Justification of the Religion Now Professed in England, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Diuine Seruice is to be adminiſtred in a language which the people vnderſtand.
OVr Sauiour Chriſt performed his owne Miniſtery in a ſpeech vnderſtood by all the people; for hee read and expounded the Scriptures to them in a tongue which they vnderſtood, as it appeareth, Luke 4. He prayed alſo in like manner, Iohn 17.
Further alſo in ſaying, Heare yee Moyſes and the Prophets, he commandeth the reading and expoſition of their writings to bee performed in a language that might be vnderſtood; for otherwiſe they could not heare them with any vnderſtanding, but ſhould be as deaſe men; whereas his meaning there is, that they ſhould ſo heare, as they might be taught thereby, and forewarned to gouern the courſe of their life, as they might avoyd the torments of hell. Likewiſe hee taught his Diſciples to pray in a tongue which they vnderſtood, and in them, ſo inſtructed all other that ſhould be his Diſciples after, to call vponupon God in a ſpeech knowne by them, both in the Forme he taught them ſaying, When ye pray, ſay thus: Our Father, &c. and by the direction of that prayer, to make all our petitions priuate and publike.
Inſtituting alſo the Sacrament of Baptiſme, hee ommanded his Diſciples,Math. 28. To preach the Goſpell vntounto all nations, and to baptize ſuch as ſhould beleeue; which teaching and beleeuing neceſſarily implyeth the vſe of a ſpeech known in the adminiſtration of Baptiſme.
In like manner he inſtituted and adminiſtred the Sacrament of his Supper amongſt his Diſciples in a ſpeech which they vnderſtood, and charged them as oft as they ſhould doe the like, to preach his death vntill his comming againe; wherefore it is plaine, that he intended the Sacraments ſhould not bee dumbe ſhowes and ſpectacles, but that they ſhould bee ſo adminiſtred as the people might know and vnderſtand the meaning of them. Finally, after his aſcenſion, amongſt other ſpiritual graces,Acts 2. he indued the Apoſtles with the guift of tongues, whereby the ſame day they ſpake to the Iewes that were then from all nations aſſembled at Ieruſalem, the greatacts and mighty works of God.
For it is expresſly written, and that the people maruelled that they heard them ſpeake eueryevery one in the language of the Countrey wherein they had been borne.
By which miraculous guifr, beſtowed firſt vponupon the Apoſtles, then after vponupon many other, and by ſuch vſe of it in teaching the people of eueryevery nation in their owne language, it is manifeſt, that our Sauiour Chriſts ordinance is, that diuine Seruice ſhould bee adminiſtred in a ſpeach vnderſtood by all the people.
This is alſo confirmed in that the Apoſtle Paul in his former Epiſtle to the Corinthians Chap. 14. ſaith, that the ordinances ſet downe by him in that place (amongſt which this was one, that no man ſhould ſpeake in the Church and Aſſembly of the people a ſtrange language not vnderſtood by them, except it were interpreted) are the commandements of the Lord, that is, of Ieſus Chriſt. Thus then it appeareth to be the practiſe and ordinance of Chriſt, that diuine Seruice ſhould be adminiſtred in a ſpeech which the people vnderſtand.
Now that the Apoſtles taught the ſame is likewiſe manifeſt: for firſt, that their practiſe was ſuch, appeareth, Acts 2. Where hauing receiued the guift of tongues they imployed it rightly to that end for which it was giuen, and ſpake to men of diuers tongues in the language of the Country wherein they were borne. And this was the generall practiſe of the Apoſtles, as appeareth in the booke of their Acts.
1 Cor. 14.Now the Apoſtle Paul debating this matter at large, not onelyonly teacheth manifeſtly, that all diuine Seruice ſhould bee performed in the Church in a ſpeech which the people vnderſtand, but confirmeth this doctrine by many reaſons. In which diſcourſe it appeareth that diuine Seruice ought to bee adminiſtred to Gods glory.verſe 47. For it being the Lords cōmandemēt that it ſhould be ſo performed, as the Apoſtle there calleth it, it is for the glory of God, that with all due obedience it be ſo performed: Beſides this, the reaſon of this commandement doth likewiſe proue it, which is, that by ſuch meanes the knowledge of God is enlarged,Acts 2. the great and marueilous workes of God, as his Creation, Prouidence, & redemption of the world by his onelyonly begotten Sonne; his lawes and his commandements, the promiſes of the Goſpell preached in the Word, & ſet out in the Sacraments, which are of forgiuen…ſſe of ſinnes, of life, and immortality to eueryevery one that beleeueth, and ſuch like; are made knowne to men, to Gods vnſpeakeable glory, as it was by the Apoſtles. By that meanes alſo the people vnderſtand the prayers and thankſgiuing which are made by the miniſter, yeeld therin conſent to ſuch ſervices of God, and together with him, doe God that honor, that thereby they acknowledge all good guifts to come from him, and therefore that they ought to be deſired of him by prayer, and that he is to be glorified for them with all thanksgiuing. Therefore that God may be honoured with all this honor, it behooueth and is neceſſary, that he be ſerued in the Church in a ſpeech that the people vnderſtand.
Furthermore, the edification of the people doth require the ſame, concerning which it is the Lords expreſſe commandement,1 Cor. 14.26. That in the Church all things ſhould bee done to their Edification.
By edification is meant their furtherance in the knowledge of God, in the vnderſtanding of the Scripture, in faith, in obedience, in comfort, and all Chriſtian duties. But none of theſe can be furthered in the people, if the Miniſter vſe a language which the people doth not vnderſtand. Therefore it is neceſſary for the inſtruction and comfort of the people, that the Scriptures be read and expounded, the Sacraments adminiſtred, the Prayers and thankſgiuing bee made in the Church, in a ſpeech that all the people doth vnderſtand.
On the contrary part, by adminiſtring of diuine Seruice in a ſpeech not vnderſtood by the people, both God is diſhonoured, and the people are ſuffered to periſh.
For touching the firſt point, Gods commandements of the right vſe of his guift: of tongues, of doing all things in the Church to edification, are broken, God is alſo highly diſhonoured, in that the knowledge of him is kept from the people, that his name is taken in vaine, and Seruice prophaned, and his people ſuffered to periſh in ignorance and diſobedience. Concerning the peoples periſhing by this meanes it is plaine, in that the blind led by the blind muſt needes p…riſh. By this meanes they doe remaine in their ſinnes, and namely, in the ignorance of God: which howſoeuer the adherents of the Church of Rome teach to bee the mother of deuotion, the word of God teacheth to be the iuſt cauſe of error, diſobedience▪ and deſtruction.
Math 22.29.For it is ſaid, that the ſeruant that knoweth not the will of his Maſter ſhall be beaten, it is ſaid indeed with few ſtripes in compariſon of the many ſtripes wherewith they ſhall be beaten which know their Maſters will and do it not: Luke 12.47, 48.but by thoſe few ſtripes are meant euerlaſting torments, as the Apoſtle Paul teacheth ſaying, And to you which are troubled, 1 Theſ. 1.7, 8, 9.reſt with vsus, when the Lord Ieſus ſhall ſhew himſelfe from heauen with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire, rendering vengeance vntounto them that doe not know God, and which obey not the Goſpell of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, which ſhall bee puniſhed with euerlaſting perdition, from the preſence of the Lord-and from the glory of his power.
Now as the Church is edified by him that prophecieth,1 Cor. 14, 3, 4. & receiueth inſtruction, exhortation, comfort and direction whereby they may ioyne together in Pray…s and thankſgiuing: So on the contrary they want all theſe meanes when diuine Seruice is adminiſtred in a ſtrange tongue which they doe not vnderſtand. For the miniſter ſpeaketh not to them, that is, to their vnderſtanding; and therefore whatſoeuer have heauenly doctrine bee read or deliuered in a ſtrange tongue, the people is nothing inſtucted by it, but departeth from the Church as ignorant of God, & of all godlynes as they came to it. And as hee that is ignorant is not inſtructed in any thing, ſo he that is dull and ſloathfull in his duty to God or man according to Gods commandement, is not furthered by exhortation, nor he that is heauy in heart is not comforted;verſe 1… likewiſe when the miniſter prayeth or giueth thanks, he can neither pray nor giuegive thanks with him, nor anſwer firly to any thing he pronounceth, becauſe he vnderſtandeth not what it is that he ſayeth.
For this cauſe the Apoſtle ſaith, that their vnderſtanding remaineth fruiteleſſe, and that fiue wordes ſpoken to their vnderſtanding, were more worth then many thouſands in that ſort. And in reſpect of the Prophet or miniſter hee ſaith, that in ſo doing,verſe 2, 9. hee ſpeaketh (in regatd of any benefit of the people) as if hee ſpake into the ayre and his ſpeech vaniſhed away with the winde, without profit to any.
Furthermore he ſayeth,verſe 7, 8, 9. that the miniſter ſo ſpeaking is like one that ſhould ſound a trumpet, or ſtrike a harpe or any other Inſtrument without diſtinction of ſounds: whereby he intendeth, that as the people not vnderſtanding could receiue by it no direction in battell, to march or retyre, or in other actions what to doe, or whereunto to prepare and diſpoſe themſelues: So in the ſeruice of God, they know not what they are directed vntounto, whether to pray to God, or to giuegive him thankes, or to what other part of the Seruice of God they are to apply themſ…lues.
Moreouer,verſe 11.20, 23. the Apoſtle affirmeth that where this diſorder hath place, they are as Barbarians one to another, they are as little children in vnderſtanding, yea, they will ſeeme to bee out of thir wits, and deſtitute of common ſence and reaſon.
Finally, the Apoſtle addeth, that to ſpeake to the people in a language they doe not vnderſtand, is a token and ſigne of Gods wrath and anger to them. Which may be eaſily vnderſtood by ſome like thing in our life with men. For if a ſeruant or a ſonne that hath offended his Lord and Father, or a ſubiect that hath tranſgreſſed the lawes of his Prince, ſhould preſent himſelfe to him to craue pardon of his offence, and to pray to vnderſtand his pleaſure, that hee may performe it in time to come; if that Lord, that Father, or that King ſhall not graciouſly comfort his ſupplyant, but ſpeake to him in a tongue that hee vnderſtandeth not, and ſo diſmiſſe him, is not that a manifeſt ſigne of his anger and indignation? Euen ſo when any aſſembly of Chriſtian people ſhall gather themſelues together, to preſent thēſelues to God, to craue of him grace & pardon for their ſins, to offer their petitions and ſeruice to him, it muſt needes bee an heauy and vncomfortable token vntounto them of Gods high diſpleaſure toward them, when hee vouchſafeth not to ſpeake any gracious words vntounto them that they can vnderſtand, but ſpeaketh to them in a ſtrange language. Heereby therefore it appeareth, that to hauehave diuine Seruice adminiſtred in a tongue not vnderſtood by the people, is contrary to the doctrine of our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles; yea, and that it is childiſh, barbarous, and contrary to cōmon ſence and reaſon, vnprofitable for the people, yea a hinderance to them, and a meanes to keepe them in ignorance, and all vngodlyneſſe, and a ſigne of Gods indignation againſt them, and a high diſhonor to almighty God by the tranſgeſſion of his commandements, and taking his name in vaine. Contrariwiſe heereby it appeareth, that to adminiſter diuine Seruice in a tongue vnderſtood by the people, is profitable for them, and fit to further them in the knowledge, faith, and obedience of God; and as honorable to God by making knowne his goodneſſe, mercy, Iuſtice, greatneſſe, and perfection in all reſpects vntounto his Church and people. This is confirmed alſo at large by the Apoſtle Paul, in his former Epiſtle to the Corinthians Chap. 14, as it hath beene d…clared. Hereunto may bee added that it appeareth by the 33, and 36. verſes, that the Apoſtle ordayned thus in all other Churches that were taught by him, and that the Church of Corinth, in that diſorder, differed both from the Church of Ieruſalem and from all other Churches that at that time had receiued the Goſpell.
Further alſo it appeareth, that in all ages before, the true Church ſerued God with knowledge and vnderſtanding of that was taught them, and yeelded to God their Seruice in ſuch ſort as they knew what duty it was, which they performed vntounto him. For firſt almighty God himſelfe deliuered the two tables of the tenne commandements, in that ſpeach which the people vnderſtood.
After alſo by his commandement often times repeated, both Moyſes, and the Prieſts,Exo. 19, 9. Exo. 20.18.19. Deut. 5, 10, 11 28, 29.30, &c. are charged to teach the people to heare and know, learne and obſerue, the law of God. Particularly the law commanded that the King ſhould write the coppy of the law in a booke, coppied out of that booke which was kept by the leuitical Prieſts,Deut. 6.1, 2, 3. &c. wherein he is charged to reade all the dayes of his life,chap. 17.18, 19. Deut 12.1.27.1. &c. 29.1. &c. that he may learne to feare the Lord his God, and to obſerue and doe all his commandements. In many places of the bookes of Moyſes, and eſpecially in the bo…ke of Deut. it is ſayd, that Mo…ſ…s taught all the people the commandements and ſtatutes which the Lord had deliuered vntounto him.Ioſ. 1.10, 11. &c. Ioſuah in like manner dealt with all the people, inſtructing and exhorting them to the obſeruation of the ſtatutes which God had deliuered vntounto them.
1 Chron. 16.2, 1…, …5, …, 37.In th… like manner did Dauid, and all the Prophets, deliuering Pſalmes and other bookes of Scriptures in the Hebrew tongue for the publique vſe of the Church of Iſraell, which they had indited in the Hebrew tongue, the common ſpeech of all the people.
1 Chton. 25.2, … & …, 8. &c. 1 Ki gs …, 5…, 7 58, …1, 2.Likewiſ… Solomon, Dauids ſon, at the dedication of the Temple which hee had builded, m…de his ſolemne prayers and publique ſupplications vntounto God, in the hearing of all the people, in their owne Hebrew tongue which they beſt vnderſtood.
2 Kings 2.1… & 23 2, 3. &c.And o Ioſias it is alſo particularly recorded, that hee read in the hearing of all the people from the greateſt to the leaſt of them, all the words of Gods Couenant which had beene found in the houſe of the L…rd.
…zra …1 & 9…, …. & 10.1.Af…er the captiuity alſo wee reade, that Ezra at a p…bl…que …eaſt once or twice made his earn…ſt ſupplication vntounto God for all the people, they h…aring and ſo vnd …ſtanding him, that men, women, and children, wept and lament…d exceedingly.
And in the booke of Nehemiah it is written, Ezra did reade the booke of the law of God from morning to mid-day before all the people, men, women, and all, that for vnderſtanding were fit to heare, and that all the people was attentiue to the booke of the law, and when Ezra bleſſed, all the people ſaid Amen, Nehe. 8.2, 3, 4, …,, 9, 10, &c.Amen, with lifting vp their hands, and bowing downe their heads, they worſhipped God with their faces towards the ground.
In the time of our Sauiour Chriſt, the Apoſtle Iames ſayth, Moyſes was read and preached eueryevery Sabbath in the Synagogues, of which cuſtome wee reade an example in the 13 of the Asts, where it is ſaid,Acts 15.21. & 13.15. that after the reading of the law and the Prophets, Paul and Barnabas were willed to exhort the people.
Of the example of our Sauiour Chriſt, it is expreſly written, as hath beene touched before,Luke 4.16, 17, 21, 22. that hee entred into the Synagogue of Nazareth vponupon the ſabbath day as his manner was, and there ſtanding vp to reade, when the booke of the Pro… Eſay had beene deliuered to him, hee opened it and read that which is written in the begining of the 61 Chap. of hat Prophecy. And further that hauing deliuered againe the booke, hee ſate downe, and th… eyes of all that were in the Synogogue were bent vponupon him. To whom h…uing ſayd, that that Scripture was fulfiled that day in th ir hearing, they all ba…e him witneſſe that it was ſo, and maruelled at the ſpeeches full of grace that proceeded out of his mouth.
The like practiſe of the Apoſtles in their Liturgie and pu…lique miniſtry in the Church at Ieruſalem appeareth in the booke of the Acts, and namely, in theſe places Acts 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 22, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47. Throughout the ſame booke, and likewiſe in all Epiſtles of the Apoſtles it is playne, that this was their practiſe amongſt the diſperſed Iewes and the Churches of the Gentiles, as of the Romanes, Corinthians, and the reſt; yea that they did ſo ordaine in all Churches in their time, 1 Cor. 14.33, 36, 37.
For the time ſucceeding, it appeareth by the Apologeticall writings of Iuſtin Martyr, Tertullian, and others, that the Liturgies in their time, were ſuch as the people vnderſtood. The like appeareth in Ierome, who was ſo d…ſirous to further the knowledge of Religion in the common ſort, as hee tranſlated the Scriptures, into the Dalmaticall, & Sclauonian tongue, for the vſe of his Country men.
Origens Hexapla and Octopla bookes, ſetting out the Scripture in ſo many diuers tranſlations, witneſſe the like care and deſire in him. And of others, Auguſtine writeth, that the Latine tranſl…tions were not to be num…red. The Liturgies that go vnderunder the name of Baſil, … Chryſoſtome, declare alſo, that in the time wherein they were written, when ſoeuer it was (for they cannot be of their time, but latter) the Church vnderſtood the Scripture, Prayer, Thankeſgiuing, and other parts of diuine Seruice that was adminiſtred amongſt th…m. And in the Eaſt Church is continued ſo a long time, as appeareth by many exhortations of Chryſoſtome, and other of the Greeke Teachers, to the reading of the Scriptures, and by ſome parts of the Liturgie, wher… of mention is made in their writings. So did it likewiſe long continue in the Weſt Church, euen till almoſt all things were corrupted, and that darken…ſſe had ouercaſt th… face of th… heauens, and taken the light thereof from theſe parts of the earth; namely, in the Church of Rome, which howſoeuer it hath preuailed and continued a long time in diuers parts, and eſpecially in theſe of the Weſt; yet in this bleſſed age of reformation, it hath pleaſed God to driue away that darkeneſſe, and to cauſe the light of his countenance ſo comfortably to ſhine vntounto vsus againe, as that now in our owne tongue Gods holy word is read and expounded vntounto vsus, the Sacraments adminiſtred, Prayers, and thankſgiuinges are offered vp vntounto God, and the whole Seruice of God in England is performed in a ſpeech which all our Engliſh people vnderſtand. In which reſpect it hath be…ne proued, that our Religion in England, is that which was taught by our Sauiour Chriſt and his holy Apoſtles. And thus much may ſuffiſe alſo for this poynt, being the ſecond generall here conſidered in all Diuine Seruice.