These things being considered, the reason which the Admonition vseth in the. 185. page, where this matter is spoken of, which is, drink you al of this, is not so ridiculous, as M. doctor maketh it. For although it do neyther proue that. 12. or. 20. or any other definite number must of necessitie re∣ceyue, yet it proueth that as all they which were present did communicate: so as many as in the Church are fit to receyue the Sacraments, or may conuetently receyue them togither, should fol∣low that example in celebrating the supper togither.
The booke of common prayer doth greatly commend, and like the receyning of the whole Church togither, but if that can not be obteyned (as it cannot, and they will not haue men compelled vnto it) it secludeth not those that be well disposed: so they be a competent number. And the booke doth exhort those to depart which do not com∣municate, with a warning from whence they depart, so that you may well vnder∣stand, that the meaning of the Booke is, that all that be present should communicate. Neither can this place of scripture be drawne to improue the decrée of ye Church ther∣in. For Christ had. 70. other disciples and his mother, with diuers other which follo∣wed him, that were not present at that Supper: as no doubt they should haue béene, if by that example he had ment to haue made a law, that there may be no Cōmunion vnlesse the whole congregation of euery particular Church do communicate togither.