Chap. 6. the. 13. Diuision.
And vpon this eyther contempt or superstitious feare, drawne from the Papistes lenton pre∣paration of fortie dayes, eare〈1 line〉〈1 line〉hrift, displing, &c. it commeth to passe that men receyuing the Supper of the Lord but seldome, when they fall sicke must haue the Supper ministred vnto them in theyr houses, which otherwise being once euery weeke receyued before shoulde not breede any suche vn∣quietnesse in them, when they cannot come to receyue it, although as I haue before shewed, if they had neuer receyued it before, yet that priuate receyuing were not at any hand to be suffered. And thus hauing declared what I thinke to be faultie, in the Communion booke in this poynt, and the reasons why, and withall answered to that which eyther M. Doctor alledgeth in this place of the 80. and 81. and likewise in the 152. and 185. pages touching this matter, I come nowe vnto that which is called the Iewish purifying by the Admonition, and by the seruice booke afore tyme, the purifycation of women.
I sée not howe this in any poynt is true: for lenton fast was then vsed when the Communion was most diligently and often frequented, and indéede the rare and sel∣dome receyuing, came in with priuate Massing, which had the beginning long after the lenton fast.
To receyue once euery weeke is a thing to be wished if it might conueniently bée, And yet notwithstanding were not the Communion to be denyed to the sicke: for it oftentymes commeth to passe, that men through infirmitie and sicknesse are not able to come to the Churche in whole monethes and yeares, whome this wéekely com∣municating coulde nothing helpe, and it were agaynst all reason to debarre them of this seale of Gods promises, this effectuall maner and kinde of applying of the death of Christ vnto themselues, this assurance of the forgiuenesse of sinnes, and this Sa∣crament of comfort, especially in tyme of extremitie and sicknesse, if they be desirous of it. And thus you haue declared what you thinke to be faultie in the Communion booke in this poynt, and the reasons why: but of what force your reasons are, and how iustly in this poynt you charge the booke, the Reader may now iudge.