haue dissuaded or hindered any from entring into Religion Of the second Commaundement of taking the name of God in vaine Chap. 11. IF hee haue sworne that which was false knowing it to be a lye or doubting of the same although it were in lest or of a matter of small importance If hee haue sworne to promise any lawfull thing which afterward he hath not obserued or had not intention to performe it at that time in which he did sweare If he haue beene cause that any did sweare false or not obserue the lawfull oathe which he made If he haue sworne in manner of cursing as men are wonte to say if I doe not such a thing lett such or such euell happen vnto me If he hath sworne to do any euil or any thing which was a sin or not to doe any thing which was good If in iudgement he hath sworne false or beeing asked by order of law he hath not aunswered agreablely to the intentioÌ„ of the Iudge or hath counsailed others for to doe the like In which case not only he sinneth Mortally but if thereof folowed any harme of his neighbour he is bound to Restitution If hee haue had a custome of swearing ofte without consideration or care to knowe whether it were true or false If he haue made a vow of doing any good thing hath not cared to performe it or hath deferred ouermuch the execution thereof If he haue made any vowe with a minde of not fulfilling it If he haue made a vowe of not doing any good thing or of doing any euell thing or of doing any good thing for an euell ende Of the third Commaundement of Sanctifying the holy-Holy-Dayes Chap. 12. IF he haue not obserued the holy daies but either done himselfe or commaunded others to do such woorkes as are prohibited by the CHVRCH or consented vnto those which doe the like If he haue omitted to heare a whole MASSE vpon the holy-daies commaunded without lawfull cause or hath beene cause that others did leaue the same If being present at MASSE vpon any holy-day commaunded he hath beene for any notable time voluntarily distracted by talking laughing or busying himselfe in impertinent thinges If hee haue not procured that those which bee vnder his charge doe heare MASSE vpon the holy-daies If he haue not gone to Confession at the least once a YEARE or haue not procured that others of his charge haue donne the same If hee haue gone to Confession without necessary examination of conscience or without purpose of leauing any sinne or for shamefastnesse or other humane respect hath concealed any sinne which is a most grieuous Sacriledge If euery yeare at EASTER hee hath Receiued and that with conuenient disposition If with a conscience or doubt of Mortall sinne he hath Receiued or Ministred anye Sacrament of the Church If hee haue fasted the LENT VIGILS EMBER daies beeing bound thereunto and if on such dayes hee hath eaten prohibited meates or hath beene cause of others doing the same If for Gluttony he woulde not haue regarded to doe against anye coÌ„maundement or if he haue eaten or druncke ouer largely with notable detriment of his health or if voluntarily he hath ben dronck If he haue violated the Church with any carnall sinne or with sheding of blood If he haue incurred any excommunication or whilest he was excommunicate haue receaued any Sacrament or bene present at the holy offices of the Church or if he hath conuersed with excommunicate persons or such as were suspected of Heresy If he haue done any iniury or irreuerence vnto Images Relickes or other sacred thinges If being bound to say his office he haue omitted it wholly or any part therof or in the saying of it bene voluntarily distracted If for slouth or negligence he hath lefte vndone any good worke vnto which he was bound Of the fourth Commaundement of honouring Parentes Chap. 13. IF he haue borne litle reuerence to his FATHER MOTHER despising them or offending them with Deedes or iniurious Wordes If he haue cursed his father or his mother or detracted their good name or dishonoured theÌ„ in their absence If hee haue not obeied his Parents or Superiours in iust matters such as might result to notable detriment of the family or of their owne soule If when his Parents haue beene in necessity he hath not succoured them if it were in his power If deliberately hee haue desired their death that he might haue the inheritance c. If he haue not fufilled their Testamentes and Last-Willes after their death If he haue loued his Parentes in such sort that for their loue hee hath not cared to offend God If he haue not obserued the iust Lawes Decres of his sâ—periours If he haue detracted or spoken euill of Superiours Ecclesiasticall or Seculer of RELIGIOVS persons Priestes Teachers c. If hee haue not succoured the Poore if he could especially in extreame or grieuous necessity or if he haue beene sterne or cruell vnto them intreating them sharply with wordes or deedes If those which be FATHERS MOTHERS haue cursed or wished euill vnto their Children Also if they haue brought them vp as they shoulde teaching them their praiers Christian Doctrine and reprehending them and correcting them especially in matter of sinne and occupying them in some honest exercise to the ende they be not idle take some euell course That which is said of Children is vnderstoode also of Seruauntes and other of the Family of whom care is to be had that they knowe thinges which be necessary obserue the COMMAVNDEMENTS of God and of the Church Of the fifth Commaundement Thou shalt not kill Chap. 14. IF hee haue carried hatred towardes any person desiring to be reuenged and howe long hee hath staied therein If hee haue desired any mannes death or other great euell domage as well in his bodye as in good name honor temporall and spirituall goods If he haue been angry with any person with mind to doe him any harme or to be reuenged of him If contending with others or in other sort he hath striken wounded or killed or commaunded or consented vnto others to doe the same or beeing donne by others approued it or giuen aide counsaile or fauour thereunto If hauing offended others hee hath refused to demaunde pardon or reconciliation or haue not sufficiently satisfied for the offence If he haue refused to pardon or to remitte iniuries to those which haue offended him If for hatred hee haue omitted for to speake vnto or to salute others although without hatred yet with scandal of our Neigâ—bor If in aduersities and misfortunes he haue desired death or with fury and anger hath stroken and cursed himselfe or mentioned the diuell If he haue cursed others either aliue or dead with what inteÌ„tioÌ„ If he haue sowed discorde or caused enmity betweene others what harme hath ensued thereof If for hatred or enuye he hath beene immoderately sorye for the good and prosperity
A SHORT TREATISE OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE With the maner of examination of Conscience for a generall Confession Wherunto is added another Treatise of Confession for such spirituall or deuoute persons as frequent that Sacrament Sett forth in Italian by the Reu. Fa. VINCENT BRVNO of the Society of IVSVS 1597. THE TABLE OF THE TREATISE OF THE SAcrament of Penance What is the Sacrament of Penance and of the necessity of the same Chap. 1. Of the partes of Penance Chap. 2 Of Contrition Chap. 3. Of Confession Chap. 4. Of the conditioÌ„s of Confession C. 5 Of the matter of Confession first of the kindes of sinne Chap. 6 Of the number of sinnes Chap. 7. Of the circumstances of sinne C. 8. Of some cases wherin the Confession is voide to be reiterated C. 9. The maner of examining our Conscience concerning the first Commaundement Chap. 10. Of the 〈◊〉 CoÌ„mandment Chap. 11 Of the third Chap. 12 Of the fourth Chap. 13 Of the fifth Chap. 14. Of the sixth and ninth Chap. 15 Of the seuenth and tenth Chap. 16 Of the eight Chap. 17. Of Pride Chap. 18. Of the third part of Penance which is Satisfaction Chap. 19. THE TABLE OF THE CHAPters of the Treatise of Confession Of the profitt of often Confession Chap. 1 Of the Examination of Conscience Chap. 2. The maner therof Chap. 3. Towardes God with thought C. 4. By Wordes Chap. 5 By Deedes Chap. 6. Towards our neighbour by thought Chap. 7. By wordes Chap. 8 By deedes Chap. 9 Towardes our selues by thought Chap. 10. By wordes Chap. 11 By deedes Chap. 12 Of soroâ— for sinnes Chap. 13 Of Confession Chap. 14 Of the purpose meane of amendment Chap 15 A meditation for the holy Communion A TREATISE OF PENAVNCE What is the Sacrament of Penance and of the necessity of the same Chap. 1. First FOr the comfort of such as are truely peniteÌ„t to the end that they may haue some knowledg of this so holsome a Sacrament and a briefe instruction how they ought to prepare them selues for the obtaining of that grace which therin our Lord doth vse to bestow togither with the remission of their sinnes I will intreat first in generall of this Sacrament what it is how necessary and conuenient for our saluation And afterward what partes it hath briefly discoursing of euery one in particuler Second Penaunce therfore is a Sacramente instituted by Christ our Sauiour in the which by the ministery of the Priest all actuall sinnes are remitted and all bonds dissolued which concerned sinne wherwith mans coÌ„science was in what maner soeueâ— intangled the euerlasting punishmeÌ„t also of hell is pardoned and part of that temporall punishment which is dew to sinne sometimes all the same wholly according to the disposition of the Penitent Third Certaine it is that if man after he was created by God in the state of Innocency had conserued him selfe without the spott of sinn he should haue had no necessity of Sacraments But wheras by the transgression of Gods commaundement he togither with all his posterity made that miserable shipwracke he was by his most mercifull Creatour succoured in the Euangelicall law by the Sacrament of Baptisme as by a first Table or bourd wherwith the wretched man hauing broken the ship of Innocency might saue his life and recouer the grace he lost But because so many are the temptations and daungers of this tempestious world and so great our frailty that often times it happeneth that loosing by new sinnes this first table of the grace of Baptisme we returne miserablye to our owne drowning our most benigne Redeemer vnwilling to leaue vs with out remedy hath prouided for vs this Sacrament of PENAVNCE as a second table wherby we may be saued and deliuered from the daunger of euerlasting death Fourth Wherby we may gather how greatthe necessity of this Sacrament is Wheras according to the determination of the Councell of TRENT it is no lesse necessary for the saluation of such as haue sinned mortallye after Baptisme than is the SacrameÌ„t of Baptisme for such as haue not yet ben regenerat Wherfore as of those which are not regenerate of water and the Holy ghost it is written that they shall not enter into the kingdome of Heauen So after the losse of the innocency of Baptisme If a man haue not recourse and be taketh not him selfe vnto this table of PENAVNCE without all doubt vaine is the hope of his saluation Fifth This Sacrament was also a most conuenient remedy and very proportionate for our infirmitie inuented by that heauenlye Phisition who had very well felte the pulse of our weake and feeble nature Wherfore with his infinite wisdome he prouided conuenient remedies opposite vnto our euell disposition ordaining that as the first man after he had sinned did hide him selfe and excuse his sinn before God So if a man would returne into grace he should manifest accuse him selfe before men And as a sinner transgressing the precepts of God doth proudly exalte and oppose him selfe against God so if he would obtaine pardon he should humble and prostrate him selfe at the feete of another man Also that as a man with his sinne doth iniury and dishonour vnto God So if he would be forgiuen by God he should discouer his soares dishonour him selfe before men And finally that looke what things he had disordinately loued and wherin he had taken delight returning vnto Penaunce he should detest the same and conceaue against theÌ„ a deadly hatred Sixth On the otherside although the rootes of PENAVNCE do seme at the first sight to be hard and bitter yet notwithstaÌ„ding for the great profitt which a man receiueth therby the fruites therof are most sweet and pleasant For PENAVNCE doth make vs to returne into the grace of God and vniteth vs with him in most straite frendshipp Which reconciliation in such as deuoutlye receaue this Sacrament is wont for to cause a singuler great peace and tranqâ—illity of conscience together with an exceeding great sweetnesse of spirite Seuenth Wherfore this Diuine remedye being so profitable vnto our soules euery Christian if he loue his owne saluation ought to shunne the being long time enwrapped in his sinns but so soone as he perceaueth that he hath incurred any mortall filth to runne without any delay to washe him selfe in this fountaine of the mercy of God and this not onely once a yeare contenting him selfe only not to do against the precepte of the Church but more câ—â—enâ— for the great and many profites which the soule receaueth therby for the great daungers wherin she remaineth when shee suffereth her selfe to grow ould with the burthen of sinne still lying vpon her Eigth Fower euells and damages there are which mortall sinne doth cause vnto the soule when it is harboured therin Ninth First at what time soeuer a man is in mortall sinne wheÌ„ afterward he falleth againe into the same although it be with the very same
them the number and the necessarye circumstances as much as possibly thou canst Secondlye to procure a plainnesse and clearenesse in speaking which may proceede from an ernest desire of beeing well vnderstoode to the ende that thou maâ—est be the better holpen and directed by thy GHOSTLY FATHER Wheras the Scripture saieth Qui abscondit scelera sua non dirigetur Who hideth his offences shall not be directed Thou must therefore tell them sincerelye not hiding not excusing nor diminishing any thing without superfluous wordes or telling of stories which make not to the matter much lesse telling the sinnes of others but accusing thy selfe alone Thirdly thou must goe to Confession with preparation not onlie to receiue the Penance to make such Satisfaction as thy Confessor shall enioine thee but also to admitte all the aduises and remedies which for thy sinnes and greater Spirituall good shall be giuen thee by the same For all in vaine doth a sicke person open his infirmities to the Phisition if afterward he refuse to take the Medicines and to obserue the orders rules which the Phisition hath prescribed Of the purpose and meanes of Amendment Chap. 15 AFTER thou hast made thy Confession thou must procure to obserue three thinges The first is presentlye to perfourme the Penance enioined renewing thy purpose of abstaining from those sinnes which thou hast Confessed and from all others of auoiding the occasions of the same The second is that thou take such meanes as may helpe thee for thy amendment hauing particular regard of some defectes which thou thinkest are the cause roote of all the rest procuring to arme thy selfe against the same 1 The remedies which maye be vsed for to roote out anye vice or imperfection are either generall or particular Amongest those which are generall the first is a firme resolution not to committe anye more the same sinne which purpose thou must often renue especially in the MORNING and whensoeuer it happneth that thou fall into the same 2 It will helpe much to flye the occasions which are wonte to induce vnto the same sin as sportes euill-companye familiaritye with suspeccted persons curiosity in beholding or hearing and ouermuch talke for it is written that Deathe entereth in by the Windowes 3 It auaileth also much diligentlye for to resiste at the verye beginning of the temptations driuing awaye from thee the sparke of the euell thought before it enter and set fire on thy HEART Which a man maye doe by present recourse vnto PRAIER or by naming the most Holye name of IESVS or by signing himselfe with his Holye SIGNE or by present setting before his eies the pittifull figure of CHRIST on the CROSSE Wounded and peirsed for the punishment of our sinnes 4 Verye profitable also for the conseruing of the purpose of not offending GOD is the often hearing of the Worde of GOD and reading of good BOOKES auoiding to read euil vaine or lasciuious BOOKES For the Worde of GOD collecteth the HEART mitigateth PASSIONS and filleth our WILL with good and Holy desires 5 To the same ende helpeth also to goe alwaies in the presence of god as of a witnes of our thoughts and operations of whom after we are to be iudged 6 When any person feeleth anye rebellion of the fleshe very profitable it is to vse the body with austerity as well in Sleeping Eating Drincking and Cloathing as in other thinges which might be pleasing thereunto For whereas the fleshe is a nourisher and kindler of al disordered Passions howe much the more weake and feeble it shall be so much the more feeble and fainte will the Passions bee also which from thence shall proceed 7 It is a very great remedye also for to shunne idlenesse which is the fountaine foode of all vices alwaies procuring to haue some honest exercise of minde or body that the Diuell maye neuer finde place in the soule 8 Much also helpeth heereunto the consideration of such thinges as may induce a man vnto feare as of Death of the finall Iudgement and of the paines Euerlasting prepared for sinners Or the consideration of the benefits of God and of his Diuine promises for to stirre vs vp vnto his loue and to the hatred of all that which is offensiue to his Diuine goodnesse 9 Finally a most effectuall remedie is to frequent the vse of the most holy Sacraments of Confession and Communion For as the Apostle saith the principall remedie against sinne is the grace of God which by these Sacraments is obtained besides that they be instituted by Christ our Sauiour as certaine Heauenly medicines not only for to deliuer vs from sinnes but also for to heale our disordered affections to suppresse our passions to remedy our weakenesse and finally as certaine kindlers of loue whereby our WILL beeing inflamed maye more easilye resist our euill inclinations and ouercome all the temptations of the Worlde the Fleshe and the Diuell Besides all these there bee also other remedies more particular proper for euerye defecte which maye be vsed and applied according to the counsaile of the Confessour And both these and the other also ought to bee admitted with great courage and perseuerance with a sure hope of victory grounded on the helpe grace of Christ our Lord. The third and last thing which a man ought to obserue after Confession because it is written that it is not sufficient to forsake euell but it is necessarye also for to doe good is for to vse all manner of diligence for the recompence of sinnes which we haue committed in the time past with newe seruices and feruour and to procure by the memory of the euills committed to become euery daye more humble and feruent in the exercise of good Workes occupying our selues not onelie in workes of Penance and of Deuotion but more particularly in the workes of Charity mercy towards our Neighbour For as it is written They which shall vse mercy shall also finde mercye before Almightye God A MEDITATION FOR THE HOLIE COMMVNION THE PREPARATION FOR the Meditation WHEREAS such is the excellency of the Sacrament of the BODY and BLOOD of our LORD that if thou hadest all the purity of Angels and the holinesse of Saint IOHN BAPTIST thou shouldest notwithstanding in no sorte bee worthy to receiue it for this cause in that wherein humaine frailtye doth faile whereas our LORD wil so haue it and so commaundeth thou shalt runne vnto the helpe of his grace asking him a great hunger and burning desire of this holy Meate and that with a most profound humilitye reuerence thou maiest approch to this Sacrament to the ende that it may worke in thee those effectes which it vseth to cause in the worthy receiuers Pointes for the Meditation THINKE with thy selfe that thou art muiâ—ed of our Lord that thou maiest be made worthy to sit in the company of the Angels at his Table by those most louing wordes Venite comedite Panem meum