A Christian instruction, containing the law and the Gospel Also a summary of the…

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.

M. And what if they know not which be the dogs & the swine, or the sheep, and the worthy or unworthy, shall not their ignorance excuse them?

M. And what if they knowe not which be the dogges & the swine, or the shéepe, and the worthy or vnworthy, shall not their ignorance excuse them?

M. And what if after they have diligently enquired, the hypocrites deceive them, feigning them selves to be sheep, and lambs, where they be not only ⟨p. 375⟩swine and dogs, but a also cruel wolves: shall they be culpable of the pollution and profanation of the Sacraments, if they administer them to such men, having a fair show to be christians?

M. And what if after they haue diligētly enquired, the hipocrites deceiue them, faining them selues to be shéepe, and lambes, where they be not onely ⟨p. 375⟩swine and dogges, but a also cruel wolues: shal they be culpable of the pollution and prophanation of the Sacraments, if they administer them to suche men, hauing a faire shew to be christiās?

P. Seeing they be not judges of the heart, of which thing God hath reserved to him self only the judgement, they are without blame on their part, in as much as the fault proceedeth not of their negligence, and that God hath not as yet discovered unto them the hypocrisy of hypocrites. For the Church can not judge but of that which is apparent unto them, and not of hidden and secret things, which God hath reserved to his knowledge only.

P. Séeing they be not iudges of the heart, of which thing God hath reserued to him selfe onely the iudgement, they are without blame on their parte, in as muche as the fault procéedeth not of their negligence, and that God hath not as yet discouered vnto thē the hypocrisie of hypocrites. For the Church can not iudge but of that which is apparant vnto them, and not of hidden and secret things, which God hath reserued to his knowledge onely.

Of the ecclesiastical judgement required before the excommunication.

Of the ecclesiasticall iudgement required before the excommunication.

M. IT followeth then on the contrary, that they be without excuse, when they receive to the communion of the Sacraments, them which they know manifestly to be unworthy?

M. IT followeth then on the contrary, that they be without excuse, when they receyue to the communion of the Sacramentes, them which they knowe manifestly to be vnworthy?

P. Who may doubt that, provided that they have the mean to prove to them their unworthiness?

P. Who may doubt that, prouided that they haue the mean to proue to thē their vnworthines?

M. Is the same first required?

P. Yea, for must needs be that judgement go before sentence and condemnation, and that this judgement be had by the Church, according to the rule and discipline of the same, and not by the ministers only.

P. Yea, for must néedes be that iudgement go before sentence and condemnation, and that this iudgement be had by the Church, according to the rule and discipline of the same, and not by the ministers onely.

M. Why so?

P. Because that the ministers may not attribute to them selves alone the power the which God hath given to the whole Church, but so far forth as they be executors in the name of the same, when that the judgement of the same hath gone before: which also can not be done but by the word of God.

P. Bicause that the ministers may not attribute to them selues alone the power the which God hath giuen to the whole Church, but so far foorth as they be executours in the name of the same, when that the iudgement of the same hath gone before: which also can not be done but by the worde of God.

M. This point is well to be noted, to the end that wrong be done to none, and that the ministers do not set up tyranny in the Church, and that they make not the discipline of the same to serve their affections.

M. This poynt is well to be noted, to the end that wrong be done to none, and that the ministers do not set vp tyrannie in the Church, and that they make not the discipline of ye same to serue their affections.

P. The same serveth then well to discharge them of such slander if they be true ministers.

P. The same serueth thē well to discharge them of such sclaū der if they be true ministers.

Of the means that the ministers ought to use, if they may have no discipline in the Church, nor yet administer the Sacraments in the same without profaning of them.

Of the means that the ministers ought to vse, if they may haue no discipline in the Church, nor yet administer the Sacraments in the same vvithout prophaning of them.