Exomologesis, or, A faithfull narration of the occaision and motives of the conversion unto Catholick unity of Hugh-Paulin de Cressy, lately Deane of Laghlin &c. in Ireland and Prebend of Windsore in England now a second time printed with additions and explications by the same author who now calls himself B. Serenus Cressy, religious priest of the holy order of S. Benedict in the convent of S. Gregory in Doway.

Of Publique service in the Latin tongue.

8. This is a matter which concerns only the outward order and decorum of the church, an

whereof Ecclesiasticall Governours are only to be judges and disposers, so that if there be any excesse or inconvenience, they only are answer∣able before Almighty God, particular persons are not at all concerned in it. Indeed if the Church had appointed her service in the La∣tin tongue on purpose that the people should not understand it: Or if she had decreed that it was a thing unlawfull that any body should praise God with the understanding, but onely Priests, and Bishops, and learned men, Prote∣stants might have some pretence for their cla∣mor, in this regard. But 1. since the Church found her Liturgies in the same tongue through all the Westerne world from the beginning of Christianity. 2. Since no example can be found in any antient churches, Jewish or Chri∣stian, Eastern or Westerne, that the langua∣ges of Publique Service have beene altered, though those of the Countryes have beene; insomuch as in our Saviours time the Jewish Devotions were performed in Hebrew, when the people only understood the Syrian tongue; so the Cophtites, so the AEthiopians, and so the Jewes to this day. 3. Since it is apparently, both of great comelinesse and benefit, that there should be an uniformity in Gods publike wor∣ship, so as that wheresoever a Christian travels, he may as well joyne himself with other Chri∣stians in the service of God, as when he staid at home. 4. Since particularly for the Masse, the greatest part of it from all Anti∣quity was performed in a low voice by the Bi∣shop or Priest, the people neither hearing, nor in the antient Church seeing him, by reason

of a vail or curtain, which was drawn between the Altar & the people, excepting only at some cer∣tain peculiar times, as at the Elevation, &c. 5. Since the church permits the translating and publish∣ing of her Liturgies, since she commands the Priests to explain and inculcate unto the people the meaning of all mysteries; and since she fur∣nishes even the most ignorant persons with de∣votions suitable to their capacities, and far more beneficiall to them then the hearing the Psalms and other parts of Scripture read, so diffi∣cult and abstruse, that even the most learned must confesse their inability to comprehend them. Lastly, since an indiscreet promiscuous exposing of Scriptures hath beene the occasions of so many inconveniences, a better though sad∣der proof whereof cannot be given then in the present state of England, where every one read∣ing Scripture, and all visible authority of inter∣preting it (so as to oblige others to receive such interpretations) being disclaimed, every one of those infinite numbers of Sects believe that they find in Scripture sufficient warrant for all such horrible seditions and murders as have lately been committed there: Therefore the Catho∣lique church hath esteemed it a thing befitting her wisdome to continue an uniformity in her publike worship received from our Fathers, and her care and charity to appoint respectively to every condition and state of Christians their proper allowance and dimensum of spirituall food, and to imitate our Saviour, who would not reveale even to his Apostles themselves all the mysteries of the Kingdome of God, during the times of their infirmity, when they were not able to bear them.

9. These being the principall points of con∣troversie between Catholiques and Protestants, I judged fit to signifie how (when I considered what the church had declared to be her sense of them, separating them from private opinions, to which no man is obliged) they appeared so reasonable, and so consonant to antiquity, that if I should have continued in a separation from her for their cause, I must at the same time have professed to have renounced all interest in the most glorious Saints and Martyrs that ever the church enjoyed. And if it were Gods good pleasure that all other Protestants, lovers of uni∣ty, would think fit not to judge of the Catholike church by the character given of her by Calvi∣nist Controvertists, who lay to her charge what∣soever imprudent or erroneous positions they find in any particular Catholike author, inso∣much as I am confident not one objection a∣mong twenty in their writings proceeds directly against the church, but that, if they would be perswaded to hear her testifying of her self in her publike doctrine, they would find that they have been cousened into the guilt of this perni∣cious exterminating crime of Schisme, by the passions and iuterests af men, enemies to peace and Christian charity, and that they have been enemies to Gods church for telling them the truth, that perhaps themselves believed in the sense and latitude that she proposeth it. Lastly, if they would but think the judgement of their own Bucer (in Mat. c. 26.) worthy to be heark∣ned to, who tells them, Nihil esse damnandum quod ull •• ratione bonum esse queat. i. e. That nothing is to be condemned (especially in the

Church the Spouse of Christ, and Mother of us all) that by any way (or in any sense, or respect) can be good, they would think themselves ob∣liged to consider the doctrines of the church with all possible caution, modesty, humility, and charitable construction, and not ruine their souls by forsaking her Communion, till they found that charity her self, which covers a mul∣titude of sins, could not excuse her, that is, till they found that notwithstanding the promises of Christ, the gates of bell had, actually pre∣vailed against her.