M. Hardinge. The .3. Diuision.
That the oblation of the Masse is profitably made for others, S. Gregorie witnesseth very plai∣nely, Homilia. 37. expounding the place of S. Luke, cap. 14. Alioqui legationem mittens, ea quae pacis sunt postulat. Elles he sendeth foorth an Ambassade, and sueth for peace. Hereupon he saithe thus: Mittamus ad Dominum legationem nostram, flendo, Sacras Hostias of∣ferendo. Singulariter namque ad absolutionem nostram, obla••a cum lachrimis, & benignitate mentis, Sacri Altaris Hostia suffragatur: Let vs sende to our Lorde our Am∣bassade, with weeping, geuing Almose, and offering of holy Hostes. For the Hoste of the holy Aultar (that is, the Blessed Sacrament) offered with teares, and with the merciful bountie of our minde, helpeth vs singularely to be assoiled. In that homilie he sheweth, that the oblation of Christes Bodie in this Sacrament Present, whiche is done in the Masse, is helpe, and comfort not onely to them that be Present, but also to them that be Absent, bothe quicke, and deade, whiche he proueth by examples of his owne knowledge.
VVho so listeth to see antiquitie for proufe hereof, and that in the Apostles time Bishops, and Priestes in the dreadful Sacrifice offered, and praied for others, as for euerystate, and order of men, and also for holesomenesse of the ayer, and for fertilitie of the fruites of the Earth, &c. let him reade the eighth booke of the Constitutions of the Apostles set foorth by Clement.