A Revision of Two Letters from George Morley, Bishop of Winchester, to Jan van Vliet

The same sense can be shown from various Fathers, and indeed, given the occasion by you, it will be shown below: although there is scarcely any need to produce them, since the Fathers of the Church cannot say anything other than what they learned from the Church: for we have heard the diverse churches, separated by place, apart in time, and not sufficiently in agreement on lighter matters, united by faith alone received through the Apostles and charity poured into their hearts by the Holy Spirit, crying out with one voice, and earnestly praying to God, that He may hear the prayers of other souls (namely those enjoying God) for themselves: that those who have not yet been granted refreshment may be well through the intercession of others; others through their own, why shall we not say that this flowed from Apostolic Tradition, according to the rule which Tertullian teaches should be applied for discerning Apostolic Traditions from others? And indeed, such a great consensus among the Greeks, Latins, Egyptians, Ethiopians, Indians, and Arabs, not only in the matter but almost in the very words and manner of speaking, could not but have flowed from one source common to all. If Augustine rightly pronounces in letter 118: It is the most insolent insanity to dispute whether that should be done which the whole Church throughout the world does: What is to be said of you who dare to impugn and condemn a custom used throughout the whole Church? But if your liturgy had no other evil in itself, this very thing would be enough of an evil, that it had slipped away from a formula so anciently and so generally prescribed, of which no trace appears in your Supper, or Communion, as you ineptly love to speak.

D. Morley, pages 18 and 19: The Anglican Rite agrees very well with ancient liturgies: because in the office of burial it prays that God may fulfill the number of the Elect, and hasten the glory of his kingdom. It gives thanks to God that he has freed the deceased from the hardships of the present life; it also warns the survivors about the brevity and miseries of the present life, and the immortality and happiness of the future.

Resp. It does not agree with them in any way; rather, it differs as much as heaven and earth: for no prayer is poured forth for the Deceased. And it appears that the form of prayer used by the Church was changed on purpose, so that no prayers would be made for the deceased. For whatever is referred to here is intended for the consolation of whoever has followed the funeral and is afflicted by the death of a friend or relative. But this is also worth noting, that in