M. Harding. The .4. Division.M. Hardinge. The .4. Diuision.

M. Harding. The .4. Division.

M. Hardinge. The .4. Diuision.

Now in this West Church, which is the Latin Church, the people having been sufficiently instructed, touching the belief of the Body, and Blood of our Lord in the Sacrament, (217)¹ it hath been thought by the Fathers convenient, the Words of Consecration to be pronounced by the priest closely, and in silence, rather then with open voice. Wherein they had special regard to the dignity of that high Mystery. And doubtless for this point they understood, as S. Basil writeth, that the Apostles, and the Fathers, which at the beginning made laws for the order of Ecclesiastical things, maintained the Mysteries in their due authority, by keeping them secrete, and in silence. For it is not,² saith he, any Mystery at all, which is brought forth to the popular, and vulgar cares, whereof he wrote very truly before: Ei, quod publicatum est, & per se apprehendi potest, imminere contemptum: Ei verò, quod remotum est, ac rarum, etiam naturaliter quodammodo esse coniunctā admirationem. That, what is done openly, and made common, and of it self may be attained, it is like to come in contempt, and be despised. But what is kept far of, and is seldom gotten, that even naturally in manner is never without wondering at. And in such respect Christ gave warning, that Precious Stones be not strewed before hogs.

Nowe in this VVeast Churche, whiche is the Latine Churche, the people hauinge beene sufficiently instructed, touchinge the beliefe of the Bodie, and Bloude of our Lorde in the Sacramēte, (217)¹ it hath beene thought by the Fathers conuenient, the VVoordes of Consecration to be pronounced by the priest closely, and in silence, rather then with open voice. VVherein they had special regarde to the dignitie of that high Mysterie. And doubtlesse for this pointe they vnderstoode, as S. Basile writeth, that the Apostles, and the Fathers, whiche at the beginninge made lawes for the order of Ecclesiastical thinges, mainteined the Mysteries in their due auctoritie, by keepinge them secrete, and in silence. For it is not,