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 .16. Diuision.

Iustinus the Martyr likewise describing the manner and order of Christian Religion of his time touchinge the vse of the Sacrament, saith thus:* 1.1 Finitis ab ••o, qui praefectus est, gratijs & orati∣onibus, & ab vniuerso populo facta acclamatione, Diaconi quos ita vocamus, vnicui{que} tunc temporis praesenti, Panis & aquae, & vini consecrati dant participationem, & ad eos, qui non adsunt, deferunt. When the Priest hath made an ende of thankes and Praiers, and al the people therto haue saide Amen: They whiche wee cal Deacons, geue to euery one then present, Breade, and water, and wyne Consecrated to take parte of it for their housel, and for those that be not present, they beare it home to them. Thus in that time they that serued God togeather in the common place of Praier, and some others that were absent, letted from comming to their companie by sickenesse, businesse, or otherwise, 26* 1.2 Communicated togeather, though not in one place: and no man cried out of breakinge the Institution of Christe.

And bicause M. Iuel is so vehement against Priuate Masse, for that the Priest receiueth the Sa∣crament alone, and triumpheth so much as though he had woonne the fielde, makinge himselfe mery with these woordes in deede without cause: vvhere then vvas the Priuate Masse? vvhere then vvas the Single Communion al this vvhile? He meaneth for the space of sixe hundred yeres after Christe, as there he expresseth: I wil bringe in good euidence and witnesse, that longe before S. Gregories time that he speaketh of, ye from the beginning of the Churche, faithful per∣sons bothe* 1.3 men and vvomen receiued the Sacrament alone, and were neuer therefore reproued as breakers of Christes Institution. And er I enter into the rehersal of the places whiche I am hable to shew for this purpose, one question I demaunde of M. Iuel. If they whiche remained at home, of whom Iustinus Martyr writeth, receiued the Communion by them selues alone lawfully, why may not the Priest doo the same in the Churche, seruinge God in moste deuoute wise in the holy Sacrifice

of the Masse, lacking compartners without any his defaulte?* 1.4 Haue the Sacramentar••es any Reli∣gion to condemne it in the Priest, and to allow it in lay folke? what is in the Priest that shoulde make it vnlawful to him, more then to the people? Or may a lay man or woman receiue it kepte a longe time, and may not a Priest receiue it forthwith, so soone as he hath consecrated and offered? And if case of necessitie be alleged for the lay, the same may no lesse be alleged for the Priestes also wanting compartners without their defaulte. For otherwise the memorie and recordinge of our Lordes death should not according to his commaundement be celebrated and doone. wel, now to these places.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Apolog. 2.
• * 1.2

  The .26. vn∣truthe. Iustinus speaketh not one vvoorde of Cōmunica∣ting togea∣ther.
• * 1.3

  M. Hard. bringeth one thinge for another Sole Recei∣uinge in steede of Priuate
• * 1.4

  Masse: me•• and vvomē in steede of the Priest.