treasure in the Church for to recompence the wholle debte of temporall punishement which is in all the liuely members of Christ But such treasure may be applied vnto these members by those which gouerne the family of Christ therefore may those which gouerne this family pardon and remitte vnto them the temporall punishment for sinnes Which reason is so manifestly deduced out of that which went before that we neede not to make any larger discourse 10 Diuerse Illations out of the Premisses concerning the nature of Pardons 1 A Pardon is not only an absolution but also a â— compenâ—ation for sinnes TO conclude this wholle Treatise of Indulgences we may gather out of that which is said First that although a Pardon be principally and properly an absolution from the debte of punishement giuen by the vertue of the KEIES Yet is it also a kind of compensation withal For the Prelate graunting a Pardon doth so absolue the Penitent that he maketh out of the treasure of the Chuch an equall paimenr vnto Almighty God for the wholle debte paying in the heade in other members that which shoulde without his sacred autority haue beene paied by the partie himselfe Or thus more plainly for the capacitie of the simpler sorte a Pardon is a mercifull release in respecte of the Penitente but in respecte of Gods iustice an equall payment made by the merits of others applied for a recompence of the Penitent his sinnes And heerein we may see howe this absolution differeth from the Sacramental absolution in penance Howe Pardons differ from the Sacrament of Penance For there is applied onely the Merits of Christ not of his Saintes whereas their merits coulde not reache vnto the taking away of the sinnes themselues nor of the euerlasting paine due vnto the same But here the merittes also of the Saintes in as much as they are Satisfactorious doe take place God hauing so disposed that according to the sweet gouernment of his Church his members doe in the course of their iustification deliuery from all punishements what they are able they being able by the concourse of his Spirite nowe dwelling within them to satisfie for temporall paine Besides in Penance the wholle euerlasting paine is taken away but heere not alwaies the wholle temporall correction but so much onely as it pleaseth the giuer according to the proportion of the cause Finally the Sacramente is an instrument of Christes eternall Priesthoode in which he himselfe remitteth sinnes by the instrumentary ministery of his priest But in Indulgences the Prelate is properly the worker by his autority receiued from Christ neither is it necessarie that he be a Priest or Bishop if he haue iurisdiction which may be in a Bishop elected yet not consecrated Secondly 2 Onely Bishoppes caâ— giue Pardâ—â— we inferre that onely Bishoppes can giue Pardons to those which are of theire Diocesse and that not onely for the restrainte made by the Church but also for the very nature and condition of Pardons For although vnto all Priestes be saide whose sinnes soeuer you forgiue they shall be forgiuen yet is this authoritie alwaies vnderstood according to the necessarie regiment which Christ hath ordained in his Church And therefore a Priest cannot by his Priesthood alone absolue except he haue iurisdiction also Likewise an ordinarie Priest although he be a Parish Priest and haue cure of soules cannot excommunicate and yet that autoritie belongeth vnto the Keies of the Church These thinges therefore doe require such soueraigne autoritie as is in the chiefe gouernours and Prelates of the Church and espeacialy in this present case where the common treasure of the familie being dispensed there must of necessitie be had the consent of the ruler of the same which is euery Bishop 3 Bishoppes power in graunting Pardons is iustly limited Thirdely we may gather that the POPE in limiting the Indulgences of Bishops hath not doone them any iniury at all For the Bishoppe hath not autoritie ouer the works of any which are not his subiects And those also being once dead belong no more to his diocesse than to another and consequently the application of their Merittes is out of his iurisdiction Wherefore his particular treasure beeing so vncertaine for it may so fall out that in his wholle Diocesse there may be very fewe superfluous satisfactions the POPE in limiting him hath prouided for all inconueniences least the Bishop deceiue the people in promising more than he may performe which in sacred matters is a pernitious thing And moreouer it is very probably to be thought that the POPE hath allowed those Indulgences which Bishops may giue as out of the common Treasure of the wholle Church and so there can be no doubt of the value of them at al nor any iniury in restraining the Bishop who is rather holpeÌ„ thereby Fourthly hence appeareth the reason 4 None caÌ„ receiue Indulgence with bâ— in deadlie sinne why an Indulgence cannot be receiued by him which is out of Grace For Grace is necessarie to participate the benefit of other mens Satisfactions And the Indulgence giueth me onlie so much as my owne Satisfaction could doe but my Satisfaction were nothing doone out of Gods fauour therefore can the Indulgence heere auaile me nothing Fifthly we may nowe vnderstand what difference there is betweene the Satisfaction of others applied by the Church and by one man vnto another 5 He which satisfieth for an other doth not graunt Indulgence For he which applieth his own Satisfaction to another cannot surely knowe whether himselfe be in Grace and consequently whether his Satisfaction be accepted of God But these Satisfactions applied in Indulgences are most certaine Besides another man applying his Satisfaction for my reliefe doth not absolue me from my debte of Satisfaction but only payeth for me Wherefore I am still bound to fulfil my Penance that beeing a meere personall worke to bee vndertaken by my selfe But the contrary is in Indulgences as hath beene declared before Last of al after the worke is past we cannot apply the Satisfaction of it vnto our neighbour but it either helpeth our selues or if it were not necessary for our selues it goeth into the common treasure But the Church applieth the Satisfactions of workes which are past to our reliefe in Indulgence Sixthly he which receiueth an Indulgence 6 Publicke nance enioined is not alway takeÌ„ away by Pardon is bound notwithstanding to fulfill all Penances which are publickely enioined him For indulgences onely take place in the court of Conscience and betweene God and vs vnlesse it be otherwise expressed And those Penances are to Satisfie the worlde scandalized by our faultes and to be a warning for others from committing the like 7 No blasphemie in saying that by Pardon recompence is made to God Seauenthly it is no blasphemy to say that in Pardons is made an equal recompence for paines of sinnes vnto Gods Iustice For it is Christ which paieth and maketh this recompeÌ„ce out of the merits of
The seuenth Age Anno. Dom. 600. Leontius Episc Sophronius Episc S. Isidorus Hispalen Episc Concilium Hispalense 2. Concilium Toletanum 4. Georgius Alexandrinus Episc hic sorte Concilium Braccarense 2. Concilium Toletanum 8. Concilium Braccarense 3. The sixt generall Councell of Constantinople Synodus Trullana Constātinopolitana * The eight Age Anno Dom. 700. Venerabilis Beda S. Ioannes Damascenus The seuenth general Coūcell of Nyce 2. * The ninth Age Anno. Dom. 800. Alcuinus Paulus Diaconus Concilium Moguntinum Ionas Aurelianens Episc Concilium Aquisgranense 1. 2. Haymo Episc Rabanus Episc Concilium Wormatiense Phocius Episc The eight general Councell of Constantinople Ioannes Diaconus Rom. Remigius Antisiod Episc Theophilactus Episc Concilium Triburiense Concilium Nannetens hic force * The eleventh Age Anno Dom. 1000. Burchardus Wormatiensis Episc Concilium Salegūstadiens S. Petrus Damianus Episc S. Lansiancus Episc Concilium Rom. sub Leone 9. cont Petergar Concilium Vercellense sub eodem Concilium Turonense sub Victore 2. Concilium Rom. sub Nicolao 2. Guitmundus Episc Algerus Concilium Rom. sub Gregor 7. contr eundem Berengarium S. Anselmus Episc Oecumenius S. Iuo Carnotensis Episc * The twelfth Age Anno Dom. 1100. Zonaras Rupertus Tuitiensis Gulielmus Abbas S. Bernardus Hugo Victorinus Gratianus Euthymius Concilium Lateran sub Alexandro 3. Lucius 3. Pont. Nicetas Innocentius 3. Pont. * The thirteenth Age Anno 1200. Concilium Lateran magnum sub Innocent 3 S. Thom Aquinas Concilium Lugdunen sub Gregor 10. Gulielmus Durand Episc * The fourteenth age Anno Dom. 1300. Nicephorus Calixtus Concilium Viennense sub Clemenet 5. * The fifteenth Age Anno Dom. 1400. Concilium Constantiense Concilium Basilcense Concilium Florentinum Bessarion Episc Sixtus 4. Pont. * The sixteenth Age Anno Dom. 1500. Concilium Tridentinum A TABLE CONTAINING the order and Summe of the whole Catechisme CHRISTIAN Doctrine consisteth in Wisedome Iustice To Wisedome maie bee referred these Chapters that followe in order CHAP. I. OF FAITH and the CREEDE where amongest other thinges are handled these that followe Of the author of the Apostles Creede q. 5. Of the descending of Christ into Hell q. 13. Of the Markes of the Church that it is Visible q. 18. One q. 18. Holy q. 18. Catholicke q. 18. CHAP. II. OF HOPE and our Lords Praier with the ANGELICALL Salutation as also Of Hope to be ioined with Feare q. 2. Of the Praise of our Blessed LADY q. 15. 16. 17 18 19. Of the Veneration of our Blessed LADY q. 15. 16. 17 18 19. Of the Inuocation of our Blessed LADY q. 15. 16. 17 18 19. CHAP. III. OF CHARITY and the Ten Commaundements Also Whether the Ten Commaundementes doe belong vnto Christians q 6. Whether they may be kepte q. 6. Of the Inuocation of Saintes q. 8. Of the Worshippe of Saintes q. 8. Of the Relickes of Saintes q. 8. Of the Holy-Daies of Saintes q. 8. Of the Images of Christ and the Saintes q. 9. Of the Preceptes of the Church namely Of Traditions Apostolicall Ecclesiasticall q. 1. as followeth Of the Church and her autorty q. 9 10. 16. Of the Bishoppe of ROME and the Church of ROME q. 9. Of Councelles q 11. Of the autority of holy Fathers Ibidem Of the fiue precepts of the Church q. 14. Of the holy Scripture and the interpretation thereof q. 16. CHAP. IIII. OF the SACRAMENTES in generall Of Ceremonies q. 8. Of the Sacrament of Baptisme Of Concupiscence in the Regenerate q. 3. Of the Sacrament of Confirmation Of Chrisme q. 4. Of the Blessed Sacrament Of the Reall Presence q. 4. Of Transubstantiation q 5. Of the adoration thereof q. 6. Of the sacrifice of the MASSE q. 7. Of communicating vnder both kindes q. 8. Of the Sacrament of Penance Of Contrition q. 4. Of Confession q. 5. 6. Of Satisfaction q. 7. 8. Of Purgatory and the faithfull departed q. 9. Of the Sacrament of Extreame-Vnction Of the Sacrament of Orders Whether al Christians be Priestes q. 2 8. Of honour due vnto PRIESTES whether they be good or euill q. 6. 7. Of the Sacrament of Matrimony Of diuorcement q. 3. Of Vowe breakers q. 4. Of the Marriage of Mounks Nunnes Ibidem Of the single life of PRIESTES q. 4. 5. Of VIRGINITY q. 5. and more at large in the question of the Euangelicall Councelles CHAP. V. OF CHRISTIAN IVSTICE The first part of the Chapter 1 Of sinnes in generall 2 Of the seauen deadly sinnes 3 Of Alien sinnes that is of sinnes of other men which by any defaulte of ours doe touche vs. 4 Of the sinnes against the Holy-Ghost 5 Of the sinnes that cry into Heauen 6 Of the purging or expiation of sinne 7 Of small or Veniall-sinnes The second part of the Chapter 1 Three kindes of good Workes where also is intreated Of the fruite of good Workes q. 2. Of Fasting q. 4. and as followeth Of Praier q. 7. and as followeth Of Almes the workes of Mercy q. 10. as followeth 2 The Cardinall vertues 3 The gifts fruits of the Holy-Ghost 4 The eight Beatitudes 5 The Euangelical Counsels of the Gospel Of Euangelical Pouerty Chastity Obedience q. 3. 4. 5. Of Mounkes Religious Orders q. 5. 6 The foure last things of a Man To cōprehend the summe of al Christiā Doctrine in one worde this sentence of Ecclesiasticus is worthy the noting which saith My Sonne coueting WISEDOME Eccli 1 33. conserue IVSTICE and God will giue it vnto thee THE TABLE OF THE APPENDIX 1 Of the fall of the first Man 2 Of the transfusing of Adams sinne into all men 3 Of the remedy of Originall sinne 4 Of the relicks of Original sin in those which are baptised 5 Of the imbecility of nature of the law to iustify mē 6 Of the dispensation and mystery of the comming of Christ 7 Who are Iustified by Christ 8 A description of the Iustification of the wicked man the manner thereof in the state of the Lawe of Grace 9 Of the necessity of preparation to Iustification in those of full age and whereof it riseth 10 The manner of preparation to Iustification 11 What is the Iustification of a wicked Man and what are the causes thereof 12 Howe it is to be vnderstoode that a wicked Man is iustified by Faith and freely 13 Against the vaine confidence of Heretickes 14 Of the increase of Iustification once receiued 15 Of obseruing the Commaundements the necessity and possibilitie thereof 16 That the rashe presumption of Predestination is to be auoided 17 Of the gifte of perseuerance 18 Of those which are fallen of their reparation 19 That by euery mortall sinne Grace is lest but not Faith 20 Of the fruites of Iustification that is to say of the Merite of good workes and of the reason of the same Meritte A Table of the other Questions following 1 Of Hallowed Creatures in the Church 2 Of Pilgrim age vnto he ly places 3 Of Indulgences or Pardons THE FIRST CHAPTER
of the Churches customes are to be restrained Finally TERTVLLIAN a most learned and auncient writer of the Church in one whole booke together disputeth (g) Lib. de praescript against those that doe admitte nothing that is not expresly set downe in the Scripture he contendeth very earnestly that there be certaine vnwritten Traditions obseruations of the Church which none can take exceptions against but heretikes only But If any maÌ„ seem to be coÌ„tentious that we may vse (h) 1. Cor. 11 16. S. PAVLS words We haue no such custome nor the Church of God 9 I pray you then what is the Church Rom. 12 4. 1. Cor. 12 12. 1. Pet. 5 4. Io. 21 15. Mat. 16 18. THE Church is the whole multitude of all those that professe the faith and doctrine of Christ which Christ the Prince of Pastors committed both vnto S. PETER the Apostle and also to his (a) Chryso l. de Sacerdoti Conc. Flor. Bern. l. 2. de consid c. 8. successours to be fedde and gouerned And therfore all Heretickes and Schismatickes doe not deserue the name of a Church but do (b) Hier. cont Lucif c. 9. Cypr. epist 69. falsely arrogate the same vnto themselues who although they seeme to professe the faith doctrine of Christ yet they refuse to be the sheepe of the high Pastour and Bishop which Christ hath made chiefe gouernor oâ—er the sheepfold of the Church in his owne steed hath by perpetuall (c) Iren. l. 3. c. 3. Tert. l. 3. con Mar. c. 9. Optat. l. 2. Aug. ep 165. et 42. et in Ps cont partem Donat et lib. 2. contr lit Petil. c. 51 succession in the Romane Church continually preserued This Chaire of S. PETER this primacy of the Church whosoeuer doth deny oppugn first they do not vnderstaÌ„d the large promises of Christ * Mat. 16 18. Io. 21 15. Luc. 22 31 Mat. 10 2. Ioan. 1 42. Mat. 17 24. Act. 1.15 made vnto S. PETER the mysticall keies of the kingdome of heauen deliuered to him only and many other thinges written of Saint PETER the (d) Cypr. de simpl Hil. et Hier. in c. 16. Mat. Hier. in Ion. l. 1. c. 14. Ciril l. 2. in Io. c. 12 Aug. Tr. 56. et 124. in Io. Orig. ho. 2. in diuers et tract 6. in Mat. Bas de paenit Chry. ho. 87 in Io. et 55. in Mat. et 9. de paenit et ser de caten et gladio S. Pet. et ho. in SS Petrum et Eliam Leo. ser 3. de anniuers et ep 89. ad Epis Vien Prince the mouthe and head of the Apostles Then they doe manifestly breake the peace and certaine order of the Church which with-out an highe Bishop his supereminent auctoritie can neither be well gouerned nor kept long in vnitie nor holde that sounde strength that is necessarie to beare out the violence of hell gates Lastly they doe impudently discredite the Fathers their CouÌ„cels and writings consenting all togither about this manifest (e) Aug. cont ep Fund c. 4. et de vtilitate cred c. 17. et lib. 11. cont Faustum cap. 2. note of the Church yea and the consonant voyce of all Christianitie This Church and Her dignitie acknowledged Saint HIEROME whose (f) ad Dam ep 58. et ep 57. ad cund words are these he that is ioined to PETERS chaire is mine Optatus of (g) l. 2. cont Donat. Africke hath acknowledged her who witnesseth that among the true notes of the Church the Chaire of Saint PETER is the principall (h) ep 162. 90. 92. 93. 165. S. AVGVSTINE hath acknowledged Her who writeth expresly that in the Church of Rome the Soueraigntie of the See Apostolike hath al-waies florished Saint (i) ep 55. 69. Hier. cont Lucif c. 4. Leo. ep 84. ad Anast cap. 11. Cyprian hath acknowledged her who imputeth the cause of all Haeresies and Schismes that doe growe to this alone that men doe not obey one highe Priest Iudge in Christ his roome Saint Ambrose (k) l. 3. de sacram c. 1. de obitu Satyr hath acknowledged Her in so much that he hath saide that in all thinges he did couet to followe the Romane Church And more auncieÌ„t than al these and neere vnto the Apostles time that very Apostolicall man Ireneus (l) Lib. 3. c. 3. Tert. de praescrip cap. 36. Cypr. ep 45. 46. Theod. l 2. hist cap. 4. Ber. ep 190. ad Innoc. lib. 2. de coÌ„sid cap. 8. Con. Chalc. action 3. Anaclet ep 1. 3. Marcell ep 1. Synedus Alexand ad Foelicem giueth such a testimoniall of coÌ„mendation to the Church of Rome To this Church saith he because of the chiefer principallitie it is necessary that all the Church haue recourse that is to say all the faithful that are dispersed in all places in which Church by those that are in all places of the world hath alwaies ben conserued the Apostolical Tradition 10 What dignitie and auctoritie hath the Church ALmightie God doth aduance his Church 1. Cor. 12.28 Ephes 5 25. Io. 14 15.26 16 12. 17 11.17 Mat. 28 20. 16 18. Psal 120 4. of all thinges vpon earth the moste deerest vnto him with many most excellent dowries promises and benefits Her he doth alwaies adorne preserue defend and maintaine Her also he hath appointed to be his (a) 1. Tim. 3 15. Ps 22 2. Io. 10 16. house wherin all the Sones of God may be cherished taught and exercised His pleasure was to make Her the (b) 1. Tim. 3 15. Aug. lib. 1. cont Creâ— cap. 33. â— 2. cap. 32. piller grounde of trueth that we may not doubt any whit of Her doctrine which as a maistres keeper interpreter of the trueth obtaineth credite and authority inuiolable Moreouer he hath determined that she should be builded vpon a sure (c) Mat. 1â— 18. 7 25. Ephes 2 20. Psal 86 2. 47 9. Aug. in Psal 47. Alcim lib. 4. cap. 14. Rocke that we might assuredly knowe how she is vnmoueable stedfast and how she preuaileth as vnuanquishable against the very gates (d) Mat. 16 18. of hell to wit the most sharpe and grieuous assaultes of all aduersaries Finally he will haue Her to be a certaine Cittie (e) Apo. 21 2 Mat. 5 15. Esa 2 2. Mich. 4 1. Mal. 1 11. Act. 1 8. P. 21 26.28 most holy set vpon a hill apparant to all men and easie to goe vnto least any man forsaking Her * 1. Io. 2 19. might betake himselfe to the pestiferous dennes dungeons of Haeretickes and being seduced with those false speaches (f) Mat. 24 23. ibid. Orig. tract 29. 30. Beholde here is Christ beholde there might depart and be with-drawne from her This is the (g) Cant. 4 7 6 8. Louer Sister and only spouse of Christ which holy Scripture proposeth and commendeth
18. ho. 39. in Euang. Clim grad 6. Eus Emis ho. 1. ad monac Seuer Sulp de uaÌ„s S. Mart. dying man must haue very sore conflictes both with most bitter paines also with most horrible feendes Wherefore although bodily health bee not alwaies hereby restored vnto the sicke person who often chaunceth to die after this vnction receiued yet a peculiar grace is giuen in this Sacrament to beare the force troublesomnesse of the disease more coÌ„stantly to take death it selfe more easily And this is it that by his Apostles God hath promised (d) Iac. 5 15. The praier of faith shall saue the sicke And our Lorde shall lift him vp And if he be in sinnes they shal be remitted him To the signifieng certes of which effects euen the nature and natiue force of oile doth fitlie agree as (e) In cap. 6. Mar. THEOPHILACTE sheweth Wherfore it behoueth vs exactly to obserue that which (f) Ser. 215. de temp vide etiam de rect Cath. câ—nuers de visit insir lib. 2. c. 4. iteÌ„ in speculo S. AVGVSTINE doth most holesomelie admonishe So often as anie infirmitye chaunceth let him that is sicke receiue the Body and Bloode of Christ and after that let him annoint his body that that which is written may be accomplished in him Is (g) Iac. 5 14. any man sicke Let him bring in the Priests and let them praie ouer him annoiling him with oile in the name of our Lord. And the praier of faith shall saue the sicke And our Lorde shall lifte him vp And if he be in sinnes they shall be remitted him OF THE SACRAMENT OF ORDERS 1 What is the Sacrament of holy Orders Aug. lib. 2. cont ep Parmen c. 13. et de bono coÌ„iug c. 24 li. 1. coÌ„t DoÌ„ cap. 1. Leo. ep 81. ad Diosc Greg. in cap 10. 16 lib. 1. reg Nyss orat de sanct Bapt. Conc. Flor. Trid. ses 23. Amb. in 12. cap. 1. ad Cor. Theoph. in cap. 19. Luc. Pet Clun lib. 6. ep 1. IT is that whereby a singular grace and spirituall power is giuen to some that they may by open profession beare office in the Church This is the Sacrament by which as by a dore do necessarily enter the lawful dispensers of the (a) 1. Cor. 4 1. Mal. 2 7. 1. Tim. 3 1. 5 17. Ephes 4 11. 1. Cor. 14 2.19 12 28 mysteries and of the worde of God the Ministers of Christ his Church as Bishops Priestes Deacons Finallie all those whosoeuer they be that do exercise functions in the Church orderly and with authority For no man as the (b) Heb. 5 4. Act. 1 24. Cypr. ep 52. Tert de praescript ca. 41. Conc. l. at c. 3. Innoc. 3. ad Metens cap. cum ex iniuncto Tit. de haer Scripture testifieth Taketh or ought to take the honor to himselfe to witte of exercising the functions of the Church But he that is called of God as AARON that is vnlesse he be consecrated by the Sacrament of visible ordinatioÌ„ bee by a (c) Mat. 10 1 Luc. 9 1. Mar. 16 15. Io 20 21. 17 18. Act. 13 2. Tit. 1 5. Bishop lawefully ordered sent to the worke of some certaine Ministery which in his degree he may exercise in the Church according to the Lawes of Diuine and Apostolicall Tradition 2 Are not all Christians Priests a-like THey may surely be (a) Apo. 1 6. 5 10. 1. Pet. 2 9. so called in this sense that as Priests were wonte to exercise certaine externall Sacrifices sacred functions so as many are regenerated in Christ may and ought daily to offer and diligently to exercise certaine spirituall (b) 1. Pet. 2 5 Rom. 12 1. Psal 49 23. 50 19. Phil. 4 18. Heb. 13 15.16 vide â—as ser 2. de Fap cap 8. Aug. 20. ciu c. 10. Leo. ser 3. in anniuers Amb. lib. 4. Sacr. cap. 1. sacrifices to witte Praier Praises Thankes-giuings mortifying of the Fleshe and others of like sorte So that for this cause they are saide in holy Scripture to be spiritual Priests before God and to offer vp spirituall Sacrifices But if we take this name of Priesthoode properly all indifferentlie are not Priests but those only vnto whom the authority of the Church hath committed to be proper ministers (c) Ignat. ad Her Chry. â—i 3. 6. de sacerd ho. 60. ad pop Hier ad Heliod ep 1. ca. 7. aduers Lucif c. 8 ep 85. ad Euag Victor l 2 de persec Cypr. ep 54. of Sacramentes and hath granted power and right to consecrate offer and distribute the holy Euchariste and both to remitte and to retaine the sinnes of men And of these priests prelates of the new Lawe thus writeth S. PAVL The Priestes that rule (d) 1. Tim. 5 17. well let them be esteemed woorthy of double honour especially they that labour in the worde and Doctrine And this doubtlesse cannot appartaine to women whome (e) 1. Tim. 2 11. 1. Cor. 14 34 Tert. de praescrip cap. 41. Epiph. haer 42 40. the same Apostle forbiddeth to teach in the Church biddeth to be silent neither can it concern the (f) Leo. ep c 2. ad Maxi. Laity at all whose part it is after the manner of sheepe to be fedde (g) Io. 10 11 21 15. 1. Pet. 5 2. 2 13. Heb. 13 17. Rom. 13 1. Mat. 23 2. Luc. 10 16. 1. Io. 4 6. not to feede to be gouerned not to gouerne not to preferre but to submitte and humble themselues vnto their Prelates to heare obserue and doe whatsoeuer they sitting in the chaire shall say whether they be good or euill according as wee reade it commaunded by the worde of God Wherfore as in the Church Triumphant there are Angels different (h Eph. 1 2â— Col. 1 16. Dan. 7 10. Dion de caelest hier ca. 10. in order and power who with decent disposition doe faithfullie execute and fulfill the offices imposed vpon them So also the Church (i) 1. Tim. 3 15. Cant. 6 9. Anacl ep 1. 2. 3. Isid lib. 2. de offic ca. 5. sequ Militant which is the house of God as it were a certaine campe set in battle a-ray hath her peculiar Ministers distinct from other Christians and disposed in Godly order amongest themselues for the prosecuting of the publike common sunctions of the Church vpoÌ„ earth to witte that for the benefite of the Christian people they maie euen by publike profession and with due Comelinesse and Maiesty bestowe their labours in those (k) Heb. 5 1. 8 3. 13 17. 2. Cor. 5 20. thinges which belong vnto God and the health of soules 3 In what place doth the Scripture giue testimony vnto this Sacrament Tit. 1 5. THere truly where it teacheth of the Apostles that in choosing appointing ordering of the Ministers of the
betweene God and his people Wherupon S. AMBROSE saith (b) In ca. 12. 1. ad Cor. A man that is placed in the order of an Ecclesiasticall office hath grace whatsoeuer he be not truly of him selfe but of his order by the operation of the holy Ghost Furthermore the said parties that receiue orders (c) Act. 6 5.8.10 13 2. 14 20. 15 2.42 1. Tim. 4 14. Tit. 1 5. Cypr. ep 76. haue thereby a certaine and euident testimonie whereby they may commend and approue both themselues and their Ministeries also vnto others And so it commeth to passe that they being as it were marked with those orders and being separated vnto the ministerie of the Church are well knowne and esteemed according to their degree and verie worthely honoured But woe be to them (d) Num. 16 31. Heb. 5.4 1. Par. 13 10. 2. Reg. 6 6. 2. Par. 26 16. whom not the example of AaRON that was called by God doth induce but seditiouse humors and swelling of the minde like vnto OZIAS the king doth cary hed long to the occupying vsurping by whatsoeuer meanes the offices of Priestly dignitie vpon whome this speach of God doth fitlie fall (e) Hier. 23 21. 14 14 27 15. 29 9. I did not send Prophets and they did runne I did not speake to them they did Prophesie And these the Scripture warneth vs not to accounte as Ministers of the Church but to eschew as (f) Io. 10 1. Cant. 2 15. Act. 20 29. Mat. 7 15. Theeues Robbers Foxes Dogges and Wolues because they doe not enter in by the dore but either of their owne rashnesse or for the fauour only of some ciuil magistrate (g) Trid. sess 23. cap. 4. or the popular multitude (h) Laod. can 13. they assume vnto themselues Ecclesiasticall offices seazing vpon those holy functions without any lawfull calling ordering * Ro. 10 15. But hâ—w shall they preach vnlesse they be sent as S. PAVL being one himselfe that was (i) Act. 13 2. separated vnto the worke doth say Doubtlesse order beinge once broken (k) Vide Leonem ep 87 ad Epis Afr. Greg. li. 4. ep 52. Dion cap. 5. eccles hier and Priesthoode taken away the Hierarchie and princely disposition of the Church consisting as well of Priests and other ministers as also of Bishoppes rightly ordered woulde come to decay Neither shoulde the Churche be that which it is called a Campe sette in battaile araye (l) Cant. 6 9. nor the true and lawefull Ministers of the Church should be discerned the office and authoritie of teaching would become contemptible the dispensation of the Sacramentes woulde be vnfaithfully and preposterously performed yea and altogither frustrate finally the functions of the Church woulde bee perturbed and as the proofe it selfe too much doth shewe newe and false Doctrines would increase and swarme by the means of these newe and false Ministers of Christ his spouse wherby the Church would often be shaken with sore deadly coÌ„motions as we doe in our daies feele by experience And for that cause the Apostle (m) 1. Cor. 12 28. Saint PAVL hath not only set down diuerse degrees of Ministers in the Church but hath also shewed howe holesome and necessarie they be in so much that hee affirmeth that they were giuen by (n) Ephes 4 11. God vnto the church as it hath bin said before To the consummatioÌ„ of Saints vnto the worke of the Ministerie vnto the edifiing of the body of Christ that nowe wee be not children wauering and carried about with euery winde of Dostrine in the wickednesse of men in craftinesse to the circumuention of error And certes this is a most euident sure note of the Church in that we see that perpetuall and neuer as yet at any time interrupted sucession of Bishops of lawefull orders in the same which God hath placed there-in for the perfect gouernment of this his kingdome And therefore this institution of Ministers as a most firme (o) Iren. lib. 3 cap. 3. lib. 4. cap. 43. Optat lib. 2. cont Douat Aug. ep 165 42. con epist Fund c. 4. in Psal cont part Donat. Tert. de praescript c. 36. knitting together of the Church and a most pretious bonde to preserue vnity is the more carefully to be retained and euen in the euill Ministers of the Church as we said before because of Gods ordinance is euer to be honored Which S. AVGVSTINE well vnderstanding saith Into that (p) Ep. 165. vide l. 2. con lit Petil. c. 51 order of Bishops which is deriued from PETER himselfe euen to ANASTASIVS who nowe sitteth in the same Chaire If any Traitour had in those daies crept in it had beene nothing preiudiciall vnto the Church and vnto Innocent Christians for whom our Lord was so carefull and prouident that he saith of euill Prelates (q) Mat. 23 3. whatsoeuer they say doe yee but according to their workes doe yee not Thus farre Sainte AVGVSTINE OF THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY 1 What is Matrimony MAtrimony is a laweful (a) Aug. li. de fid op ca. 7. lib. 1. de nupt coÌ„cup cap. 10. 21. lib. de bono coÌ„iug ca. 24. Amb. in c. 5. Eph. Pet. Damia ser 1. de dedic Lucius 3 in 5. Decret tit 7. c. 9. CoÌ„stant Conc. ses 15. artic 8. Trid. ses 24. can 1. coniunction of a man a woman instituted by God that they maie leade together an vndeuided society of life I say lawefull that there may be mutual (b) GeÌ„ 24 57 Tob. 7 15. Amb. de instit Virg c. 6 consent of both partes and that there be not found betweene them the degrees as they call them of (c) Calixt 1. ep 2. Later can 50. Trid ses 24. can 3. 4. de refor Matr. c. 2. sequ Consanguinity Affinity and other thinges of the like sort either prohibiting or disanulling Matrimony Of which Matrimoniall Coniunction if thou wouldest knowe the first author it is (d) Gen. 2 23. Mat. 19 6. 1. Cor. 7 10. Eph. 5 21. God himselfe most excellent and mightie who ioyned the first Couple and Parents of mankind in Paradise it selfe and honored them with his benediction But if thou regard the ende why it was instituted it is no other but the propagation of (e) Gen 2 23 Fulg. ep 1. cap. 3. Isid lib. 2. offic cap. 19. mankind to the glory of God and a familiar and faithfull liuing together (f) Chry ho. 20 ad Eph. in moral exhort ho. 5. in 1. Thess of Man Wife And finally the auoiding (g) 1. Cor. 7.9.10 Aug. li. 9. de Gen. ad lit c. 7. Chry. in Ps 43. ho. 3. de verb. Isaiae vidi DominuÌ„ of fornication in this imbecillitie of a corrupted nature 2 Howe is Matrimony a Sacrament IN that the (a) Amb. in cap. 5. Eph. Aug. vt supr
be punished Thus much of the first breeders of this heresie IHON WICLEFFE and IHON HVSSE the first of the which that you may the better knowe him therefore departed from the Church in the which he had bene a Priest Tho. Wald. l. 2. doct c. 60. onely because he had the repulse from a Bishopricke As for MARTIN LVTHER it is well knowen what giftes of the holy Ghost he had who had not the gift to obserue that chastitie which hee had Vowed and to keepe himselfe from a sacrilegiouse and incestuouse life That we may thinke that in him as a first ADAM of this new creation all the ministeriall posteritie for the most parte hath bene infected But it will not be amisse farre from our purpose of Indulgences Luthers fall quarell against Indulgence This office is nowe taken away by the CouÌ„cel of Trent Io Coch. in the actes of Luther an 1517. In anno 1519. In epist ad Argentin to let the Reader vnderstande thus much that forthwith after his strange vocation to his newe kind of licentiouse life the first quarell that he pretended was against Indulgences and that not vpon zeale and conscience but onlie for ambition and enuie that the office of preaching Pardons and publishing the POPES Bulles was from the order of S. AVGVSTINE in which hee had many yeeres liued a Moncke translated to the order of Dominican Friers Whereupon in his first disputation at Lipsia he gaue a cleare testimony of the spirit by which he was called wheÌ„ he cried out This matter neither was begonne for God neither shall be ended for God And that you may the better perceiue his ghostly zeale he saith that if the Scriptures had not beene most cleare against him in the matter of the Blessed Sacramente hee would for to haue done the POPE a displeasure long before haue denied the Reall-Presence which notwithstanding he neuer durst That we may say nothing of his singular profiting in his Masters schole Lib de Missa angular when hee saide that he had beene taught of the Diuell that MASSE was naught and therefore that he had abolished it Against this man and his predecessours if wee shoulde alleadge the Councell of Trent The Councel of Trent sess 25. wherein all the Learning and Holinesse of the wholle world conspired togither Vndoubtedly vnto him who in respecte of himselfe contemneth a thousand AVGVSTINES and as many CYPRIANS In his boke against K. Hary and thought King HENRY the 8. one of the most famous Princes of the worlde with all his fellowe Princes not to be worthy to vnlatche his shooe we may well thinke what it would auaile Much a like woulde it proue if we shoulde bring him the generall Councell of Constance The Councell of Constance where beeing so manie Schismatickes about the true POPE woonder it is that they should agree in this pointe as in all other pointes of Religion if the trueth had not preuailed But what will they say of other generall Councelles before euer Hell had opened mouth against this most certaine verity The generall Councel of Vienna The Councell of Vienna Clem. de reliqu vener SS cap. vnico de poenit remis cap. 2. did acknowledge the power of giuing Indulgences For in that Councell by CLEMENT the fifth were graunted Pardons in the Feast of CORPVS CHRISTI daie And order taken against the abuses of some which vnlawfully preached Indulgences And in the generall Councell holden at Lions The Councel of Lions cap. 1. de poenit remis in sexto vnder INNOCENTIVS the fourth we haue admonition giuen to Bishoppes not to exceede in graunting Indulgences And before that the great Lateran Councell The LateraÌ„ Councell anno 1198. vnder INNOCENTIVS the thirde limiteth the Cap. 2. de poenit remiss ca. cum ex eo Indulgences of Bishoppes The same also taketh away Cap. 60. de exces Praelat cap. Accedentib the abuse by which Abbates had woonte to graunt Indulgences We haue also in the same Cap. 3. de Haeret. c. excommun mention of Indulgences vsed to be graunted to those which went to the recouery of the Holy-land As we haue at the De paenit remis same time an aunswere in a question of Indulgence by HONORIVS the thirde as also of ALEXANDER the thirde before all these Where these Councells POPES speake of them not as of a newe diuise but as of a thing generally vsed in the Church BONIFACIVS C. Nostro C. quod auteÌ„ Pardons were not newely practised fiue hundred yeeres agoe also the eight in his Extrauagant wherein he proclaimeth the Iubiley saith that by faithfull relation of auncients there were many remissions and Indulgences graunted in the Apostles Churches at ROME Neither was the Iubiley first instituted by him but See the glosse of Io. Monach. who liued in his time as an vsuall thing euery hundred yeere practised And Iacobus Cardinalis in libro de centessimo a writer of that age maketh mention of an olde man who that yere came to ROME reported that his Father was at ROME for the same cause the hundred yeere before An. 1300. The beginning of Iubiley is vnknowen and had commaunded him if he liued so long to go thither the next Iubiley So that we knowe no certaine beginning of the Iubiley But that it was by this POPE Anno. 1300. ordained to be euery 100. yeere And by CLEMENT Anno. 1350. the 6. euery 50. Afterward by decree of SIXTVS the 4. Anno. 1475. brought vnto euery 25. yeere Where it now remaineth To this wee adde the auncient practise of the stations in ROME that is the visiting of certaine particular Churches in the Lent Aduent Imber daies and other times also in which stations from very auncient times vsed as from the time of Saint GREGORIE at the least as appeareth in his Sacramentary great Pardons haue beene graunted to those which visit with deuotioÌ„ the aforesaid Churches Nowe if fiue generall Councells and so manie auncient Doctors without any contradiction with such general consent and ioifull approbation of all Christendome grounded vpon the expresse autoritie of Gods owne worde iurisdiction graunted to the Church and practise of Antiquitie bee not sufficient to conuince any vnderstanding there is nothing sufficient to performe the same 9 The same verity is prooued by reason necessarily deduced out of Scriptures And the treasure of Indulgences is declared BVt we wil moreouer by necessary consequence deduce this wholle matter out of holy Scriptures whereby we shall giue a farther light to our whâ—ll discourse But first I suppose these things following as most true yet briefely touching also the grounds thereof 1 We may being in grace satisfie for Temporall punishmeÌ„t First that a man Iustified by Gods grace and hauinge a Temporall debte of punishmente remaining may iustly and equally Dan. 4.24 Pro. 16 6. Luc. 3 8. 2 Cor 7 10. See pag. 209 satisfie vnto Gods Iustice for the same The Diuines distinguish a double kinde of iustice
PARDONS 1 What is the grounde and foundation of Pardons FIrst we must heere call to mind that which hath bin shewed aboue out of Scriptures Fathers See pag. 209 that sinnes committed after Baptisme although in respect of the fault and disgrace of God guilt of euerlasting paine and damnation they bee fully remitted through the merits onlie of Christs Passion in the Sacrament of Penance doe notwithstanding leaue most ordinarily behind them if the contrition be not the greater a debt of Temporall punishment And that by such Temporall punishement satisfaction is to be made vnto Gods Iustice either in this worlde by workes of Penance enioined in the Sacrament or voluntarily vndertaken or in the other life in the fire of Purgatory See pag. 218 Nowe therefore as Almighty God hath lefte in his Church autority and iurisdiction to binde such Penitentes as haue recourse to the Sacramente for helpe vnto a conuenient satisfaction aunswerable to his diuine Iustice and decree so likewise hee beeing alwaies more prone to Mercy than to Iustice his grace superabounding wher sinne aboundeth Rom. 5 10. It necessarily followeth that he hath giuen as great a power to his Pastours in the one as in the other therefore as they may impose so they may release Penance as they are executioners of his Iustice to punishe so they are also dispensours of his mercie to remitte and pardon Finally as the power of his Mat. 16 19. Keies doe extend to bind so they doe also extend to loose whatsoeuer is bound or loosed in heauen which shall be more largely shewed hereafter 2 What is an Indulgence or Pardon Than may we hereby plainely see what is an Indulgence or Pardon which beeing wel vnderstoode duely considered we shall not need any long discourse for the proofe and defence of the same An Indulgence therefore or Pardon is the remission of the Temporall punishemente due vnto sinne already forgeuen graunted by the Pastours of the Church for iust and conuenient cause vnto him which is in Gods grace fauour Hence it followeth that whosoeuer will be partaker of an Indulgence graunted first he must be in grace then performe that which is in the graunt of the Indulgence required as Fasting or Praier or Almes And so he shall enioy the fruite thereof 3 How many things are necessary to obtaine a Pardon But if we will consider all the wholle chaine of thinges concurring and necessarily required in this matter we may the better conceiue the malitiouse slaunders and cauills of our aduersaries heerein First therfore he that will gaine an Indulgence must be hartely sory for his sinnes Secondly hee must haue a full and resolute purpose to amend his life and neuer to fall into any mortal sinne Thirdly he must make a diligent search of his conscience calling exactly to mind so farre as the frailtie of mans memory can reach all the particulars of his thoughts wordes deedes offensiue vnto God Fourthly he must humbly syncerely lay them open before the Priest who in Gods steed is to iudge thereof Fiftly he is to accept that Penance which is imposed vpon him And all this is so necessarie for remission of sinnes that if there want but one of them either sorrowe or purpose or due examination or pure Confession or fulfilling the Penance enioined or at the least in the three last a full intent to execute them in due time no man can obtaine the grace of God much lesse such Pardons as we speake of which are not nor can be imparted but to those onely which are in Gods blessed fauour Nowe if there happen any opportunity of Indulgence or remission of this Penance enioined or of that which by the auncient Canons of the Church or by Gods secrete most iust iudgement should in rigour bee inioined for ordinarily the Penance in our age enioined in Confession is not equall vnto that which the auncient Canons of the Church Gods own determination hath allotted than sixtly there is required the fulfilling of that worke vnto which the Indulgence is annexed And so if the partie which seeketh the Indulgence be still in grace and the cause proportionable to the Indulgence infallibly he receiueth the same And yet some Diuines doe vpon probable groundes affirme that he which will obtaine an Indulgence must besides all this of necessitie either haue accepted of his Ghostly-father or purposed to take vpon himselfe so greate penance as were in it selfe sufficient to satisfie for that paine which in the Indulgence is remitted or at the least that he must haue a generall purpose to satisfie Gods Iustice in this life by Godly workes and deuout labours and sufferings otherwise except the worke exacted in the Indulgence be equiualent to the paine remitted he shall not enioy the benefitte Their reason is for that he which hath not this minde as much as in himselfe lieth to procure his owne succours for his negligence coldenesse and slackenesse deserueth not helpe of others and it seemeth as they say that Christ his Saintes intended not to yeeld such vnnecessary helpe whereby negligence might be increased But this opinion is by others worthily reiected Who say that if the Penitent haue this full conditionall resolution to fulfill his enioined Penance in Confession if he cannot obtaine by Indulgence the remission therof whether his Penance were great or little then shall he not beeing a liuely member of CHRIST be depriued of the participation of the common treasure of his wholle body A Purpose of satisfaction very profitable for him which will receiue an Indulgence and consequently of such Indulgence Yet certaiâ— it iâ— that such actuall purpose of satisfying Gods Iustice by owne penall workes doth make a maâ— more apte â—o receiue the wholl Indulgence and encreaseth the value of the cause and Gods acceptation of the recompence which is made vnto him by such an Indulgence as wee will shewe hereâ—fter 4 A comparison betweene the Catholickes Pardons and the Protestants Pardons THis therefore being the course of all Catholicks in obtaining Pardon of sinnes let vs on the contrary side examine a little howe many of these things are to be found in the Protestants Pardons For that they haue Pardons yea plenary Indulgences also none can doubte who heareth euery day that they are cleansed purged from all sinne and sure to goe to Heauen so soone as they shall die For in very deede this is not only a full remission of all paines and punishmentes but also a most certaine assurance of that singular gifte of God which is perseuerance to the ende Which if the Catholicke could perswade himselfe so easelye to be gotten he would with S. Paul 1. Cor. 15 19. account himselfe the most wretched of all men whereas he should so toile and labour in infidelity for that which he ought to assure himselfe that already he possesseth But whereas they doe so malitiously and contemptuously obiect vnto vs the Popes Pardons giuing
temporall punishment hee released 3 Can. 11. Thirdly the first Councell of Nice vnto some which had fallen in persecution and whome the Councell calleth vnworthy of mercie yet determineth to shewe humanitie and imposing them Penance yet giueth liberty to the Bishoppe vpon the fruite of their repentance and demonstration of a sorroweful minde to deale yet more gently But what is this but a Pardon Can. 2. The like authority is giuen to Bishoppes in the Anciran Councell before the Nicen Councell concerning Deacons which in persecution for feare did sacrifice vnto Idolles and towardes others also that they may HVMANIVS AGERE Can. 5. Deale more fauorably Can. 75 76.77.79 Diuerse Canons wee haue also in the fourth Councell of Carthage where S. AVGVSTINE was present of the speedie or slowe reconciling of Penitentes Which is nothing else but to remitte them their temporall punishmente which they at that time fulfilled as nowe also sometimes is doone in the Church before reconciliation by the Sacrament of Penance Fourthly S. CYPRIAN in diuerse epistles complaineth of those which ouer-easely did giue peace vnto Penitents 4 Lib. 1 ep 3. lib 3 ep 14. 18 ser de lapsis for so he calleth that which we now call Pardons and he writeth vnto the holy Confessors of Christ then in Prisons to request them not to exceede herein For those which for some faultes were in the number of Penitents ordinarily had recourse vnto those which for Christes sake did suffer torments or imprisonment and by their letters commended to their Bishoppes were for their sakes released Of which custome TERTVLLIAN also is a notable witnesse exhorting the Martyrs to peace amongst themselues in lib. ad Mart. desig because they obtained peace for many which otherwise had not peace in the Church Fifthly the Penitentiall Canons of the Church were made and decreed by the Church and by the same they haue bene released as we haue shewed But to release the Punishments of this world and to leaue men with the debte of more bitter punishment in the other were not to prouide carefully for the welfare of Christes flocke Therefore the continual practise of the Fathers hath bene in remitting the Penances enioined to remitte all the deserte of chastisement euen in the other worlde But if one shoulde obiecte that they did no more then we are accustomed to doe who when we enioine Penance lesse then the deserte doe not withall pardon the wholle satisfaction so doth it not seeme that these Fathers pardoned their Penitents but onely were contented with a small Penance leauing the rest to Gods iudgement and their deuotion This cānot be any waies defended for they wholly pardoned them and gaue them Peace and neuer charged them with any care or study of farther satisfaction wherefore they much differed from our maner of Penance who neuer enioine it as a sufficient remedy but as a necessary parte of the sacrament and a medicine for the time to come hauing also regard in some parte to satisfie the Iustice of God still leauing the parties perswaded of their farther debte Penances now more easie and Pardons more commō then in times past Thus much be spoken of that feruent time of the Primitiue Church when deuotion abounding neither sinnes were so rise nor Penances so easie as now a daies And therefore in those daies were the Penances so greate and so long that those holy and learned Fathers thought them sufficient to make a full satisfaction vnto that which Gods iudgement had decreed vnto sinnes remitted Since which time the holy Church hath tenderly prouided for the delicatenes of her children least they should be 2. Cor. 2 11. circumuented by Satan and so quite ouerthrowen from their wholle course of Religion For which respect as she is more milde in imposing of Penances not remitting but leauing the greatest parte of the due correction to mens owne election so is she also more liberall at conuenient times in imparting of the Treasure of the Church to their release pardon not only remitting enioined Penances which would haue bene sufficient in the new spring of the Church according to the course of those daies but also in a most large maner absoluing from al maner of desert of Punishment Now therefore hauing shewed most manifestly this practise of the Church both in the Apostles time and in the time of the Martyrs What maner of aduersaries Pardons haue had and after them when a generall peace was giuen to the whole flock of Christ ther cannot be any question of the times following this verity neuer being called into doubt before IHON WICLEFFE with his scholler IHON HVSSE and MARTIN LVTHER three persons of eternall infamy began to perturbe not only the peaceable gouernment of the Church but also therewith all true Christian policy of ciuill common wealthes For one of WICLEFFS artickles is this Conc. Cōstatien sess 8. art 15. There is no man either a temporall Lord or Prelate or Bishop whilest hee is in mortall sinne And another art 29. Vniuersities Studies Collegies Degrees and mastershippes in the same are by vaine heathenisme brought in and as much profit the Church as the deuil And againe art 6. God must obey the deuil These articles were confirmed also by IHON HVSSE who more plainly vttereth there a good lesson of theirs which with the condemnation in the Councell of Constance we will also set downe Sess 15. Euery Tyran may and ought lawfully meritoriously to be slain by whatsoeuer his vassall or subiect yea by secret deceites subtill fawnings or flatterings notwithstanding any othe taken or confederacy made with him without expectation of any sentence or commission from any Iudge whatsoeuer This is the goodly doctrine of them who as they began at the first to derogate vnto the high iurisdiction of Christ his Church so they went forwarde to abolish asmuch as in the did lye all ciuill roialty so that worthely we may say that they were such as S PETER and S. IVDE did speake of 2. Pet. 2 10. Iudae Ver. 8 who despise dominion blaspheme maiestie being bould selfe pleasers and such as feare not to bring in sectes But that we may see how reuerend account the Catholike Church hath alwaies made of obedience due to temporall Princes 1. Pet. 2 18 not onely modest but euen to those which are waiwarde in al iust and lawfull actions for otherwise we must obey Act. 5.29 The Catholicks most exact defenders of temporall obedience God rather than man Let vs here the Councells graue sentence of this matter Against this errour this holy SYNODE endeuouring to oppose it selfe and vtterly to take it away doth declare and define that this doctrine is erroneous in faith and maners and condemneth and reprooueth it as hereticall scandalous and opening a way to fraudes deceites lies treasons periuries Moreouer it declareth and decreeth that whosoeuer doe stubbornely affirme this most perniciouse doctrine are Heretickes and as such according to the Canonicall decrees are to
his whole body that is his owne and his Saints merits For he hath entered into so straite a society with his members that they accomplishe that which wanteth of his Passions in their flesh But it is no blasphemy to say that Christs merites make an equal recompence for sinnes 11 Of Pardons for the Deade FInally wee hence inferre that Pardons may bee graunted vnto the Deade who in the vnitie of CHRISTES body haue departed this life and that in as infallible a manner if the cause bee sufficient as vnto those which are aliue yet not by waye of absolution but by waye of Suffrage which we will forthwith expounde For it is to be vnderstoode See pag. 219 Three kind of Suffrages for the deade that the soules departed out of this worlde in Purgatorie suffering the chastisement of God may as aboue hath bin shewed out of S. AVGVSTINE be holpen by those which are aliue three waies First by the holy Sacrifice of the MASSE which is vndoubtedly propitiatory for the quicke and the dead Secondly by the praiers of the Church and of other deuoute Christians Thirdly by Almes or any other Penall worke doone for them And concerning the first because it is not our owne worke but the very worke of Christ himselfe we will not heere speake thereof The second is founded as we saide before in the meere liberality of Christ without any certaine promise For although God infalliblely doth heare and graunt the Petition of one which is in grace when he praieth for himselfe D. Thom. 2.2 quaest 83. artic 15. and for necessary things vnto saluation with humility and perseuerance yet when he praieth for another either aliue or dead there is no such certainty and infallibility of obtaining Because we know not whether or howe farre God accepteth our praier nor the disposition of the other The like is to be said of that imperfecte kinde of Merit which is called DE CONGRVO of Congruity or Conueniency For oftentimes one which is in grace meriteth for another man either aliue or dead many good thinges yet because herein is no certaine Lawe or promise of God or reason of Iustice betweeene him and vs as there is in the other merit of condignity which wee spake of before there is no certainty but all lefte to the secret disposition of God But the third thing which is to offer for them which are dead in Christ either Almes or Fasting or any other work of Satisfaction yea Praier in as much as it is Satisfactorious because of the labour thereof hath an infallible effecte euen of iustice for to satisfie for their paines Yet so that the offerer be in grace The reason of this is that which we touched before for that they be of the Communion of Christes mysticall body and in great neede of helpe and therefore doe receiue the influence from the heade as other members doe And as there is an equality of Iustice in the satisfaction of one iust man offered for another beeing aliue so also is there the same kind of iustice in the same satisfactioÌ„ offered for the dead Prayer is two waies profitable vnto the Deade Wherefore it is very profitable for him which praieth for the dead not only to offer his praier to obtaine mercie for him but also to offer vnto God that very labour of praying for him For in this respecte it is satisfactorious hath an infallible effecte for him in the other respecte it is impetratorious and hath no certaine promised measure of benefite but only according to Gods meere liberality the deuotion of the partie which praieth and the estate of the party deceassed considered Yet doe I not doubt but that alwaies something is also obtained when the satisfaction is auaileable For it belongeth to Gods merciful liberality to bestowe where we by his gratious permission promise doe bestow so that it is very conuenient to thinke that if in such praier the satisfaction be sufficiently deriued to the deade by our application God also by hearing the same Praier doth liberally graunt our request in part and adde somewhat to the value of our small recompence which we make for our Brother Yet as the quantity is vncertaine so may it be much more the deuotioÌ„ of the praier being feruent than that which proceedeth from the certaine limited fruit of the satisfaction These helpes therfore which we may afforde vnto the soules departed are called the Suffrages of the Deade Now eueÌ„ as in those which are aliue by the Indulgences of the Church recompence is made for that teÌ„porall punishment which they aâ—e deserued so also may the same Indulgences take away the debtes of those which are departed and that as infallibly as they are profitable to those which are in this worlde For this is the wholle course of an Indulgence in this life PETER oweth vnto Almightie God great Penance and because men which are aliue may applye their satisfactions for PETERS reliefe therefore may the POPE out of the Treasure of the wholle Church yeelde vnto PETER conuenient reliefe of which infallibly PETER shall be partaker if he be in grace and a recompence of iustice is made vnto God for PETERS debte Euen so is it in the deade who for that they may be partakers of common Suffrages of the Church may by Indulgences receiue a perfect supply of that which by the suffrages they may receiue This doe the Diuines call Per moduÌ„ Suffragij and it is so also called in the ordinary Pardons By way of Suffrage that is not as some doe misse vnderstand it as if the meaning of such a Pardon were if they can obtaine it of God they shall deliuer a Soule out of Purgatory for then the Pardon could not be of certaine force for the dead But the sense is they shall deliuer a Soule out of Purgatory euen as if they had donne so much of ordinary Suffrages for them as were sufficient for the wholle effect of the Indulgence This shall be more cleere if we consider the cause of this maner of speach which was this To those which liue in this world Indulgences are not onely recompences made to God for our debte but also a proper absolution The POPE absoluing vs and paying that which wee owe out of the Treasure Nowe the POPE hauing no autoritie or iurisdiction ouer the deade he cannot absolue them yet as he may and all other Christians may by common Suffrages yeelde them conuenient helpe so may he supply such helpe by applying out of the Treasure that which may be auaileable vnto them And therefore although he doth not absolue theÌ„ as not being their iudge yet he applieth to their certaine benefitte and reliefe the common satisfactions of Christ of his Saintes which he hath in his custody Wherefore when he saith I graunt this Indulgence by way of Suffrage it is as much as if he saide I doâ— not absolue theÌ„ Pardons for deâ—d â—equire a iust cause but apply