terpretation of our Lord's speech to that Apostle is confirmed.
Again, nothing is said of the reading of the Scripture to be forbidden to the lay people; nothing of the denial of the cup to the laity; nothing of the change of the substance of the bread and wine, by the hands of the priest in the Eucharist; but on the other hand, numerous passages, as before mentioned, are to be found, which are directly opposed to the doctrine of transubstantiation; and not only did Ælfric, like the great preceding herald of civilization and literature, Alfred the Great, translate many parts of Scripture, (if not all the Gospels, at least probably that of St. Matthew,)[1] for the benefit of his countrymen, but he, moreover, in the "Canons" published at the request of Wulfsinus, bishop of Sherborne, has given an especial charge that the people should be rightly taught the Scriptures in their own tongue. "Se mæsse-preost[2] sceal secgan. Sunnan-dagum and mæsse-dagum. ðæs god-
- ↑ At the end of C.C.C.C. MS. of St. Matthew's Gospel are found these words, "Ego Ælfricus scripsi hunc librum in monasterio Baððonio et dedi Brihtwoldo præposito."
- ↑ The "Mæsse-Preost." There were seven orders in Ælfric's time in the Anglo-Saxon Church; the seventh was the presbyter, or mass-priest, that is, a priest who could administer the Holy Eucharist. Ælfric says in his Canons, "Presbiter is mæsse-preost oððe eald-wita. na ðæt ælc eald sy. ac ðæt he eald sy on wisdome. Se halgað Godes husel. swa swa se hælend bebead. he sceal ðæt folc læran to geleafan mid bodunge. and mid clænum ðeawum ðam christenum gebysnian. and his lif ne sceal beon swylce læwedra manna. Nis na mare betwyx mæsse-preoste and bisceop buton ðæt se bisceop bið gesett to hadigenne preostas. and to bisceopgenne cild. and to halgyenne cyrcan. and to gymenne Godes gerihta. forðan ðe hit wære to mænigfeald. gif ælc mæsse-preost swa dyde. and hy habbað ænne had. ðeah se other sy furðor." &c. "Presbyter is the mass-priest, or old 'wita,' not that every one is old, but that he is old in wisdom. He consecrates God's housel, as the Saviour commanded. It is his duty to instruct the people in belief, with preaching, and with pure morals to give an example to Christians. And his life ought not to be as that of laymen. There is no difference between a mass-priest and a bishop, save that the bishop is appointed for the ordaining of priests, and confirming of children, and for the consecrating of churches, and for taking care of God's dues; for it would be too complex (a thing) if every mass-priest did so: but they have one order; although the latter is superior." The other orders in the Anglo-Saxon Church were, the Ostiarius, Lector, Exorcista, Acoluthus, Subdiaconus, Diaconus.
