T. C. Page. 128. Sect. 1. 2. 3.
He addeth further out of Iustine Martyr, that the Deacons dyd distribute the bread and the wyne, in the administration of the Supper. Tully sayth in a certayne place, that it is as greate a poynt of wisedome in an aduocate, or pleader of causes, to holde back and to keepe close that which is hurtfull to hys cause, as it is to speake that which is profitable.
M. Doctor obserueth none of these poynts, for besydes that the things whych he brought for the defense of the seruice booke, are suche, as they haue before appeared: in seeking to defende it, he manifestly oppugneth it. For before h〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 sayde, that the booke of seruice dothe not permit Deacons to minister the supper of the Lorde, and that by way of allowing of the booke, and here proueth that the Deacons dyd minister the sacrament of the Supper, and that also as a thyng whyche he dothe allowe of.
But to let that passe, I beseeche thee (good Reader) marke, what a (*) 1.1 ministring of the Supper thys is, whiche Iustine maketh mention of, and note wyth what conscience M. Doctor handleth this cause. Iustine sayth, that after the Scriptures are read, and preached of, and prayers made, bread and wyne, and water was broughte foorth, and that the minister made prayers and thankesgiuing in the hearing of the people, (whych is that whyche the Euangelistes call the blessing, and hath beene of later times called the consecration) and after that the people were partakers of them, that then thys beeing done, the Deacons doe carry of that whych was left vn∣to those whych were not present (for that corruption of sending the Communion vnto the houses was then in the Churche, agaynst whych I haue before spoken) now if to carry to a priuate house the bread and wyne whyche was blessed, or set aparte by prayers, and by obeying the institution of Christ by the minister, be to minister the sacrament of the Supper, than Serapions boy, of whome mention is made by Eusebius, ministred the sacrament. For Serapion beeing sicke, as* 1.2 I haue before shewed; and sending hys boy to the minister for the sacrament, receyued the same at the hands of his boy, for that the minister beeing sicke, could not come hym selfe. So by M. Doc∣tors reason Serapions boy ministred the sacrament.
Where dothe M. Doctor saye that Deacons dyd minister the Lordes supper? set downe his wordes: Is there no ende of your falsifying and vntrue gathering? Let the Reader compare the wordes that I haue recited out of Iustinus Martyr wyth your collection, and then iudge of the honestie and sinceritie of your dealing. The Admonition so speaketh of Deacons as thoughe their office in the primitiue Church, had béene onely to gather, and to distribute almes. This I denye, and proue that Deacons dyd then also preache, baptise, and distribute the bread and the wyne in the administration of the Lordes Supper. I no where saye, neyther doe I beléeue that they dyd at any tyme minister the Lordes Supper, and you mighte haue vn∣derstoode, that to distribute the bread and wyne to the people in the administration of the Supper, is not to minister the Sacrament of the Supper. For these Deacons of whome Iustinus Martyr speaketh, yea and Serapions boy also dyd the one, but they dyd not the other: and therefore the spirite of cauilling hathe dryuen you to thys surmise.