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WE doe not greatly force vpon this name: for both the name and the thing is abolished from our hearts and mouthes; & we trust in God, wee shall neuer haue occasion to knowe it againe. But howsoeuer it is, this name Missa, Masse, cannot signifie any such thing as they pretend.
1 For it seemeth that Missa was deriued, à dimissione populi, of the dimis∣sion or sending away of the people: and so was taken generally for any con∣gregation assembled either to pray, or sing Psalmes, or for any other religious duetie: As yet to this day in the Dutch language (Messe) signifieth any solemne frequencie or congregation of the people. In this sense Cassianus vnderstan∣deth Masse, that is, for the dimission of the people:* 1.1 speaking of him that com∣meth not timelie to the howers of praier: hee would not haue him to en∣ter in, but stantem pro foribus congregationis missam praestolari debere: hee ought standing without the doores to waite for the misse of the congre∣gation.
2 Augustine taketh this word Missa generally for the leiturgie or seruice of the Church, as serm. de tempore 251. if that Sermō be Augustines. Sunt aliqui, & maximè potentes huius mundi, cum veniunt ad ecclesiam, non sunt deuoti ad lau∣des Dei celebrandas, sed cogunt presbyterū vt abbreuiet Missam: there are some, and commonly the great men of the world, which come not to Church with a∣ny deuotion to sing praises to God, but they constraine the presbyter or Mini∣ster to make short Masse. Here this word Masse signifieth the whole leiturgie, as singing of Psalmes, and praising God; not any sacrifice or oblation: for then he would haue said, Cogunt sacerdotem, not presbyterum, They constraine the priest, not the Minister. Wherefore as the sacrifice of the Masse is of no great antiquitie, so neither is the name in that sence.