sinnes more easily The POPE or Caluin The POPE requiring those sixe thinges which I spoke of before and the Protestants allowing scant one of them 5 How wickedly our pardōs are slaūdred FOr whereas they doe so wickedly slaunder the Pastours of the Church as if they did graunt Pardons to licence men to sinne to dispense therby in Gods commaundements it is a thing which neuer any CATHOLICKE did yeelde nor euer anie POPE did challenge to himselfe but alwaies acknowledged that euery simple Priest might to those which are his subiects remit the mortal sinnes themselues although not the temporall punishements thereof in as high and ample manner as hee himselfe he hauing no authority to remitte out of Sacramentes any one mortall sinne in the worlde Much-lesse to permitte it as lawefull Whereas God himselfe in such things cannot according to the Doctrine of Diuines dispense who being a Soueraigne goodnesse cannot be the author of sinne and as the Apostle saith 2. Tim. 2 12. Heb. 6 18. cannot deny himselfe Let them turne ouer al our Bookes our Schoolemen our Canonistes and Summistes and if they finde in anie one Author of credite that all the thinges aboue mentioned must not of necessitie concurre and so hath alwaies bene vnderstood in the practise of the Church after the maner by vs declared they shall recouer their creditte of true and honest dealing Let them looke vpon our Extrauagants or Bulles where Iubeleis or other Pardons are graunted and published and if they doe not there finde that Particle or clause expressed that they which will obtaine such Indulgence must be Vere Poenitentes truely penitent then let them freely without shame blaspheme the iurisdiction of the Church Yea they shall for the moste parte finde that actuall Confession is a thing expresly required Actuall Confession not alwaies necessary as one parcell of such thinges as are causes of the Indulgence and then is it impossible to obtaine such indulgence without Confession although at other times when Confession is not expresly mentioned it is not necessarie but onely to those whose conscience is burdened with mortall sinne who cannot in the new lawe obtaine iustification but by Confession either actual or in vow and desire For of such as are not in grace must that be vnderstood which we haue saide before when we spoke of sixe thinges necessary in an Indulgence otherwise if one be already in grace hee hath virtually those fiue first things needeth nothing but to doe that which is the cause of the Indulgence whether it be Confession or Receiuing or Almes or Fasting or any other such deuout action As for the Simony which they charge vs withall in these Pardons No Simony in Pardons wee neither buy nor sell Pardons but sometimes the worke required for which they are graunted is Almes and yet few or none are now graunded for any Almes to the POPES cofers but onely to be giuen at the parties discretion thereby to take away all cause of scandall 6 Why Pardons are called remissions of sinnes whereas they take away the punishment onely BVt it may peraduenture somewhat moue our aduersaries that we call these Indulgences remissions of sinnes whereupon it seemteh we vnderstand the verie faults themselues not the punishments thereof But this we can easely declare vnto thē by an example of a Father who although he haue receiued into fauour his sonne whom he had disinherited which is to remitte him his fault and to receiue him into his grace yet doth he impose oftentimes some lighter punishment for the same faulte both as a cautell for that which is to come and as a iust reuenge for the offence remitted and then he may iustly be saide not to haue perfectly forgiuen his sonnes faulte So also doth the holy Scriptures call the guilte of punishment by the name of sinne Gen. 43 8. Vnlesse I shall saith IVDAS to IACOB bring againe the childe I will be guilty of a sinne vnto thee all my life And God is said to render the sinne of the fathers vpon the children Deut. 5 9. 3. Reg. 1 21. Pro. 16 6. I and my sonne SALOMON shall be sinners And by mercy and verity iniquitie is redeemed And although sometimes in Pardons it be said A CVLPA POENA What these wordes A Culpa Poena signifie From the fault and the punishment the true meaning of the Church therein is that the fault must be remitted either before the seeking of the Indulgence or else in the very worke which is the cause of the Indulgence when Confessiō is exacted for obtaining the same Or the otherwise by Contritiō the worke is performed in grace so that there is giuen both togither Whether all the workes for the Indulgence must be donne in grace yet by diuerse causes The first by Confession or Contrition the second by the Indulgence For although it be not necessary that for to obtaine an Indulgence al the works which are done for the same be done in Gods grace yet is it verie necessary that all those workes be throughly done and that the last worke of all in which the Pardon is to be receiued be not onely done with a certaine morall perferction but also in the grace fauour of God For example There is a Iubiley in which it is graunted that whosoeuer Fasteth three daies and giueth Almes and such a day visiteth such a Church praying for some particuler necessities shall haue a plenary Indulgence Although a man doe the other in state of mortall sinne yet if hee for the same good purposes doe throughly performe them and then hauing by the ordinary meanes obtained Gods grace visitte the Church he shall receiue the Indulgence and yet if the POPE should so graunt it that he must first Confesse and then Fast and giue Almes and visitte the Church then would I thinke that his intention were to haue al the thinges following performed in grace so if he fall in the midst of the weeke so that he fast not in grace he getteth nothing 7 Of diuerse kinds of Indulgences FOr the better declaration of the custome of the Church in this matter of Indulgences it is to be vnderstoode that wee may diuide Pardons two manner of waies First in respecte of the qualitie of the punishement released Secondly in respecte of the quantitie of the same punishment taken away The punishment it selfe sometimes is enioined in Penance by the Ghostly-Father sometimes it is due either by the Canons of the Church allotting certaine Penances for euery faulte or in the stricte examination of Gods iust iudgement who onely searcheth the hart and knoweth the depth of our desertes From all these kindes may the Church absolue for that soueraigne autority which it hath recriued as we haue partly shewed aboue shall more exactly be shewed hereafter Pardon of Penance enioined of other paines also And heerein is founded the first diuision of Indulgence into remission of Penance enioined and of penance which is in the
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
more ancient than himselfe (q) Ep. 52. 66. S. CYPRIAN (r) Vt supra ORIGEN (s) De Eccle. Hier. cap. 7. S. DENIS (t) Ep. 1. lib. 6. const cap. 29. S. CLEMENT who with one consent doe all accorde in this Doctrine Wherefore (v) Ho. 3. in Phil 41. inâ—t Cor. 69 ad pop Damasc in orat de def Athan. Nyss apud Damasc S. CHRYSOSTOME doth in plaine termes exhorte both that we our selues to our power doe helpe them that are departed and put others in minde also to pray giue Almes for them For it was not vnadvisedly decreed by the Apostles that in the dreadfull Mysteries Commemoration should be made of those that are departed For they knewe well that they shoulde gaine much and reape no small commoditie thereby Thus writeth S. CHRYSOSTOME Finally this is that which to this day the holy Church a faithfull interpretour of the Scriptures hath taught against the (x) Epiph. haer 75. Aug. haer 53. Damasc de haeres Aerians that there is a certain Purgatory or emeÌ„datory (y) Trid. ses 25. 6. Flor. fire as (z) In Ps 37. l. 2. de GeÌ„ cont Ma. ca. 20. Greg. in 3. Ps Paenit li. 4. Dial. ca. 39. Bern. serm 66. in Cant. S. AVGVSTINE calleth it in which the faithfull soules departed in Christ must suffer and satisfie for the punishement of those sins for which wholely Satisfaction was not made in this life by Penance except as (a) Ench. ca. 110. de cura mort c. 1. 4. 18. Saint AVGVSTINE speaketh they bee releeued by the deuotion of their friendes that are aliue 10 What is the commendation and dignity of Penance PEnance is the beginning of the preaching of the Gospell Mat. 3 2. 4.17 Mat. 1 4. Luc. 15 7.10 Mat. 7 13. 11 12. the ioy of Angels in heauen the straite way vpoÌ„ earth that narrow gate by which the faithfull doe trauel towards life lay violent hands vpoÌ„ the kingdome of heauen Shee (a) Lib. de vera fals paenit c. 1. Bas in homil de ver paenit Chry. in ho. serm de paenit erecteth them that bee fallen cureth the wounded strengthneth the weake quickneth the deade restoreth those that are lost finally all things that sinne doth impaire Penance doth renue refreshe in vs. By her we giue a testimony of an hatred of our life past of the contempt of our selues of al submissioÌ„ She being our guide we mourning find (b) Mat. 5 5. comfort being wounded we are cured beeing humble we are exalted This is she whereby we ouercome the diuels the pestilence of vice we driue awaie deserued (c) Hier. 18 8 Ezech. 18 21. 33 11 Ionae 3 Mat. 3 8. 2. Cor. 7 10. Act. 11 18. punishments we pacifie Gods wrath we purchase grace get glory euerlasting Hereupon are those speeches of Christ in the Gospell (d) Mat. 4 17. Doe Penance for the kingdome of heauen is at hand (e) Luc 5 32 I came not to call the Iust but sinners to Penance Vnlesse (f) Luc. 13 6 you haue Penance you shall all likewise perishe But hee finally doth true Penance to conclude all these thinges with the wordes of S. CYPRIAN (g) Ep. 14. Who obaying the precepts of God the Priests with his obedience works of Iustice doth winne our Lord. OF THE SACRAMENT OF EXTREAME VNCTION 1 What ought to be our beleefe touching the Sacrament of Extream Vnction THat certes which the (a) Con. Nic. ex Arab. Latinum factuÌ„ can 69. Con. Const ses 15. Flor. Trid. sess 14. Innoc. 1. ep 1. ad Decentium ca. 8. Pet. Dam. ser 1. in dedicat Eccles Bern. in vita Mala. Conc. Worm can 72. Cabil 2. cap. 48. Melden apud Burchar lib. 4. can 75. apud Iuonem part 1. cap. 269. Aquisgr 2. can 8. Mogunt sub Rabano Alcuinus lib. de offic cap. 12. Hugo lib. 2. de Sacram. par 15. cap. 2. 3. Orig. hom 2. in Leuit. Chrys lib. 3. de Sacerd. Aug. in speculo in serm 215. de temp Catholike Church doth constantlye teache to witte that this is a sacred signe ordained in consecrated oile that thereby heauenly vertue may by Gods ordinance be applied vnto sicke persons for the health not only of their soules but of their bodies also Vnto which Sacrament Sainte IAMES the Apostle giueth most cleare and euident testimony for as much as he hath written these verie wordes (b) Iac. 5 14. Ibid. Beda Is any man sicke among you Let him bring in the Priestes of the church let theÌ„ pray ouer him anoiling him with oile in the name of our Lord. And the praier of faith shal saue the sick And our Lord shal lifte him vp And if he be in sinnes they shal be remitted him 2 What doth the Apostle teach by these wordes HEE sheweth first of all that the Elemente or matter of this Sacrament is oile consecrated as noteth well (a) In cap. â— Mar. in â— Luc in â— Iac. Innoc. 1. vt supra Conc. Meld vt supra S. BEDE by the benediction of a Bishoppe And it signifieth (b) Theoph. in ca. 6. Mar. cherefulnesse of minde an internall strengthening which through the grace of God the sicke man feeleth by the vertue of this Sacrament Then doth the same Apostle set downe the proper minister of this Sacramente to witte a (c) Chry. li. 3. de sacerd Orig. ho. 2. en Leuit. Priest who with praier is decently to exercise this holy vnction Neither was it without some signification of the minister of this Sacrament writteÌ„ of the Apostles that (d) Mar. 6 13 61. Theoph. Beda They annointed with oile many sicke and healed theÌ„ Furthermore the parties that receiue this Sacrament are by Saint IAMES called sicke persons (e) Pet. Cluâ— lib. 1. mirac cap 20. li. 2. cap. 32. because as the manner custome of the Church is this holy vnction is onelie celebrated in grieuous and daungerous sickenesses 3 What is the profite and effect of this Sacrament FIrst it auaileth to remission of (a) Bern. in vita Mal. Conc. Trid. vt supra Pet. Clun li. â— ep 1. such sinnes as the sicke person hath not already purged by the remedies of Penance that he may before all thinges be eased of the burden and cured of the maladie of his sinnes Then profiteth it also either to driue away or to (b) Ibidem Bern. asswage the infirmity of the body so farre forth as it is expedient for the sicke person to be deliuered of the same Last of all it is of force to minister comforte and confidence of which certes there is speciall neede in that last agony and departure at what time the (c) Cyril Al. in orat de â—xitu animae Greg. lib. 2. mor cap. 17.
haue no time limitted to his iniquity nor that the Church will presume to define that Purgatory shall remaine so long it being to expire at the day of Iudgement But that it may so be that any persons sinnes though remitted haue lefte behind them so much guilte of temporall satisfaction or punishment For if the seuere estimation of the Primitiue Church hath adiudged euery notable mortall sinne to 7. yeeres Penance then how many yeeres Penance should so many thoughtes so many wordes so many actions deserue as are in this colde age of ours so little regarded It is wisedome to seeke many Pardons Wiselye therefore doe they who neuer ceasse to procure these Christian helpes of our frailty not contemning them as small because they are not Plenaries For it may so happen that to one which oweth 4 yeeres onely of satisfaction 7. yeeres may bee as good as a Plenary Moreouer of Plenary Indulgences none can be sure no nor of any Indulgence at all whereas they cannot be sure of their estate of grace in the seeking of them and if they be in grace yet of any certaine determination of theire deserts of temporal paine they cannot haue knowledge neither of the full obtaining of so manye yeeres as are graunted of Pardon The only way is therefore continually to embrace these motherly fauoures of holy Church and that so much the more for that in the race of our mortality continually our burden increaseth and whilest we seeke to cast off the olde vncertaine of our discharge◠we doe most certainely at the least with Veniall sinnes dogge our selues with new The true meaning therefore of these yeeres or daies is this The meaning of yeeres and daies that looke how much of the paines of Purgatory we could redeeme with one yeers Penance in this world such as might by reason be inioined vs our deuotion feruour and desire of satisfying Gods Iustice See page 640. considered so much now by the benignity and mercy of the Church is in one yeeres Indulgence released and so of other quantity of yeeres daies Which vnto him who considereth that by one yeere of Voluntary satisfaction in this life much more then a yeere of necessary sufferance in Purgatory may be recompensed will seeme no small benefitte And it must not moue vs that we cannot remaine so many thousand yeres in Purgatory for neither Purgatory is measured by our time yeeres daies God can by increase of the paine euen in the day next befor the generall Iudgement supply the wholle due of many thousand yeeres After which maner they which are found aliue at the daye of Iudgement shall not want their Purgatory 8 The right autority of Gods Church in giuing Pardons is largely proued A Learned famous Author very wel knowen vnto our aduersaries not vnworthily chargeth them with a common faulte which hee calleth SCIOMACHIA fightinge with a shadowe This fault if in any other matter they committe in this of Indulgences they surely are intolerable I haue sufficiently touched their slaunders aboue And whensoeuer they write or speake of this point they doe nothing else but either not vnderstanding or malitiously slaundering the true intent of the Church make themselues aduersaries where they haue none impugne certaine absurdities which wee more than they detest reprehende abuses which we roote Con. Trid sess 5. de reformat cap. 2. sess 21. de reform cap. 9. out finally like madde or dronken persons fight with a shadowe that also of thier owne making Wherefore least this poore labour of mine taken principally and only for my deere Catholicke Brethren or those who being out of the way would be glad to haue some direction vnto the trueth might by any missefortune fall into the handes of some SHADOVVE-KILLER I thought it expedient before I entered into any deepe demonstration of this matter first to set them down the simple trueth which being doone euen as it were by the very same Candel which first was shadowed by themselues nowe placed betweene them and their shadowe the shadowe vanishing the quarell might without any blowes at all be peacablely finished Yet nowe will I as well for the simple Catholickes vnderstanding as for the better breaking of such skittishe wittes from finding bugges where there is no cause make some farther consideration of the trueth shewing and prouing it out of holy Scriptures continuall practise of Gods Church But before we take this matter in hande we must warne our aduersaries that here we doe not intend to dispute whether there be any Temporall punishement after the remission of the sinnes thēselues necessarily to be suffered of the penitent person For this we suppose as certaine See pag. 209 and before sufficiently proued The like also doe we aduertise them of autority to remitte sinnes leafte by Christ in his Church which heere we touch not See pag. 209 as already shewed Nowe therefore thus we will briefely conclude our purpose Christ hath lefte in his Church the Mat. 16 19. Keies of the kingdome of Heauen autority to Io. 20 22 remitte sinnes the 2. Cor. 5 19. worde of reconcilement dispensours 1 Cor. 4 1. of his mysteries feeders Io. 21 15. of his sheepe stewardes Mat. 24 45. of his family to giue euerie one meate in due season But in euery one of these is without any limitation contained euery thing belonging to those seuerall offices of gouernmente feeding and remitting and consequently the remission of temporall Chastisement and correction most certainely therefore hath God lefte the same in his Church But such autoritie cannot be executed in the Sacrament of Penance which as we supposed is only ordained to remit the offence of God alwaies in as much as it hath in it selfe leauing a Temporall punishment Therefore it is to bee executed out of the Sacrament which is the very Indulgence which we defend Secondly S. PAVL in the The Heretickes falsely translate in the sight of Christ person of Christ 2 2. Cor. 2 10. at the request of the Corinthians pardoneth the incestuous person remitting him as THEODORET expoundeth and the wordes doe manifestly importe part of his deserued Penance But what autoritie Christ gaue vnto S. PAVL the same hath he lefte in his Church vntill Eph. 4 13. we meet al into the vnitie of Faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God into a perfecte man that is euen vnto the worldes ende The verie worde of Pardon in the Scriptures Pardons are alwaies giuen in the power of Christ Io. 8 11. Therefore doth there nowe remaine in the Pastours the same authoritie See heere the very word of Pardoning if the Heretickes haue not left it out or altered it in their Bible Where also is to be noted that S. PAVL executed this leuity in the Person of Christ and so doe our Pastours alwaies vsing this Phrase Mercifully in our Lorde we release Of which our Sauiour hath left vs sundrie examples in diuerse offendours particularly in the aduoutresse whose
OF FAITH AND OF THE CREED 1 Who is to be called a (a) Act. 11 26. 1. Pet. 4 16. Christian HEE which doeth professe the holesome doctrine of Iesus Christ true God and man in his (b) Athanas contr Arrianos orat 2. Cypr. lib. 4. ep 2. de simp praelat Ignat. ad Magnes Aug. tract 113. in Ioa. ser 181. de temp ca. 12. Ench. cap. 5. Tert. lib. de praescript Church He therefore which is a true Christian doth vtterly condemne and detest all other Religions and Sectes that are else-where to be found in any Nation or cuntrey out of the doctrine Church of Christ as the Iewishe Heathenishe Turkishe or hereticall Secte And doth firmely staie himselfe in the very Doctrine of Christ 2 In what briefe summe may Christian Doctrine be comprehended THat a Christian do know obserue those things which do belong both to (a) Ecli 1 3◠wisedom Iustice Wisedome as S. Austen (b) Lib. 2. Retract cap. 63. Ench. cap. 2. 3. sheweth consisteth in the vertues Theological (c) 1. Cor. 13 13. Faith Hope Charitie which are both infused by God (c) 1. Cor. 13 13. beeing purely most feruently practised in this life they doe make men blessed diuine Iustice standeth in (d) Pros sen 98. ex Aug. two parts in declining frō euil doing good For hereūto belongeth that which the kingly Prophet saith (e) Psal 33 15. 36 27 1. Pet. 3 10. Turne from euill doe good Now out of these fountains to wit Wisedome and Iustice other things are easily drawē deduced whatsoeuer do appertaine to Christian Instruction Ro. 10 14. Heb. 11 6. Aug. serm 38. de temp sermo 1. de verbis Apost cap. 4. Leo. ser 4. de nat Dom. and Discipline 3 What is first taught in Christian Doctrine FAith that very gate entrāce to our saluation without the which none in this life can find cal vpō serue please almighty god For he that cōmeth to god must beleue (a) He. 11 6. saith the Apostle And (b) Mar. 16 16. he that beleeueth not shal be condemned is (c) Io. 3 18. already Iudged by the sentence of Christ 4 What is vnderstoode by the name of Faith A (a) Eph. 2 8. Heb. 11 1. Basil ser de fidei conf Ber. ep 190. Aug. cont ep sund c. 5. gifte of God and a light wherewith man beeing illuminated doth firmely assent cleaue vnto those things which are reuealed by God proposed vnto vs by the Church to be beleeued As are these that followe That God is (b) 1. Io. 5 7. one in three persons that the world was (c) Gen. 1 1. Io. 1 14. Luc. 2 7. Rom. 3 8. created of nothing that god was made mā suffered death for our sakes that MARY (d) Conc. Eph. cap. 13. Luc. 1 35. 1. Cor. 15 51. Io. 3 5. is both a Virgine the mother of God that all the deade are to be raised againe to life that man is borne againe of Water and the holie Ghost that Christ is wholly in the (e) Conc. Constantie Flor. Trid. B. Sacrament and other such of like sorte that are the reuerend mysteries of our religion which being reuealed by God cannot be comprehended by mans (f) Eccli 3 22. 2. Cor. 10 5. capacity but maie be conceiued onlie by faith Whereupō the Prophet saith (g) Esa 7 9. secundū 70. Basil in Psa 115. in moral Reg. 80. cap. 21. Greg. ho. 26. in Euang. Chrys in 1. ad Cor. homil 4. Vnlesse ye will beleeue yee shall not vnderstand For faith respecteth not the order of nature neither doth shee trust to experience of senses or relie vpon the might or reason of man but vpon the power authority of God holding this as a most vndoubted verity that the most soueraigne eternal trueth which is God cā neither deceiue nor euer be deceiued Wherfore it is the very cōdition property of faith to bring all vnderstanding into (h) 2. Cor. 10 5. captiuitie vnto the obedience of Christ with whom there is no (i) Lu. 1 37. Hier. 32 27. worde that is hard to be done much lesse impossible This (k) Euseb Emis ho. 2. de symb Cyr. catech 5. Illum Chrys serm de fide spe charit Cyril lib. 4. in Ioa. ca. 9. faith is the light of the soule the dore or entrance to life the foundation of eternal saluation 5 Is there any brief cōprehēsion of Faith and summe of all those thinges that we must beleeue There is that which the twelue Apostles haue deliuered in their Creed and which they haue aptely distinguished into twelue Sections and Articles A worke doubtlesse worthy of such (a) Clem. ep 1. ad sr Do. Amb. ep 81. serm 38. Aug. serm 181. de tēp Ruf. in sym Iren. lib. 1. c. 2. l. 3. c. 4. Hieron ad Pammach aduers errores Ioā Hieros cap. 9. Leo. ser 11. de pass ep 13. ad Pulc ser cont Eutyc Maxim ser de traditione symb The Creede is expoūded by these Authors following Cyril in Catech illum Chrys ho. 1. 2. in sym Aug in Enc. ad Laurent in lib. 4. de symb ad Catech. lib. de sid symb ser 115. 119. 123. 125. 131. 181. 192. 193. 194. de tēp Euseb Emi. ho. 1. 2. in symb Chrysol ser 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. Max. ho. 1. de diuersis authors which next vnto Christ our Lord were the principall and most holy founders of the Christian faith And this Creed surely is as it were a plaine euident marke whereby christians are to be distinguished discerned from those wicked persons which doe professe either none at all or not the right faith of Christ 6 Which be the Articles of this Creede I Beleeue in God the Father Almighty maker of Heauen earth 2 And in IESVS CHRIST his onely Sonne our Lorde 3 Which was conceived by the holie Ghost borne of the VIRGINE MARY 4 Suffered vnder PONTIVS PILATE was crucified dead buried 5 He descended into hell the third day he rose againe from the dead 6 Hee ascended into Heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almightie 7 From thence he shal come to iudge the quicke and the deade 8 I beleeue in the Holy Ghost 9 The holy Catholicke Church the communion of Saints 10 The forgiuenesse of sinnes 11 The resurrection of the fleshe 12 And the life euerlasting Amen 7 To what end specially are these wordes of the Creede TO this end surely Hier. 9 23. Io. 17 3. 1. Cor. 2 2. 1. Pet. 1 8. cap. 13 1. that we may haue comprehended in a briefe summe the true knowledge of god of heauenly things which knowledge truly is necessary to euery mā that he may liue wel happily And in this Creed the acknowledging confessing
Luc. 24.47 Mat. 28 19. 16 18. Aug. ep 170 et 166. cont ep fund c. 4 et lib. de Verrel â—7 Pacia ep 1. ad sym pron Vinc. Lir. Hier. coÌ„ Luc. f. c. 9 Bed in 6. c. Cant. Catholike that is to say vniuersal so that she being dispersed throughout the world in her motherly bosome receaueth embraceth safe keepeth all persons of al times places nations so that they be of one mind consent in the faith doctrine of Christ Fourthly that there is in the same Church a communion of Saintes soe that those which liue (f). Eph. 4 11.16 Psa 118 63. Col. 1 12. Phil. 1 4. 2. Co. 8 14. 1. Io. 1 3. Ro. 12 4. 1. Cor. 12 4. Aug. Tr. 32. in Io. in the Churche as the house and family of Almightie God doe holde an vnseparable society and vnity amongste them selues and as members of one the selfe same body helpe assist one an other with mutuall benefites merites prayers Amongst theÌ„ there is vnity of faith consente of doctrine conformable vse of sacraments and notwithstaÌ„ding the disseÌ„tions errours what (g) Euse l. 7 cap. 19. Aug. 2. con Do. c. 6. ep 19. de vera rel c. 6. euer they be that by meanes of some fewe maye spring and growe vp yet are they all wayes carefull to * Eph. 4 3. keepe the vnitye of the Spirite in the bande of peace And in this CoÌ„munion vndoubtedly not only the Saintes of the Churche militant that doe traueyle as pilgriÌ„mes vpon earthe but also all the blessed Saintes of the Church moste happily triumphant with Christ in heauen (h) Aug. ser 181. de teÌ„p cap. 13. Euch. c. 56. as also the soules of the godly which hauing departed this life are not (i). Aug. lib. 20. ciui c. 9. Greg. l. 4. dial cap. 39 yet come to that happy estate of the blessed Saintes (k) Gen. 7 23. 1 Pet. 3 20 Esa 60 12 Aug. â—p 50 152. de vnit Ec. c. 4. 19. Ful. de fid ad Pet. c. 37.38.39 Pacia ep 2. ad smpto Ire l. 4. c. 43 Greg. l. 14. mor. cap. 2 Chrys ho. 11. in ep ad Eph. Conc. Later c. 1. Alcim Aul. l. 4. c. 19. Io 6 66 Iudae 18. are al together ioyntly compreheÌ„ded Out of this coÌ„munion of Saints like as out of the k Arke of Noe there is certainlye vndoubted destruction but no saluation for mortall men not for the Iewes or Heathens that neuer receaued the fayth of the Church not for Haeritikes that haue forsakeÌ„ the fayth once receaued or any way corrupted the same not for Schismatiks that haue deuided theÌ„ selues from the peace and vnity of the Churche finally not for (l) 1. Cor. 5 4. 1. Tim. 1 20 NuÌ„ 12 14. Mat. 18 17. 2 Io. 10. 2. The. 3 6.14 Cyp. ep 62. Aug. l. 1. coÌ„ adu le c. 17 Eus apud Damasc l. 3. Paral. cap. 45 ExcoÌ„municate persons that for any greuous crime or cause haue deserued to be cut of as hurtfull pernicious members from the body of the Church And all and euery of these because they do not appertaine vnto the Churche to her holy coÌ„munion they can-not be partakers of the grace of God )m). Aug. ser 181. de temp c. 12. in ps 88. conc 2 ep 2â—4 Cyp. ep 57. 52. aeternall saluation except they be first reconciled and restored vnto the same Church from which they through their owne defaulte haue once ben separated For most certaine is that Rule of (n) de simp Prae. Sainte CIPRIAN (o) De symb â—d cate c. 13. S. AVGVSTINE that he shall not haue God to be his Father that wil not haue the church to be his Mother 19. What doth the tenth Article set before vs REmission of sinnes without the which none can be iust or obtaine saluation And this most rich treasure Christ hath purchased (a) Esa 33 22. Mat 1 21 9 6. Apo. 1 5. Luc. 24 47. Act. 10 42. Heb. 9 13. 1â— Io. 1 7. Eph. 1 7. Col. 1 13. Heb 1 3. for vs by his bitter death and most pretious bloode that the whole worlde mighte be exempted from sinne and from the perpetuall punishmentes due vnto the same Of which treasure certes they only are made partakers by the grace of Christe that doe vnite theÌ„selues by faythe (b). Act 2 38. 8 12 36. Mar. 16 16. Io. 3 5. Aug. Euch. c. 65 de Ver. do ser 11. c. 2â— 22. and Baptisme to the church of Christ do abyde in the vnity obedience of the same TheÌ„ afterwarde they also that haue dilligentlye done (c). 2. Cor. 12 21. Act. 8 22. Io. 2â— 23 Apâ—c 2 5. poenance for their sinnes committed after Baptisme doe conuenieÌ„tly vse those medicines and remedies againste sinne that Christe hath ordayned to wit the holy Sacramentes of the Church And hereunto belongeth the power of the (d). Hier. ep 1. ad Heli. c. 7. Aug. ho. 49. c. 3. 50. c. 4. 5. inter quinquag hom Chrys l. 3. de Sacerd. Cypr. ep 54 Luc. 10 35. Mat. 18 18. Io. 20 22. keies as they call it which Christ for the remission of sinnes hath committed vnto the Ministers of the Church especially to thâ— Apostle S. (e). Mat. 16 Hilla c. 16. Mat. Bern. l. 2. de coÌ„sid c. 8. Con. Flor. 19. Io. 21.15 PETER his lawfull Successors as to the Supreame guydes and rulers of the Churche 20 What hath the eleuenth Article Esa 26 19. Iob. 19 25 Ezech. 37 1 1. Cor. 15 51. â— Thes 4 16. Io. 11 24. 5 25. Mat. 22 23. Dan. 12 2. Ph. 3 21. Hieron ad Miner Al. ep 152 ep 61. adu er Io. c. 9. seq Greg. l. 14. mor. c. 30 seq Aug. Euch. c. 84 seq l. 22. ciu c. 12. seq IT declareth the resurrectioÌ„ of the flesh which at the latter day shal be coÌ„moÌ„ to good bad For this frayl brickle body of ours that we beare about with vs pestered with so many disseases and subiecte to suche continuall griefes and miseries that must after our death become a pray for wormes shall then reuiue wheÌ„ at that last daye al the deade at the voyce of Christ the Iudge shal bee raised both to life iudgement All therfore shal appeare in flesh before the (a). 2. Cor. 5 10. Ro. 14 10. tribunal of Christ that euery one without exceptioÌ„ accordingly as he hath behaued him selfe in his body which theÌ„ shal be restored vnto him whole again so may receiue either good or euill And they that haue doone good thinges (b) Io. 5 29 Mat. 13 40. shal come forthe into the Resurrection of life but they that haue done euil into the Resurrection of iudgemente (c) Mat. 25 46. 13 10 Athan. in symb and punishment euerlasting In the
de spir san c. 18 Damasc lib. 4. cap. 17. Athan. ser 4. cont Arrian vnto vs by their images set before vs. So doth the Church (c) 7. Synod 8. Synod cap. 3. Aug. lib. 1. de consen Euâ—ng c. 10. Dam. in vita Sylu. Ath. de pass imag cap. 4. Greg. l. 9. ep 9. li. 7. indict 2. ep 53. 109. Damasc l. 4. c. 17. Euseb l. 7. hist c. 14. Soz. l. 5. c. 20. Niceph. lib. 2. c. 7. 43. lib. 6. cap. 16. Nicetas de imperio Manuelis lib. 5. Ionas Aurel. de imag cultu Damasc in tribus orationibus de imagi both of olde and of this present time teach with one consent coÌ„mending vnto vs the deuoute and reuerend images the vse of which we haue receiued as commended vnto vs by Apostolicall tradition and we retaine as approued by a most holy generall Councell of Fathers Yea God himselfe appointed to the auncient Sinagog (d) Exo. 25 24. 37 8. Num. 7 89. 21 8. 3. Reg. 6 23. their peculiar images For which cause was coÌ„demned the (e) 2. Synod Nic. Act. 7. Syn. 8. c. 7. Niceph. lib. 16. cap. 27. Gre. l. 9. ep 9. Trid. sess 25. error of the Iconoclastes or Image breakers as they that made no difference betweene the likenesses of the Goddes and the Images of Christe and his Saintes nor had anie consideration of the time of grace or the new lawe wherein God him-selfe beinge made man hath put on vpon himselfe his own Image likenes (f) Gen. 1 26 Phil. 2 7. which he created in the beginning and hath represented him-selfe vnto vs in the same And it is not only an absurde error but also a moste wicked madnes (g) Paul Diacon lib. 6. de gestis longob c. 14 et lib. vlt. de gestis Roman in fine Ioan. Patr. Hier. in vita Damasc of those that doe cast out of Sacred places the holy Images and amongst them also the Crosse of our Lorde and with sacrilegious handes pull downe in a manner all the holy thinges they can 10 What is prescribed vnto vs by the second commandement Ex. 20 7. Leu. 19 1â— 5 1. Eccli 23 8. 27 15. Zach. 5 2. 8 17. Leu. 24 14 Mat. 5 34. IT forbiddeth the abuse irreuerence of Gods holy name which is committed by Periurours Blasphemours and those that rashlye sweare (a) 8. Tolet. can 2. by God by the Saintes or other holy thinges against that saieng (b) Mat. 5 37 Iac. 5 12. Doe not sweare let your talke be yea yea and no no. * Psa 33 2. Ier. 4 1. Ps 14 5. 49 14. 75 12. Eccle. 5.3 1. Tim. 5 12 Deut. 23 2â— Then it requireth that according to the right vse of the tongue wee exhibite greate reuerence to Gods holy name we kepe our othes we breake not our vowes made to God and his Church finally that we handle the (c) Ps 49 16. 2. Cor. 2 17. 4 2. Trid. Sess 4. holy word of god with reuerence 11 What are wee bounde vnto by the thirde commandement Exod. 20 8. 〈◊〉 31 13. Deut. 5 12. Leu. 23 2. Hier. 17 21. Esa 56 4. Ap. 1 10 Act. 20 7. 1. Cor. 16 2. Aug. ad IaÌ„ ep 119. c. 12 et 13. et ep 118. cap. 1. et serm 154. de temp Leo. ep 81. cap. 1 IT requireth that we spende in good workes the Sabothe or festiuall day obserued in the Church And therefore it willeth that our mindes be then present and voyde of cares freely disposing it selfe to yeeld interiour exterior honour vnto God in faith hope and charity It willeth vs that without all lets and incombrances we meditate of Godes benefites we be occupied about holy thinges we pray and honour almightie God both priuately and publikely with others (a) Io. 4 23 Deut. 5 12. Num. 15 32 Leu. 23 2. Ignat. ad Phill p. Leo ser 3. de quadra Greg. l. 11. ep 3 Hier. in c. 4. ad Gal. Aug. cont Adim c. 16. et ser 251 de temp Conc. Mâ—g c. 6 〈◊〉 2. Matisâ— c. 1 Agathen c. 21. â—t 47 in spirite and truth It forbiddeth to labour on holy daies to spend any time in handicraftes and to vse prophane occupations to the intent certes that we may attend to a holy repose in going to the Church hearing Masse the publike sacrifice of the Church the ordinary Sermon accordingly as godlye deuoute persons haue al-waies accustomed to keepe this commandement 12 What is the summe of these three commandementes THese three first Commaundements which appertaine to the first (a) August quaest 71. â—â— Exo. et in ps 32. Conc â— see the annotation in the 5. sectioÌ„ before Table do instructe teach vs how we may geue true honour vnto God to wit interiour and exteriour with harte worde deed in priuate and in publike The other seuen hereafter folowing are called preceptes of the seconde Table added to this end to explicate our duetie towardes our neighbour 13 What is proposed enioyned in the fourth commandement Deut. 5 16. Col. 3 20. Eph. 6 1. Eccli 3 1.5 Prou. 23 23. Tob. 4 3. HEEre are children taught what dutie they owe to their Parents by whose means they came into this world by whose labour they are honestly brought vp Also Subiects (a) Ro. 13 1. Heb. 13 7. Tit. 3 1. 2 9. 1. Tim. 2 1. 6 1. 1. Pet. 2 13. 5.5 Eph. 6 5. Col. 3 22. are taught to performe their duty to their Superiours that is to say to al that are supereminent in some dignity power whether it be in Ciuil or Ecclesiastical gouernment And both they vnto theire Parentes and these vnto their Superiours doe owe both interiour (b) Leu. 19 32. 1. Pet. 2 13. Gen. 43 26. 1. Tim. 6 1. Eccli 4 7. Act. 10.25 exteriour reuerence obseruance (c) â— Tim. 5 17. 1. Cor. 9 7. Mat. 10 9. et 22 21. Luc. 10 7. Amb. lib. 5. hexam c. 16. succour also and obedience Furthermore we are forbidden any kinde of way to offend (d) Mat. 15 3. Heb. 13 17. Ex. 21 15. et 22 28. Leu. 20.9 Deut. 21 18. et 27 16. Pt. 20 20. et 28 24. et 30 11.17 Eccli 3 14. or grieue any such persons of high calling or authority be it by worde deede or any manner of signe 14 What importeth the fifth Commaundement Gen. 9 5. Leui. 24 17. et 9 16. 19 16. Deut. 5 17. Ex. 20.13 21 12. Mat. 5 21. Ia. 2 11 1. Ioa. 3 15. Ephes 4 26.31 Col. 3 8. Ps 4 5. Ro. 12 17.19 Deu. 32 35. Eccli 28 1. Heb. 10 30. 12 15. IT doth not only prohibite all externall slaughter violence that may preiudice the body and life of our neighbour but also cutteth of anger hatred rancour indignatioÌ„ desire of reuenge all other internall affectes
will can keepe (l) Act 20 29. Eze 33 6. 2. Tim. 2 23.25 4 2. Tit. 1 9.10.11 off the wolues defende the sheepe roote out the cockle confirme sound doctrine least otherwise the simple be seduced by the words writinges examples of deceiptful wicked persons (m) 2. Pet. 2 1. 3 3. Ro. 16 17. Iud 17.4 10 Mat. 7.15 from the kingly rode-way of truth but rather that all not only knowing the truth but practising the same may growe and goe forwarde in him that is the heade Christ our Lorde as the same Apostle S. PAVL (n) Ephes 4 15. hath also spoken 13 By what meanes may we obtaine these so singuler commodities BY this no doubt if we be not to highlye (a) Ro. 12 3. but soberly wise alwaies carefull to (b) Eph. 4 3. Io. 10 2. 21 17. keepe the vnitie of spirite in the bande of peace that so wee maye shewe our selues the humble and obedient sheepe of Christ Of which sheepe certes it is the propertie (c) Io. 10 2. Tit. 3 1. Heb. 13 17. Mat. 10 20. to flie the wolues and not to followe Aliens but their owne Pastours (d Bern. de praecep disp c. 12. to submit thēselues to thē as to the ordinarie Prefectes of our Lords folde and in them to heare the (e) Io. 15 26 et 14 17. et 16 13. spirite of truth That spirite it is which vouchsafeth euen by euill (f) Mat. 23 2. Phil. 1 15. Io. 11 51. Mat. 18.17 Deut. 17 12 Prelates to teach feed and preserue our Lords flocke and which by them commendeth vnto vs the precepts both of God our Father and the Church our Mother in thess wordes (g) Pro. 1 8. see Epiphan haer 75. Heare my sonne the discipline of thy father and doe not let goe the lawe of thy mother And againe the same doth inculcate Keepe saith (h) Pro. 6 20 he my sonne the preceptes of thy father and doe not let goe the lawe of thy mother 14 Which are the precepts of the Church THere are fiue principall necessarie doubtlesse to be knowne and obserued of euery Christian 1 (a) Conc. Lugdun apud Iuonē p. 4. c. 14. 2. Matiscon c. 1. Mogunt c. 36. et 37. Tribur c. 35. Ignat. ad Philip. The appointed holy daies of the Church doe thou celebrate 2 (b) Conc. Agath c. 47. et 21. Tribur c. 35. 1. Aurel ca. 28. The holy office of the Masse vpon holy daies doe thou heare with reuerence 3 (c) Canon Apost 68. Gangren c. 19. Ignat. ad Phil. Mog c. 34. et 35. Salegunst c. 1. et 2. Ber. in vig. S. Andreae See the places cited in the treatis of good works in the 4. question The Fastes on certaine daies and times appointed doe thou obserue For example as the Lent imber daies and the nexte daies before certaine solempne feastes which our forefathers haue (d) Tert. l. 2. ad Vxo c. 4. et in apolog cap. 2. called vigils or euens bicause they did vse at such times all night to watch in the Churches 4 (e) Sinod Lateran can 21. Triden sess 14. c. 8. Thy Sinnes to thy proper Priest doe thou euery yeere confesse 5 (f) Lateran Trident. sess 13. can 9. The holy Eucharist at the least once in the yeere and that about the feast of Easter doe thou receaue 15 What profite doth the obseruation of these precepts bring THese and other the like customes precepts of the Church so manie ages receiued and with great consent practise of deuoute Christians confirmed and very agreable to pietie and reason doe bring with them very notable and excellent commodities For they are holsome exercises of faith humilitie and Christian obedience they doe aduance honest (a) Phil. 4 8. 1. Cor. 14 26.40 discipline and concorde among the people they are goodly signes badges of Religion finally they giue markes and tokens of our inwarde pietie by which we oughte iointly to shine with the good and to shew our light to the euill for (b) Mat. 5 17. Ro. 15 2. Phil. 2 ◠14 their edification Breifly they doe helpe vs to this that we may exactly obserue that rule of the Apostle Let all thinges (c) 1. Cor. 14 40. be done honestly and according to order among you 16 Wherein is the authoritie of the Church necessarie vnto vs FIrst of all surely in this that we may certainlie (a) Gal. 2 2. 1. Tolc c. 25. Aug. ser 129 de tēp li. 13. contra Faust c. 4. 5. et l. 28. c. 2 4. discerne the true and canonicall Scripture from that which is counterfet and apocryphall Whereupon Saint HIEROME doth testifie we receiue saith he the (b) in sym ad Damasu et Aug. ser 19. 1. de tē Conc. Laod c. 59. Conc. 3. Carth. c. 47. Conc. Trid. sess 4. olde and new Testament in that number of bookes which the authority of the holy Catholike Church doth deliuer And (c) Cont. ep Fund c. 5. Saint AVGVSTINE I truely would not beleeue the Gospell excepte the authoritie of the Catholike Church did moue me thereunto It is also necessarie that we may be assured of the (d) Esa 59 21. Aug. l. 1. c. 33. cont Cresco et de vnit Eccle. c. 22. Trid. ses 4. Vin. Lir. contr nouatores true sense and apte interpretatiō of the Scripture least that otherwise we neuer make an end of doubting and disputing about the sense of the wordes For all Heretickes as the same holy Saint (e) lib. 1. de Trinit c. 3. Hillar l. 2. ad Constanti Vinc. Lir. hath written doe labour to defend their false and deceiptfull opinions by the holy Scriptures and yet the Scriptures doe not consist in reading but in vnderstanding as witnesseth (f) Cont. Lucif c. 9. in c. 1. ad Gal. Hilar. l. 2. de Trin. Saint HIEROME Thirdly that in the waightier questions (g) Deut. 17.8 and controuersies of faith that may fall out there may be some (h Act. 15 2 Iudge by whose authoritie matters may be moderated For as that is most true that (i) haer 61. cont Apostolicos EPIPHANIVS teacheth against Heresies that all thinges can not be had out of the Scriptures so doth (k) l. 11. con Faust c. 2 l. 7. c n. Donat c. 53. et in Ps 57. Saint AVGVSTINE most rightlye affirme that the authoritie of the Catholike Church is of speciall waighte and value for our faith and assurance in a doubtful case Neither can the holy Ghost be wanting to the Church to leade her as Christ hath (l) Io. 14 16. 16 13. promised into all trueth Againe that for the diuersitie of persons places and times canons (m) Can. Ap. 38. et Synod 1. Nic. c. 5. Lateran Can. 6. may be ordained perfite discipline preserued and iudgementes pronounced For to the Church
the grace of Baptisme but also by the medicine of Penance the hope of life euerlasting might be repaired that they which had violated the benefite of regeneration condemning themselues in their owne iudgement might come to remission of sinne the succours of Gods goodnesse being so ordained that pardon cannot be had at Gods hands but by the supplication of Priests For the Mediator of (g) 1. Tim. 2 5. God and Men Christ Iesus hath giuē this power to Prelates of the Church that they might both admitte vnto Penance those which confesse and receiue them beeing purged with holesome satisfaction to the Communion of the Sacraments by the gate of reconciliation 7 What ought we to thinke of Satisfaction TRuely thus much Greg. in cap. 9. lib. 1. Reg. Bas q. 12. in reg breu that there is one kind of Satisfaction proper vnto Christ our Redeemer and an other common to all faithfull penitents That was once accomplished in the (a) Heb. 9 25. Eph. 5 2.26 4 32. 1. Ioan. 2 2. Ioan. 1 29. body of Christ crucified when that immaculate Lamb tooke away the sinnes of the worlde that they which by nature were the Sonnes of (b) Eph. 2 3. 2. Cor. 5 18. Cypr. ep 59. 10. Tert. de paenit ca. 5. 7. 8. 9. Conc. Trid. sess 14. cap. 8 9. de sacr Paenit wrath might bee reconciled vnto God but this which belongeth vnto penitentes is done euery day in the church by the mēbers of Christ when beeing sorie for our sinnes we doe after Confession performe those thinges which the PRIEST when hee gaue absolution enioined or when of our owne accorde wee doe bring forth the worthy fruits of penance wherby we may in some part at the least recompence the faults and offences of our life past This is a certaine (c) Exod. 32 31. Nū 12 9 14 19.27 20 10.24 Psal 98 6.8 2. Reg. 12.7.13 Aug. l. 2. de pec mer. c. 34. l. 22. cont Faust c. 67. Greg. l. 9. mor. c. 27. 2. Reg. 24 10 Prou. 11 31. Eccli 5 2. Aug. tract 124. in Ioan Satisfaction both of reuengement of purgation and it is so farre from obscuring the benefit Satisfaction of Christ our Redeemer that it doth more commend set forth the same For that Satisfactiō of his going before especially cooperating (d) Chry. ho. 80. ad pop with vs we do according vnto the Scripture vse (e) Esa 56 1. Ezech. 18 21.27 Hier. 22 3. 2. Cor. 7 9. Ps 50 1.6 Chrys ibid. in Mat. 3. iudgement and Iustice taking reuengment vpon our selues for our sinnes and cleansing the relickes of sin that remaine in vs procuring and deseruing for our selues the more plentiful grace of God finally professing by these meanes that wee doe willingly embrace the Crosse of Christ denie (f) Luc. 9 23. Mat. 16 24. Ro. 6 2.6 Eph. 4 22. Col. 3 9. our selues mortifie our fleshe and being striken with an hatred of olde ADAM in vs doe endeuour to perfection whilest we do with feruent zeale and courage striue against the motions of a depraued minde After this sort did holy (g) 2. Reg. 12 13. 1. Paral. 21 16. Ps 34 13. 98 11. Ionae 3 5. 3. Reg. 21 27. 1. Mac. 2 14. 3 47. 2. Mac. 3 20. Mat. 11 21. Luc. 10 13. Iudith 4 8.16 7 4. 8 5. 9 1. Ioel. 2 12. Dan. 9 3. Iob. 42 6. Hier. 6 26. 4 8. 25 34. 48 37. 49 3. Ezech. 7 18. Thren 2 10 DAVID the Niniuites and others giue themselues to Satisfaction whome it is manifest to haue done Penance in Sackecloth Ashes Sighing Mourning Fasting and other afflictions they are read to haue bin grateful and approued vnto God therefore And this part of Penance the Scripture confirming and commending vnto vs crieth out (h) Ioel. 2 12 Turne ye to me with al your heart in Fasting in Weepeing Lamentation And in another place (i) Ezech. 18 30.31 Conuert and doe Penance for all your iniquities And iniquitie shall not be vnto you in destruction And S. PAVL teacheth also that the sadnesse which is according to God doth worke Penance (k) 2. Cor. 7 9. And hee giueth generall admonition that If (l) 1. Cor. 11 31. we did Iudge our selues wee shoulde not be Iudged of our Lord. And for that cause we shall not neede to discourse of the name of Satisfaction which certes in the Fathers is verie familiar seing that the thing it selfe is expressely set down in holy Scripture 8 Let vs see some sentences of the Fathers touching Satisfaction SAint CYPRIAN that most holy Martyr teacheth in this manner Looke howe much (a) De lapsis Idem ep 55. ad Corn. ep 10. ad Clerum Almightie God is prone to pardon by the piety of a Father so much is hee to bee feared by the Maiesty of a Iudge Let a deepe wounde haue diligent and long phisicke Let not the Penance be lesse than the faulte wee must pray more earnestly passe-ouer the day in lamenting the nightes in watching and weeping spend the whole time in mourneful teares lie vpon the ground in ashes and wallowe in sackeclothe and filthe And againe the same God is to bee (b) De lapsis vide eūd de elecmos beseeched and to bee pacified with our satisfaction our sinnes must be pondered our actions and secreat intentions surueied and the deserts of our conscience waighed And a little after The way of Penance which the Prieste sheweth vs let vs imbrace let vs vse the vitall remedies which he taketh out of heauenly Scriptures and laying open the burden of our conscience before him let vs demaunde the holesome medicine for those secreat woundes which we haue confessed And let vs not ceasse to doe Penance call vpon the mercie of our Lorde least that which seemeth but little in the qualitie of the sinne be augmented by the negligence of Satisfactiō And (c) Ho. 50. ex 50. cap. 5. vide in Ench. cap. 70. 71. 65. Saint AVGVSTINE hath saide verie plainely That it is not sufficient for a man to amende his manners to leaue his misdeeds vnlesse by the sorrowe of Penance by the sighings of humility and by the Sacrifice of a contrite hart together with the cooperation of almes Satisfaction be made to God for those thinges also that haue beene committed Then in S. HIEROME we find it thus writtē (d) In Epita Paul cap. 7. Chry. ho. 10. in Mat. The body is to be afflicted which hath spente much time indelicacy long laughter must bee recompensed with continuall weeping the softe linnen pretious silkes must be changed into the sharpenesse of haire-clothe To this end also is this speache of (e) Lib. 2. de paenit c. 5. et li. 1. cap. 16. S. AMBROSE He that doth Penance ought not only to washe away his sinne with teares
Church they vsed imposition of (a) Act. 6 6. 13 3. 14 22. 1. Tim. 4 14 5 22. 2. Tim. 1 6. hands For by this as by a certain effectual tokeÌ„ of present grace which is exhibited and (b) Amb. li. de dignit Sacerd. c. 5. Niceph. lib. 12. cap. 14. receiued in the giuing of holy orders is this Sacrament which we speake of commended vnto vs. And therefore S. PAVL writing to TIMOTHY whom he had created Bishop and admonishing him of the grace that he had receiued in this Sacrament doth speake in this manner (c) 1. Tim. 4 14. ibid. Theoph. Haymo Neglect not the grace that is in thee which is giuen thee by Prophesie with impositioÌ„ of the hands of Priesthoode And againe writing to the same Bishoppe (d) 2. Tim. 1 6. ibid. Theoph. I admonishe thee that thou resuscitate the grace of God which is in thee by the imposition of my handes And because it is very much materiall (e) Leo. ep 87. ad Episc Maur. synod RoÌ„ sub Sylu c. 11. Trid. ses 23. c. 7. 12. reforma what kind of men be placed in euery of the Churches sunctions and doe receiue Ecclesiasticall power by meanes of this Sacrament therefore it is saide to euerie Bishop (f) 1. Tim. 5 22. Impose handes on no man lightly neither doe thou communicate with other mennes sinnes 4 Howe many degrees doth this Sacrament containe in it IT containeth in generall lesser greater orders the lesser are foure (a) Conc. Carth. 4. caÌ„ 6. sequ Laod. can 24. Trid. ses 23. Ignat. ad Antioch Dion eccles hierarch c. 3. Euseb hist l. 6. cap. 35. ex epist Corn. in number to witte of Ostiaries Lectors Exorcistes Acolites And the greater are three to wit of Sub-deacons Deacons and Priestes And of Priestes some are greater some lesser knowen to bee ordained (b) Luc. 9 1. 10 1. ibid. Beda Clem. ep 1. Anacl ep 2 3. by Christ For the greater sort of Priests are the Apostles and Bishops their (c) Hier. ad Marcel ep 54. Cypr. ep 69. 65. Ignat. ad Phila. Aug. in Psal 44. successors excelling doubtles with a great power and reuerend prerogatiue of dignitie For it is their office as the (d) Act. 20 28. 1. Pet. 5 1. Heb. 13 17. Tit. 1 5. Act. 14 22. Scripture testifieth to take heed to themselues to the wholle flocke which they doe receiue of the holy-Ghost to bee cured and fedde to rule the Church to reforme the things that are wanting to ordaine Priests by Cities And the lesser sort of Priests doe attende in the Ministerye of the Church vnder Bishops as those (e) Luc. 10 â— Leo. ep 88. ad Epi. Gall. Innoc. 3 l. 1. de myst Alt. cap. 6. 72. Disciples did vnder the Apostles doe (f) Heb. 5 1. 8 3. offer giftes and Sacrifices for sinnes and are next vnto the same Bishops as it were workemen (g) Mat. 9 37. Luc. 10 2. in our Lords haruest But the Clarkes of the foure lesser orders haue this proper office to (h) Carth. 4. caÌ„ 6. seq Isid lib. 2. de offic c. 11. seq lib. 7. â—tym c. 12. Raban lib. 1. de inst cler c. 9. sequ Con. Aquis 1. sub Ludouico Pio. ca. 2 sequ Râ—m sub Sylu. c. 3. 6. 9. attend vpoÌ„ Priests Bishops in many businesses and affaires to dispose the people that doe resorte to holy thinges that they themselues by little and little as it were by certaine degrees may be wel informed and prepared to vndertake greater offices in the Church But the other three (i) Carth. 4. caÌ„ 3. sequ Isid sup c 7. Rabanus c. 6. vbi sup Aquisgr ca. 6. Arator l. 1 in Acta cap. 1â— greater orders doe afforde greater power both in other things in the holie mysteries of the Euchatiste Therefore the Sub-deacon and Deacon may be present at the saide mysteries as Ministers be next vnto the Priests themselues And although as touching the Sacrament of Orders the authority of offering Sacrifice there be no difference between Bishoppes and Priests (k) Damasus ep 4. Isid lib. 2. de offic cap. 7. Hieron coÌ„t Lucif cap. 4. Leo. ep 88. Conc. Hisp 2. cap 7. Epiph. haeres 75. Acrianorum yet are they more excellent high thaÌ„ Priests if wee consider the power and authority of gouerning the Church of feeding soules of confirming the Baptised and of ordering Clearkes But it is not our intente at this present exactely to declare what functions and Lawes are prescribed to euery particular order Most certaine it is that al orders are to be had in great estimation diligently to be kepte and maintained For most firme testimony is giuen vnto the same by the holie Discipline of the Apostles Tradition and (l) Amb. in cap 4. ep ad Ephes the Churches obseruance which hath continued euen vnto this day 5 In what sort doe the auncient Fathers write of this Sacrament OF this doth Sainte AVGVSTINE a Doctor without doubt verie Catholike manifestly declare both his owne and the Churches minde in these wordes (a) Li. quaest Vet. Nou. Test quaest 93. vide lib. 2. cont ep Parm. c. 13. In that that our Lorde is read to haue breathed vpon his Disciples a fewe daies after his Resurrection and to haue saide receiue (b) Io. 20 21 yee the holy-Ghost Ecclesiasticall power is vnderstoode to haue beene giueÌ„ For because all thinges in the Tradition of our Lord are done by the holy-Ghost Therefore when a certaine rule forme of this Discipline is deliuered vnto them it is saide to them receiue yee the holie-Ghost And because it appertaineth truely to Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction he presently addeth saying whose sinnes you retaine shall be retained and whose you remitte shall be remitted Therefore this inspiration or breathing is a certaine grace which is infused by Tradition to those that receiue Orders whereby they may be accounted more commendadable Whereupon the Apostle saith to TIMOTHY (c) 1. Tim. 4 14. Neglect not the grace which is in thee which was giuen thee by the imposition of handes of a Priest Therefore once it ought to bee done that for euer after this Tradition might be thought not to be voide of the gifte of the holy-Ghost Hitherto S. AVGVSTINE There are extante also the Cannons of the Apostles in which it is thus (d) Can. 1. 2. decreed Let a Bishoppe bee created by two or three Bishops A Priest by one Bishâ—p So a Deacon others of the Cleargie Then a little after (e) Can. 68. vide canoneâ— insignes dist 59. seq If any Bishop or Priest or Deacon or Subdeacon or Lector or Chaunter doe not faste the holy Lent or the Wensdaie or the Parasceue which we nowe call Friday let him be put out of Orders vnlesse happely
some infirmity of body doe hinder him And CAIVS (f) In ep ad Foelicem vide Damasum in Pontificali de eod Caio a famous Pope Martyr aboue 1300. yeeres since reckoneth vp these Degrees Orders one after an other when hee saith If any man shall deserue to be a Bishop first let him be an Ostiary then a Lector afterwarde an Exorcist then let him be consecrate an Acolite after which a Subdeacon Deacon and afterwarde Priest finally if he be worthy let him be made Bishoppe Therefore (g) Epist 52. Zozym ep 8 ad Hesich Saint CYPRIAN doth praise CORNELIVS the Bishop and writeth that he was commended and honorablely spoken of by all good persons as-wel of the Cleargie as of the people Because he came not sodenly to the Bishopricke but hauing gone through all Ecclesiasticall offices and often purchased fauor at our Lordes hand by Diuine seruices administrations he ascended to the high dignity of Priesthoode by all the steps of Religiō Then afterward he neuer required the Bishopricke it selfe nor desired it nor violently vsurped it but beeing Quiet Modest Chaste Humble Shamefaste finally euen constrained did vndertake the same Those orders therefore which the ancient Apostolicall Church hath approoued as appeareth by the writings of (h) De Eccle. hier ca. 5. ad Demophilum Saint DENIS (i) Ep. 2. ANACLETE and (k) Ad Antiochenses Saint IGNATIVS and which also euerie age since hath imbraced those certes the Church at this daie cannot but conserue and defend 6 What order in the Church is of greatest account THe order of Priestes or Priesthoode of the woonderfull and euer-most reuerend dignity whereof S. CHRYSOSTOME and Saint AMBROSE haue set forth whole bookes Of which also great IGNATIVS saith (a) Epist ad Smyrn vide Chrys l. 3. de Sacer. ho. 4. 5. de verb. Esa vidi Dominū Priesthoode is the summe of all honors which are amongest men which if any man shall dishonour he dishonoreth God and our Lord Iesus Christ the first begotten of all creatures and the only chiefe Priest of God by nature Thus saith he yea it is euidently warranted by a diuine Oracle That the (b) Mal. 2 7. Agg. 2 12. Gregor in past par 2. cap. 4. lippes of the Prieste doe keepe knowledge and they shall require the lawe at his mouth because he is the Angell of our Lorde of hostes And againe He that (c) Deut. 17 12. Cyp ep 55. 65. Greg. lib. 12. ep 31. ad Foelicem shall be proude not willing to obay the autority of the Priest who at that time doth minister to thy Lord God let that man die by the decree of the Iudge thou shalt take away euel out of Israell and all the people hearing will be affraide that none from henceforwarde may swell with pride Heereupon also the Apostle willeth (d) 1. Tim. 5 19. vide 2. epist Fab. Against a Priest receiue not accusation but vnder two or three witnesses And this truely is writtē to TYMOTHY the Bishop of the Ephesians as that also which we cited before The (e) 1. Tim. 5 17. Priests that rule well let thē be esteemed woorthy of double honor especially they that labor in the Worde Doctrine 7 And what conceite ought we to haue of euil Priestes THis is the ordinance of God which cānot be abolished that not only good but also euill Priests be (a) Eccli 7 31. Mat. 10 40. Luc. 10 16. Ioan 13 20. Chrys ho. 2. in 2. Tim. 65. in Gen. Orig. ho. 7. in Ezech. Bern. serm 66. in Cant. Aug ep 137. Euseb apud Damasc lib. 3. Parall cap. 45. honored in the Church For he will be acknowledged receiued heard obserued in his Ministers whereas he hath said (b) Mat. 23 2. Aug. ser 49. de verb. Do. cap. 5. sequ Chrys hom 85. in Ioan. Vpon the Chaire of MOYSES haue sitten the Scribes Pharisies All things therefore whatsoeuer they shall say to you obserue yee and doe yee but according to their workes doe you not for they say and doe not But amongest those that be euill there is a choise to bee made that we may vnderstand that for as much as concerneth the office and authority of teaching we doe owe faith and obedience vnto those only who beeing lawfully ordained sent by Bishoppes doe professe the sound Doctrine of the Church But of others we must carefully beware as of enimies pestiferous persons Touching which matter the most auncient IRENEVS most wiselie admonisheth and teacheth in this manner Wee are (c) Lib. 4. ca. 43. vide 〈◊〉 dem lib. 3. cap. 2. 3. bound to heare those that are Priestes in the Church which both haue succession from the Apostles and haue receiued the grace and spirite of trueth with this succession of Bishop-like authority but as for others which depart from this principall succession in what place soeuer they be gathered togither we must haue thē in suspition either as Heretickes and men of euill Doctrine or as sowers of Schisme and proude persons And a little (d) Lib. 4. cap. 44. after Wee must saith hee eschewe all such And cleaue vnto those who doe keepe as we haue said before the Apostolicall Doctrine and doe together with the order of Priesthood exhibite sound speeche and conuersation without offence to the confirmation and correction of others Thus writeth that IRENEVS whose master was POLICARPE the disciple of S. IOHN the Euangeliste And not vnlike to this teacheth TERTVLLIAN (e) Lib. de praescr c. 41. who dothe exprobrate the Heretickes in this manner saying their ordinations are rashe light and vnconstant sometimes they place Neophites sometimes those that are tied to the world sometimes euē our Apostataes that they may binde them with glory whereas they cannot with trueth There is neuer more easie preferment than in the Campes of Rebelles where the very being is deserueing Therefore one is a Bishoppe to day and another to morrowe to day he his Deacon who to morrowe is a Lector to to day he is a Priest who to morrowe is a Lay-man for euen vnto Lay-men doe they (f) Vide Epiphan haeres 24. 49. enioine Priestly offices Thus farre TERTVLLIAN very liuely painting out vnto vs the peruerse customes not of his owne time only but of this our age also sheweing the preposterous endeuours of Sectaries in the disturbing of holie thinges and ordering of Ministers 8 What is the vertue and effect of this Sacrament THe vertue certes is singular the effectes are manifolde For they which rightly receiue these seuen orders which we speake of doe also receiue a spirituall grace (a) Con. Flor Trid. Aug. lib. 2. ep Parm. ca. 13. in cap. 10. l. 1. reg power that they may holsomelie execute all such thinges as doe appertaine to the proper functions of their orders and are appointed fitte Ministers
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
remission or purging of their sinnes And as touching Faith they are vtterly destitute (d) Aug. tra 67. in Ioan. Leo. ser 4. de Nat. Dom. therof who not consenting with the Faith of the Church doe with a certaine vaine (e) See before of presumption pag. 315. confidence promise vnto themselues and others remission of sinnes and grace of Iustification through Christ But they that perseuering in the Faith and vnitie of the Church doe desire to bee deliuered from their sinnes haue many waies proposed vnto them in Scripture for the taking away of their (f) Orig. ho. 2. in Leuit. Aug. l. 2. cōt Cres cap. 12. Chry. Conc. 4. de Lazar. in finc ho. 6. in Io. sinnes amongest which the principall is the Sacrament of Penance Which beeing despised it is to no purpose to vse any (g) See before of the Sacrament of Penance pag. 196. other remedies for deadly sinnes For this hath Christ the Phisician of soules ordained not onely as a present but also as a necessary medicine to bee of force against any leaper of sin whatsoeuer commēding the same he hath said to the Priests Whose (h) Io. 20 22 sins you shall remit they are remitted them Secondlie sinnes are cleansed and purged by Almes because it is written Almes (i) Tob. 4 8. 12 8. Eccli 3 15.33 Pro. 13 8. 15 27. 16 6. Luc. 11 41. deliuereth from all sinne and from death and will not suffer a soule to goe into darkenesse Therefore the Prophet giueth this admonition (k) Dā 4 24 Esa 1 17.18 Heb. 13 16. See after of Almes Redeeme thy sinnes with Almes and thy iniquities with the mercies of the poore Thirdly sins are remitted when although wee haue beene neuer so much wronged yet we do forgiue our brother the offence our Lorde haueing saide If (l) Mat. 6 14. Luc. 6 37. Mar. 11 25. Eccli 28 2. you will forgiue men their offences your heauenly Father will forgiue you also your offences Fourthlye the same effecte is wrought whē by admonishing our brother that sinneth we doe winne him and bring him to amendment as it is written He (m) Iac. 5 20 which maketh a sinner to be conuerted from the error of his way shall saue his soule from death and couereth a multitude of sinnes Fiftely hereunto belongeth the aboundance of syncere Charitie which is very puissant mightie to obtain accōplishe al good things For which it is said of MARY MAGDALEN Many (n) Luc. 7 47 sinnes are forgiuen her because shee loued much For (o) Pro. 10 12. 1. Pet. 4 8. Charity couereth the multitude of sins Sixtly hereunto is auaileable the Sacrifice of a contrit (p) Ps 50 19. Luc. 18 13. Mat. 18 32. Eccli 21 1. hart which God neuer despiseth an humble knowledg of a mans selfe confession of his sins For our Lord hath respect (q) Psal 101 18. vpon the praier of the humble and doth not despise their petitions In somuch that hereupon holy DAVID also testifieth of him selfe (r) Psal 31 5. I haue saide I will confesse against my selfe my iniustice vnto our Lorde and thou hast remitted the impietie of my sinne And S. IHON generally to al that doe truely confesse promiseth this grace (s) 1. Io. 1 9. If we confesse our sinnes saith he he is faithfull and iust for to forgiue vs our sins to cleanse vs from all iniquitie Therefore the Niniuites (t) Ionae 3 5 Mat. 12 41. Luc. 11 32. 3. Reg. 21 29. Sap. 11 24. Cypr. ep 40.8.26 when they did earnestlye perseuer in workes of humilitie and Penance appeased the present wrathe of God and turned away the imminent destruction of their Cittie and cuntrey And therefore of them we reade it thus written God (v) Ione 5 10. Num. 25 11 Psal 105 30. sawe their workes because they were turned from their euill waies God tooke compassion of the euill which he had spoken that he would doe to thē did it not Thus finally we learne by the testimonie of holy Scripture that by (x) Pro. 10 2 Act. 8 22. 2. Cor. 7 10. these other meanes offices of true pietie done by the grace of Christ this effecte is wrought that the sinnes of faithfull penitents in the Church as wee saide before are purged and taken away in regard whereof the Apostle warneth Hauing (y) 2. Cor. 7 1. 2 Tim. 2 19.21 therefore these promises my dearest let vs cleanse our selues from all inquination of the fleshe and spirit perfiting sanctification in the feare of God And with no lesse vehemencie speaketh S. IAMES (z) Iac. 4 8. Ezec. 18 27. Cleanse saith he your handes you sinners purifie your hartes you double of minde Be miserable and mourne and weepe let your laughter be turned into mourning and ioy into sorow Be humble in the sight of our Lorde and he will exalte you For it is not sufficient for a man to amende his manners to leaue his misdedes that we may againe vse the wordes (a) Hom 50 ex 50. cap. 5. in Ench. cap. 70. Cypr. de lapsis in fine others as before of Satisfaction pag. 209. of S. AVGVSTINE Vnlesse by the sorow of penance by the sighings of humilitie and by the sacrifice of a contrite harte together with the cooperation of almes satisfaction he made to God for those thinges also that haue bene committed Otherwise who so shall knowe that any mortall sinnes doe beare sway in him as the same (b) Se◠41. de Sanctus Saint writeth except he worthely amende himselfe if he haue space doe penance along time and giue large almes refraine from the sinnes themselues he cannot be purged with that transtorie fire whereof the Apostle (c) 1. Cor. 5 15. Aug. lib 16. ex 50. Ench. ca. 67. de fid op ca. 16. quaest 1. ad Dulcitium hath spoken but shall be tormented without any redresse in the euerlasting flame For not deadly sinnes but litle sinnes are purged and clensed after this life 2 And what conceipte ought we to haue of litle sinnes Aug. Ench. cap. 78. li. 21. ciu 5.27 Isid lib. 2. de sum bo c. 18 THis surelie that such lighter sinnes as the wandering of the minde an idle worde immoderate laughter and such like which are called quotidian or veniall sinnes and without the which this life is not past ouer for in (a) Iac. 3 2. 1. Io. 1 8. Eccles 7 21. Pro. 24 16. Psal 31 6. many thinges we offend all as we also noted before although they are not deadly and do seeme litle in outward apparāce yet they are not to bee (b) Aug. de 10. chord c. 11. in Pse 129. ser 244. de tēp tr 12. in Ioan. contemned For somuch as they displease God or as S. PAVL speaketh they (c) Eph. 4 30 Chry. ho. 87. in Mat.
workes of Christi an Iustice procure VEry singuler certes and manifolde both in this life and in the life to come For hereunto belongeth that speach of S. PAVL Pietie (a) 1. Tim. 4. Pro. 11 17 18. 2. Par. 15 7. Mat. 10 41. 19 21.29 Gen. 12 1. 15 1. Eccli 12 2. 36 18. Hier. 31 16. is profitable to al things hauing promise of the life that now is of the life to come Then in an other place we finde it written (b) Sap. 3 10.17 Mal 3 14. 1. Cor. 15 58. Heb. 6 10. Of good labours there is glorious fruite 1 For first these workes proceding frō a liuely faith that is from a faith working by (c) Gal. 5. charitie are not only signs of Christian vocation but do also cōfirme make sure the same in vs. And therefore S. PETER the Apostle who in euery place exhorteth to good woorkes hath added this also (d) 2. Pet. 1. Cypr. ep 57. ad Corn. in fine Brethren labour the more that by good workes you may make sure your vocation election for doeing these thinges you shall not sinne at any time 2 Secondly they doe (e) 2. Cor. 9 10. Col. 1 10. 1. Pet. 2 2. augment grace in the beleeuers and doe perfitte sanctificatiō (f) 2. Cor. 7 1. Ro. 6 22. Apo. 22 11. Eccli 18 22. Trid. sess 6 cap. 10. as witnesseth the Apostle In so much that hereupon Saint IAMES also affirmeth that faith which doth worke with workes is also consummate by the same (g) Iac. 2 22. workes 3 Thirdly they engender (h) Io. 3 20. 1. Io. 4 17. Iac. 2 25. Gal. 6 4. a cōfidence of a good conscience and doe the more incourage to pray to obtaine any thing at Gods hand for it is written Almes shall be a great (i) Tob. 4. confidence before the high God to all them that doe the same And againe My (k) 1. Io. 3. Io. 15 7. Aug. in Praef in Psal 31. dearest if our heart doe not reprehend vs we haue confidence towards God And whatsoeuer we shall aske wee shall receiue of him because we keepe his commaundements and doe those things which are pleasing before him There is an example extant in EZECHIAS the King who hauing confidence in a good conscience and beeing approued therein by Gods owne voice said I beseech (l) Esa 38. 4. Reg. 20 3. Psal 7 9. 16 1. 17 21 25. et 25 1. 34 24. 131 1. thee o Lorde remember I pray thee how I haue walked before thee in truth and in a perfect harte and haue done that which is good in thy sight 4 Finally they doe cause that labouring in the (m) Mat. 20. Aug. tra 67. in Io. Greg. l. 4. dial c. 35 vineyarde of Christ we may receiue the day penie to wit the promised rewarde of life euerlasting and the crowne (n) 2. Tim. 4.8 Iac. 1 12. of Iustice which keeping the commandementes of God in the (o) Mat. 19 17. Church we doe in (p) Io. 3 21. 15 2.4 Christ (q) Eccli 16 15. Heb. 13 16. Sap. 3 5.6 2. Thess 1 5.6 Apoc. 3 4.5 Trid. sess 6. cap. 16. Cyp. de vnit Eccles Aug. ep 105. l. demorib Eccles Cathol cap 25. deserue Therefore our Lorde (r) Mat. 20. Sap. 5 16. saith Call the worke foulkes paie thē theire hiere Holy DAVID saith Thy (s) Psal 18. Heb. 11 6. Luc. 14 14. Col. 3.24 Ephes 6 8. 2. Cor. 4 17. Aug. in Psal 93. seruant kepeth them to wit the commandementes of God In keeping them much retribution And againe I haue (t) Psal 118. Mat. 19 12. Aug. in Psalm 120. inclined my harte to keepe thy iustifications for euermore because of retribution S. PAVL also saieth I haue (v) 2. Tim. 4. Aug. hom 14. ex 50. cap. 2. in Psal 83. 100. tract 3. in Io 2. Conc. Araus cap. 38. Mat. 5 12. 6 4.6.17 10 41. Apoc. 2 7.10.26 3 11. 14 13 fought a good fight I haue consūmate my course I haue kepte the faith Concerning the rest there is laide vp for me a crowne of iustice which our Lorde will render to me in that day a iust Iudge And not only to me but to them also that loue his comming Finally Christ himselfe saith If thou (x) Mat. 19. wilt enter into life keepe the commandementes And againe (y) Ioan. 5. Mat. 25 34. Aug. in Psal 49. They that haue done good things shall come forthe into the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill into resurrection of iudgement Then in an other place (z) Mat. ◠Hee that doth the will of my father which is in heauen he shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen By all which it is made very manifest how much it standeth euery one of vs vpon if we desire life euer lasting to ponder those speaches of almightie God (a) Apo. 2◠Eccli 18 22. He that is iust let him be iustified yet And let the holy be sanctified yet Beholde I come quickely and my rewarde is with me to render to (b) Ps 61 12 Mat. 16 27. Rom. 2 6. 1. Cor. 3 8. euery man according to his workes Therefore doing (c) Gal. 6. Eccli 51 58. Aug. in Psa 111. q. 4. ad Dulcitiū good let vs not faile for in due time we shall reape not failing 3 How many kindes of good woorkes be there wherein Christian Iustice is cheifly seene and exercised Petr. Chrysol ser 43. Leo. ser 1. et 4. de ieiun 10. mensis Bern. in sentētiis sect 11 THere are three kindes as wee finde in holy scripture to wit Praier Fasting and Almes For other good deedes for the most parte which doe proceed of a liuely faith and doe sette forthe increase and consummate Christian iustice are easelye reduced (a) Aug. de perf iust c. 8. respons 17. to these three fountaines Heereupon was that notable speache of the Angell RAPHAEL Praier is (b) Tob. 12. good with Fasting and Almes more than to hoorde vp treasures of golde And Saint AVGVSTINE saith plainly (c) In Ps 42. This is the iustice of a man in this life Fasting Almes and Praier Of this doth Christ seuerally intreate in S. MATHEVVES Gospell (d) Mat. 6. addeth promises of the heauenly reward prepared for those who within the Church without hypocrisie (e) Aug. ser 60. de temp doe syncerelye Fast Praie and giue Almes Hence is that faithfull promise so often repeted Thy Father (f) Mat. 6. which seeth in secrete will repaie thee And these be the very things wherein Christ to the intente that we may liue well and happely woulde haue (g) Mat. 5 21. our iustice to abound and so to shine (h) Ibid. ver 17. before men that they may see our good workes glorifie the Father To the performance of
these we are (i) Ephes 2. created destinated in Christ as the which thinges God hath prepared that we may walke in them For these thinges done (k) Mat. 25 34. Io. 5 29. in charitie the iust shal be receiued into the euerlasting kingdome And for neglecting of the same the vniust shall be cast hedlong into hell fire And as it is Pharisaicall (l) Luc. 18 11. and full of vanitie with the contempte of others to iustifie himselfe and to trust to his owne (m) Ro. 10 3. Trid. sess 6. cap. 16. workes so is it Christian like and lawfull that a man with humilitie diligentlye attend vnto good workes and if at any time he will glorie to glorie in (n) 1. Cor. 1 31. 2. Cor. 10 17. our Lorde who worketh in vs to will and to accomplishe as witnesseth the (o) Phil. 2 13. Apostle 4 What is fasting THis worde hath not one simple signification A greate and generall faste S. AVGVSTINE (a) Aug. tra 17. in Io. l. 2. quaest Euang ca 18. calleth to abstaine from vices and vnlawfull pleasures of the worlde Then is there a philosophicall Fast as some name it consisting in a spare diet temperance of meate and drinke and morall sobrietie wherewith the very (b) Hieron lib. 2. aduers Iouin c. 9. Heathens according to the rule of right reason do liue teÌ„perately Thirdly there is an Ecclesiastical Faste (c) Clem. Constit Apost l. 5. cap. 12. 14. 17. 18. 19. Isid lib. 1. offic c. 36. sequ Raban de instit cler lib. 2. c. 17. sequ Iuo part 4. cap. 25. sequ Burch l. 35. to wit when according to the certaine custome prescript of the Church we forbeare fleshe diet vpon some certaine daies are content with one only repast Which kind of Fast is after a Godly Christian manner (d) Cypr. de Ieiun teÌ„tationibus Christi Athan. de Virg. Chrys ho. 1. 2. in Gen. serm 1. 2. de Ieiun Bas orat 1. 2. de Ieiun Aug. de vtil Ieiun cap. 2. 3. Amb. in lib. 1. de Helia Ieiun epist 82. Leo. in ser de Ieiun 7. 10. mensis Pentecostes quadrag vndertaken to performe Gods seruice more religiously to tame the fleshe and make it subiect to the spirite to yeelde the worthy fruites of penance to exercise obedience finally to obtaine any grace fauor at Gods handes 5 But What answere is to be made vnto those that doe reprehend contemn the law of the Ecclesiastical Fast FIrst such persons are to be admonished that they doe not fasly attribute vnto Catholicks that which the Apostle doth (a) 1. Tim. 4 1. Ccl. 2 16. Deut. 14 3. Can. Ap. 50 52. Conc. Gang. can 2 1. Tol. in assert fid Bracâ—r 1. can 14. 32. detest and the Church hath euer in the Iewes Maniches Priscilianistes condemned for that either according to the law of MOYSES or of superstition they do abstain from certain meats For Catholicks as S. AVGVSTINE aunswereth (b) Lib. 30. Con. Faust cap. 5. de mor. Manic c. 13. 14. Con. Adim cap. 14. Theod. in epito diuin decr cap. de Abstinen Bern. ser 66. in Cant. Isid l. 1. de offic cap. 44 GeÌ„ 1 29. 2 16. 9 3 Leu. 10 8. Num. 6 3. Iud. 13 7.13 Hier. 35 6. 18. Dan. 1 8. 10 2. Mat. 3 4. Mar. 1 6. Luc. 1 15. Act. 15 20.29 Ro. 14 20. 1. Cor. 8 13. 1. Tim. 5 23 6. Syn can 56. Greg. ad August teste GratiaÌ„ distinct â— et Iuon par 4. c. 29. Athan. in vita Antonij Hieron in vita Pauli Erem Hilarionis Epiph. in compend doct Eccles Cathol FAVSTVS the Manichee Whereas they abstaine from fleshe they doe it for to tame their bodies and to restraine the more their soules from such motions as be contrarie to reason not for that they thinke the fleshe it selfe to be vncleane neither doe they abstaine from fleshe onely but also from some certaine fruites of the earth either alwaies as a fewe or at certaine daies and times as in the Lente for the most part euery one Thus writeth S. AVGVSTINE And before him the same also EPIPHANIVS teacheth where he confuteth the Aerian heresie which will haue the sett (c) Haeres 7â— Aug. haeres 53. Damase de haeres Fastes of the Church to be at euery mans discretion and no man to bee bounde thereunto But in that the order of time is obserued in (d) Hieron in ep ad Gal. cap. 4. Leo. ser 3. 4. de Ieiun 7. mensis ser 4. de quadrag Baâ— orat 2. de Ieiun publike Fastes as also in Praiers holy daies that doth confirme setforth and aduance the order and publike concorde in the Church Besides priuate Fastes fewe woulde impose vpon themselues as being hindered from such endeuours with a naturall loue of the fleshe and care of the bellie Nowe that it is of great importance and of assured meritte reuerently to imbrace and diligently to obserue such kinde of Fastes (e) Lib. 2. c. 5 10.11 Aug. haeres 22. Amb ep 82. S. HIEROME proueth it so plainlie against IOVINIAN that none can doubte thereof any more Vnto which may be added those thinges which we haue taught before concerning the obseruance of the precepts of the Church that for the auoiding of (f) Aug. ep 118. ad Ianuar cap. 2. Scandall and retaining of publcike discipline Neither only for wrath but also for conscience sake as the Apostle (g) Ro. 13 5 hath saide And it is manifest as the writers (h) Aug. ep 36. Epiph. in compend Calixt ep 1. ad Bened. Leo. ser 1. et 2. de Pent. et ser 8. 9. de Ieiun 7. mensis ser 8. de Ieiun 10. meÌ„sis Raban l. 2. de instit Cler. cap 24. Conc. Mog cap. 34. Salegun cap. 2. Bern. in vigil S. Andr. in all ages doe proue that this is both the perpetuall Discipline Custome Tradition and decree of the Church and hath beene euer from the beginning that vpon certaine daies especially of the (i) Ignat. ad Phil. Epiph. in compend Theoph. Alex. lib. 3. Paschali Maxim in serm de quadrag Amb. Aug. Leo. Bern. de eadem Orig. ho. 10. in Leuit. Isid 1. offic cap. 36. Aug. ep 119. cap. 15. in Psal 110. Lent this Fast of the Church shoulde be obserued So doe the (k) Can. 68. Canons of the Apostles and the most holie (l) Laod. c. 50. 2. Brac. c. 9. 4. Carth can 63. Tribur c. 35 Agath c. 12 Councelles teach The Councell of (m) Can. 19. Mogunt can 35. Gangra certes pronounceth them accursed that doe contemne the common Fastes of the whole Church And the Toletane (n) 8. Tolet. c. 9. vide Telesph in epi. ad vniuers Theoph. Alex l. 3. Pasc Aug. ser 64. de temp Niceph. l. 17.
the simpler sort All which thinges we will close vp with one worde of Ecclesiastes as with a notable seale of the whole life of man making this conclusion Eccles 12 d Feare God and keepe his Commaundementes For this is all a man Psalm 67. Confirme this O GOD which thou hast wrought in vs. AN APPENDIX OR ADDITION OF THE FALL OF MAN AND IVSTIFIcation according to the sentence and doctrine of the Councell of Trent 1 Of the state fall of the first Man VVHen the first man Gen. 2 c 3 â— Aug. lib. 14. de ciuit Dei cap. 17. lib. 6 de Gen. ad lit cap. 26 27 in coÌ„cione ad Catech cont Iudae c. cap. 2. Fulg. de incarn grat Christ cap. 12. 13. Bern. ser 1. de Annun Prosp cont Collat. c. 21. ADAM hadde transegressed the Commandement of God in Paradise be presentlie loâ—t the holinesse and iustice in which he was created and further by the offence of that transgression incurred the anger and indignation of God and so consequently Gen. 2 c 3 d. Rom. 5 c. Conc. Mileuit can 1. Aug lib. 1. de ciuitat Dei cap. 12. lib. 1. de poâ— mer. cap. 2. 4. 6. Tertul de anima cap. 52. Fulgent de incarnat cap. 12. Chrys hom 17. in Gen. Ber. ad milit templi cap. 11. death which Almighty God had threatned vnto him before And with this same death he fell into the bondage and thraldome of the Aug. lib. 13. de Trin. cap. 12. lib. 3. Hypog cap. 2. Bern. ep 190. Diuell who from thence-forth had the Empire of Heb. 2 d death and finallie whole ADAM Concil ArausicanuÌ„ can 1. lib. de Eccles dogmat cap. 38. Aug. lib. 13. de Trin. cap. 12. lib. 14. de ciu Dei c. 15 by that same offence of preuarication was both in bodie and soule changed into worse 2 Of the sin of Adam transfused into al men NEither did ADAMS preuarication hurte himselfe alone but also his whole linage Ro. 5 c d 1. Cor. 15 c Eccli 25 d Conc. 2. A. raus can 2. Aug. in Enchir cap. 26. l. 2. Hypog cap 1. sequent l. 13. de ciuit Dei cap 3 14. lib 14. cap. 1. Prosp lib. 1. de vocat gent. c. 7. ad capitula Gallor c. 8. and posterity as who did loose both to himselfe Prosp cont Collat cap. 19 ad tria prima dub Genuen 9. Fulg. de incar gra Christi c. 13. and to vs the holinesse and iustice receiued from God and beeing polluted by the sinne of disobedience did transfuse into all mankinde not death only and the paines of the Gennad de Eccles dogmat c. 39. Aug. in Ench. c. 26. lib. 15. de ciuitate Dei cap. 1. de Predest gra c. 3. lib. 6. cont Iulian. cap. 12. 20. 24. 26. Fulgent de incar gratia Christi c. 14. 15. de fide ad Pet. cap. 25. Prosp lib 2. de vita contemplatiua c. 20. cont Collat. cap. 20. lib. de ingrat cap. 40. 27. Petrus Diaconus de incarnat gratia Christi cap. 6. bodie but also sinne which is the death of the soule Which the Apostle confirming hath said By one man Rom. 5 b sinne entred into the world and by sinne death And so vnto al men death did passe in which all sinned For which cause the sinne of ADAM which originally is one being by propagation Aug. l. 2. cont Pelag. Coelest c 15 16. lib. 1. de pec mer. cap. 9. 10. 11 12. 13. l. 2 Hypog c. 4. ep 86. 〈◊〉 lib. 6. cont Iul. cap. 2. serm 14. â—e verb. Apâ—â—â— cap. 14. â— sequent not by imitation transfused to all is in euery particular man his own Item lib. 3. de peccat mer. cap. 8. lib. 6. cont Iulian. cap. 10. must needs be purged by some remedie for the getting of life euerlasting For by it all men are made vncleane and as the Apostle Ephes 2 a Fulgent de â—ide ad Pet. cap. 26. saith by nature the Sonnes of wrathe and the slaues of sinne of the diuell of death excepting â—eere the immaculate Virgin Aug de nat gratia cap 36. vide extrauag comm lib. 3. de reliq veneratione Banct Conc. Trid. sess 3. in fine decret de peccato Origin MARY the mother of God whom in this place where we speake of Originall sinne we doe not comprehend 3 Of the remedy of Originall sinne THis Originall sinne which is in euerie man his owne as we haue saide is not taken away by the Aug. ep 28. Enchâ—c 48. Fulgent de incarn et gratia Christi cap. 16. forces of humane nature nor by any other remedie than by the merit of one Mediatour 1. Tim. 2 b our Lord Iesus Christ who hath reconciled vs Ro. 5 b Petrus Diaconus de incarn gratia Christi cap. 16. Bern. epist 190. vnto God in his bloude being made vnto vs 1. Cor. 1 d Bern ser â— de Purif Iustice Sanctification and Redemption And his merit Tit. â— b is applied as wel to those of discretion as to Infants by the Sacrament of Baptisme orderly ministred in such forme as the Church doth vse because there is no other name Act. 4 b vnder heaueÌ„ giuen vnto meÌ„ in which we must be saued And heÌ„ce is that speech Io 1 d Behold the Lambe of God beholde him that taketh away the sinne of the world And this also Gal. 3 d Aug. lib. 6. cont Iul. c. 4 As many of you as are Baptised in Christ haue put on Christ They therefore doe pernitiously erre who denie that Infants Concil Mileuit c. 2. Aphr. can 77. newely borne ought to be Baptised although they bee borne of Baptised Parents For these also are Baptised into remission of sinnes as hauing receiued Originall sinne from ADAM which must of necessitie bee purged by the Aug. lib. 1. de peccat mer. cap. 16. lib. 4. cont 2. ep Pelag. c. 4 Lauer of regeneration for the getting of life euerlasting because no otherwise is this to be vnderstood Ro. 5 b Aug. lib. 4. cont 2. ep Pelag. cap. 4. lib. 2. cont Pelagium Coelest cap. 40. By one man sinne entered into the world and by sinne death and so vnto all men death did passe in which all sinned But as the Catholicke Church all the worlde ouer hath allwaies vnderstood it For because of this rule of faith according to the Tradition of the Apostles euen Infants who coulde not as yet coÌ„mit any sinne in their owne persons are therefore truely baptised into remission of sinnes that in them by regeneration that may bee clensed which they haue coÌ„tracted by generatioÌ„ For Io. 3 â— vnlesse a maÌ„ be borne again of water and the spirite he cannot enter into the kingdome of God 4 Of the relikes of originall sinne in the Baptised MOreouer we ought to acknowledge that the guilt of originall sinne is remitted by the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ which is giuen in baptisme
cap. â—â— the Charitie of God is powred forth in their hartes that are iustified is inherent in theÌ„ And therfore in this iustificatioÌ„ togither with remission of sins a man receiueth by IESVS CHRIST vnto whom he is ingraffed all these thinges infused together to wit FAITH HOPE and CHARITY For FAITH excepte that HOPE and CHARITY bee adioined thereunto neither doth perfectly vnitie with CHRIST nor make a man the liuely meÌ„ber of his body In regarde whereof it is most truely saide Iac. 2 d that FAITH without workes is deade and idle And in Gal. 5 a Chrys ho. 5. in Io. Aug. l. 3. cot 2. ep Pelag. cap. 5. ho. 17. cap. 2 ex 50. lib. 15. Trin. cap. 18 Greg. l. 6. ep 15. Fulg. ep 2. c. 8. de incarn grat Christi c. 26. CHRIST IESVS neither Circumcision auailethe ought nor prepuce but FAITH that worketh by CHARITY This Faith before the Sacrament of Baptisme the Catechumens according to the TraditioÌ„ of the Apostles do demauÌ„d of the Church when they aske Faith which yeeldeth life euerlasting which truely without HOPE and CHARITY FAITH cannot afford And therefore they doe presently heare that word of CHRIST Mat. 19 c If thou wilt enter into life kepe the Commaundementes Therfore receiuing true and Christian Iustice that same euen as the first stole giuen vnto them by Iesus Christ for that which ADAM by his disobedience lost for himselfe vs they are presently after their regeneratioÌ„ coÌ„maunded to keep white vnspotted that they may bring the same before the iudgement seate of our Lord Iesus Christ haue life euerlasting 12. Howe it is vnderstoode that a wicked man by Faith freely is iustified ANd whereas the Apostle Ro. 3 â— Aug. de praedest sanct c. 7. ser 38. de temp saith that a man is iustified by FAITH and freely those wordes are to be vnderstood in that sense which the continuall consente of the Catholike Church hath helde and taught To wit that we are therefore said to be iustified by Faith because Faith is the beginning of mans saluation the foundation and roote of all Iustification Heb. 11 b without the which it is impossible to please God and to come to the societie of his children And we are therefore saide to be iustified Aug. l. 6. Hypog c. 4. l. 1. quaest ad Simplic qu. 2. lib. 1. cont Pelag. et Coelest cap. 31. serm 15. de verb. Apost c. 2. de spir et lit cap. 26. Prosp ad 3. prima dub Gennuen Haimo in Rom. 3. freely because none of all those thinges that goe before iustification whether it be Faith or Workes doe deserue the grace of Iustification For if it be Grace now not of workes otherwise as the same Apostle saith Ro. 11 â— Grace now is not grace 13 Against the vaine confidence of Hereticks ANd although it be necessarie to beleeue that sinnes neither are nor euer haue ben forgiuen but freely through the mercie of God for CHRIST his sake yet must wee saye that to no man which braggeth of a confidence and certaintie of the remission of his sinnes and which resteth only in that either are or euer were sinnes forgiuen whereas euen among Heretikes and Schismatikes this vaine confidence and voide of all pietie may be yea and is in these our daies with great contention is vaunted off against the Catholike Church But neither is this to bee affirmed that those which are truelie iustified ought for to assure themselues without any manner Iob. 9 d Psal 18 c Eccles 9 â— Eccli 5 b Pro 20 b 1. Cor. 4 a Aug. de perf iust cap. 15. in Psal 41 lib. 10. Conf. cap. 32. Hier. ep 127. ad Fabiol mansio 23. Chrys hom 11. in 1. Cor. Theod. in cap. 4. â— Cor. Bern. ep 42. 85. ser 2. in octa Pasch Haimo in cap. 4. ad Cor. Greg. lib. 6 ep 22. Cassian Col. 22. cap. 7. c the 1 question of sinnes against the holy Ghost page 315. of doubte that they are iustified and that no man is absolued from his sinnes and iustified but he who doth assuredly beleeue that he is absolued and iustified and that by this Faith only absolution and iustification is accomplished as though hee that beleeued not that must needs doubt of the promises of Almightie God or of the efficacie of CHRISTS death and Resurrection For as no godly person ought to dout of the mercie of GOD of the meritte of CHRIST and of the vertue and efficacie of the Sacraments so euery man considering himselfe and his owne infirmitie indisposition may iustly haue some feare of his owne grace whereas with certaintie of Faith in which there cannot be any falshood no maÌ„ can know that he hath obtained the Grace of God 14 Of the encrease of Iustification once receiued THey therefore who are thus iustified and made the frendes and Eph. 2 d domesticalls of God going from vertue to vertue Ps 83 b are renued as saieth the Apostle â— Cor. 4. d from day to day that is to say by mortifying Col. 3 a the members of the fleshe and Ro. 6 b Aug. de morib Eccles Cathol cap. vlt. lib. 14. de Trin. c. 17. l. 2. de peccat mer. cap. 7. 13. 17. lib. 6. cont Iul. c. 7. serm 16. de verb. Apost cap. 5. Fulg. ep 4. cap. 3. Bern. ep 91. Conc. Vien Clement ad nostrum de haeret exhibiting them as instrumentes of Iustice vnto sanctification by the obseruation of the commandementes of God and of the Church in that Iustice which they haue receiued by the grace of CHRIST Faith cooperating with good Workes they doe encrease are more iustified as it is written Apoc. 22 c He that is iust let him be iustified yet And againe Eccli 18 c Doe thou not feare to be iustified euen vnto death And again you doe see that by works a man is iustified and not by Faith only And this encrease of Iustice doth the holy Church demand when she praieth Giue vs O Lorde encrease of Faith Iac. 2 d In orat Domin 13. post Pent. Hope and Charitie 15 Of obseruing the Commaundements of the necessity possibility thereof BVt no man although he be iustified ought to thinke himselfe free Mat. 28 d Hier. Beda Theoph. ibidem Aug. lib. 3. cont 2. ep Pelag. cap. 4. Cyp. de vnitat Eccles Conc. Vien in Clem. ad nostrum de haeret See q. 5. of the ten Com. p. 64. q. 1. of the precepts of the Church page 90. froÌ„ obseruing the CoÌ„maundements nor vse that rash speach prohibited Hier. in expla Symb. ad Damas Conc. 2. Araus can 25. by the fathers vnder paine of excommune that the Commandementes of God are impossible to be obserued of a man that is iutified For God doth not commaund Aug. de natura grat c. 43. l. 2. de peccat mer. c. 6. de gratia lib arbit cap. 16. Chry. ho. 8. de poenit Leo. ser 5. de quadr
Neither did Saint Paul superstitiously iudge between day day Act. 20 16. vide Bedā ibidem Epiph. haeres 75. when he made hast if it were possible to keepe the day of 〈◊〉 that is of remission and of the holy-Ghost as noteth Beda at Hierusalem giuing vs therin both example of Celebrating Christian Feasts also as S. Hierom Epist 17. ad Marcellam noteth of the lawefulnesse of Pilgrimage of which we will speake hereafter So doe wee also obserue the Feastes of the Passion of our LORDE of Easter of Ascension and others which S. Augustine saith Epist 118. eitther vndoubtedly to haue beene instituted in generall Councels or rather to haue proceeded from the Apostles themselues as these forenamed Feastes must needes whereas they are motioned of Fathers Clem. lib. 5. const c. 21 Iren. apud Iust q. 115. Tert. lib. de cor mil. Orig. lib. 8. Con Cels more ancient than any general Counsail Finally of the holy-daies of our LORDE thus saith Lib. 10. ciu cap. 16. S. Augustine Wee dedicate and consecrate the memorie of Gods benefites with solemnities Feastes and certaine appointed daies least by tract of times there might creep in ingratefull and vnkind obliuion But of Festiuities of Martyrs the same saith thus Lib. 20. cont Faust cap. 21. Christian people Celebrate the memory of Gods Martyrs with religious solemnity both to mooue themselues to imitaton of them and that they may be partakers of their merits and be holpen with their praiers And of all Saints generally In Ps 88. Conc. 2 vid. Clem. lib. 8. const c. 39. Eccl. Smyrn apud Euseb lib. 4. hist ca. 15. Orig. ho. 3. in diuersos Euangelij locos Tert. de cor mil. Cyp. l. 3. ep 6. l. 4. ep 5. Bas orat in Gord. Nyss orat in Theod. Naz. orat in Iul. Amb. ser 66. 77. 78 Hier. in cap. 4. ad Gal. epist 19. ad Eustoch Prudent in Hymno de SS Petro Paulo Chry. hom 66. ad pop Theod. l. 8. de Martyribus Aug. in Ps 63. 88. Paulin. natali 2. 3. S. Felicis Cōc Laod. ca. 51. Carth. 3. cap 47. Tolet. 3. cap. 23. Lugdun cā pronuntiād do Cons d. 3 Mogūt c. 36 Keepe yee and celebrate with sobriety the natiuities of Saints that we may imitate them which haue gone before vs they may reioice with vs which pray for vs. These daies therefore are worthely accounted more holy reverend than other ordinary prophane daies because they represent vnto vs the singular liberallity of Almighty God shewed in them first in the person of oure Sauiour as the Sunday of which insteede of all the Feasts of our LORDE we we will exemplifie on which day he was borne rose againe and sent the holy-Ghost And therefore that day representing vnto vs the Natiuity of Christ both vnto this life vnto immortall glory and also the natiuity of the Church by the holy ghost is no doubt of greater dignity thā the Sabboth of the Iewes For that day in that it signified a gratefull memorie of thinges passed did onely carry a relation vnto the material creation of the world And in that it represented things to come partely it is to be abolished for that those things now be He. 4 10. fulfilled as the rest of Christ in the Sepulcher from his workes of our redemptiō Aug tra 30. in Io. the rest quiet of those which are regenerate in Christ from the seruile workes of sinne and the Aug. ep 119. rest of holy soules in the bosome of Abraham Partely it is more notably excellently supplied by the DOMINICAL day For the Sonday farre more exceeding that in signification of rest representethe vnto the deuoute obseruers therof the euerlasting glorie reuealed in Christ rising from death and expected of all those which are his liuely members As S. Augustine Ibid. noteth Nowe in the Feasts of Saintes also we both Celebrate the memory of so great a benefite as is the birth-day of our brethren into Heauen and their Assumption to so high a dignity and their glorious triumph ouer the worlde the fleshe and the diuell we reioice also at so good examples giuen to all the Church and a newe patron in heauen and a newe cause of ioy to all the Celestiall Courte This therefore is the conclusion of this our discourse that some daies especially and before others according to the custome of holie Scripture and the auncient Fathers of the Church Amb. ser 62. Aug. Praef. in ep Io. l. 22. ciu cap. 30. lib. 20. cont Faust c. 21. ser 21. detemp Leo. serm 4. de quadr are truely called Holie Sacred Mysticall of religious solemnity 3 And what must we esteeme of holie Water such like AS we call some daies more holy and religious than others so do we also say the same of many other Creatures of God which although they be good of themselues as created by him which is essentiallie good and Gen. 1 31. sawe that all thinges that he made were very good Yet because both they for our punishement often-times become hurtfull vnto vs either by their owne qualitie and disposition or by the malice Greg. lib. 1. dial cap. 4 Aug. lib. 18. ciu cap. 18. of the Diuell also for to bring to passe and signifie some spirituall effecte they be very holesomly 1. Tim. 4 5. sanctified by the worde of God and Praier as Saint Paul hath written Mat. 14 19. Luc. 9 16. Christ himselfe in blessing the loaues which hee multiplied hath taught So doth the Church Clem. l. 8. Const cap 35. Dion de eccles hier c. de Baptism Alex. 1. ep 1 Cyr. catec 3. Cypr. l. 1. ep 12. Amb. l. 4 de Sacr. c. 5. lib. delis qui initiant c. 3. Bas de spir sanct c. 27. Epiph. haer 30. Aug. ho. 27. ex 50. ser 19. de sanct l. 6. in Iul. cap. 8. Conc. Nannet c. 4. vse to blesse Water of which we haue most auncient testimonies as also miraculous Epiph. haeres 30. Theod. l. 5. cap. 21. Pallad cap. 19. Greg. lib. 1. dial cap. 10. Beda lib. 5. hist cap. 4. Bern. in vita Malach. See the histories of the newe Indies exāples of the effecte thereof And S. Basil calleth it an Apostolicall Tradition as it may alos appeare by the Apostles own Scholers who make mentiō of the same But S. Alexander he who 50. yeeres after S. Peter gouerned the Church of holy water saith thus shewing both the auncient vse therof by giuing a generall commandement confirming that which before hee practised Wee blesse water sprinckled with salte for the people that al being sprinckled with it may be sanctified purified which thing also we ordaine as to be done of all Priestes For if the ashes of Heb. 9 13. an Heifer being sprinckled with blood did sanctifie and clense the people much more water sprinckled with salte consecrated with diuine praiers doth sanctifie clense the
5. sanctified by the worde of God and Praier if God himselfe say 3. Reg. 9 that he sanctified the temple at the sanctificatiō of the same made by Salomon Yea if as S. Chrysostome Hom. 1. super vidi Dominum saith the Angells doe fill that place espeacially which is about the Aultar S. Gregory witnesseth 3. Dial. cap. 30. that God by miracle shewed his presence at the dedicatiō of a Church whan the Deuil being gone thēce in the likenesse of a sowe a cloude came from heauen and lighting vpon the Aultar and couering it filled the wholle Church with so great a reuerence and sweete sauour that none durst presume to enter in No otherwise than happened in the dedication of the Tabernacle Ex vlt. by Moises and the 3. Reg. 8. Temple by Salomon Whose wonderful vertue Heliodorus a Gentile had felte when he saide 2. Mach. 3 39. In that place is verely a certaine vertue of God for he which dwelleth in heauen is a visiter and helper of that place Finally to say that because Almightie God is according to his Godhead in all places hee doth no more sanctifie one place than another is to confound diuine and prophane thinges yea to ioine heauen hell togither as though the one were no more reuerend holy than the other whereas heauen therfore is holy because in it God doth shew himselfe there vnto his Saintes and Angells and for the presence of the humanitie of Christ and of his electe in the same Let vs therefore conclude this questiō in this maner that as God who is onely holy of himselfe doth sanctifie his reasonable creatures by his grace and hath instituted holie Sacraments as instruments of working the same grace hath Sanctified partely himselfe partely by the Church his Spouse certaine particular daies to the memory of his benefites wonders 1. Tim. 4 5. by his word at the prayers of his Church giueth a kinde of holinesse to diuerse of his Creatures ordained to the stirring procuring our deuotion the purification of our soules so doth he by a particular assistance presence of his Maiesty or of his Angels Saints sanctifie some speciall places according as it seemeth to his diuine goodnesse wisedome As also shall bee more particularlie declared hereafter OF PILGRIMAGE 1 What do we respect in places of Pilgrimage more than in other Churches places of deuotion FIrst I Churches of Saints we may respecte the deuotion to that speciall Saint whose Church we intende to visit which happilie hath no memorie in the place where wee dwell For that Churches haue been erected to the memory honour of Saintes euen since the Primatiue Church the time when Christians might haue publike Churches all auncient Fathers and histories doe giue euident Cyr. cat 16. Athan. in ep ad solit Bas in Ps 114. Naz. orat 1. in Iul. Nyss orat in Theod. Chrys hom 28. ad pop hom 66. Theod. lib. 8. ad Graecos Euseb l 4. de vita Const cap. 58. 59. 60. Sozom. lib. 6. cap. 18. Socr. lib. 1. cap. vlt. Euag. lib. 2. cap. 3. lib. 3. cap. 8. Damas lib. 4. cap. 16. Amb. lib. 1. ep 5. Hier. lib. cont Vigil alibi passim Gaud. tract de dedic Eccles Aug. lib. de cur mort cap. 1. lib. 1. ciuit cap. 1. lib. 20. cont Faust cap. 21. lib. 8. ciu cap. 26. Paulin. Natal 1. Victor lib. 1. persec Greg. lib. 2. dial cap. 8. Conc. Gang. in ep ad Episc Arm. cap. 20. Conc. Const can vlt. Carth. 5. cap. 14. testimony the Monuments of al Countries doe shew so that it is sufficient to note some places of Fathers whose antiquitie the Reader seeing maie withall behold the antiquity of the trueth it selfe Neither doth this thing any way hinder or preiudicate the honour of God whereas his glorie is the finall ende of all honor yeelded to his Saintes And the very temple of Salomon 1. Par. 17 1. 28 2. 2. Par. 5 2. was both intended by Dauid erected by Salomon his Sonne not only to sacrifice vnto God to powre out praiers to his diuine Maiestie but also that it might be a reuerend place of rest for the Psal 131 8 Arke of his sanctification aad for the 1. Par. 28 2. footestoole of his most holy feete as the scripture it selfe recordeth That we neede not to doubt but for the like reason we may erect reuerend memories vnto Saintes where theire holy relickes which were 1. Cor. 6 19. liuely temples and holy instrumentes by which Almightie God himselfe 2. Cor. 13 3. Aug. lib. 1. ciu cap. 13. did speake may bee with due honour reserued Yea moreouer although there be no relickes at all of them in that place yet as it is lawfull to yelde them the honour of a Church when their relickes be present so alihough they be absent their soules beeing neuer the lesse glorious in heauen in both cases do serue a like And although there may bee at home the memories of as glorious and worthy Sainctes as abroade yet neither is it our partes to make such comparison the very reuerend newnes of the place abroade stirreth vp deuotion and God himselfe who diuideth 2. Cor. 12 11. to euerie one as he will often times according to his secret disposition graūteth our petitions and worketh miracles at one place and by the intercession of one Sainte and not of another as S. Augustine Aug. ep 137. ad Clerum pop Hippon well noteth II Relickes Secondly we may in Pilgrimage respect the Sacred relickes of Saints remaining in seuerall places which as we saide before doe deserue vndoubted honour for that they haue bin tēples of the holy Ghost instruments both of their souls to al good things also of Gods miracles and wonders they are holy pledges Aug. l. 22. ciu cap. 8. of our Patrones remnantes of our most deare frendes memories of triumphant conquerors designed vnto euerlasting and vnspeakeable glory Neither want we in this matter exāples of holy scripture testimonies of many holy Fathers S. Hierome disputing against Vigilantius one whom the contempt of relicks hath made a famous Heretike defending the honour of relicks affirmeth that God himselfe did honour in a certaine maner the bodie of Deut. vit Moises burying it with his owne handes And least this word of Gods honouring the bodye of Moises may seeme strange to some contentious head let him consider that Christ himselfe saith Io. 12 26. If any man minister to me my Father will honour him The bones also of Heliseus 4. Reg. 13 21. raised a dead body vnto life We reade of the sepulcher of CHRIST our Sauiour Esa 11 10. In him shall the Gētiles hope and his Sepulcher shal be glorious Which sentence S. Hierome vnderstanding as needs it Ro. 15 12. must be vnderstoode of the Sepulcher of CHRIST vseth as an argument to Marcella to inuite her to the holy Land Finally in the Scripture
which God doth worke the most gratious giftes which hee doth bestowe at these holy places where either there be the sacred Relickes of his Saintes or some reuerende Image of the same or of himselfe For many times it pleaseth GOD who is woonderfull in his Saintes Psal 67 36. to worke his miracles at and by their Relickes and vnto Images al-also besides the ordinary holinesse which they haue by representing the persons whose Images they are to giue a new Sanctification shewing by them his mighty power and the exceeding honour Psal 138 17. to which he hath exalted his Saintes And this hee doth at some special places more than others according to his diuine goodnesse and wisedome God is indeede saith Saint Augustine Ep. 137. ad Hipponenses euery where and is not contained or inclosed in any place whereas hee made all thinges Yet who can searche out his Counsaile wherefore in some places these miracles are done in others they are not done For vnto many is well knowen the holinesse of the place where S. Foelix his body of Nola is buried whither I willed that two of my Clearks should go because from thence it might be more easely and faithfully written whatsoeuer in any of them should be miraculously wrought Is not Affricke also ful of Martyrs bodies And yet we knowe not in any place heere about such things to be done For as the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 12. not all Saints haue the giftes of curing diseases So neither in all memories of Saints woulde he haue these thinges doone who diuideth vnto euerie one proper giftes euen as hee will And yet the same Saint Augustine Lib. 22. ciu cap. 8. reckoneth vp diuerse miracles wrought after that time in Africke whose onely testimonie in this behalfe oughte to be of sufficient creditte Vide Epiph. in vita Esaiae Ezech. Hieremiae Bas orat in Maman orat in Iulit ta◠Naz. orat in Cypr. Chrys in lib. cont Gent. de S. Babyla Pallad in hist Laus c. 62. Amb. ser de SS Geru Prot. Hieron lib. cont Vigil in ep ad Eustoch de vita Paulae in vita Hilar. Sulp. in vita Mart. Of Miracles shewed by God in the very bodies of Saintes kept more than naturally vncorrupted See Chrys ser de SS Iuuent Max. Hier. in Hilar Aug. ser 2. de S. Vinc. l. 9. conf cap. 7. Sulp. in ep de obitu S. Mart. S. Bonauent de S. Francisco vita S. Edouardi regis apud Sur. to any Christian minde At a small quantity of the holy Land by S. Augustins appointment digged into the ground where an Oratory was also made ouer it was presently cured one sicke of the palsie A yonge man possessed of the Deuill was deliuered at the memory of SS Geruasius Protasius at a towne called Victoriana At the memorie of twentie Martyrs in Saint Augustines owne towne an olde man called Florentius praying with a loud voice not without derision of certaine yong men standing by for apparel hauing lost his cloake miraculously found by the sea side a fishe of great price and in the same a gould ring which S. Augustine attributeth vnto those glorious Martyrs who boūtifully had determined to cloathe their oratour But at Saint Steuens relickes infinite were the miracles which were wrought as S. Augustine himselfe doth testifie A blind woman receiued her sight by touching her eies with flowers which had touched those holy pledges Lucillus a Bishop onely by carying the same Saints relicke was sodainly cured of a fistula Eucharius a Priest was cured of the stone and afterwarde of another disease lying for dead was miraculously raised Martiall by flowers brought from S. Steuens memorie was moued to be a Christian which before he had obstinately denied presently sending for the Bishop of the cittie who at that instant was with S. Augustine at Hippo. Three were healed of the goute A little child crushed to death with a carte running ouer him was restored to life and to his former soundnes Note by these examples that thinges which haue beene touched with Relickes are also to bee accounted Relickes See Gregory Nyss cited before S. Amb. ep 85. See also S. Aug. ser 95. of a memory of S. Steuen at Ancona onely because of one stone with which hee was stoned there reserued A Nunne being dead was raised to life onely by laying vpon her her owne garmēt which was made before to touch the relickes The like happened to a daughter of one Bassus in Hippo it selfe Where also with oile brought from the same relicks the dead sonne of one Hyreneus beeing annointed receiued his life againe Eleusinus in the same cittie laide the deade bodie of his Sonne vpon the afore-said memory and reciued him liuing The same Saint also at large setteth downe a woonderfull miracle done vpō easter-Easter-day at the same Relickes he being thā with the wholle people present in the Church To conclude he saith that beeing only but two yeeres since they had any memory of this saint in his citty the miraculous cures of diseases which they by diligent inquiry found yet they coulde not finde all came to the number of threescore and ten And reporting a strange thing which happened vnto one Petronia a Noble womā he addeth this sentence worthie to be laid before the eies of Heretickes of our time This doe not they beleeue who also beleeue not our Sauiour to haue beene brought forth by the clausures of his Mother not stirred and to haue entred into his Disciples the doores being shutte A sufficient admonition for all those which haue care of their owne soules not to regarde the wicked scoffes and tauntes vsed by those Mockers Iudae vers 18. who according to their own desires walke in impieties Who what Ibidem vers 10. things soeuer certes they are ignoraunt of they blaspheme what things soeuer naturally as dumme beastes they knowe in those they are corrupted As verie truely wrote S. Iude the Apostle of them and all others their predecessours For as we willingly followe and ioyfully acknoweledge for our Fathers so many Saintes and Doctours alleadged before so they truely followe their auncestours Iulian Cyr. lib. 6 in Iulia. the Apostata the Aug. l. 2. cont Faust cap. 4. Manichees Hier. lib. in Vigil Vigilantius Eunomius yea the very olde heathen people Euseb lib. 5. hist cap. 1. of which some complained that we make our Martyrs idols yeelding them those honours which in auncient times the Idolaters grossely and superstitiously gaue to their owne inuentions others impiously burnt sacrilegiously prophaned the sacred relickes no otherwise than in our daies hath bene donne by the bodies of the glorious lights of Gods Church Ireneus Hilarius Martinus that we may for naturall affection and pietie conceale the barbarous dealings of some of our owne countrey-men to the eternal shame and reproch euen of the rest which little deserued it and the setting forth to the shew of the wholle worlde and to all
before Saints Relicks or Images in places of Pilgrimage BEcause we haue hitherto defended offeringes at the memories of Saintes and one most ordinarie offering is a burning Candell it is necessary that we speake somewhat hereof If any ornamentes be conuenient for the House of God as both the light of natural reason and the example of the olde testament doth teach Exod. c. 25. sequ Num. 7. 1. Par. 28. 29. 2. Par. 3. 4. 5. there cannot bee founde or conceiued anye either more excellent or more fitte than the ornamente of lightes or Candells The first thing which GOD made was light Light is a qualitie which bewtifieth all things and of nothing can be defiled it is so nere vnto a spiritual nature that it is only amongst all divisible accidents produced in a moment nothing more swift thaÌ„ light nothing more pearcing whereas it penetrateth most thicke bodies as of Christal glasse Ise yea the very heauens which as Iob Iob. 37 18. saith be solide firme as if they were forged of brasse The Aegiptians who did with forceable likenesses expresse euery thing by the lighte of a Lampe represented life whereas Life the moste pretiouse thing in this worlde is nourished by naturall humiditie as the most excellent qualitie of the light is conserued by oile Yea in all ciuil conuersations there is a kinde of ciuill reuerence yeelded vnto lighte when at the bringing in of light we vse to salute one another And that which is most to be wondered at those which are not ashamed of any vice or filthinesse yet ordinarilye are as it were ashamed of light and being neuer so solitarie yet are desirous not to haue so pure a witnesse of their impurity So that euen literally we may say as our Sauiour hath said Io. â— â—â— He which doth euill hateth the lighte But how if wee should runne ouer the wonderfull dignities and excellencies attributed vnto Light in holy scriptures we should farre exceed the limittes of our intended breuitie God him selfe â—â—o â— 5. is Lighte his 1. Tim. 6 16. House where hee dwelleth is Lighte his Lawe Pro. 6 2â— is Light his word Ps 118 10â— is Light his Ps 103 1 garmentes are Light his Heb 1 7. Angells are Light his Apostles Mat 5 11. are Light Finally his Io. 12 36. seruauntes are children of Lighte as contrariwise the seruauntes of iniquitie doe continually Io. 8 12 3 19. walke in darkenes because they loue darknes more than light Now if Heretickes cannot abide Lighte in Gods Churches what meruaile for what society is there betweene light and darkenes 2. Cor. 6 14. they haue forsaken the Lighte of Gods Church which although it stand Mat. 5 14. vpoÌ„ a hil they wil not see they seeke to couer Gods trueth vnder Ibidem vers 16. a bushell they carry about with theÌ„ the eies of an owle which beeing more familiar with the darkenes of the night then the glorious beames of the Church which is chosen as Cant. 6 8. the Sunne cannot open themselues to beholde the truth GOD graunt that once hauing cast away their stubborn wilfulnes they may know themselues miserably to haue conuersed so long in a more horrible hole and dongeon Dial. 7. de repub then was that of Plato where seeing nothing but false shadowes of thinges they neuerthelesse condemne and hate those which go about to open vnto them the true light and procure as much as in them lieth that theire Aegiptian darkenes being cast away in this life they may escape the 2. Pet. 2 17. mist of darkenes reserued for such as persist in their estate in the other For we haue in this pointe of the vse of Lightes in the Church testimonies of scriptures of Fathers Scriptures in that wee reade God himselfe to haue ordained perpetuall Light in his Exo 25 31. 27 20 3. Reg. 7 49. Temple And amongst the Fathers first S. Chrisostome saieth In Litur that the Priest goeth to the Aultar his Minister going before him with Lighte The Acolites Conc. 4. Carth. c. 6. Isid lib. 7. etym. c. 12. Ordo Rom. Microl. c. 11. office was alwaies in the Church to light the Torches in the MASSE time at the Gospell and at the oblation To which S. Augustine in the Councell of Carthage geueth witnesse And least any should thinke this to haue bene only in the night certaine it is that according to the auncient custome of the Church MASSE was neuer Walfrid cap. 23. said in the night excepte thrise in the yeere That is vpon Telesph ep ad vniu cap. 2. Leo. ep 79. vel 81. c. 2. Christmasse-Nighte Maundy-Thursday and Easter-Eue at night for at other times it was not ordinarily begone before the third houre of the day Wherefore those Torches of which S. Athanasius Epist ad omnes Orthod maketh mention when he chargeth the Arians with sacrilege for offering the torches of the Church vnto Idols were no doubt such as in the time of MASSE and speacially at the Gospell euen in the middest of the day were lighted as also Contr. Vigil Saint Hierome doth affirme Nowe if lights are fit ornaments for a Church thaÌ„ may they adorne the memories of Saints be set before Relickes Images in signe of ioy of the Saintes glory to put vs in minde of the light of grace glorie brought into the worlde by Christ professed and preached by them to stirre vs vp to such a kinde of life as may no otherwise than in them shine to al meÌ„ to the glory of God finallie for a certaine honour to the Saints themselues But of this matter wee will heare S. Hierome speake Contr. Vigil Vigilantius his obiection against Lights who propounding Vigilantius his obiection in this same matter saith We see almost the custome of the Gentiles vnder pretense of Religion to be brought into the Church that whilest the Sunne doth shine great heaps of torches are kindled and wheresoeuer there is I knowe not what duste inclosed in a little Vessell and couered with some pretious cloath they kissing doe worship it These men forsooth yeelde great honor to most blessed Martyrs who they thinke may bee lightened with filthye torches whereas the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne with all brightnesse of his Maiesty doth lighten them This spoke Vigilantius how like vnto the Caluinistes of our time the Reader shall iudge Now S. Hierome aunswereth it so that wee may perceiue that his opinion was that Candels were neuer sette before Relickes but in the night when the people were come togither to watche at the memories of Saintes vpon their Eues And that then it was only doone for that necessity not for any honour to the Sainte Not that S. Hierome did not acknowledge honour to be due vnto Relickes for as we haue saide before in this very booke against Vigilantius he constantly auoucheth it but because he had not as yet beene coÌ„uersant in places where this kind of honour was
shewed vnto the Saintes For if hee had euer seene it vsed in the day than must it needes haue beene for a signe of ioy honour to the Saintes which he heere denieth to haue beene the intent of the Church Yet that this custome was in other partes of the world far from S. Hierome as in SPAINE FRANCE where Vigilantius liued we may gather manifestly both by his obiection out of others whoÌ„ we will alleadge Yea S. Hierome himselfe although he seeme not to acknoweledge any general custome of the Church in this pointe yet doth he commend the zeale of who soeuer might perchaunce in some place vse the same euen to honour Saintes thereby comparing their deuotion to that of MARY MAGDALEN when shee powred the ointmente vpon our Sauiour and was by him defended from Iudas his hipocrisie So whosoeuer doth light torches saith he hath a reward according to his faith Whereas the Apostle saith Let euery one abounde in his owne sense These men dost thou call Idolaters We al I confesse which doe beleeue in Christ came forth of the error of Idolatrie For we are not made Christians by birth but by regeneration And because we once worshipped Idolles must we not nowe worshippe God least we may seeme to worship him with the like honor with which we worshiped Idolles That was doone vnto the Idols and therefore must bee detested this is doone to Martyrs and therefore must be admitted For euen where there are no Relickes of Martyrs in all the East-Churches when the Gospell is to be read Lights are kindled euen the Sunne shining not to driue away darkenesse but to shewe a token of ioy Wherefore those Virgins Mat. 25. of the Gospell haue alwaies their Lampes burning And to the Apostles it is said Let your loines bee Luc. 12 35. girded burning Candels in your hands And Io. 5 35. of Iohn Baptist Hee was a Candle burning and shining that vnder the type of corporal light that light may be shewed of which we reade in the Psalter Psal 118 104. A Candell vnto my feete is thy worde O Lord a light vnto my pathes Thus farre Saint Hierome Theodoretus Lib. 5. cap. 30. reporteth of the translation of Saint Chrysostoms bodie made in his time in which the whole mouthe of the straite called Bosphorus was couered with candels burning the boates being so many that the sea seemed to be firme land The same Ibidem cap. 34. Author testifieth the like honours to haue been shewed to that Saint in his life when in the same place the people met him with burning torches at his returne from banishement Saint Paulinus Natal 3. giueth testimony of many Candels burning night and day before S. Faelix his body In S. Peters Church at Lib. 3. dial c. 24. Rome burned a Lampe coÌ„tinually as witnesseth S. Gregory And Lib. 7. ep 2 cap. 1â— Germanus the Patriarch of Constantinople reporteth the like deuotion to Images S. Iohn Damascen 3. De Imag. writeth of Lights before S. Simeons Image In the history Vide hist scrip a Constantino Porphyr also of the Image of our Sauiour at Edessa of which we spake before wee reade of a Candel burning before it In vita Siluestr Finally Constantine the great offered to the Relickes of SS Peter and Paul many Candel-sticks ordained that there shoulde be maintained many Lamps continually burning The like vnto which is to bee seene in a Donation made by Saint Gregory to Sainte Peters Church in Rome which being cutte in Marbell from very auncient time is now extant in the Porch These things therefore many other which might be brought doe euidently shew that which we purposed That is that as al other Ceremonies be holesomely obserued in the Church to represent vnto vs the benefites of God and to shewe our duty and subiection towardes him So also this of Candels is most profitablely retained to shewe our ioy exultation in Christ to represent vnto vs the light of HeaueÌ„ to put vs in minde of the light of the grace and Gospel of CHRIST to stirre vs vp to walke like the children of light finally that which is an inuincible argument to See Sainte Hierome cited before shew vs that in an external signe of which the Scripture yeeldeth vs so manie signes in writing For as wee maie by reading the Scriptures put the people in minde of these excellent significations of light so may wee also by shewing the thing it selfe after a reuerend solemne maner admonishe them of the same light and stirre them to a deepe and earnest consideration of their dueties Whereas writings are but signes of the things theÌ„selues as a Heathen Poet saith Segnius irritant animos demissa per aures quam quae sunt oculis subiecta fidelibus Hoâ—at in arte Poet. More slowly do those thinges moue the minde which are hearde than those which are seene VI How is it voide of Heathenish superstion that we aske in Pilgrimages diuerse things of diuerse Saints THis is another obiection of our aduersaries whereby as before they charged vs with Iudaisme so nowe because the Heathens vsed ceremonies often-times not vnlike to ours they inferre that wee are professours of Paganisme But this was long since aunswered by See pag. 605. Sainte Hierome cited here immediately before when he said that for the same reason wee must not worship God because the Gentiles vsed to worship their Gods And That was doone saith he to Idolles therefore must be detested This is doone to Martyrs therefore is to be admitted The like also doth Lib. 20 cont Faust cap. 21. S. Augustine aunswere to Faustus reprehending the honor of Martyrs as though we made theÌ„ Idols For saith he we must not therefore contemne detest the Virginity of NVNNES because there were in times past Virgins consecrated to Vesta Whence it proceedeth that the GeÌ„tiles superstitions were like to holie ceremonies True it is that the diuel who euer since the begining hath had a desire to be like the highest hath alwaies studied to transferre the rites and ceremonies of Gods people to his abominable Idolatries So witnesseth the holie Scripture 1. Mach. 3 48. reporting that in the time of the Machabees out of the sacred bookes of the Lawe the Gentiles did search out a similitude of their Idolles So also witnesseth Lib. de perscript Tertullian Hence was it that as the same Tertullian affirmeth the Gentiles hadde many superstitions much-like vnto our Sacramentes as a kind of Baptisme a certaine mysticall Bread taken no doubt froÌ„ the Iewes whose waters of expiation and breade of proposition gaue the Gentiles occasion of an Apishe and Sacrilegious imitation Nowe what meruaile if the Iewes Ceremonies being so like ours as that they were purposely instituted to presignifie them the Gentiles superstitions imitating the Iewes doe somewhat also resemble our holy Ceremonies Whereas hereof it must needs followe which Lib. 20. cont Faust cap. 21. Saint Augustine saith that as the Iewes
whom not-withstanding we may for the most parte excuse with that saying of S. Hierome Lib. con Vigil See before page 605. where in the vse of Candells otherwise thā by the general custome of the Church he thought to be receiued he fauourably interpreteth such feruent zeale not excluding them from their reward according to their faith but permitting them to abound in their owne sense Wherefore if euer it were generally receiued in our Coūtrey Of praying for Cattell or in anie other Catholicke-Countreie that for the necessities of Beastes Cattell deuoute people did pray to speacial Saints then wil I defend it against al Heretickes of the worlde For certaine I am that it is a good and godly thing to pray for Beastes to God consequently to Saints who may by their intercession obtaine of God that which we aske euen for such dumme creatures For Christ our Sauiour teacheth vs to aske of God our daily-Bread wherin is vnderstoode by the Fathers all things necessary to mans vses And Salomon Pro. 30 8. praieth for those things which are necessarie for the sustenance of his bodie amongest the temporal Benedictions of God Dauid reckoneth that their Psal 143 13. Sheepe be with Lambe their Oxen fatte And God blessed the latter thinges of Iob Iob. 42 12. more than his beginning euen by giuing him multitudes of Sheepe Camels Oxen and Asses And God purposing to blesse Iacob with such worldlie substance Gen. 31 12. taught him in his sleepe how to encrease his reward of Sheepe Well did the Diuell vnderstande thus much when he saide to Almightie God Iob. 1 10. Hast not thou defended Iob and his house and all his substance about him blessed the workes of his hands and his possessions hath increased vpon the earth Wherefore God permitted the Diuel to depriue him also of those outwarde thinges which hee possessed As he did also suffer those Diuels to enter into the Mat. 8 31. Swine to carry them headlong into the Sea S. Hilarion taught as saith S. Hierome in his life that the diuels doth enter also into Beastes for mens sakes that hee is incensed with so great hatred towards men that he desireth the destructiō not only of thē but of al their things Of which thing he brought an example that before he was permitted to tempte Iob he destroied all his substance Neither ought this to mooue any man that by Gods commaundement two thowsand Hogs were killed For why those which sawe it coulde not otherwise beleeue so great a multitude of Diuels to haue gone forth of one man vnlesse a great multitude of Hogs and as it were carried of very many had perished And may we not then pray that God wil restraine the Diuells power and increase his care of vs euen in these things We knowe that God hath not 1. Cor. 9 9. care of Oxen neither hath he of 4. Reg. 6 5. Hatchets or 4. Reg. 4 40. Pottage or 4. Reg. 2 21. Water or such other things for any necessitie of his yet for the vse of man did he shewe miracles in making the Hatchet to swimme in seasoning the Prophets Pottage sweetning the Waters So doth God spare Niniue not only for infinite Innocents which were within it but also as himselfe saith Ionae 4 11. for the very brute Beastes in which his handes had laboured in a certaine manner when he created them Neither must we thinke that man hauing receiued al these things Ps 8 8. of his liberal hands must not as wel looke that his mighty power must conserue also and maintaine them Wherefore the holy Church a most intelligent grateful Spouse of Christ in the very Sacrifice of the MASSE as for Raine Faire-weather so for health of Cattell praieth thus Orat. pro peste animalium O God which euen by brute Beasts hast prouided comfortes for the laboures of men we humbly beseeche thee that without what thinges mans estate cannot bee nourished those thou wilt make not to perishe from our vses through our Lorde Iesus CHIRIST Most certain it is therfore that euen for these wee may pray to God and his Saintes And if wee pray to all the Saintes we may also pray vnto any one Yet not so that we pray to any one as only able to helpe vs for that were superstition but as to one who amongest the rest can helpe vs if so it please God to directe the generall practise of the Chruch as to one by whom it pleaseth God to helpe vs in this case rather than by another Sure I am that at Rome vpon S. anthonies-Anthonies-day there is not one Catholicke person who sendeth not his horses to passe before that Saints Church there to receiue the Benediction of the Priest by the sprinkeling of Holy-Water If a scoffing Hereticke blasphemous against God his Saintes aske heere a reason I will say that the practise of the Church guided and directed by the holy-Ghost is more to mee than my owne reason And that all customes of the Church which are not contrary to Faith may by Saint Hieroms Ep. 28. ad Lucin. warrant be safely obserued And that according to Origen Hom. 5. in Num. In Ecclesiasticall obseruations many such things are founde which must bee doone of all men and yet the reason of them is not knowen to all And hee bringeth examples of kneeling in praier of praying towards the East of the Ceremonies of MASSE and Baptisme which are no more necessary to be vnderstoode of al men than were the Ceremonies of the Iewes to them which notwithstanding deuoutly practised them And yet coulde I for my owne comforte deuise many congruities in this matter of S. Antony and amongest the rest this thing which S. Hierme In vita Pauli writeth of him that a Satyr meeting him desired his Praiers for the whole flocke of them in the desert And two Lions which had digged a graue for S. Paul the Eremits bodie Forthwith as it were requiring a reward for their worke holding downe their heads and moouing their eares went to Antony licked his Hands Feete But he perceiued that they did desire his Benediction And without delay beginning highly to praise Christ for that the very brute Beastes had a feeling of God he said O Lord without whose will not so much as a leafe off the tree doth fall neither one Sparrowe doth light on the ground graunt vnto them euen as thou knowest And making them signe with his hande he cōmaunded them to depart Goe nowe proude blasphemous Heresie laugh taunte and scoffe at the deuotion of this Saint glorious Doctour of the Church who writeth this at the deuout Pietie of Antony who did this and finally of all other Saints of God but thou my deere Catholicke brother for whome principally this is written knowe and assure thy selfe that 1. Tim. 4 8. Piety is profitable to all thinges hauing promise of the life that nowe is and of that to come OF INDVLGENCES OR
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
exclameth the Ecclesiasticus Of (k) Eccli 5 4.5 Eccle. 9 1. vide Aug de perf lust cap 15. de corr gra c. 13. ho. 41. ex 50. ser 3. de Innoc Greg. li. 16. mor. c. 3. the remission of sinne be thou not without feare neither doe thou adde sinne vpon sinne And doe not say the mercie of our Lorde is great he will haue compassion vpon the multitude of my sinnes For mercie and anger doe soone approche frō him his anger doth looke vpon sinners rightly therfore saith the Prophet I will sing mercie (l) Ps 100 1. Bern. ser 52. ex paruis ser 6. in Cāt. Aug. de vtil poenit c. ult iudgement vnto thee o Lord. then in an other place The (m) Ps 98 4 honour of the King loueth iudgement 4 How doth a man sinne against the holy Ghost by desperation VVHen the contrarie vice vnto presumption Aug. ser 58. de temp in Psal 50. Greg. lib. 5. mor. c. 14. Isid lib. 2. de sum bo c. 14 Chry. ho. 2. in Psal 50. Ber. ser 5. de nat Dom. whereof we spake before doth so possesse the minde of a man that he casteth off all hope either of obtaining pardone before God or of attaining vnto life euerlasting After this sort sinned CAIN by despaire as himselfe testifieth by his speeche when he saith (a) Gen. 4 13 Bern. ser 11. in Cant. Greater is my iniquity than that I may deserue pardon Thus sinned also IVDAS that Traitour (b) Mat. 27 3. Act. 1 18. Ephes 4 19. 2. Reg. 2 26. vnto Christ at what time he being moued with despaire of saluatiō like an vnhappy wretch hanged himselfe But doubtlesse (c) Ezec. 18 21.27 33 11. 1. Io. 1 7.9 2 1. Hier. 3 1. Esa 1 18. Ps 144 8. Eccli 17 20.27 there is no penance too late as is manifest by the (d) Luc. 23 40. Aug. li. 1. retr c. 19. de cor gr ca. 15. ser 181. de tēp c. 16. Leo. ep 91. ad Theo. Conc. Trid. ses 14. cap. 7. example of that thiefe which vpon the Crosse euen in those last momentes of his life obtained great grace heauenly glory at the handes of Christ 5 When doth hee that oppugneth the trueth sin against the holy-Ghost VVHē * Leo. ep 10. ad Flau. c. 1. Aug. de Gē ad lit l. 7. c. 9 tra 18. in Euang. Ioa. de vtil cre ca. 1. l. 18. ciu ca. 51. lib. 21. c. 25. that trueth which cōcerneth the estate of Faith Religiō not of ignorance but of malice is purposely impugned that thereby the sinceritie of Catholike veritie may be blemished Of this sinne were the Pharisies (a) Mat. 12 24. 15 2. 21 45. 22 15. Io. 7 48. 12 10.19 guiltie whose chiefest care we see to haue bene as malitiously as falsly to blaspheme Christ to persecute the doctrine of the Gospell and to suppresse the testimonie (b) Act. 4 16. 5 18. of the Apostles and that euen against their own consciences Not vnlike vnto these are they that are said by the Prophet to sitte in the (c) Psal 1 1. chaire of pestilence and are called by S. PETER (d) 2. Pet. 2 1 lying maisters that doe bring in Sects of perdition Finally by S. (e) Tit. 3 10. PAVL Heretickes men corrupted (f) 2. Tim. 3 8. in mind reprobate concerning the faith attending (g) 1. Tim. 4 1. to spirites of errour subuerted condemned by their owne (h) Tit. 3 11 iudgement Among whom may be numbred that same seducer ELIMAS whom S. PAVL publikelie reprehending saide with great vehemencie O full (i) Act. 13 10. of all guile and all deceipte sonne of the deuill enemie of all iustice thou ceasest not to subuerte the right waies of our Lorde To this kind also is referred Blasphemie (k) Mat. 12 31 of the Spirite which sinne Christ doth greatly rebuke in the Iewes and maketh it worse then other sinnes And woulde to God that this sinne did not raigne in these our daies For against the holy Ghost doe they also blaspheme as writeth DAMASVS (l) Apud Gratianum 25. quaest 1. violatores who against the holy Canons of the Fathers endited by the instinct of the holy Ghost doe any thing willingly or malepertly or presume to speake or wilfully giue their consent to thē that haue a minde so to doe For it is manifest that such a presumption is one kinde of the blasphemies against the holy Ghost thus saith DAMASVS 6 How is Enuie of brotherly grace a sinne against the holy Ghost Aug. li. 1. de ser Dom. in monte cap. 22. 1. retr cap 19. VVHen we are striken with a greate greife and sorowe because of the splendor encrease of vertues Gods guiftes in which our brother doth excell Which sinne seemeth to be rather proper vnto the Deuill than vnto man whereas the Deuill doth most wrathfully take the encrease and continuance of (a) Sap. 2 24 the grace of God in man and for that cause he is not only an accuser (b) Apoc. 12 10. of our brethren but also an implacable aduersarie (c) 1. Pet. 5 8. of God of all good men who as a roring Lion goeth about seeking whom hee maye deuour There were among the Iewes such sonnes of Satan who did altogether enuie vnto the Gentiles the lately springing grace of the Gospell as we read in the Acts (d) Act. 11 2. 13 45. Gen. 4 5. of the Apostles 7 What kind of obstinacie is that which is a sinne against the holy Ghost Aug. in Enc. cap. 83. in Ps 58. conc 1. Greg. ho. 11. in Ezech. Bern. li. 1. de consid ca. 2. in ser de conuers ad Cler. cap. 4. THat certes which beareth an obstinate minde against him that giueth him good admonition so that he will not suffer him selfe by any meanes to be withdrawne from his damnable course With this sinne was King PHARAO (a) Exod. 7 seq Aug. quaest 18. 24. in Exod. ser 88. de temp Gerg 31. mor. c. 11 l. 11. ca. 5. notably attainted who although he were so often admonished by MOYSES and sometimes afflicted with very sore scourges frō God yet notwithstanding in his tirannicall purpose he (b) Exod. 14. obstinatly persisted and perished Famous also was that (c) Hier. 5 3. 8 5. Esa 48 4. Zach. 7 11. Gen. 49 7. incorrigible obstinacie of the Iewes whom S. STEVEN painting out as it were in their colours saith With a (d) Act. 7 51. hardnecke and with vncircumcised eares you haue all waies resisted the holy Ghost And not vnlike vnto them are those at this day that being addicted vnto new sectes may not abide so much as to heare or reade anye Catholike instructions but euen like to the serpent (e) Psal 57 5 called
the Aspe shutting their eares against the sweete melodie of the sounde doctrine of the Church they seeme to say Departe thou (f) Iob. 21 14. from vs and we will not haue the knowledge of thy waies which is nothing else then as S. PAVL speketh According (g) Ro. 2 4. to their hardnes and impenitent harte to heape to themselues wrath in the day of wrath and of the reuelation of the iust iudgement of God For as SALOMON also teacheth To a man (h) Pro. 29 1. Bern. ser 42. in Cant. that with a hard necke contemneth him that correcteth him a soddaine distruction shall come vpon him and healthe shall not follow him 8 When is a sinne of impenitency committed Aug. de verb Do. ser 21. cap. 12. 13. ep 50. ad Bonif. Gelas in tomo de anarhematis vinculo VVHen a man without anie end or measure of his sins which truely hee shoulde washe away by holesome Penance resolueth moreouer that neuer hee will doe any Penance at al. Of this kind of persons who are such desperate and pittifull sinners and so will remaine both their life their death is most (a) Psal 33 22. abominable for asmuch as if not in wordes yet in deed they seeme to say (b) Esa 28 15. 3 8.9 Psal 51 3.7 Pro. 2 14. We haue entered into league with death and with hell wee haue made a pact And of these also may that saying bee vnderstoode which S. IOHN auoucheth There (c) 1. Io. 5 16 Aug. de corr gra c. 12. 1. retract cap. 19. is a sinne to death for that I say not that anie man aske Thus much concerning the sins against the holy-Ghost which are doubtlesse most grieuous which Almighty God either neuer or verie hardly doth pardon For which cause we ought often to garde our selues to confirme others against the same that we may obserue that saying * Ephes 4 30. Cōtristate not (d) 1. Thess 5 19. extinguishe not the spirite of God This (e) Ps 94 8. day if you heare his voice harden not your hearts Let (f) Heb. 3 13. none of you be obdurate with the fallacie of sinne For (g) Eccli 3 7.27 an harde heart shall bee in euill case at the last Nowe therefore let vs come to those sins which are also not a little hainous and are wonte to be called sinnes that cry vnto Heauen OF SINNES THAT CRY VNTO HEAVEN 1 What sinnes are those that are saide to crie vnto Heauen THose Aug. in En. c 30. l. ann in Iob. c. 30. l. 1. locutionis de Genes quaest 5. super Exod. Greg. 3. par past adm 32. in 2. Psal poenit which notably aboue others are knowne to haue a manifest and exceeding wickednesse doe singularly purchase to those which cōmit thē Gods indignation vengeance Of this sort there are four nūbred in holy scripture to wit wilful (a) Gē 4 10. Murder (b) Gē 18 20 Sodomie (c) Ex. 22 23 Oppression of the Poore defrauding (d) Deut. 24 15. Iac. 5 4. the Laboring mans hiere 2 Howe doth the Scripture teach that wilfull murther is reuenged IN most grieuous manner doubtlesse Vide Conc. Ancyr c. 22. Conc. Epaun ca. 31. Tribur c. 54 sequ as Almighty God sheweth in these wordes wherein hee rebuketh CAIN the first man-flear (a) Gē 4 10. Amb. l. 2. de Cain Abel cap. 9. What hast thou done saith he the voice of the bloude of thy brother crieth to me from the earth Now therfore shalt thou be cursed vpon earth And in another place Gods owne voice doth testifie (b) Gen. 9 6. Ex. 21 12.14 Leuit. 24 17 Num. 35.16.20 Deut. 19 11 1. Io. 3 15. Whosoeuer shall shed mans blood his blood shall be shed also For to the image of God was man made The kingly Psalmist singeth Men (c) Ps 54 24. of blood shall not liue halfe their daies For this is a very heinous wickednesse he doth a most horrible iniurie to his neighbour that bereueth him of his life without lawfull (d) Aug. l. 22 contr Faust cap. 70. auctoritie For which cause Christ himselfe saith also (e) Mat. 26 52. Apoc. 13 10. All that take the sword shall perish with the sworde 3 And what is extant in holy scripture touching the sinne of Sodome and the punishments thereof THe men of Sodome saith the scripture (a) Gen. 13 13. were very naught and sinners before God too too much This horrible and abominable sin (b) 2. Pet. 2 6. S. PETER S. PAVL (c) Rom. 1 24. 1. Tim. 1 10 Ephes 5 5. Iudic. 19 22 20 46. doe reproue yea nature her selfe doth abhorre and the scripture also doth declare the greatnesse of so foule a wickednes in these words The crie (d) Gen. 18 20. of the Sodomites and the Gomorians is multiplied and their sinne is aggrauated too too much For which cause the Angels doe speake thus vnto the iust man LOTH who did greatly abhorre from the outragious filthines (e) 2. Pet. 2 6 of the Sodomites (f) Gē 19 13 We will destroy this place because the cry of them hath increased before our Lorde who hath sent vs to destroy them Therefore our Lorde (g) Ibid. Sap. 10 6. Deut. 29 23 Iudae ver 7. Gen. 13 10. vide Greg. li. 14. mor. c. 10 Aug. l. 16. de ciu cap. 30. Tert. in apo aduers gentes ca. 40. in Sod ca. 4. rained downe vpon Sodome Gomorrha brimstone and fire from our Lorde out of heauen and ouerthrewe those Cities and all the Countrie about Neither doth the scripture leaue vntouched the causes which moued the Sodomites and may also moue others to this so greeuous a sinne For thus we read in EZECHIEL (h) Ezec. 16 49. Behold this was the iniquitie of Sodome thy sister Pride fulnes of bread and aboundance and the idlenesse of her her daughters and they did not stretch their hand to the needy poore And of this vice which can neuer be sufficiently detested are they guiltie who doe not feare to breake the lawe of God yea the lawe of nature written in Leuiticus which is this (i) Leuit. 18 22. Deut. 27 21 vide Chrys ho. 4. in ep ad Rom. Tert. in l. de pudicit c. 4. Aug. lib. 3. conf cap. 8. ep 109. Cum masculo non commiscearis coitu foemineo quia abominatio est Cum omni pecore non coibis nec maculaberis cumeo Which sin if it be committed we are admonished (l) Leuit. 20 13.15 Exo. 22 19. Ioel. 3 3. in the same place that the very earth is polluted with such horrible abominable lustes that Gods wrath is very much prouoked against the people and (k) L. Cum vir nubit C. ad legē Iul. de adult that the crime is