M. Hardinge. The .7. Diuision.
The Fathers of the Primitiue Churche had this Sacramente in suche reuerence, and honour, that they excluded some sortes of Faitheful people from beinge present at the celebration of it, thinkinge them vnwoorthy not onely to heare the mystical woordes of Consecratiō pronoūced, but also to see the Formes of the outwarde Elementes, and to be in the Churche, whiles that most holy Sacrifice was offered. They were these, Catechumeni, Energumeni, and Poenitentes. The firste were learners of our be∣leefe, who, as they were daily instructed, beleeued in Christe: and as S. Augustine writeth, bare Christes Crosse in their foreheade, and marked them selues with the same.* 1.1 The seconde were suche, as, not∣withstandinge they had beene Christened, Yet for the Inconstancie of their minde were vexed with vncleane Sprites. The thirde sorte were they, who for their sinnes committed, had not yet made an ende of dooinge their open penance. Al these were iudged by the Gouernours of the Churche at the beginninge vnwoorthy to be presente at these holy Mysteries. Nowe if this great reuerence towardes the holy thinges, in them was iustely praised, the admittinge of al sortes of people, not onely to be pre∣sente, and to beholde the same, but also to heare, and vnderstande the VVoordes of Consecration (218)* 1.2 (that hath thus alwaies beene honoured with silence, and Secretenes) cannot seeme to wise, zelous, and godly menne, a thinge commendable: specially in these times, in which the holy Christian Discipline of the Churche is loosed, and vtterly shaken of, and no difference nor accoumpte of any diuersitie made bitweene the perfite, and godly people, and them, that ought to doo open penance, that be possessed with Diuels, and be infamous for heinous and notorious crimes committed.