The practical divinity of the papists discovered to be destructive of Christianity and mens…

They themselves cancel and overthrow all their own Pleas and pretences for their offering God any thing of worship in the Mass. For, they say, he doth not worship there, who is not present, and they cannot deny that in God's account he is absent whose mind is not present; and yet they justify ^(a)voluntary departures of mind and heart, when they should be worshipping, and those who would not seem to do this, do it really; when they conclude it no fault to employ themselves about other things when they are at Mass. They allow them ^(b)to say their hours (and so neglect the Mass, out of a neglect of their Divine office) or to recite what is enjoined them by way of Penance (and so prefer a punishment before the chief part of their Religion) ⟨p. 33⟩or other voluntary performances (so they may do what they will, rather than mind what they are about.) They know they cannot do two things at once, especially in Divine worship, which should take up the Soul. Though in their worshipping, where the Soul is not concerned they may attend a hundred acts at once; as much as they are obliged to mind the Mass, that is, actually not at all. They admit them also not only to ^(c)read, or write what they please; but also to sleep part of the time: so that they take not too long a Nap. It should not last above a third part, or half the Mass (for that is ^(d)pars notabilis) if it be but less than that, it passeth for nothing. ^(e)Or if they be too brisk to sleep, they may entertain themselves with familiar ^(f)chat. Medina ^(g)concludes, that he who is at Mass may spend the whole time in discourse about other things, Merchant affairs, or making Bargains, and yet fulfil the precept. They must it seems demean themselves at Mass altogether as Religiously, as at the Exchange; and no more is required. Suarez would have the Discourse neither so long, nor so serious, there should be some intermissions to attend. But what attention can be mean? He (with the rest) tells us, that to the Mass, less attention is requisite than to their Divine office; and to that office, he and they say, a virtual intention is sufficient, and this is the least of all that can be: So that to the Mass, less attention than the least of all, will suffice, and this to common apprehension is none at all. Others of them (as we saw before) will have no attention of mind needful for their office;