M. Harding. The .25. Division.M. Hardinge. The .25. Diuision.

M. Harding. The .25. Division.

M. Hardinge. The .25. Diuision.

Mary I deny not, but that it were more commendable, and more godly on the Churches part, if many well disposed and examined, would be partakers of the blessed Sacrament with the Priest. But though the Clergy be worthily blamed for negligence herein,¹ through which the people may be thought to have grown to this slackness and indevotion: yet that not withstanding, this part of the Catholic Religion remaineth sound and faultless. For as touching the substance of the Mass it self, by the single Communion of the Priest in case of the peoples coldness and negligence, it is nothing impaired. Else if the public sacrifice of the Church might not be offered without a number of communicants receiving with the Priest in one place: then would the ancient Fathers in all their writings some where have complained of the ceasing of that, which every where they call Quotidianum & juge sacrificium, the daily and continual sacrifice: of which their opinion is, that it ought 34 daily to be sacrificed,² that the death of our Lord, and the work of our redemption might always be celebrated, and had in memory, and we thereby show our selves according to our bounden duty mindful and thankful. But verily the Fathers no where complain of intermitting the daily Sacrifice, but very much of the slackness of the people, for that they came not more often unto this holy and wholesome banquet: and yet they never compelled them thereto, but exhorting them to frequent it worthily, left them to their own conscience.

Marie I denie not, but that it were more commendable, and more godly on the Churches parte, if many wel disposed and examined, woulde be partakers of the blessed Sacrament with the Priest. But though the Cleargie be woorthely blamed for negligence herein,¹ through whiche the people may be thought to haue growen to this slackenesse and indeuotion: yet that not withstandinge, this parte of the Catholike Religion remaineth sounde and fautles. For as touchinge the substance of the Masse it selfe, by the single Communion of the Prieste in case of the peoples coldenesse and negligence, it is nothinge impaired. Els if the publike sacrifice of the Churche might not be offered without a number of communicantes receiuinge with the Prieste in one place: then woulde the auncient Fathers in al their writinges some wheare haue complayned of the ceasinge of that, whiche euery where they cal Quotidianum & iuge sacrificium, the dayly and continual sacrifice: of whiche their opinion is, that it ought 34 dayly to be sacrificed,