WE do read well in the books of the ancient doctors,1 and in the Ecclesiastical histories, that it is come often to pass, that because the devotion of the people was already become cold, and that they did very often celebrate the Supper, there were but the ministers and the Deacons and the Ancients of the Church, and those of the Clergy, and certain others which did communicate at the Supper. But yet for all that, such as would communicate, did communicate alway together, were they ministers, bishops, priests, deacons, or others: and there was no one at all which made his Supper apart. And in the mean while that true Bishops and true priests, being the true ministers of the Churches, did never give the people ⟨image 72⟩to understand that it was sufficient that they alone did administer the Supper for them, and for all the rest of the Church, neither did they make merchandises of it, as the Romaine priests do of their masses: but on the contrary, they did greatly blame and rebuke,2 such as willingly did abstain from the communion, and they declared unto them that they were rebels to God in so doing, and how ingrate & unworthy they were of such a grace. And among the rest S. John Chrysostom did oftentimes complain thereof. There are also sundry decrees & canons to the same effect, against those which did not communicate at all, & did not tarry to the end of the whole divine service, & of the last benediction, whereby the minister did conclude & end the same, as we do yet at this day, following the manner of the ancient church.3 But for so much as the service & the divine office is called in these canons, either by the name of sacrifice or of oblation, or of mass, the Romaine doctors & catholics do take it for their private & particular masses, to the which they are clean contrary. For they speak fully of all the divine service, and do make express mention of the supper and of the communion of the people and of all the whole church. But they which apply it in this sort, are so ignorant, or else so carried away by their own opinions and affections, that they do take for them selves those testimonies which ⟨image 73⟩are manifestly against them, and do put into our hands a sword, wherewith to beat them, and to cut their throats:
WE doe reade well in the bookes of the ancient doctors,1 and in the Ecclesiasticall histories, that it is come often to passe, that because the deuotion of the people was already become colde, and that they did very often celebrate the Supper, there were but the ministers and the Deacons and the Auncientes of the Churche, and those of the Clergie, and certaine others which did communicate at the Supper. But yet for all that, such as would cōmunicate, did cōmunicate alway together, were they ministers, byshops, priestes, deacons, or others: and there was no one at all which made his Supper aparte. And in the meane whyle that true Bishops and true priestes, beeing the true ministers of the Churches, did neuer giue the people ⟨image 72⟩to vnderstande that it was sufficient that they alone did administer the Supper for them, and for all the rest of the Churche, neither did they make marchādizes of it, as the Romaine priests do of their masses: but on the contrary, they did greatly blame and rebuke,2 such as willingly did abstaine from the communiō, and they declared vnto thē yt they were rebels to God in so doing, and how ingrate & vnworthy they were of such a grace. And amōg the rest S. Iohn Chrysostom did oftentimes cōplaine thereof. There are also sūdrie decrees & canons to ye same effect, against those which did not cōmunicate at all, & did not tarry to the end of the whole diuine seruice, & of the last benedictiō, whereby the minister did cō clude & end the same, as we doe yet at this day, following the maner of the ancient church.3 But for so much as the seruice & the diuine office is called in these canons, either by the name of sacrifice or of oblation, or of masse, the Romaine doctors & catholikes do take it for their priuate & particular masses, to the which they are cleane contrary. For they speake fully of all the diuine seruice, and do make expresse mētion of the supper and of the communion of the people and of all the whole church. But they which applie it in this sort, are so ignorāt, or els so caried away by their owne opinions and affections, that they do take for them selues those testimonies which ⟨image 73⟩are manifestly against them, and do put into our handes a swoorde, wherewith to beate them, and to cut their throtes:
- 1Note this.
- 2Note th• instructi••
- 3Note the names.
