Howe be it in the mean time, while these Doctors can better agree, it cannot be denied, but Christ ministered unto his Disciples the whole Sacrament in Both Kinds, & gave them in charge, in plain express words, to do the same. But of the half Communion in one kind, Christ neither gave them charge, nor spake any one word at all. If M. Harding will reply, that Christs words in this case be doubtful, & may be diversly taken, yet is that objection already answered. For the law saithe:1 Si de interpretatione Legis quaeratur, in primis inspiciendum est, quo jure Civitas retrò in huiusmodi casibus usa fuerit. Optima enim est Legum interpretatio Consuetudo. If question happen to be moved touching the meaning of a law, first of all we must see, what order hath been used in the like cases in times past. For the Custom, and practise of the people, is the best expounder of the Law. Now it appeareth plainly, that the Custom & practise of the purest Church, in the time of the Apostles, & others old Catholic Fathers was, to minister unto the people in Both Kinds: whereof we may conclude, that the same was Christs Institution, & very meaning. But if M. Harding will apply the authority of Custom unto his purpose, for that the common practise of the Church of Rome for a few late years, hath been to the contrary, that therefore this was Christs meaning, this objection is also soon answered. For both Law, & common reason saith: In ambiguo sermone non utrunque dic••us, sed id duntaxat quod volumus. 2In a doubtful speech we speak not both the things (that may be gathered) but that thing only, that we mean. Now if Christ meant both the order, that was practised by The Apostles, & Old Fathers, and also the contrary order, that of late hath been practised in the Church of Rome, then had Christ at one time, and in the uttering of one sentence, not only two, but also divers and contrary meanings: and so by M. Hardinges judgement, Christ must needs construe his own words in this wise: Drink ye all of this, I mean, set priests only drink of this: Drink ye all, I mean, some may not Drink: Drink ye all, I mean contrary, Drink ye not all. And when I say, Do ye the same that I have done, my meaning is otherwise, Do not the same that I have done. O M.
Howe be it in the meane time, while these Doctours can better agrée, it cannot be denied, but Christe ministred vnto his Disciples the whole Sacrament in Bothe Kindes, & gaue them in charge, in plaine expresse woordes, to doo the same. But of the halfe Communion in one kinde, Christe neither gaue them charge, nor spake any one woorde at al. If M. Hardinge wil replie, that Christes woordes in this case be doubtful, & may be diuersly taken, yet is that obiection already answeared. For the lawe saithe:1 Si de interpretatione Legis quaeratur, in primis inspiciendum est, quo iure Ciuitas retrò in huiusmodi casibus vsa fuerit. Optima enim est Legum interpretatio Consuetudo. If question happen to be moued touchinge the meaninge of a lawe, first of al we must see, what order hath beene vsed in the like cases in times past. For the Custome, and practise of the people, is the best expounder of the Lawe. Now it appeareth plainely, that the Custome & practise of the purest Churche, in the time of the Apostles, & others olde Catholike Fathers was, to minister vnto the people in Both Kindes: wherof we may conclude, that the same was Christes Institution, & very meaninge. But if M. Harding wil applie thautoritie of Custome vnto his purpose, for yt the cōmon practise of the Church of Rome for a fewe late yéeres, hath béene to the contrary, that therfore this was Christes meaninge, this obiection is also soone answeared. For bothe Lawe, & common reason saithe: In ambiguo sermone non vtrunque dic••us, sed id duntaxat quod volumus. 2In a doubtful speache we speake not bothe the thinges (that may be geathered) but that thinge onely, that we meane. Nowe if Christe meante bothe the order, that was practised by Thapostles, & Olde Fathers, and also the contrary order, that of late hath béene practised in the Churche of Rome, then had Christe at one time, and in the vtteringe of one sentence, not onely twoo, but also diuers and contrary meaninges: and so by M. Hardinges iudgement, Christe must néedes construe his owne woordes in this wise: Drinke ye al of this, I meane, set pristes onely drinke of this: Drinke ye al, I meane, some maie not Drinke: Drinke ye al, I meane contrary, Drinke ye not al. And when I saye, Dooe ye the same that I haue doone, my meaninge is otherwise, Dooe not the same that I haue doone. O M.
- 1De Legibus & Senatusconsult. & longa consue. Si de.De Legibus & Senatusconsult. & lōga consue. Si de.
- 2De rebus dubijs. In ambiguo.
