A replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare by perusinge whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weake, and vnstable groundes of the Romaine religion, whiche of late hath beene accompted Catholique. By Iohn Iewel Bishoppe of Sarisburie.

M. Hardinge. The .3. Diuision.

If the terme, Masse, be taken for the acte of the Prieste, in respecte of any his onely dooinge, it is not able to remooue Sinne. For so we shoulde make the Prieste Goddes peere, and his acte equal with the Passion of Christe, as our aduersaries doo vniustly sclaunder vs. Yet hath the Masse ver∣tue, and effecte in some degree, and is acceptable to God, by reason of the oblation of the Sacrifice, whiche in the Masse is done by the offerer, without respecte had to Christes institution, euen for the faithful praier and deuotion of the partie, that offereth, whiche the Schooledoctours terme, ex opere operantis. For then the oblation seemeth to be moste acceptable to God, when it is offered by some that is acceptable. Now the partie that offereth, is of two sortes. The one offereth immedi∣atly, and personally: the other offereth mediatly, or by meane of an other, and principally. The firste is the Prieste that consecrateth, offereth, and receiueth the Sacrament, who so dothe these thinges in his owne person, yet by Goddes auctoritie, as none other in so offeringe is concurrent with him. The partie, that offereth mediatly or by meane of an other, and principally, is the Churche militant, in whose person the Prieste offereth, and whose minister he is in offering. For this is the Sacrifice of the whole Churche. The firste partie that offereth, is not alwaies acceptable to God, neither alwaies pleaseth him, because oftentimes he is a Sinner. The seconde partie that offereth, is euer∣more acceptable to God, because the Churche is alwaies Holy, belooued, and the onely spouse of Christe. And in this respecte the Masse is an acceptable seruice to God, Ex opere operantis,

and is not without cause and reason called a Sacrifice Propitiatorie, not for that it deserueth mercie at Goddes hande of it selfe, as Christe doothe, who onely is in that principal and special sorte a Sacrifice Propitiatorie: but for that it mooueth God to geue mercie, and remission of Sinne already deserued by Christe. In this degree of a Sacrifice propitiatorie, wee maye put Praier, a contrite Harte, Almose, forgeuinge of our neighbour, &c. This may easely be prooued by the ho∣ly Fathers.

Origens woordes be very plaine:* 1.1 Si respicias ad illam commemorationem, de qua di∣cit Dominus, Hoc facite in meam commemorationem, inuenies, quòd ista est commemo∣ratio sola, quae propitium faciat Deum. If thou looke to that commemoration, whereof our Lorde saithe, Doo this in my Remembraunce, or in commemoration of mee: thou shalte finde, that this is the onely commemoration, that maketh God merciful. S. Augustine saithe thus:* 1.2 Nemo me∣litis praeter Martyres meruit ibi requiescere, vbi & hostia Christus est, & Sacerdos, sci∣licet, vt Propitiationem de oblatione hostiae consequantur. No man hath deserued better then the Martyres* 1.3 to reste there, where Christe is bothe the Hoste, and the Prieste, (238)* 1.4 (he meaneth to be Buried vnder the Aulter) to the intent they mighte atteine Propitiation by the Oblation of the Hoste. But here to auoide prolixitie in a matter not doubteful, I leaue a number of places where∣by it may be euidently prooued, that the Masse is a Sacrifice propitiatorie in this degree of propi∣tiation, bothe for the Quicke and the Dead, the same not beinge specially denied by purpor••e of this Article. Thus we haue declared, as we mighte superficially treatinge of this Article, that the Masse is a Sacrifice Propitiatorie bothe Ex Opere operato, that is, throughe the merite of Christes Body that suffered on the Crosse, whiche is here Opus Operatum, and is by Christe through the ministerie of the Prieste in the Masse offered, Truly, but in Mysterie, and also Ex opere operante, that is, through the dooinge of the Prieste, if he haue the Grace of God, and so be acceptable, but in a farre lower degree of Propitiation, whiche is called Opus operans, or Opus operantis. And this is the doctrine of the Churche, touchinge the valour of the Masse Ex Opere Operato, whereby no parte of Christes Glorie is impaired.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉Leuit. Homil. 13.
• * 1.2

  Sermone 11. de Sanctis.
• * 1.3

  S. Augustine speaketh not of any Material Aultar in Earth, but of the Spi∣ritual Aultar in Heauen.
• * 1.4

  The .238. Vn∣trueth, stādinge in vntrue Con∣structiō. For S. Augustine saith, Vidi sub Ara Dei (non Cor∣po••a, se••.) ••••∣mas Sanctorū.