But most grossly saith Heylin, pag. 55. [But sure it is that their assemblies held no longer than our Morning Service; that they met only before noon; for Justin saith, that when they met they used to receive the Sacrament, and that the service being done, every man went again to his daily labours.] Answ. Is this a proof to conclude a [Certainty] from? Most certainly abundance of testimonies might be produced to prove that they came together early in the Morning, and stayed till Evening, if not till within Night. The former Pliny and many others witness: And the later many accusations of the Heathens, that censured them for night-crimes at their meetings: And all that report it almost, tell us of the Sacrament administered, and Tertullian and others, of their feasting together (their Love Feasts) as a Supper before they parted: Now let but the time be measured by the work: By that time the Scriptures of the Old Testament and New were read, and all the prayers then made, and all the Preaching and Exhortations, and then all the Prayers and Praises at the Celebration of the Lords Supper (especially if they were half as long as the Liturgies ascribed to Basil, Chrysostom, and the rest in the Biblioth. Patrum) and by ⟨p. 33⟩that time the Sacrament it self was administered, with all the action and singing of Psalms, and all the Oblations and Collections made; and besides this, all the Church Discipline on particular persons exercised, where Questions and Answers and Proofs must take up a great deal of time, sure one day would be at an end, or very near it. And after when the Love Feasts were left off, and the Church met twice, and made an intermission, they did as we do now. And the very Custom of Preaching all the Morning to the Audientes and Catechumens, till almost Noon, when they were dismissed with a Missa est, and spending the rest of the day in Teaching the Church, and Celebrating the Sacrament with all the larger Eucharistical acts, do fully show how the day was spent: Which I would quickly prove by particular Testimonies, but that I am separated from my Library; and Dr. Young hath fully done it to my hand. The very Context of these testimonies, with what Albaspinaeus hath of their Catechizing and Church order will soon satisfy the impartial searcher.
But most grosly saith Heylin, pag. 55. [But sure it is that their assemblies held no longer than our Morning Service; that they met only before noon; for Justin saith, that when they met they used to receive the Sacrament, and that the service being done, every man went again to his daily labours.] Answ. Is this a proof to conclude a [Certainty] from? Most certainly abundance of testimonies might be produced to prove that they came together early in the Morning, and stayed till Evening, if not till within Night. The former Pliny and many others witness: And the later many accusations of the Heathens, that censured them for night-crimes at their meetings: And all that report it almost, tell us of the Sacrament administred, and Tertullian and others, of their feasting together (their Love Feasts) as a Supper before they parted: Now let but the time be measured by the work: By that time the Scriptures of the Old Testament and New were read, and all the prayers then made, and all the Preaching and Exhortations, and then all the Prayers and Praises at the Celebration of the Lords Supper (especially if they were half as long as the Liturgies ascribed to Basil, Chrysostom, and the rest in the Biblioth. Patrum) and by ⟨p. 33⟩that time the Sacrament it self was administred, with all the action and singing of Psalms, and all the Oblations and Collections made; and besides this, all the Church Discipline on particular persons exercised, where Questions and Answers and Proofs must take up a great deal of time, sure one day would be at an end, or very near it. And after when the Love Feasts were left off, and the Church met twice, and made an intermission, they did as we do now. And the very Custom of Preaching all the Morning to the Audientes and Catechumens, till almost Noon, when they were dismist with a Missa est, and spending the rest of the day in Teaching the Church, and Celebrating the Sacrament with all the larger Eucharistical acts, do fully shew how the day was spent: Which I would quickly prove by particular Testimonies, but that I am separated from my Library; and Dr. Young hath fully done it to my hand. The very Context of these testimonies, with what Albaspinaeus hath of their Catechizing and Church order will soon satisfie the impartial searcher.
