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.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Good reader, beh••lde not the names of these Fathers here alleged, but rather weighe their sayinges. M. Harding hath brought them for his Masse: but they witnesse clearely and fully against his Masse: and of al others none more preg∣nant, or plaine then Iustinus Martyr: wherof thou hast good occasion to consider, how faithfully these men demeane them selues in the allegation of the Doctours.

Iustinus* 1.1 touchinge this mater writeth thus: Towardes the ende of the Praiers, eche of vs with a kisse saluteth other. Afterwarde vnto him that is the chiefe emonge the brethren, is deliuered Breade, and a Cuppe mingled with wine, and water: whiche he hauinge receiued rendreth praise and glorie vnto the Father of al thinges, in the name of the Sonne and the Holy Ghost, and yeeldeth thankes a greate space, for that he is thought woorthy of these thinges.

Whiche beinge orderly doone, the people blesseth or confirmeth his Praier, and thankesgeuing sayinge,* 1.2 Amen &c. This ended, they that emonge vs be called Deacons, deliuer to euery of them that be present, the Breade, Wine, and Water, whiche are Consecrate with thankesge∣uinge, and cary of the same to them that be absent. Here is set foorthe the whole and plaine order of the holy Ministration vsed in the Churche at that time. The Priest praieth and geueth thankes in the Uulgare tongue:* 1.3 the whole Congregation hea∣reth his woordes, and confirmeth the same, sayinge Amen. The holy Communion is Ministred to the people in bothe kindes: and al the whole Churche receiu••th to∣geather. I maruel muche wherein M. Harding can liken any parte hereof to his Priuate Masse: Onlesse it be for that, as he saide before, euery Priuate Masse is common, so ••e wil now say, euery Communion is Priuate.

Let vs a litle compare Iustines Masse,* 1.4 and M. Hardinges Masse bothe togea∣ther. And to passe by al other circumstances of difference, in Iustines Masse al the people did receiue: in M. Hardinges Masse none of the people doo receiue. In Iustines Masse none absteined: in M. Hardinges Masse al absteine. In Iustines Masse a portion was sente to the absent: in M. Hardinges Masse there is no por∣tion deliuered, no not vnto the present. Withwhat countenaunce then can any man allege the authoritie of Iustine to proue the antiquitie of Priuate Masse?

M. Iuel triumpheth, saithe M. Hardinge, and maketh him selfe mery, as if he had wonne the fielde. No, no, M. Iuel triumpheth not, but geueth al triumphe, victorie, and glory vnto God,* 1.5 that wil subdue al them that withstande his truthe, and make his enemies his foote stoole.

I wil bringe good euidence and witnesse (saithe M. Hardinge) that from the beginninge of the Churche faithful persons bothe men and women receiued the Sacrament alone. I haue no greate cause to doubte these witnesses: for excepting onely the Fable of Amphilo∣chius, and Iohn the Almonare, whiche were not woorthe the reckening, I alleged al the rest in mine owne Sermon. I knew them, & had weighed them, and there∣fore I alleged them. That certeine godly persons both men and women in time of persecution, or of sickenesse, or of other necessitie receiued y^e Sacrament in their howses, it is not denied, neither is it any parcel of this question.

But if M. Hardinge coulde haue proued that any man, or woman in the Pri∣mitiue Churche euer saide Priuate Masse, then had he answeared somwhat to the

purpose.

He séemeth to reason thus: Some receiued the Sacrament alone: Ergo, there was Priuate Masse.

The foly of this argument wil the better appeare by the like.

Wemen receiued the Sacrament alone: Ergo wemen saide Priuate Masse.

But (sa••the M. Harding) it was lawful for lay men to receiue alone: why then was it not lawful for the Priest? If he coulde haue proued his Masse by Priestes, he woulde neuer haue sought helpe at lay mens handes. How be it, this doubte is soone answ••ared. For he knoweth by his owne learninge, that it is lawful for a Priest to say Masse: Yet is it not lawfull for a lay man to doo the same. Of the other side, it is lawfull (as he saith) for the lay man to receiue in one kinde: yet is not the same lawful for the Priest. But if he wil néedes take a president of lay men for Priestes to folow, let him rather reason thus: This maner of Priuate receiuing at home was not lawfull for the lay men:* 1.6 for it was abolished by godly Bishoppes in General Councel:* 1.7 Ergo, it was not lawful for the Priest to say Priuate Masse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iustinus Martyr in Apologia 2.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  Th••order of the Ho••y Ministra∣tion in Iustines time.
• * 1.4

  Iustines Com∣munion and M. Hardinges Masse compared togeather.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 110.
• * 1.6

  Concil.
• * 1.7

  Caesaraugustan. Cap. 3.