1. They need not know what they are to pray for, or to whom, or whether they pray or not; all is muffled up in an unknown Language, and they are to venture at they know not what, nor how, nor whither. *No wonder if they direct the Lords prayer to Saints, Male or Female; and say our Father, to the Virgin Mother: and in like manner direct Ave-Mary's to Christ, as if they took him to be a Woman, or to be with Child (and with himself too) to be the fruit of his own Womb; or to be his own Mother, which the words so applied signify. This ignorance is the dam of such Devotion, such as is both horrid and blasphemous to the highest degree of horror. And yet their great Clerks will countenance it. The wisdom of their Church hath thought it fit, that they should not be so wise, as to understand what they do, when they are serving God. The Counsel of Trent •ulminates a Curse against those, who hold that the Mass ought to be celebrated in a known Tongue: that is, they curse those, who approve not that mode of service, which the Apostle condemns as (b)Barbarous, 1 Cor. 14. such as is not fit for God or man, they curse those who will not offer a blind Sacrifice, or blindfold. As if ⟨p. 65⟩one under the Law ought not to have seen, whether that which he offered, were a Hog, or a Sheep; whether he Sacrificed a Lamb, or cut of a Dogs neck; whether he presented an Oblation, or offered Swines blood. They think not only the people, but even the Clergy unconcerned, to know what they say, when they speak unto God. (c)The Clergy (saith Jacobus de Graffiis) or the Laity when they are at Divine service, if they understand not what they say, they sin not. It is so far from being their duty to serve God as Christians, that they need not act as Men in his service. If the words be but said, though with no (d)more understanding, than Mag-pies are taught to sound them: it's as reasonable service as their Church requires; what God requires, with them is no matter. They expect not, that any should understand their service, but expert Divines, as (a)Soto tells us. Now it is a very small part of their Clergy that pretends to be Divines, and a small part of those few that are expert therein; it is an attainment which most of their Bishops fall short of:
1. They need not know what they are to pray for, or to whom, or whether they pray or not; all is muffled up in an unknown Language, and they are to venture at they know not what, nor how, nor whither. *No wonder if they direct the Lords prayer to Saints, Male or Female; and say our Father, to the Virgin Mother: and in like manner direct Ave-Marie's to Christ, as if they took him to be a Woman, or to be with Child (and with himself too) to be the fruit of his own Womh; or to be his own Mother, which the words so applyed signifie. This ignorance is the dam of such Devotion, such as is both horrid and blasphemous to the highest degree of horror. And yet their great Clerks will countenance it. The wisdom of their Church hath thought it fit, that they should not be so wise, as to understand what they do, when they are serving God. The Counsel of Trent •ulminates a Curse against those, who hold that the Masse ought to be celebrated in a known Tongue: that is, they curse those, who approve not that mode of service, which the Apostle condemns as (b)Barbarous, 1 Cor. 14. such as is not fit for God or man, they curse those who will not offer a blind Sacrifice, or blindfold. As if ⟨p. 65⟩one under the Law ought not to have seen, whether that which he offered, were a Hogg, or a Sheep; whether he Sacrificed a Lamb, or cut of a Doggs neck; whether he presented an Oblation, or offered Swines blood. They think not only the people, but even the Clergy unconcerned, to know what they say, when they speak unto God. (c)The Clergy (saith Jacobus de Graffiis) or the Laity when they are at Divine service, if they understand not what they say, they sin not. It is so far from being their duty to serve God as Christians, that they need not act as Men in his service. If the words be but said, though with no (d)more understanding, than Mag-pyes are taught to sound them: it's as reasonable service as their Church requires; what God requires, with them is no matter. They expect not, that any should understand their service, but expert Divines, as (a)Soto tells us. Now it is a very small part of their Clergy that pretends to be Divines, and a small part of those few that are expert therein; it is an attainment which most of their Bishops fall short of:
- *Vid. Navar. de Orat. c. 10. n. 36. &c. 18. n. 32. Spotsw. Hist. l. 2. p. 92. Molanus Theol. pract. tr. 3 c. 9. n. 6.
- (b)Omnis Sermo qui non intelligitur barbarus judicatur. Jerome. in 1 Cor. 14. In Navar de horis. Canon. cap. 13. n. 4. They are directed to address themselves to God or the Virgin Mary th•. Grant O Lord, or Lady what I ask, though I know not what.Omnis Sermo qui non intelligitur barbarus judicatur. Jerom. in 1 Cor. 14. In Navar de horis. Canon. cap. 13. n. 4. They are directed to address themselves to God or the Virgin Mary th•. Grant O Lord, or Lady what I ask, though I know not what.
- (c)Clerici aut laici qui Divinis intersuet, si non intelligunt quae dicunt, non peccant l. 2. c. 51. n. 12. p. 291.
- (d)Quid hoc sit intelligere debemus uti humana ratione, non quasi avium voce cantemus. Nam & m•rul• psi•aci & corvi & picae & hujusmodi volu•res, saepe ab hominibus docentur s•nar• quod nesciunt, scienter auter• cantare non avi sed homini, divina voluntate concessum est. Augustin. in ps. 18. exposit. secunda p. 103. t. 8.
- (a)Supra. l. 10 q 5. art. 5.
