A SECOND CHALLENGE,
Shewing the Iniquitie of Seruice in an vnknowne tongue. And first of the Iniury done by the fore-said Romane Decree vnto the soules of Men.
THe former Decree of your Councell, for vnknowne Seruice, how iniurious it is unto man, we may learne by the Confessi∣ons Page 23 of Iesuites and others, z granting that The Apostles in their times required a knowne Language, Greeke in the Greeke Churches, and Latine in the Latine Churches: because that first this made for the Edification and Consolation of Christians. Secondly, that Man gaineth more both in mind and affection, who knoweth what he pray∣eth. As for him that is Ignorant, you say, He is not edified, in asmuch as he knoweth not in particular, although in generall he doth vnder∣stand. Thirdly, that the Apostle commandeth that all things be done to edification. Fourthly, that the knowne Service is fitter for Deuotion: and thereupon some of you haue furthermore Con∣cluded, that It were better that the Service were used in a Language knowne both to the Clergie and People. And againe, that People pro∣fit no whit by praying in a strange language. So your owne Writers, as you may obserue in the Marginals.
Now what more extreame and intolerable Iniurie could you doe to the soules of Gods people, than by imposing a strange lan∣guage upon them, thereby (according to your owne Confessions) to depriue them, and that wittingly, of Edification, Consolation, and Devotion, the three chiefe Benefits that man's soule is capable off, in the seruice of God? Thus in respect of your Iniurie a∣gainst Man.
