A manuel of controversies clearly demonstrating the truth of Catholique religion by texts of Holy Scripture, councils of all ages, Fathers of the first 500 yeers, common sense and reason, and fully answering the principal objections of Protestants and all other sectaries / by H.T.

The major is proved, because, under God, she is our chief Mistris, Lady, and Governess. If he will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the Heathen, and the Publican, S. Matth. 18. 18.

The Minor shall be proved by the solution of Objections.

Fathers for this point.

IN the second Age S. Dionysius tells us, The sacred mysteries were kept secret from the com∣mon people, Eccles. Hierarch▪ c. 1. A certain proof they were not celebrated in the com∣mon languages of the people.

In the third Age S. Cyprian testifies, the pub∣lique Liturgie was in Latin, In Exposit. Oratio∣nis Domin. num. 13.

In the fourth Age S. Hierom affirms, All the Eastern Church was served in Greek, and used S. Basils Greek Liturgie. Praefat in Paralip.

In the fifth Age S. Augustine witnesses, That all the Western Church was served in Latin, and used the Latin Liturgie. De don. perse. c. 13. de Doct. Christian, l. 2. ••. 13. in Psal. 123. & Epist. 173.

Objections solved.

Ob. IF I come to you speaking with tongues [unknown] what shall it profit you? 1 Cor. 14. 6. And again, If then I know not the vertue of the voice, I shall be to him to whom I speak barbarous, and he that speaketh barbarous to me, vers. 11. And a third time, So you also speak∣ing with a tongue, unless you utter manifest speech, how shall that be known that is said, for you shall be speaking into the ayre? vers. 9.

Answ. S. Paul in those places speaks only against the publike use of strange tongues mi∣raculously inspired, and not intelligible, but by the special gift of interpretation, not against tongues gotten by industry, and wel under∣stood by the more learned sort of all Nations, such as Greek and Latine are▪ Besides, he only speaks there against speech addressed to the people by way of exhortation, and instructi∣on, in strange tongues, not against speech in unknown tongues, which is addressed to God only by way of prayer, such as the publike Li∣turgie is; that he allowes, at least in general termes, as you have heard. That this is S. Pauls scope and mind, appears partly by the very texts objected; for it followes in the first of them, What shall I profit you, unless I speak to you in revelation, or in knowledge, or in

prophecy, or in doctrine, vers. 6. And a lit∣tle before, For he that prophecieth speaks to men, unto edification, and exhortation, and in∣struction, vers. 3. So that this makes nothing against us.

Ob. He that speaketh with tongue (uknown) let him pray that he may interpret; the same E∣pist. v. 13.

Answ. This concerns neither prayer, nor the publike Liturgie, but exhortation; and if it did concern prayer, our answer would be, Our publike Liturgie is well understood by all the Priests, and well interpreted for the Laity, word by word, many hundred years ago.

Ob. If thou bless in spirit (a tongue un∣known) he that supplieth the place of the vulgar, how shall he say Amen? Because he knowes not what thou saist, 1 Corinth. ch. 14. ver. 16.

Answ. He speaks there only against ex∣temporarie prayer in an unknown tongue, and that not interpreted, not against set form of prayer in an unknown tongue (such as the publike Liturgie is) and that expoun∣ded and approved by the Church; to this the Clark may boldly say Amen. Let him expli∣cate his own meaning: He that speaketh with

tongue, let him pray that he may interpret, ver. 13. And if there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace in the Church, and let him speak to God and himself, vers. 28. This is not our case, our publike Liturgie hath many great and good Interpreters. Our exhortation and instruction of the people, as also our extemporary prayer, addressed to them be∣fore Sermons, or after, is alwayes in the knowne, and common Language of the people.

And for your better apprehension of the grand abuse of Protestants, in urging these texts to the people, against the publike Li∣turgie in an unknown tongue, please to note,

First, There is not any one text or word in all that chapter, concerning the publike Li∣turgie, or set form of prayer, which is ad∣dressed to God onely, but meerly concer∣ning exhortation and instruction of the peo∣ple, and extemporary prayer addressed to them in an unknown tongue: that, and on∣ly that is there forbidden, not absolutely, but with limitation, If there be no Interpreter.

Note secondly, That the Laity in our Church are not commanded to pray in an unknown tongue, but have their Offices and Devotions in their own vulgar Language

and such as will, may also have the Mast translated for them, and pray in the same words with the Priest, what then is here to be complained of? By keeping the Li∣turgie in the sacred Languages (which are the same in all ages) it hath been kept free from the corruptions, and mutability of o∣ther common Languages; so that the whole Church is able to judge of her own Litur∣gie, when any differences arise about it, which otherwise it could not.