovv necessarie particuler instructions are in the Churche.

M. BY this reckoning then, all those that can not yield an account of their faith, must be shut out from the communion of the sacraments, if at the least they be not able to declare by some mean that they understand that which behoveth them to understand, to be found capable of the Sacraments.

M. BY this reckning then, all those that can not yéelde an accompt of their faith, must be shut out from the cōmuniō of the sacramēts, if at the least they be not able to declare by some meane that they vnderstand that which behoueth them to vnderstande, to be founde capable of the Sacraments.

P. It is also the cause why that in the well reformed Churches there is not only Catechisms for the instruction of young children, but also familiar & private instruction for such as be of age, beside the preachings and the other public Catechisms. There are also particular examinations, whereby they cause all such to yield reason of the faith, which have not as yet at all yielded any certain reason of their faith, to the end that they may the better know which they be that ought to be admitted to the communion of the sacraments, & which not, to the end that they be not profaned and polluted neither by the ministers which distribute them, ne yet by them which receive them at their hands, aswell to the condemnation of the one sort as of the other.

P. It is also the cause why that in the well reformed Churches there is not onely Cathechismes for the instruction of yong children, but also familiar & priuate instruction for suche as be of age, beside the preachings and the other publike Cathechismes. There are also particuler examinations, wherby they cause all suche to yelde reason of the fayth, which haue not as yet at all yelded any certayne reason of their fayth, to the ende that they may the better knowe which they be that ought to be admitted to the communion of the sacraments, & which not, to the ende that they be not prophaned and polluted neither by the ministers which distribute them, ne yet by them which receiue them at their hands, aswel to the condemnation of the one sort as of the other.

In what sort the ministers may be faulty or no, of the pollution of the Sacraments, if they do administer them to the unworthy.

In vvhat sort the ministers may be faultie or no, of the pollution of the Sacramentes, if they do administer them to the vnvvorthy.

M. IF they which receive them, receive them unworthily to their condemnation, the ministers which distribute them unto them are they faulty also on their part?

M. IF they which receiue them, receiue them vnworthily to their condemnation, the ministers which distribute them vnto them are they faultie also on their parte?

P. Thou mayest well understand that they can not profane and pollute the holy things without yielding them selves greatly culpable of such profanation and pollution, for so much as it is expressedly forbidden them, to give the holy things to the dogs,¹ and to cast pearls & precious stones before swine.

P. Thou mayest wel vnderstande that they can not prophane and pollute the holy things without yéelding them selues greatly culpable of such prophanation and pollution, for so muche as it is expressedly forbidden them, to giue the holy things to the dogges,¹ and to cast pearles & precious stones before swine.

1. 1Math. 7.2.