M. Hardinge. The .30. Diuision.
And where as S. Paule seemeth to disallow praieing with tongues in the Common assemblie, be∣cause of wante of edifieing, and to esteeme the vtterance of fiue woordes or sentences with vnder∣standinge of his meaninge, that the rest might be instructed thereby, more then ten thousande wordes in a strange and vnknowen tongue: Al this is to be referred to the state of that time, whiche was muche vnlike the state of the Churche, wee be novv in. The tongue of the praiers whiche S. Paule speaketh of, was vtterly strange, and vnknowen, and serued for a signe to the vnbeleeuers. The Latine tongue, in the Latine Churche is not altogeather strange and vnknowen. For beside the Priest in most places some of the rest haue vnderstandinge of it, more, or lesse, and now we haue no neede of any suche signe. They needed instruction: vve be not ignorant of the chiefe pointes of Religion. They vvere to be taught in al thinges: vve come not to Churche specially and chiefely to be taught at the Seruice, but to praie, and to be taught by preachinge. Their praier vvas not vaileable for lacke of faithe, and therefore vvas it to be made in the vulgare tongue, for increace of Faithe: Our Faithe vvil stande vs in better steede, if vve geue our selues to deuoute Praier. They for lacke of Faithe had neede of interpretation, bothe in praiers, and also in Preachinge, and al other spiritual exercises: vve hauinge sufficient instruction in the necessary rudimentes of our faithe, for the rest, haue more neede by earnest and feruent praier, to make sute vnto God, for an vpright, pure, and holy life, then to spende muche time in hearinge for knovvledge. Concerninge vvhiche thinge,* 1.1 Chrysostome hath this saieinge:* 1.2 Profectò si orare cum diligentia insuescas, nihil est quòd doctrinam tui conserui desideres, quum ipse Deus sine vllo interprete mentem abundèluce afficiat. Verily if thou vse to praie diligently, there is nothinge, vvhy thou shouldest desier teachinge of thy felovv seruante, seeing God him selfe doothe abundantly lighten thy minde vvithout any interpreter.