those whiche doe reste in Christe we desire thee that thou wylt giue them place of comforte through the same Christe our Lord amen Aunswere In the 4. of the sentences Distinction 45. and the 13. glose Iniuriam facit martyri qui or at pro martyre That is to say he which prayeth for a Martyr doth iniury and wrong vnto the Martyr S. Cyprian in his .4 booke of baptisme and the maister of the sentences 4. distinct .4 Chapter If all the deaths and all the tormentes that all men the Patryarckes Prophets Apostles Martyrs and confessors haue euer suffered should be put togither they shall not be sufficient to put out the leaste sinne of the world Knowe ye not that the vnrighteous shal not inherite the kingdome of God Bee not deceiued neyther fornicators neyther idolaters neyther aduouterers neyther wantons neyther abusers of them selues with the mankinde neyther theeues neyther couetous neyther dronkardes neyther euill speakers neyther extorcioners shall inherite the kingdome of god And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirite of our God. Christe loued the church and gaue him selfe for it to sanctifie it and clensed it in the washing of water through the worde To make it vnto him selfe a glorious church without spot or wrincle or anye such thing but that it should be holy and without blame Iesus Christ sayth verely verely I doe saye vnto you except that a man be begotten of water and of the spirite he cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen Saint Iohn Baptist sayde of Iesus Christe he shall baptise you with the holy Ghoste and with fire which hath his fanne in his hand and will make cleane his floure and gather the wheate into his garner but will burne the chaffe with vnquencheable fire Iesus Christ saith nowe are ye cleane through the wordes which I haue spoken vnto you Also Peter saide vnto Iesus thou shalt neuer washe my feete Iesus sayde vnto him if I doe not washe thee thou shalt not haue parte with me Peter saide vnto him Lord not my feete only but also my hands and my head Iesus sayd vnto him he that is washed needeth not saue to washe his feete but is cleane euery whit He shall put downe our wickednesse and caste all our sinnes into the bottome of the sea Raymonde sayth Gratia magna dei veniamnon dimidiabit Aut nihil aut totum propitiando dabit That is to say God doth not pardon the moytie or halfe but his great mercye pardoneth all or nothing Moyses and Saint Paule doe say our God is a consuming fire The Pope in his Canons in the Glose of Baptisme and of his effect Chap. which beginneth maiores Causas Larga dei pietas veniam non dimidiabit Nam nihil aut totū te lachrymante dabit That is to say the great goodnesse of God wyll not giue pardon for the moyte for when thou commest vnto him with teares and weepings he will giue thee all or nothing Moyses saith The workes of God are perfect O Lorde thou forgiuest all our sinnes Chrysostome in the .2 homily vpon the 50. psalme When one demandeth mercy that is that he might not be examined of his sinne to the end he should not be handled according to the rigour of righteousnesse and to the ende that all punishment may cease for where there is mercie there is no more hell fire neyther rigour nor paine Chrysostome in his sermon of penance and confession The Lord doth punish vs for our sinnes not for to take anye recompence of oure sinnes but for to aduise vs of things to come S. Ambrose vpon S. Luke of repentance first distinction Chapter which beginneth Petrus Peter was sorowfull and did lament for he hath transgressed as man I doe not finde what he sayde I doe knowe verye well that he hath wept I doe reade of his teares and not of his satisfaction The Priestes doe sing in the beginning or prose of those that be deade such wordes Rex tremendae maiestatis qui saluandos saluas gratis salua me fons pietatis That is to saye O redoubtable king in maiestie whiche doest saue freely those which ought to be saued saue me O fountayne of goodnesse Blessed are the deade which hereafter die in the Lorde euen so sayth the spirite For bicause they rest from their labours and their works followe them Of a truth he onely taketh away our infirmitie and beareth our payne yet wee shall iudge him as though he were plaged and cast downe of God where as he notwithstanding shall be wondred at for our offences and smitten for our wickednesse For the payne of our punishment shall be layde vpon him and with his wounds shal we be healed As concerning the place of S. Paule 1. Cor. 3. That euery one shall be saued as it were by the fire S. Augustine in his boke of the Citie of God the 21. booke Chapter .26 And in his treatise of fayth and of workes Chapter .16 And in his Enchiridion Chapter 28. expoundeth it of the fire of tribulation and of the crosse and persecutions of this worlde by the which the Lorde examineth those that be his Gregory vpon Iob the .29 Chapter And in his morals the .28 booke the .17 chap. And in the .16 distinct Chap. whith beginneth Canones glossae atque As touching the bookes of the Machabees the church doth not hold them for canonicall saying we doe nothing vnorderly if we bring in the examples of the bookes which although that they be not canonicall yet neuerthelesse doe serue for the edification of the churche S. Augustine of the citie of god .18 booke 36. Chapter And of christian doctrine .2 booke .8 chapter Speaking of the number of the times which haue bene sithence the returne from Babilon vntill the comming of Iesus Christe the count and computation of them are not found in the holy Scripturs which are called canonical but in the other among whom are the bookes of the Machabees S. Ierome in the Epistle written vnto Chromatius and Heliodorus bishops And also in the Byble before the booke of the Prouerbes The Churche doth reade the bookes of the Machabees but it doth not receiue them as canonicall Also although that the Church doth reade the bookes of Iudith Tobie and of the Machabees yet neuerthelesse the Church doth not receyue them as Canonicall scripture And so the Church may read these two bokes for the edification of the people but not for to confirme ecclesiasticall doctrine Ierome in his Prologue Galeatus which is set before the booke of the Kings Sayth that he hath neuer founde the seconde booke of the Machabees in the Hebue tongue but he hath founde it in the Greeke tongue And writing against the Pelagians The seconde booke of the Machabees is written by Iosephus the Historiographer
no more any such vayles which are against our religion For it becommeth thy honestye and it is also reasonable that rather thou haue a care to take from the Church of Iesus Christ all scrupulous thinges which are not meete for the people giuen thee in charge S. Ierome doth giue witnesse of Epiphanius writing to Pammachius against the errors of Iohn Byshoppe of Ierusalem Thou hast Epiphanius the Byshoppe who by the letters that he hath sent vnto thee hath called thee openly Heriticke Truely thou art no greater then he neyther of age nor of knowledge neyther in holynesse of life neyther according to the testimonye of all the worlde during the time that the heresye of the Aryans and Eunomians did raigne in all the Easte countreys except Pope Athanasius and Paulin when thou wouldest not communicate or haue felowship with those of the West partes neyther with those that did confesse the name of God in exile Eyther he was not heard of Euticius during the time that he was but priest of the Monastery nor after that he was Byshop of Cypres he was not touched of Valens for he was alwayes so honored and esteemed that the Heritickes them selues being in their kingdome would haue thought that the same should haue turned to their ignomynie and sclander if they should haue-persecuted so excellent a man. Also the history Tripartite 9. booke Chapter 48. affirmeth That he did many myracles The saide Epiphanius hath written a booke called the booke of heresyes out of which Saint Augustine allegeth witnesses He liued in the time of Theodosius about the yeere of our Lorde 390. Of fastings and of meates THe spirit speaketh euidently that in the latter times some shal depart frō the faith and shal giue hede vnto spirites of error and doctrines of diuelles which speake false lyes through hipocrysie haue their consciences burned with an hotte yron forbidding to marrye and commaunding to abstayne from meates which God hath created to be receiued with giuing thanks of them which beleeue and knowe the truth For all creatures of God are good and nothing ought to be refused if it be receiued with thanks giuing For it is sanctyfied by the worde of God and prayer S. Athanasius in his expositions vpon the Epistle to the Hebreus 13. Chapter These are truly strange doctrines And he rebuked those which had brought in the Iewishe abstinences and obseruations of meates For he sayth you ought to be fortified with grace that is to saye with fayth and ye ought to be moste sure that nothing is defiled and that all thinges are pure and cleane vnto him that beleeueth and so that faith is necessary and not the obseruation of meates For those whiche doe abstayne from meates that is to saye those which haue their affection alwayes to obserue in such manner meates it is most manifest that such haue nothing profited no more then those which doe seperate them selues from the bonds and lymytes of the true faith and serue wholy a lawe altogither vnprofitable What soeuer is solde in the fleshe market that eate ye and aske no question for conscience sake S. Ierome vpon the first Chapter of Malachye Turne neyther to the right hand neyther to the left to decline and turne to the right hand is to abstaine from meates whiche God hathe created to bee vsed Also to condemne and forbyd marriage is to fall into that whiche is written in another place be not righteous in thy selfe beyonde measure Iesus Christ sayth that whiche goeth into the mouth defileth not a man but that which commeth out of the mouth defileth the man. The Councell of Bracara or Braga 2. 30. distinct Chapter which beginneth Si quis Helde in the yeare 619. Hath excommunicated those which did abstayne themselues from eating of fleshe through superstition Eusebius in the ecclesiasticall historie the .5 booke Chapter 3. Rehearseth that among those whiche were prisoners for the fayth at Lyons there was one named Alcibiades who led a very strayte life for he woulde eate nothing but breade and drinke water wyth salt the which lyfe he was willing to continue being in prison He was notified vnto Attalus the true martyr of Iesus Christ after his first confession that hee made in the theater that the same Alcibiades did euill in not eating those creatures which God hath made and that the same was an offence vnto others the which thing being come to the knowledge of Alcibiades he did eate by the admonishing of Attalus all things as others did rendring thankes vnto God for that the holy ghost reuealed vnto the same Attalus that which he did teach S. Augustine of ecclesiasticall maners 33. vpon the letter K. Speaking of the Monkes of Millaine whose straytnesse he sawe None is constreyned to beare a heauyer burthen than he can else let him refuse to beare it and he which is weaker than the other is not therefore condemned of them They all do knowe howe greatlye loue and charitie is commended They doe knowe very well that all meates are cleane to those that are cleane therefore all their industrie is not to reiect any meates as vncleane but only to tame their concupiscence and lust and to holde and keepe themselues in brotherly loue They do remember this sentence Meates are ordeyned for the belly and the bellye for meates neuerthelesse manye which are strong shall abstayne bicause of the weake Many haue another reason to wete bicause that they had rather to bee fedde with grosse meates and not with sumptuous and delicate therefore those which in health doe abstayne from one kynde of meate make no doubt being sick to eate of it Many doe not drinke wyne yet neuerthelesse they doe not thinke to be defiled therewith for they themselues doe ordeyne that one shoulde giue vnto those that are of a weake complexion and can none otherwise keepe their health if there be any that refuseth to drinke they admonishe them brotherly not to make themselues through vayne superstitions more weake than holye Euen so they doe diligently exercise themselues in the feare of god And as touching the exercise of the bodye they doe knowe verye well that it profiteth onely for a little time Loue is chieflye kept and therevnto is applyed meates words apparayle and the countenances euery one doth consent vnto a mutuall loue and charitie and doe abhorre to violate it as much as God doth if any one do resist the same he is cast out if any one doe disagree from the same they will not suffer him one day Rebuke them sharply that they maye be sounde in fayth and not taking heede to Iewishe fables and commaundements of men that turne from the truth Vnto the pure al things are pure but vnto them that are defiled and vnbeleeuing is nothing pure but euen the very mindes and consciences of them are defiled The Councell of Toledo 13. hath excōmunicated those whiche forbydde to eate fleshe The
Polycarpus the martyr Clemens a Grecian flourished vnder the two Vespasians Domitian and Nerua He was the Disciple of Paule called his fellow labourer as he himselfe witnesseth and as Dorotheus sayth one of the 70. disciples He first preached the Gospell at Metz in Frāce Pantaleon pag. 7. Maior Munster Afterwards was made Bishop of Sardis now called Triaditza Dorotheus in the lyues of the 70. Disciples Lastlye bishop of Rome the 3. in succession and was martyred vnder Traian anno 103. in the thirde persecution by tying an anker about his necke and throwne into the sea He obtayned the dignitie of the seate 9. yeares 2. monethes 10. dayes Martinus Polonus in his lyfe Gregorius Turonicus pag. 21. Platyna in his lyfe Ignatius a Grecian byshop of Antioch the yeare of our Lorde .99 seconde in succession after Peter the disciple of S. Iohn the Euangelist and Apostle flourished chieflye vnder Nerua and Traian was martyred as he testifieth of himselfe at Rome in the thirde persecution the historie saith that as Traian returned from the victorie of his enimies the yere 109. and threatened death to the Christians Ignatius came towardes him and confessed himselfe a Christian wherefore he was straight apprehended and bounde with fetters and caried to Rome and deuoured with wild beasts Euseb lib. 3. cap. 33. shewing his owne Epistle howe he was bounde and fettered and garded with a great troupe of souldiers and inclosed with ten Leopardes Gregorie of Tours pag. 21. Martin the Polonian in the lyfe of Traian Pantaleon pag. 9. Onuphrius Panuinus pag. 16. Irenaeus a Latine Doctor the seconde bishop of Lyons in Fraunce and successour of Pothynus the disciple of Polycarpus the martyr bishop of Smyrna Florished vnder Commodus the yeare .175 Pantaleon pag. 13. He was sent into France by the sayde Polycarpus and was commended by the martyrs there vnto Elutherius the 13. byshop of Rome and confuted there certaine heretikes Euseb lib. 5. cap. 4. cap. 18. He reprehended sharplye Victor successor of Elutherius in the sea of Rome bicause he had excommunicated the Christians of Asia and Greece Euseb lib. 5. cap. 23. Hee was martyred at Lyons vnder Seuerus in the v. persecution or according to Sulpitius Seuerus the sixt in the yeare 184. Gregorie of Tours pag. 22. Martin the Polonian in the life of Seuerus He was present in the Councel of Palaestine with Polycarpus Theophilus Narcissus and Bacchylus the noble and learned Byshoppes of Asia Platyna in the lyfe of Victor the first Tertullian Priest a Latine Doctor byshop of Carthage in Aphrica flourished in the yeare 202. vnder Seuerus and Antoninus He wrate many learned workes but at length by reason of a schisme risen of emulation betweene him and the Romane Clergie he fell from the truth into the Montane heresie Hieronymus in cataloge Nicephorus lib. 4. cap. 34. He wrote an Apologie for the Christians alledged by Euseb lib. 2. cap. 2. Origen Priest a Grecian Doctor flourished in the yeare of our Lorde 235. the Disciple of Clement of Alexandria whom also he succeeded in the schoole and instructed many in the fayth which afterwarde became martyrs In his youth his father was martyred vnder Seuerus who being in prison he often visited and therfore was in great daunger of his person and woulde haue suffred martyrdome if his mother had not hindered him being growen in age he gelded himselfe to the intent he might the freelyer be at his studie He wrate many things of which there are not all extant Hieronymus in Catalogo He liued till the time of Gallus and Volusianus Emperors and died in the 69. yeare of his age and lyeth buried at Tyrus Suydas Euseb in the whole 6. booke Cyprianus a Grecian Bishop of Carthage flourished in the yeare of our Lord 355. vnder the reigne of Decius Pantaleon pag. 21. Hee was a great enimie of the Arians and other heretikes His opinion that he helde of rebaptizing the heretikes was the occasion of falling at square with Stephan the first bishop of Rome He was present at the first Councell of Carthage Euseb lib. 7. cap. 3. Pantaleon pag. 22. Eusebius a Grecian Bishop of Caesarea in Palaestine flourished in the yeare of our Lorde 325. vnder the raigne of Constantine the great Pantaleon pag. 25. By his familiaritie with Pamphilus the martyr he was surnamed Pamphilus Hee wrate manye workes of which certayne are extant Hieronymus in Catalogo Hee was highly esteemed of the great Constantine as appeareth by the Epistles which the Emperour wrate vnto him Socrates lib. 1. cap. 6. Lactantius Firmianus a Latine Rhetorician flourished in the yeare of our Lord 340. vnder the reygne of Constantine the great He wrate against the Gentiles and confuted their errors Hieronym Pantaleon pag. 27. Athanasius the great a Grecian Byshop of Alexandria successor of Alexander flourished in the yeare of our Lorde 340. vnder Constantine the great He had much adoe with the Arians and was thorow them twyce expelled his Bishoprick once by Constantine Socrates lib. 2. cap. 13. Another time by Iulianus Theodoret lib. 4. cap. 9. At length he died vnder the reign of Valens Emperour of the East Hilarius a Latine Bishop of Poictiers in Fraunce flourished in the yeare of our Lorde 345. vnder the reigne of the sonnes of Constantine the great He was driuen in exyle by the Gouernour Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 8. He wrate many goodly workes of the which many are extant He liued vntill the time of Augustine Hieronym Augustin Epistol 89.64 Basile a Grecian Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia very familiar with Gregory Nazianzene flourished in the yere of our Lord 370. vnder the reign of Valentinian and Valens He was a great enimie of the heretikes and confuted them in manye workes Valens after he banished all the true Christians of the East for his renoume spared him yet he went of his own accorde into exile Camerar in Catalogo Pantaleon pag. 26. Gregorie a Grecian Bishop of Nazanzum called the diuine flourished in the yeare 371. vnder Valentinian and Valens although he was elder thā Basil Camerar in catalogo He wrate many goodly works and was a great Oratour He liued 90. yeares a long and quiet lyfe More of his vertues looke in the aforenamed author Epiphanius a Grecian Byshop of Cyprus flourished in the yeare 375. vnder the reygne of Valens He wrate eyght bookes against the heresies in the Greke tongue He was great enimie of Origen and Chrysostome He excited the people of Constantinople agaynst the sayde Chrysostome More looke Socrates lib. 6. cap. 11. Sozomen lib. 7. cap. 26. Ambrose a Latine Bishop of Millaine flourished in the yeare 376. vnder the reygnes of Valens in the East and Gratian and Valentinian sonnes of Valentinian in the West Pantaleon pag. 31. He was a noble man and gouernour of the whole prouince of Millaine and made Bishop after the death of Auxentius After exiled by Iustina mother of Valentinian infected with the heresie of Arius He sustayned great troubles and
wrate many learned workes for the defence of religion Socrates lib. 4. cap. 25. lib. 5. cap. 11. Sozomen lib. 7. cap. 13. Gregorie a Grecian Bishop of Nyssa brother of Basile before named flourished in the yeare of our Lorde 381. vnder the reygne of Gratianus in the West Hee wrate certayne works and especially one very learned De anima agaynst the Philosophers of the Gentiles Of Basile his Epistle to him De differentia essentiae substantiae reade the Tripartite in the ende of Theodoret. Ierome Priest a Latine borne at Stridonium in Dalmatia flourished the yeare 390. vnder the reygne of Valentinian the yonger He liued in Bethlehem in Syria and was verye famous for his workes Pantaleon pag. 31. He dyed the yere 422. the 30. of Septēber Paulus Eberus pag. 317. Reade his owne workes Augustine a Latine disciple of Ierome Bishop of Hippo now called Bona within the realme of Tunes in Aphrick flourished in the yeare 395. vnder Theodosius the elder He is so famous by his workes that the reader may plainely see him in them He died the yeare 433. in the 40. yeare of his Bishops sea the 28. of August Chrysostome a Grecian called Iohn of Antioch but so surnamed of his eloquent speach that is to say golden mouth Bishop of Constantinople flourished in the yeare 405. vnder the reygne of Arcadius Honorius He was the scholer of Libanius the Sophister afterwardes left him and was christened by Meletius Lastly made Bishop of Constantinople whence he was twyce banished by Eudoxia the Empresse wyfe of Arcadius by the meanes of Epiphanius In the last time of his exile being at Cucussa in Armenia he sickened and was caried to Potij and there dyed the yere 410. the 14. of September His workes are extant being large and learned Tripartit pag. 422. Glycas 359. Eberus pag. 301. Cyrillus a Grecian Bishop of Alexandria flourished the yere 432. vnder Theodosius the seconde Theodorit lib. 5. pag. 35. Socrates lib. 7. cap. 7. He was a great enimie of the Iewes and threw them out at Alexandria Socrates lib. 7. cap. 13. Reade of him the whole Tripartite Primasius a Latin a bishop of Aphrick and disciple of S. Augustine flourished the yeare 435. Pantaleon pag. 35. Reade more of him in Gesner Fulgentius a Latine Bishop of Ruspa in Aphricke florished the yeare 456. vnder the reygne of Martian He wrate certaine workes now extant But of his actes read his lyfe prefixed to his works Read Gesn Prosper a Frenchman flourished in the yeare 456. vnder the reigne of Martianus read Gennadius in catalogo He wrate certayne sentences and a Chronography read Gesner Simlerus in catalogo scriptor Gelasius a Latine borne in Aphricke first of that name bishop of Rome flourished in the time of Zeno and Anastasius Emperors of the East He wrate manye learned bookes Read Platyna in his life Iustinian the 57. Emperor of Constantinople sonne of the sister of Iustinus the Emperor flourished the yeare 527. Hee collected the Codices of the lawe into a short volume for the beginners and called them his Institutions He reygned 38. yeares Reade Iornandes Pomponius Laetus Ignatius Constantinus Manasses pag. 83. Annales Glycae pag. 371. Cassiodorus a senatour of Constantinople afterwardes made a Monke flourished the yeare 575. vnder Iustinianus the Emperor But as Pantaleon accounteth 497 before the reygne of Iustinian vnder Anastasius He wrate being as yet extant an Historie and abridged the Tripartite Reade Diaconus lib. 1. cap. 11. Gregorie the first Bishop of Rome called Gregorie the great flourished in the yere 605. But according to Pantaleon 586. vnder Mauritius the Emperour He wrate diuerse things but especiallye his Moralles are most excellent Reade Bedae histor Anglosaxon Platyna in his lyfe Theophylactus a Grecian constituted Bishop of Antioch by Marua chiefe of the Saracenes flourished the yeare 608. But according to Pantaleon 761. vnder Constantine 6. He wrate certayne workes being extant in the Greeke tongue Gesn Simlerus Pantaleon pag. 61. Beda a Latine borne in Englande and as it seemeth about Cambridge For he calleth himselfe Beda Giruinus which Girni or Giruij were Cambridge shyre men as appeareth by the towne of Cambridge called of olde Granta Giruiorum Leland in Cyenaea cantione Flourished in the yere 732. But as the truer with Pantaleon 704. vnder Leo the 2. and Iustinian Emperors His workes extant testifie what the man hath bene He wrate an historie of the Saxones Platyna in the lyfe of Iohn the sixt Druthmarus a Latine Monke of the order of Saint Bennet flourished the yere 800. vnder Irene the Empresse He wrate certayne Commentaries vpon the Euangelistes The Abbot of Augspurg in Germanie a Latine called Saint Vlrike or Vldarike flourished the yeare 860. vnder the reygne of Michael the 3. of the East and Lotharius the first in the West Barnard a Latin borne in Burgoigne the first Abbot of Clarenaux in France flourished in the yeare 1111. vnder Henrie the Emperour of the West and Alexius the first Emperour of the East He wrate moste flourishingly and learnedly His works are extant in one volume Irenicus lib. 30. cap. 106. Volater Gulielmus Abbas in his lyfe Abbot of Vrsperg in Germanie a Latin by name vnknowne flourished the yeare of our Lorde 1200. vnder Alexius the first Emperour of the East and Philip Emperour of the West He wrate an historie which is extant of the Emperors and other things most notable from the beginning of the world to his time to the which there are added Paraleipomena or Chronicles not touched vnto our time Pantaleon pag. 95. Gesner Pantaleon in his Posopograpie lib. 2. Thomas Aquinas a Latine borne in Italie Frier of the order of Preachers and descended of a noble house of the Lordes of Aquino He flourished the yere 1271. vnder Michael Palaeologus the 7. Emperour of the East and Rodolphus the first Earle of Augspurge of the West He made Commentaries vpon all Aristotle and likewise in Diuinitie His works are extant in 14. volumes in Fol. newly imprinted at Rome Reade his owne life set forth in a priuate booke Xystus the 4. Bishop of Rome borne at Cellae in the territorie of Genoa in Italie named Frier Francis de Rouere of the order of Minores He was created Pope the yeare 1414. He lyued vnder Sigismond the Emperor Onuphrius Panuinus in hys lyfe Bishop of Panormus in Sicilie a great Lawyer called commonly of his Bishopricke Panormitan Flourished the yeare 1415. vnder Sigismunde the Emperor of the West He wrate very large volumes of the lawe Iohn Gerson a Diuine of France one of the Chancellors of the Vniuersitie of Paris flourished in the same time with the former Byshop and stoutlye resisted the decrees of the Counsell of Constance Peucer in synodo Constantiensi Platyna an Italian Secretarie of the sea of Rome flourished the yeare 1470. vnder Fredericke the first Emperour He wrate of the liues of the Popes from Linus vnto Xystus the 4. Sabell Gesner Simler Sanazarius an Italian
is not for to obtaine righteousnesse the which inwardly is the beautie of the kings daughter Chrysostome in the 4. tome of fasting in Lent. Homilie 73. If we doe dayly here agree and that we doe fast all the Lent and doe not amende our lyues greater occasion of damnation shall be done vnto vs. Gregorie the 7. hath commaunded to fast the Lent vpon payne of deadly sinne Reade Platyna Pag. 171. in his life Apollonius the martyr of Iesus Christ in the ecclesiasticall hystorie 5. booke Chapt. 11. Rebuked the heretike Montanus bicause he was the first which made the law of fastings Saint Ierome to Nepotian first tome Laye vpon thee such maner of fasting as thou canst beare That thou haue pure chaste simple and moderate fastings not supersticious What profiteth it not to eate of the oyle and to seeke certayne dainties and difficult kyndes of meates as figges peares nuttes fruites of palmes or dates the flower of wheate of honie and such maner of meates There is no kynde of garden fruite wherewith we do not torment our selues to the ende we eate not of breade and whylest we doe folowe our pleasures we are drawen from the kingdome of heauen Furthermore I haue hearde of some who against the rule of the nature of men drinke not water and eate no breade but doe eate of delicate suppings and of punned Leekes and drinke not the pottage in a cuppe but in a dishe What shame is this howe are we not ashamed of such maner of follies how are we not weried with such superstitions Furthermore also we seeke in delicates the renowne of abstinence The strongest fasting is breade and water but bicause that there is no glorie therein and bicause all liue of breade and water as of a common thing we doe not esteeme it to be fasting In the olde time they fasted vntill night The fasting without workes of mercie displeaseth God. Cassiodorus reciteth in the 9. boke of his historie That the Romaynes had but three weekes for the Lent fasting euery day except the Sundaye and Saterdaye The Illerickes and the Grecians had sixe and the other seauen but they fasted by space betweene Reade of fasting Actes 13. 1. Cor. 16. Math. 4. Luc. 2. Tobi. 2. 1. Reg. 6. 2. Cro 20. 1. Esdras 8. Ioel. 2. Ionas 3. Hester 4. and .14 Psalme 35. and .69 and .109 Deut. 9. 3. Reg. 19. Dauid and his people fasted vntill euening hearing that Saule and Ionathas were dead Dauid fasted and prayed for the people which were stroken of God. Achab fasted and slept hauing on sackecloth walking comfortlesse and the Lord had compassion and pitie on him Iudith fasted all the dayes of hir life Hester purposing to enter vnto the king for to speake vnto him fasted three dayes and three nightes Iosias declareth the fasting to all the people and caused the wordes of the booke of Ieremye to be reade openly Iesus Christ humbled his soule with fasting psalm 35. and .69 and .109 Vnto whome is he like that fasteth and neuerthelesse ceaseth not to sinne Fasting profiteth nothing at all to the wicked and obstinate people Iesus Christ saith Take heede to your selues least at any time your heartes bee ouercome with surfeting and drunkennesse and cares of this worlde Ye haue bene called vnto liberty onely let not your libertye be an occasion vnto the fleshe but in loue serue one an other Of maryage and of vowes THe spirite speaketh euidently that in the latter time some shal depart from the faith and shal giue heede vnto spirites of error and doctrins of deuills which speake false lies through hipocrysie and haue their consciences marked with an hotte iron forbidding to mary Iesus Christe saithe haue ye not reade howe that he whiche made man at the beginning made them man and woman and sayde for this cause shall a man leaue father and mother and cleaue vnto his wyfe and they twayne shall be made one fleshe wherfore they are no more twayne but one fleshe Let not man therefore put asunder that which God hath coupled togither Origene vpon Saint Mathew 23. Homilye The Scribes and Pharyses are set in Moyses chayre c. He doth rebuke then such manner of preachers who doe not only that they saye but also doe cruelly and without mercy great thinges whiche one cannot doe not esteeming or iudgeing what is the vertue of euery one of the hearers as those which forbid to mary And doe constraine the people to a moste vyle vyllanye for that they doe forbydde that which is expedient Those also which doe teach to abstayne from meates and other such manner of thinges to the which the faithfull ought in no wyse to be constrayned They do laye great burthens through the worde of their expositions against the will of Christ saying my yoke is easie and my burthen is light And often times we doe see that those that doe teache suche thinges doe liue altogither contrarye to their sayings doing all thinges for the regarde of men and for vaine glorye as the word following doth shewe it saying All their workes they doe for to be seene of men Salomon in the .18 Chapter of the prouerbes doth describe the blessing of maryage The Prophet Dauid in the .128 psalme dothe describe the blessing of God vppon those that are maryed The angell Raphael did teache Tobie howe hee ought to marie as God commaundeth The confirmation of mariage is in the 9. Chapter of Genesis vnder the letter A. Eusebius in the Ecclesiasticall hystorie 3. booke .27 Chap. Saint Clement as Eusebius of Cesaria doth recite hath written agaynst those who doe despyse mariage Among other things that he hath written sayth as followeth Will they also reproue the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Philip had wyues and maried their daughters and Saint Paule in one of his Epistles was not ashamed to make recommendations and salutations vnto his wife whom he sayth he woulde not leade with him about the countrie to the ende he might be the more free to preache the gospell And by and by after hee sayth that Clement in his 7. booke of his work sayth as followeth It is sayde that S. Peter when he did see his wyfe to be martyred reioyced seeing that by that meanes shee was of the number of the elect and that she returned vnto hir owne house of Paradise and that he cryed after hir when they brought hir to hir death calling hir by hir name saying vnto hir O deare wyfe remember god Such were the mariages of the Saintes and their affections perfect In the 4. of the sentences distinction .17 Chapter .4 and in the 27. decret question 2. Chapter which beginneth Cum societas c. The Pope in his Decretals calleth mariage vncleannesse pollution and carnall filthynesse Saint Paule answereth the Pope saying Wedlocke is to be had in honor among all men and the bed
good than to make them such For the wicked do profite nothing but the good doe very muche empayre Afterwardes hee concludeth Beholde the murmuring and common complaynt of all Churches they doe crie out that they are cut in peeces and dismembred There are very fewe or almost none whiche doe not feare the stroke or wounde Doest thou demaunde what The Abbots are drawen away from their Bishops the Bishops from their Archbishops It is great maruayle if one can excuse the same In doing so you doe shewe very wel that you haue fulnesse of power but not of Iustice You doe the same bicause that you can doe it but the question is whether you ought to doe it You are there constituted and placed for to keepe and preserue vnto euery one his honour and his degree and not for to beare him enuie and malice In the 34. distinction Chapter Lector Glose and distinct 82. Chap. Presbyter Glose And in the Canon of the Apostles .17 quest 4. Chapt. And distinct 40. Chapt. Si Papa And distinction .96 Chapt. Satis And Chapter Simplici And Incipitis It is written in those Canons that the Popes haue such power and authoritie that they may dispence agaynst the Apostolicall doctrine and agaynst the right of nature and consequently agaynst the Gospell and the worde of god For the Pope hath all the rightes as well diuine as humane in the inwarde partes of his brest wherefore he ought to iudge euerye man and ought to be iudged of none Insomuch that though he should lead a great number of people into hell yet no mortall man ought to presume to rebuke his faultes For he is God which cannot be iudged of men Saint Paule aunswereth vnto the same saying Let no man deceiue you by anye meanes for the Lorde commeth not except there come a departing first and that that sinnefull man be opened the sonne of perdition which is an aduersary is exalted aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he shall sitte as God in the Temple of God and shewe himselfe as God. Saint Hilary in his booke against Auxentius Whosoeuer denieth Christe to be suche as he hath bene preached by the Apostles he is Antechrist The property of the name of Antechriste is to bee contrary vnto Christe The Priestes doe saye that the Pope cannot erre neyther the counsels Iesus Christ hath sayde vnto S. Peter I haue prayed for thee that thy faith faile not Vnto the same their owne Canons doe aunswere in the .40 distinction Chap. which beginneth Si Papa If the Pope doe fall into an error in the in the faith and that he be an Hereticke one may very well rebuke and checke him in his faultes Pope Alexander the .6 speaking once vnto an Embassador of the king of Fraunce vnto whome he had these wordes this fable of Iesus Christe hath gotten vnto vs great riches Sanazarius an Italian Poet in his Epigrammes in the .2 booke Speaking of that Pope Alexander noting the inceste of him with his owne daughter Lucrecia and asking hir Lucrecia wil Alexander desire thee alwayes afterwardes aunswered O wicked case it is thy father Behold the witnesse whiche the writers of his time haue declared of that head of the churche Abbas Vrspurgensis reciteth of Gregory the .7 otherwise called Hildebrand That the common wealth of Rome and all the Churche hath bene vnder him in great danger through the error of newe schismes and not heard of and that he hath vsurped the Papall seate through tyrannye and not by lawfull election The counsell holden at Wormes in the yeere .1080 Affirmed of Gregory the seuenth that it is most true that he was not chosen of god but that hee exalted him selfe without all shame through disceit and money and that he hath turned vpside downe the ecclesiasticall order and that he hath troubled the kingdome of the Christian Empyre and that he hath attempted the deathe both of the bodye and soule of that Catholicke and quiet king and that he hath defended and holden vp the wicked and periured king and that he hath sowen discorde among those that agreed togither and strifes amongest the peace makers and offences amongest brethren and diuorcement betweene maryed folke and that he hath remoued and troubled all that was at reste quiet and in peace betweene the good lyuers We being assembled togither of God agaynst the sayde Hyldebrand preaching sacriledges and fires mayntayning periured persons and homycides or men slears putting in question or doubt the catholicke and Apostolicke faith of the body and bloud of the Lorde being an obseruer and keeper of diuinacion and coniuring and of dreames and a most manifest Necromancyer hauing familiar spirites and for that cause swaruing from the true faith we doe iudge that he ought to be canonically deposed driuen away banished and condemned perpetually if he doe not leaue of his seate after that he hath heard these thinges Benno Cardinall in the life of the sayde Gregorye Amongest many wickednesses that he alledged of him sayde that he alwayes vsed to beare about with him a booke of Necromancye the which was vnto him very familiar and that he did cast through his enchauntments the consecrated hoste into a fire that by that meanes he might faine to haue had a heauenly reuelation against the Emperor Henry Benno alledgeth for witnesse Iohn Byshop of Porta Secretary of the said Hildebrand Platyna in the lyfe of Iohn the 8. And Sabellicus lib. 1. of the 9. Ennead The woman called Iohn the eyght was borne in Englande and hir parents were of Mentz She followed in hir yong age a yong scholler in the studies of learning and profited so well at studie that she was esteemed at Rome amongst the wysest for which cause she was chosen to be Pope thinking that shee had bene a man and was chosen with as great consent as euer was Pope following still the studie that she had learned with hir studie felow At the time that she was chosen Pope she was founde with childe with one of hir owne seruants who perceiuing hirself big knewe so well to prouide for hir great bellye that none coulde perceiue it vntill such time as she trauayled of childe in the open streete and in the open procession vppon the shoulders of those that did beare hir dyed in the same trauayle the second yere after hir Papacie One maye nowe well see whether the Pope cannot erre Platyna in the life of Syluester And Sabellicus Lib. 2. of the 9. Ennead Syluester the 2. was a Monke in his youth afterwards did giue himselfe vnto the diuell as a right sorcerer vpon condicion that his bodie and soule should be his after his death Prouided that the diuell doe helpe to obtayne that that he desireth by which meanes he came afterwardes to be Pope Platyna in the life of Bennet 8. And Sabellicus lib. 2. of the 9. Ennead
and thinke it not sufficient for thee to remember or to haue in mynde the commaundementes of God and not fulfilling them by workes But knowe them to the ende you may learne that which ought to be done For before God they are not righteous which heare the lawe but the doers of the lawe shall be iustified Truly the fielde of the heauenly lawe is muche and without measure enlarged the which doth shyne with many witnesses of truth and as with a certayne heauenlye flower feedeth and nourisheth the spirite of him that readeth it with a marueylous delite All which things you shall knowe to be very good to keepe iustice S. Ierome writing vnto the Ladie Gaudentia of the bringing vp of hir daughter Pacantull When the little yong damsel shal come vnto seauen yeares of age and that she beginneth to be shamefast to knowe when she woulde keepe silence and to doubt of that that she ought to speake Let hir then learne by heart the Psalmes and vnto twelue yeares that shee doe make a treasure in hir hart of the bokes of Salomon of the Gospels of the Apostles and Prophetes Agayne writing vnto another good Ladie called Leta exhorting hir to instruct hir daughter from the cradle in the holy scriptures he willeth hir to loue the godly bookes in steade of precious stones and silke in which bookes let not the couers being embrodered with diuers colours please hir but the erudition distinct and corrected according to fayth Let hir learne first the Psalter and through such songs that shee doe withdrawe hir selfe from the worlde Let hir be taught to liue vertuously in the Prouerbes of Salomon And that shee doe accustome hirselfe to despyse and contemne worldlye things in Ecclesiasticus That she doe followe the example of vertue and pacience in Iob. That she doe learne the Gospell not letting it go out of hir handes That she willinglye learne the Actes and Epistles of the Apostles And when she hath enriched hir heart with suche riches to learne by heart the Prophetes and the bookes of Moyses the bookes of the Kings Paralipomenon Esdras also Hester and last of all the Canticles of Salomon called Cantica canticorum For if she should read them at the beginning it might hurt hir vnderstanding not the holye songs of the spirituall mariages vnder carnall words That she doe auoide all bookes that are apocrypha or hidden That shee haue alwayes in hir handes the workes of Cyprian Athanasius and Hilary S. Ierome in his Proeme of his commentaries vpon Esay vnto Eustachius I giue vnto thee that which I doe owe thee obeying the commaundementes of Christe whiche saithe seeke diligently the Scriptures seeke and you shall finde that it be not sayde vnto me as it was said vnto the Iewes you doe erre knowing not the Scriptures and the vertue of God and the wysedome of God and hee that knoweth not the Scriptures knoweth not the vertue of God nor his wisedome Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of God. Chrysostome in his .3 Sermon of Lazarus I haue tolde you many times before nowe whereof we ought to speake to the ende that in the meane season you maye take the booke and consider it diligently and after that you haue vnderstoode that whiche shall be saide and that whiche shall remayne to be declared you shall make your spirites more instructed redy to heare the thing spoken of I doe exhort you and wil not cease to exhort you alwais to be attentife not only to that which shall be spoken here but also when you shall be in your houses alwayes giue good eare to the holy Scriptures which I haue not ceased to pricke forwarde cheefely those which haue bene with me and that none say vnto me his wordes are colde there are many things smally to be esteemed I am an aduocate I am let with publicke affaires I haue an occupation I haue a wyfe I doe bring vp my children I haue charge of my familie I am a temporall man it belongeth not to me to reade the Scriptures but for those that haue forsaken the worlde whiche dwell aboue the mountaynes which chastly leade a solitary life What saiest thou O thou man doth it not belong vnto thee to reade the Scriptures bicause thou art let and hindred with businesse and innumerable cares Therefore the more thou haddeste neede to reade them then they For those haue not so much neede of the ayde and helpe of the Scriptures as thou which art tossed through the middes of the waues of businesse troubles and cares for truely the Monkes and those that dwell in solitary places which liue without sute of lawe and other businesse and which dwell in the desertes haue none acquaintance with any man but studye philosophy in moste peaceable tranquillitie with safetie and haue the fruition of most safe thinges On the contrary we as in the middest of the sea tossed with innumerable sinnes haue alwayes neede of the perpetuall and continuall solace and comfort of the scriptures They are very farre of from the combat and therefore they doe not receiue many strokes and woundes but thou bicause thou art still in the battayle and that thou doest receiue many woundes thou hast the greater neede of remedy For thy wyfe doth prouoke thee and thy sonne doth make thee sad and doth styrre thee vp to anger and thy enemy goeth aboute to circumuent and deceiue thee and thy freende doth beare thee enuye and hatred thy neighbour doth persecute thee and thy companion doth deceiue thee and many times the Iudge doth threaten thee and pouertie doth molest and greeue thee the losse of the thinges in thy house dooth make thee sorowfull and prosperitie maketh thee proude and aduersitie draweth thee awaye to conclude diuers occasions and necessitie of cares troubles sorrowe boasting pride doe compasse and inuirone thee on euery side and rounde about innumerable dartes doe flye for whiche thinges it is necessary to take incessantly the weapons and armor of the Scripture Acknowledge thē that thou walke through the pinnacles that is to say the most high places of the citie For the concupiscences of the fleshe doe eleuate themselues more sharply against those which liue amongest the multitude of men whom the beauty of the face and the comlynesse of the bodye conceiued through looking on and dishonest wordes which entre in at the eares doe trouble muche And the harmonious and pleasant songes doe weaken often times the constancy of the spirite But to what ende doe I recyte this The sauor of the sweete smelles which seemeth to be a thing more vile then all that comming from those women whiche dwell at the stewes for gayne in playing the whores doth leade vs captife and ouercommeth vs by only meeting them so many things there be which doe assayle our soule And therefore we haue neede of heauenly remedyes not aswell to heale the hurtes wee receiued as for to keepe vs from them