M. Harding. The .29. Division.M. Hardinge. The .29. Diuision.

M. Harding. The .29. Division.

M. Hardinge. The .29. Diuision.

Soter Bishop of Rome about the year of our Lord. 170. who suffered Martyrdom under Antoninus Verus the Emperor, for order of celebrating the Mass, made this statute or decree: Ut nullus Presbyterorum solennia celebrare praesumat, ¹nisi duobus praesentibus, sibique respondentibus, & ipse tertius habeatur, quia cum pluraliter ab eo dicitur, Dominus Vobiscum, & illud in secretis, Orate prome: apertissimè conuenit, ut ipsius respondeatur saluta•ioni. This hath been ordained that no Priest presume to celebrate the solemnity of the Mass, except there be two present, and answer him, so as he him self be the third. For where as he saith, (as by way of speaking to many) Our Lord be with you, and likewise in the Secretes Pray you for me: It seemeth evidently convenient, that answer be made to his salutation accordingly. which ancient decree requireth not that all people of necessity be present, 37² much less, that all so often times should Communicate Sacramentally, which thing it requireth neither of those two that ought to be present. If of the bare words of this Decree a sufficient argument may not be made for our purpose, inducing of the affirmation of that one thing there specified, the denial of that other thing we speak of, which manner of argument is commonly used of our adversaries: then more weight may be put unto it in this case: for that where as the receiving of Christs Body is a far greater matter, then to answer the Priest at Mass, if that holy Bishop and Martyr, had thought it so necessary as that the Mass might not be done without it: Doubtless of very reason and convenience, he would, and should have specially spoken of that, rather then of the other. But for that he thought otherwise, he required only of necessity, the presence of two for the purpose above mentioned.

Soter Bishop of Rome aboute the yere of our Lorde. 170. who suffered Martyrdome vnder Antoninus Verus the Emperour, for order of celebratinge the Masse, made this statute or decree: Vt nullus Presbyterorum solennia celebrare praesumat,