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 .10. Diuision.

M. Iuel, and many other of that side, thinke to haue an argument against Priuate Masse of the woorde Communio, as though the Sacrament were called a Communion in consideration of many receiuers together. And therfore in his Sermon oftentimes he màketh an opposition between Priuate Masse and the Communion, and alleging diuers places where mention is of a Communion, inferreth of eache of them an argument against Priuate Masse. But this agrument is weake and vtterly vnlear∣ned, as that whiche proceedeth of ignorance. 19* 1.1 For it is not so called, bicause many, or as M. Iuel tea∣cheth, the whole Congregation Cōmunicateth togeather in one place: but bicause of the effecte of the Sacrament, for that by the same wee are ioigned to God, and many that be diuers, be vnited together, and made one Mystical Body of Christe, whiche is the Churche, of whiche Body, by vertue and effecte of this holy Sacrament, al the faithful be mēbers one of an other, and Christe is the head. Thus diuers auncient Doctours doo expounde it: And specially Dionysius Ariopagita, where speakinge of this

Sacrament, he saith:* 1.2 Dignissimum hoc Sacramentum, sua praesantia reliquis Sacramentis longè antecellit, at{que} ea causa illud meritò singularit••r Communio appellatur. Nam quamuis vnumquod{que} Sacramentum id agat, vt nostras vitas in plura diuisas in vnicum il∣lum statum, quo Deo iungitur, colligat, attamen huic Sacramento Communio••s voca∣bulum praecipu•• ac peculiariter congru••t. This mosi woorthi•• Sacrament is of such excellencie, that it passeth farre al other Sacramentes. And for that cause it is alonely called the Communion. For al be it euery Sacrament be suche, as geathereth our liues that be diuided a sunder many waies into that one state, whereby wee are ioigned to God, Yet the name of Communion is fit and conuenient for this Sacrament specially, and peculiarly, more then for any other. By whiche woordes and by the whole place of that holy Father, wee vnderstande that this Sacrament is specially called the Com∣munion, for the special effecte it woorketh in vs: whiche is to ioigne vs nearely to God, so as we be in him, and he in vs: and al wee that beleeue in him, one Body in Christe. And for this in deede wee doo not Communicate alone. For in as muche as the whole Churche of God is but one house, as S. Cyprian saith, Vna est domus Ecclesiae, in qua agnus editur: There is one house of the Churche wherein the Lambe is eaten:* 1.3 And S. Paule saithe to Timothe, that this house of God, is the Churche of the liuinge God: who so euer dothe eate this Lambe woorthely, doth Communicate with al Christian men of al places, and countries, that be in this house, and doo the like. And therfore S. Hierome a Priest, shewinge him selfe lothe to contende in writinge with S. Augustine a Bishop, calleth him a Bishop of his Communion. His woordes be these. Non enim conuenit, vt ab a∣dolescentia vs{que} ad hanc aetatem, in Monasteriolo cum sanctis ••ratribus labore desudans, aliquid contra Episcopum Communionis meae scribere audeam,* 1.4 & eum Episcopum, quem ante coepi amare, quàm nosse. It is not meete (saith he) that I occupied in labour from my youth vntil this age, in a poore Monasterie with holy brethren, shoulde be so bolde as to write any thinge against a Bishop of my Communion, ye and that Bishop whom I began to loue, er that I knew him. Thus wee see that S. Hierome, and S. Augustine were of one 20* 1.5 Communion, and did Communicate together, though they were farre a sunder: Th••one at Bethlehem in Palestina, th••other at Hippo in Aphrica. Thus there may be a Communion, though the Communicantes be not to∣geather in one place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The .19. vn∣truth. For of Cōmu∣nicating to geather, it vvas called Cōmunio.
• * 1.2

  Ecclesiasti. Hie∣••arch. ca. ••.
• * 1.3

  De eaena Dn̄i. 1. Timoth. 3.
• * 1.4

  Inter Epistolas Augustini. Epi∣stol. 14.
• * 1.5

  The .20. Vntruthe, R••singe of the ambi∣guitie or doubtful ta¦king of this vvorde Cō∣munion.