Ceremonies of the Monstrous Popish Mass, Part 2 · Chapter 15
Of the ſecond part of the Maſſe, called inſtruction, and for what cauſes it is ſo called, and of the preaching that was vſed in the avncient Church, and of the charge which was giuen to the Biſhops thereof. CHAPTER XV.
THis title of inſtructiō,Nicol. de Plo. de expoſ. Miſſ which theſe Popiſh doctors them ſelues giuegive vntounto their Maſſe, doth the better confirme that which we hauehave heretofore ſaid, of the order of the ancient Church, concerning publike prayers, and the preaching of the word of God, & of the Eccleſiaſticall aſſemblies. For, we ſe by this ſelfe ſame order, which is at this day obſerued in the Maſſe, that the doctrine of the Apoſtles & Euangeliſts, is preferred before prayers: by which, as well the people as the Miniſters of the Church, ought to prepare them ſelues for this doctrine, the one of them to teach it, and the other to heare and vnderſtand it. And therefore, manie ordinances were made by the Councelles, appertaining to this matter, as well for the miniſters of the Church, as for the people. And for the firſt it was decreed by the fourth Councel of Carthage,Ex lib. Con. That whatſoeuer they were that went out of the Church and auditory, whiles the Prieſt was preaching of the word of God vntounto the people, ſhould be excommunicated: neither were there any forbidden to heare or come into the Church, were they heathen, Iewes, or heretiques, euē vntounto the Maſſe of the Catechumeni, whereof we hauehave ſpoken elſewhere. And to th'end that the people ſhould neuer be without this food: It was alſo decreed by the councell of Arles, ſolemnized in the dayes of Charlemaine, That the Prieſts ſhould not preach onelyonly in cities,Ex lib. Con. but alſo in euerie Parriſhe Church in the countries, and that they ſhould not contēne nor neglect the doing herof. And at the Councell of Tours, holden alſo in the dayes of the ſaid Charlemaine: the Biſhops thēſelues were enioyned to do it, & to hauehave Homilies: that is to ſay, Sermons containing neceſſarie doctrine, for the inſtruction of the people, but eſpeciallie concerning the principall pointes of Chriſtian religion: and thoſe to be verie familiar & meete for the capacitie & groſſe vnderſtanding of the ſimple people: and to that ende were they tranſlated into a tongue, wherein euerie man might beſt vnderſtand them. By the like reaſon ar the Biſhops commaunded to ſtudie diligently the holy Scriptures, but eſpecially the holy Euangeliſts, & Pauls Epiſtles, & to be ſo familiarly acquainted with thē, as that they might hauehave them by heart: and ſtudy alſo verie diligently the bookes of the holy Doctors and ancient fathers, in which they had made an expoſition of the holy letters, to the ende they might be inſtructed to be able to teach and edifie the people, as well by good & holſome doctrine, as alſo by their good life and holy conuerſation.Ex lib. Con. The like was alſo commanded and confirmed by a Coūcell at Chalen, celebrated again in the daies of the ſaid Charlemaine, which ſaith, That God in the holy Scriptures hath commaunded, and ſo hauehave alſo the holy aunciēt Canons, That Byſhops ſhould dayly be ſtudying of holie writ, ſeekinge out the miſteries and ſecreates of the woorde of God: to the end they might ſhine in the Church thorough the brightneſſe of this doctrine,Ex lib. Con. and neuer ceaſſe nouriſhing and filling the ſoules committed to their charge, with the foode of Goddes worde. And for the eſtabliſhing of a verie good order, that no want ſhould be founde herein, it was againe decreed in the firſt Councell of Magonce, celebrated in the yeare 813. That the Biſhoppes ſhould perfourme this duetie in theyr owne perſonnes, except they were ſicke, not at home, or elſe were withdrawn by ſome neceſſary buſineſſe: and that in ſuch caſes, they ſhould hauehave meete men to do it in their ſteades, to the ende the people might neuer be without a Sermon vppon the Sondaye, nor vppon anie holye dayes. The Councell of Rheims celebrated about the tyme of Pope Leo the thirde,Ex lib. Con. ſtill commaunded and confirmed that which was before decreed, at the coū cell of Tours, concerning the Biſhoppes ſtudies of the holy Scriptures, & of the Homilies & Sermons in the vulgar tong, for the common people,Ex lib. Con. Moreouer, it was ordained in the Lateran Councell, ſolemnized in the dayes of Innocent the 3. in the yeare 1215. that in thoſe cities and cuntries where there were people of ſundrie languages, & had ſundrie ceremonies, and faſhions in the ſeruice of God, and yet were of one faith and of one religion, that they all ſhould be prouided of meet men to ſay their ſeruice, and adminiſter the Sacraments, and to teach them alſo both by worde and example, according to their faſhions & language. The like alſo was ordained concerning the Preaching of Biſhoppes, and the aide that they ſhould hauehave, if they could not preach being withdrawne therefrom vponupon lawfull cauſes, or were not them ſelues alone able to do it: And then it is eftſoones ſaid, that they ſhall in no wiſe be borne withall, who by reaſon of ignorance are not able to do it. Wherupon it was likewiſe eſtabliſhed, that there ſhould be appointed learned diuines, to teach the Prieſtes and the reſt, and Maiſters alſo to inſtruct the poore, without wages, to the ende the Churches ſhould not be vnprouided of Paſtors, to feed them with ſpirituall foode,Ex lib. Con. that is meete & neceſſarie for the ſoule. Laſtly the Coūcell of Oxinford holdē in England, ordained againe the like which others before had done, cōcerning the preaching of Prieſts in euerie pariſh Church. Here now we may ſee, how they, who hauehave alwayes the Councels & decrees in their mouthes, obſerue thē. And therfore eueryevery mā may ſee what inſtruction there is at this preſent, in this part of the Maſſe, which is called by the name of inſtruction. We may eaſilie iudge by this, what is in it. VVherefore let vsus ſomwhat narrowly conſider of whatſoeuer is in it.