A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…

M. Doctor observeth none of these points / for besides that the things which he brought for the defence of the service book / are such / as they have before appeared: in seeking to defend it / he manifestly oppugneth it. For before he said that the book of service doth not permit deacons to minister the supper of the Lord / and that by way of allowing of the book: and here he proveth that the deacons did minister the sacrament of the supper / and that also as a thing which he doth allow of.

M. Doctor obserueth none of these poyntes / for besydes that the thinges which he brought for the defence of the seruice booke / are such / as they haue before appeared: in seeking to defende it / he manyfestly oppugneth it. For before he sayde that the booke of seruice doth not permit deacons to mynister the supper of the Lord / and that by way of alowing of the booke: and here he proueth that the deacons dyd mynister the sacrament of the supper / and that also as a thing which he doth alow of.

But to let that pass / I beseech thee (good Reader) mark / what a ministering of the supper this is which Justin maketh mention of / & note with what conscience M. Doctor handleth this cause. Justin saith that after the scriptures are red and preached of / and prayers made / bread and wine & water was brought forth / and that the minister made prayers and thanks giving in the hearing of the people (which is that which the Evangelists call the blessing / and hath been of later times called the consecration) and after that the people were partakers of them / that then this being done / the deacons did carry of that which was left / unto those which were not present (for that corruption of sending the communion unto the houses was then in the church / against which I have before spoken) now if to carry to a private house the bread and wine which was blessed or set a part by prayers / & by obeying the institution of Christ by the minister / be to minister the sacrament of the supper / then Serapions boy / of whom mention is made by Eusebius / ministered the sacrament. For Serapion being sick as I have before showed / and sending his boy to the minister for the sacrament / received the same at the hands of his boy / for that the minister being sick / could not come him self: so by M. Doctors reason / Serapions boy ministered