that end ought to be interpreted unto them, they consequently affirme, that the service and prayer in the Reformed Churches in the vulgar tongue, was better for the edification of the Church. And without doubt, the Apostles being commanded, (To shew foorth the Lord's death till his comming) did not intend to shew it to the walles, or in a silent and unknowne voyce, (as it is now used in the Romane Church) but to pronounce it openly to be heard and understood of all the hearers. "I am," saith Haymo*; "a Grecian, thou an Hebrew; if I speak to thee in Greeke, I shall seeme barbarous unto thee; likewise if thou speake to mee in Hebrew, thou shalt seeme barbarous to me." Nay more, he puts this unanswerable question: "If one knoweth that onely tongue, wherein he was borne and bred; if such a one stand by thee whilst thou doest solemnly celebrate thy Mysterie of the Masse, or make a Sermon, or give a blessing, how shall he say,. Amen, at thy blessing, when he knoweth not what thou sayest; for so much as he understanding none but his mother's tongue, cannot tell what thou speakest in that (strange) and barbarous tongue?" If wee looke higher, it will appeare that prayers and Sacraments were administered in the Church for the understanding of the hearer. Justinian the Emperour commanded all " Bishops and Priests to celebrate the

*Haymo in 1 Cor. xiv.

sacred

sacred oblation of the Lord's Supper, and prayers used in Baptisme, not in secret, but with a loud and cleare voyce, that the minds of the heaters might be stirred up with more devotion to expresse the praises of God. Let the religious Bishops and Priests know (saith he) that if they neglect so to doe, they shall yeeld an account in the dreadfull judgment of the great God for it, and we having information of them, will not leave them unpunished *."

J

This care was constantly used by the ancient Romane Church, as appeares by the Popes owne Decretals, wherein it was publikely declared We command, that the Bishops of suth Cities and Dioceses, (where nations are mingled together) provide meet men to minister the holy service according to the diversity of their manners and languagest. But I will spare the labour for further proofe of this question, by citing the particular Fathers, and will produce our adversaries' severall confessions, to witnesse the truth of our doctrine, that Prayer and Service in the vulgar and knowne tongue, was altogether used in the best and first ages, according to the precept of the Apostles, and the practice of the ancient Fathers."

- Lyra ‡.]" If thou blesse in the spirit, and

Just. Imper. in No. Constit. 123. apud Cassandrum. Non tacito modo. p. 63.

P

T

+ Decret. Gregor. lib. tit. 31, de Offic. Jud. Ord. c. 14.

In Primitiva Ecclesia benedictiones et cætera communia

fiebant in vulgari. Lyra in 1 Cor. xiv,

the

the people understand thee not, what profit hath the simple people thereby, not understanding thee? Therefore in the Primitive Church, the blessings and all other common devotions were performed in the vulgar tongue."

Johannes Belethus*] (Billet.) “In the Pri mitive Church it was forbidden, that any man should speak with tongues, unlesse there were some to interpret; for what should speaking availe without understanding? and hereof grew a laud, able custome, that after the Gospell was read, it should straightway be expounded in the vulgar tongue."

Gretzerus +.] "The ancient Fathers did exhort all to sing together, and that attentively and diligently the Priests and people should joyne their voyces together."

Master Harding]" Verily in the Primitive Church Service in a knowne tongue) was necessary, where faith was a learning, and therefore the prayers were made then in a common tongue knowne to the people, for cause of their instructions, who being of late converted to the faith, Let it toodi 16nɔ]

* In Primitiva Ecclesia prohibitum erat, ne quis loqueretur linguis, nisi, esset qui interpretaretur. Quid enim prodesset, &c. Joh. Billet. in summ. de divinis officiis. Cassand. p. 86.

+ Lingua auditoribus non ignota omnia peragebantur, et consuetudo ita ferebat, ut tota Ecclesia simul psalleret. Gretz. def. cap. 16. 1. 2. de verbo Dei.

↑ Jewel in 3 Art. Divis, 28. p. 134.

and

and of Pagans made Christians, had need in all things to be taught."

Cassander *.] "The Canonicall Prayers, and especially the words of consecration of the body and blood of our Lord, the Ancients did so reade it, that all the people might understand it, and say, Amen."

Waldensist.] "When thou shalt blesse with thy spirit, how shall the unlearned say, Amen, at the giving of thankes, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? Therefore in the Apostles' time there was reason of such a blessing, that at the giving of thankes, not onely the Priest, but also all the people were wont to answere, Amen." La Aquinas.] "How comes it, to passe, that thanksgivings are not made in the knowne tongue,

Canonicam, precem, et inprimis Dominici corporis et sanguinis consecrationem ita veteres legebant, ut à populo intelligi, et Amen declamari posset. Cassand. Liturg. c. 28.

t Wal. de Sacramentis, lib. cap. 31. Fuit ergo ratio tālis Benedicendi in Ecclesia tempore Apostoli, cui respondere solebat non tantum Clerus, sed omnis populus, Amen. Wald. in doctr. art. Eccle. tit. 4. c. 31.

Sed quare non dantur benedictiones in volgari,-dicéndum quòd hoc fortè fuit in Ecclesia Primitiva, sed postquam fideles instructi sunt, et sciunt quæ audiunt, fiunt Benedictiones in Latino. Aquin. in 1 Cor. xiv. lect. 3. Quare omnia in Ecclesia dicuntur in Latino, videtur, quòd sit similitèr insania; didendum est, quòd ideo erat insania in Primitiva Ecclesia, quia erant rudes in ritu Ecclesiastico, unde nesciebant quæ fiebant ibi, nisi exponeretur eis, modò verò sunt instructi, &c. Idem, lect. 4.

that

}

that the people might understand them? we must say, it was in the Primitive Church, but after the common people were instructed, and knew and understood their duty, thanksgivings were made in Latine. Again, when all things are done in the Latine tongue in the Church, it seemes to be madnesse: To this we must answere, (saith he) that it was madnesse in the Primitive Church, which is not so in ours, for then they were rude and ignorant in Ecclesiasticall rites and ceremonies, but now all are so well instructed, that although it bee in Latine, the people understand what is done in the Church."

Bellarmine] "It may be objected, that in the time of the Apostles, all the people in Divine Service, did answere one Amen; and this custome continued long in the East and West Churches, as appeares by Chrysostome, Cyprian, Hierom, &c." In answere hereunto, hee saith, "When the Christians were but few, they did all sing together at the time of divine Service, but when the number of people did increase, the office of publike service was divided, and it was left onely to the Church to celebrate the common Prayers*." Here we have the several confessions of our learned Adversaries, that in the first ages publike prayers

• Quia Christiani erant pauci omnes simul psallebant in Ecclesia, et respondebant in divinis officiis, et postea crescente populo, divisa sunt magis officia, et solis Clericis relictum est, ut communes preces et laudes in Ecclesia paragant. Bell, de verbo Dei, lib. 2, cap. 16.

were