An answer to the challenge of Mr. Henry Jennings (Protestant Arch-Deacon of Dromore) which evidently makes-out the present Church of Romes doctrine to have been maintain'd in the first five ages, & the adversarys principles to be only a heap of heresies lawfully condemn'd by the primitive Church. To which is annexed An answer to one Whealy. Set forth by James O Shiell reader of Divinity.

C••ap 3 provi••g ••hat t••e Co••m••n Prayers were 〈…〉〈…〉 gen••••al∣ly unde••stood by all ••hose of the Pr••mi∣tive Chu••ch.

The holy scripture encourag••s us to p••ay tho' we ••••de••stand ••o•• what is said: the••ef••re ••••is law∣full and expedient for us ••o pr••y tho' we underst••nd no•• 〈…〉〈…〉 is sa•••• the an••••cedent is manifest by S•• Paul•• fi••st Epist: to ••••e, Co∣r••nthi••ns, chap. ••4 v. •• whe•••• ••e sayes thu••: 〈…〉〈…〉 ••pea••eth ••n 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unknown tong••••, ••••eak••••h not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 men but unto God, for no man under∣standeth

him. Nay some times the speaker did not understand what himself said for the gift of lan∣guages and the gift of interpre∣ting languages are two distinct gifts as is evident by the 11. v. and did not alwayes meet togea∣ther as may be seen by the 13. v. of the aforsaid chapter for there the Apostle exhorts him who spea∣keth in an unknown tongue to pray that he may interpret; which is a sign that ordinaril•• he cou'd not; as is manifest by the 14. v; where he sayes thus, •••• I pray in an un∣known 〈…〉〈…〉 spirit p••ay••eth, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 underst••n••••••g is unfruitfull where 〈…〉〈…〉 see, that St. Paul 〈…〉〈…〉 un••erstan∣ding to be unfruitfull and not

our prayers, when we pray in an unknown tongue; moreover you see, that St, Paul gives to understand that it is lawfull, and not prohibited to pray in an un∣known tongue.

Now let us prove the consequen∣••e what the Apostles did, and practis'd, is lawfull and expedi∣ent for us to practice: but the Apostles publick liturgies have been in languages, which were not Generally understood by all the nations they Converted therefore tis lawfull and expe∣dient for our liturgies to be in a language not generally under∣stood by all nations 〈◊〉〈◊〉 use them: the major is evident and I shall prove the Minor ••he

Apostles publick liturgies were all in Hebrew, Greec••, Syriack, or Latine, as is manifest by all Ancient writters.) which were not generally known languages, to all n••r ••alf the Nations by them converted, and it was also in the same languages those of the primitive C••urch had their own publick l••turgies, af••er the Apostles death, as all the follo∣wing. Fathers doe openly de∣clare St ••iprian (who liv'd in the 3 Century expounding the Lords Prayer) affi••ms that then the publick liturgie was in Latin, and St. August•••• •• in his bookde Dono pe••••e••, chap 13, in his ••. book de Doct••in Ch••istiana chap. 13, and also expounding the 123.

Psal: and in his 173. Epistle de∣clares that all the western Chur∣ches had their Masse in Latin and St. Hierome (〈◊〉〈◊〉: in 〈◊〉〈◊〉:) affirms that all the ••••stern Chur∣ches had their Masse in Greek and vs'd St. Basils Greek liturgie: but then the Latin and Greek were not the vulgar languages of all Nations for before those times there were several other languages as is manifest, by the acts of the Apostle••: Chap: 2. Ʋ. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. where we read the following words: and they were all fill'd with the holy Ghost, and began to speake with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. ••nd there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, de∣vout men out of every Nation under

heaven, Now when this was nois'd abroad the mult••••ude came togeather and were confounded, because that every man hea••d them speake in his own language, and they were all a∣maz'd, and marvell'd, saying one to an other; behold, are not all these who speak Galileans, and how hear we every man in our tongue, wherein we were born. Whereby it plainly appears, that neither the Apostles or the Fathers of the Primitive Church, ever judg'd it to be ex∣pedient or necessary to translate the publick liturgie into the mo∣ther tongue of every Nation; nor consequently that it was Requi∣site, that it shuld be immediatly and expressly understood by eve∣ry one of the hearers; for they

knew too well that the end, for which the publick liturgie has been first instituted. does not re∣quire this: for the drift which the Church had in appoin••ing liturgies, is that thereby a conti∣nual tribute, or homage of pray∣ers, and thanksgivings, might be publickly offer'd to God by the Priest & also that the Christi∣ans (by their personal assistance at this publick service might unanimously exercise exterior acts of Religion agreeīg With the whole Church represented by the Ecclesiastical meeting of every pious congregation: moreover that every Christian by his pre∣sence at this service, might con∣sent to the publick Prayers, and

thanksgiving of the Church, in order to be made partaker of the graces, fruits, and benefits, which the Church commonly obtaines by its liturgies and publick o∣blation, for when the Priest cele∣brats Masse, or sayes any publck prayers belonging to it, he offers them to God for the people pre∣sent, for the whole Church, or for any other necessity of the people who are absent: so that it matters not, whether the people under∣stands him or no: because they ha∣ve as much benefit by his prayers, and oblation as if they had un∣derstood what he sayes; for if they hear him not speaking a∣word, they might be partakers of his prayers, and intercession,

being God to whom they are of∣fer'd, hears and understands him: for in Sacrifices, Prayers, and thanksgivings; the Priest speaks not to the Congregation, but to God: according to that of St. Paul's first Epist: to the Corinth: c 14. v 2: which is Confirm'd by the following example: when any man layes sick, or in distress at home, he sends to the Church to be pray'd for, by the Priest, and Congregation: now, shall we believe? because he neither hears, or understands the prayers offer'd for him, that he obtains no bene∣fit thereby? no, (the Lord forbid) for if so, the Prayers of the Righteous wou'd avail nothing, which is against that of St, James.

c. 5. v. 15 16: and w••ich is more, we wou'd never be the better for our Saviours intercession for us▪ to his heavenly Father because we neither heare nor understand him, or know when he interceds for us: yet we Receive innumer∣able benefits by his intercession: and also by the Priests intercessi∣on, when he Celebrats Masse, or sayes any other publick office or prayers instit••ted by the Church: for in this Common office he re∣presents our Saviours place one earth: and we are certain that the fervent Prayers of a Righteous man availeth much, according to that of St. James c. •• v. 15. 16. whe∣ther we understand them, or no•• for their effects doe not depend

of our intelligence, but rather of the acceptation of God Almigh∣ty, to whom they are offer'd.

But now ••o discover the folly of those who do uncharitably cen∣sure th•• Church of Rome for ha∣ving her Common Pray••rs in an unknown tongue: let them know, that there are many Millions of the said Church, who doe under∣stand it in Latin and those who doe not, that they are so well instructed by the C••ergy, that they know when to kneel, when to stand, when to Pray▪ when to give thanks▪ and when to do re∣verence, and when not: besides they have the most part of the Masse if not the whole, in their English, Italian, French, Dutch,

and Spanish prayer book••: which also was formerly in the Irish prayer books▪ and would conti∣nue so still; but that the penna•• lawes of that Kingdom (in Qeen Elizabeth's raign) prohibited any Irish Schooles; which oblig'd them to use their Prayers in Latin and English? exceptsome of the vulgar, who were not able to a∣low their Children Schooling to learn either of them: yet they ha∣ve traditionaly from their Clergy and parents their prayers: and other necessary instructions in Irish, taught them by word of mouth, and also that part of the Masse wherein they might ha∣ve any doubt, or scrouple. So that it is not said in Latin by

the Priest, to the intent that the people might not understand him; or to the intent that the flock might be keept in darkness (as some of the pretended Refor∣mers doe falsly reporte) but to the intent that the holy Catho∣lick Church in her Liturgies might vse one generall, & Com∣mon language, wherein all Na∣tions doe indisputably agree, & which is more practis'd than any other langauge, by the whole world; so that if one trav••ls thro' all Europe, he shall alwayes find the same liturgie us'd in all Catholick Churches which conformity is a manifest sign of good Goverment, which is in the Church of Rome.