of the Churches customes are to be restrained Finally TERTVLLIAN a most learned and auncient writer of the Church in one whole booke together disputeth (g) Lib. de praescript against those that doe admitte nothing that is not expresly set downe in the Scripture he contendeth very earnestly that there be certaine vnwritten Traditions obseruations of the Church which none can take exceptions against but heretikes only But If any maÌ„ seem to be coÌ„tentious that we may vse (h) 1. Cor. 11 16. S. PAVLS words We haue no such custome nor the Church of God 9 I pray you then what is the Church Rom. 12 4. 1. Cor. 12 12. 1. Pet. 5 4. Io. 21 15. Mat. 16 18. THE Church is the whole multitude of all those that professe the faith and doctrine of Christ which Christ the Prince of Pastors committed both vnto S. PETER the Apostle and also to his (a) Chryso l. de Sacerdoti Conc. Flor. Bern. l. 2. de consid c. 8. successours to be fedde and gouerned And therfore all Heretickes and Schismatickes doe not deserue the name of a Church but do (b) Hier. cont Lucif c. 9. Cypr. epist 69. falsely arrogate the same vnto themselues who although they seeme to professe the faith doctrine of Christ yet they refuse to be the sheepe of the high Pastour and Bishop which Christ hath made chiefe gouernor oâ—er the sheepfold of the Church in his owne steed hath by perpetuall (c) Iren. l. 3. c. 3. Tert. l. 3. con Mar. c. 9. Optat. l. 2. Aug. ep 165. et 42. et in Ps cont partem Donat et lib. 2. contr lit Petil. c. 51 succession in the Romane Church continually preserued This Chaire of S. PETER this primacy of the Church whosoeuer doth deny oppugn first they do not vnderstaÌ„d the large promises of Christ * Mat. 16 18. Io. 21 15. Luc. 22 31 Mat. 10 2. Ioan. 1 42. Mat. 17 24. Act. 1.15 made vnto S. PETER the mysticall keies of the kingdome of heauen deliuered to him only and many other thinges written of Saint PETER the (d) Cypr. de simpl Hil. et Hier. in c. 16. Mat. Hier. in Ion. l. 1. c. 14. Ciril l. 2. in Io. c. 12 Aug. Tr. 56. et 124. in Io. Orig. ho. 2. in diuers et tract 6. in Mat. Bas de paenit Chry. ho. 87 in Io. et 55. in Mat. et 9. de paenit et ser de caten et gladio S. Pet. et ho. in SS Petrum et Eliam Leo. ser 3. de anniuers et ep 89. ad Epis Vien Prince the mouthe and head of the Apostles Then they doe manifestly breake the peace and certaine order of the Church which with-out an highe Bishop his supereminent auctoritie can neither be well gouerned nor kept long in vnitie nor holde that sounde strength that is necessarie to beare out the violence of hell gates Lastly they doe impudently discredite the Fathers their CouÌ„cels and writings consenting all togither about this manifest (e) Aug. cont ep Fund c. 4. et de vtilitate cred c. 17. et lib. 11. cont Faustum cap. 2. note of the Church yea and the consonant voyce of all Christianitie This Church and Her dignitie acknowledged Saint HIEROME whose (f) ad Dam ep 58. et ep 57. ad cund words are these he that is ioined to PETERS chaire is mine Optatus of (g) l. 2. cont Donat. Africke hath acknowledged her who witnesseth that among the true notes of the Church the Chaire of Saint PETER is the principall (h) ep 162. 90. 92. 93. 165. S. AVGVSTINE hath acknowledged Her who writeth expresly that in the Church of Rome the Soueraigntie of the See Apostolike hath al-waies florished Saint (i) ep 55. 69. Hier. cont Lucif c. 4. Leo. ep 84. ad Anast cap. 11. Cyprian hath acknowledged her who imputeth the cause of all Haeresies and Schismes that doe growe to this alone that men doe not obey one highe Priest Iudge in Christ his roome Saint Ambrose (k) l. 3. de sacram c. 1. de obitu Satyr hath acknowledged Her in so much that he hath saide that in all thinges he did couet to followe the Romane Church And more auncieÌ„t than al these and neere vnto the Apostles time that very Apostolicall man Ireneus (l) Lib. 3. c. 3. Tert. de praescrip cap. 36. Cypr. ep 45. 46. Theod. l 2. hist cap. 4. Ber. ep 190. ad Innoc. lib. 2. de coÌ„sid cap. 8. Con. Chalc. action 3. Anaclet ep 1. 3. Marcell ep 1. Synedus Alexand ad Foelicem giueth such a testimoniall of coÌ„mendation to the Church of Rome To this Church saith he because of the chiefer principallitie it is necessary that all the Church haue recourse that is to say all the faithful that are dispersed in all places in which Church by those that are in all places of the world hath alwaies ben conserued the Apostolical Tradition 10 What dignitie and auctoritie hath the Church ALmightie God doth aduance his Church 1. Cor. 12.28 Ephes 5 25. Io. 14 15.26 16 12. 17 11.17 Mat. 28 20. 16 18. Psal 120 4. of all thinges vpon earth the moste deerest vnto him with many most excellent dowries promises and benefits Her he doth alwaies adorne preserue defend and maintaine Her also he hath appointed to be his (a) 1. Tim. 3 15. Ps 22 2. Io. 10 16. house wherin all the Sones of God may be cherished taught and exercised His pleasure was to make Her the (b) 1. Tim. 3 15. Aug. lib. 1. cont Creâ— cap. 33. â— 2. cap. 32. piller grounde of trueth that we may not doubt any whit of Her doctrine which as a maistres keeper interpreter of the trueth obtaineth credite and authority inuiolable Moreouer he hath determined that she should be builded vpon a sure (c) Mat. 1â— 18. 7 25. Ephes 2 20. Psal 86 2. 47 9. Aug. in Psal 47. Alcim lib. 4. cap. 14. Rocke that we might assuredly knowe how she is vnmoueable stedfast and how she preuaileth as vnuanquishable against the very gates (d) Mat. 16 18. of hell to wit the most sharpe and grieuous assaultes of all aduersaries Finally he will haue Her to be a certaine Cittie (e) Apo. 21 2 Mat. 5 15. Esa 2 2. Mich. 4 1. Mal. 1 11. Act. 1 8. P. 21 26.28 most holy set vpon a hill apparant to all men and easie to goe vnto least any man forsaking Her * 1. Io. 2 19. might betake himselfe to the pestiferous dennes dungeons of Haeretickes and being seduced with those false speaches (f) Mat. 24 23. ibid. Orig. tract 29. 30. Beholde here is Christ beholde there might depart and be with-drawne from her This is the (g) Cant. 4 7 6 8. Louer Sister and only spouse of Christ which holy Scripture proposeth and commendeth
may conclude this place of charity with an Oracle of God himselfe it is thus written (d) Deu. 30 20. Choose life that bothe thou maiest liue and thy seed And loue thy Lorde thy God And obey his voice and cleaue vnto him For he is thy life and the length of thy daies Then that no man may doubt but that the Euangelicall doctrine of Christ doth herein accord with the lawe let vs remember that Christ him-selfe did say If (e) Mat. 19 17. thou wilt enter into life keepe the commandementes And in an other place hauing commended vnto vs the preceptes and workes of charitie he also annexeth these wordes This (f) Luc. 10 28. do and thou shalt liue (g) Ro. 2 13. For not the hearers of the lawe are iuste with God but the dooers of the lawe shal-be iustified OF these doers were (h) Gen. 6 9. 7 1. in oratione Manassis Sap. 10 4. Mat. 23 35. 1 19. Iob. 13 18. Luc. 1 6. 2 25 Iac. 2 21. ABEL NOE ABRAHAM ZACHARIE whome the Scripture testifieth to haue ben iust before God as those that loued God their neighbour in worke and in trueth Wherfore DAVID not the least amongst them glorieng after a holy manner singeth thus I haue (i) Ps 118 32 runne the way of thy commandementes when thou hast dilated my harte I (k) Ps 118 47.48.51.55.101.102.110.113.127.128.157.159.163.167.168 haue loued I haue obserued I haue kept thy commandementes and thy testimonies in (l) Ps 18 12 keeping them much retribution (m) Ps 118 21. accursed are they that decline from thy commandementes OF THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHVRCH 1 Are there any other coÌ„mandementes to be obserued by Christians besides these ten THere are doubtles for-asmuch as our (a) Iac. 4 12. Law-maker and (b) Mat. 23 8. maister Christ hath not only taught the ten commandements (c) Mat. 19 17. of the Lawe but hath also commaunded in generall al those things that doe concern the yeelding of obedience vnto Apostolicall Ecclesiasticall commaundementes To this ende are those speeches of the Gospell (d) Io. 20 21 17 18. As my Father hath sent mee I also doe send you He (e) Luc. 10 16. that heareth you heareth me and hee that despiseth you despiseth mee If (f) Mat. 18.17 hee will not heare them tell the Church and if he wil not heare the Church let him bee to thee as the Heathen the Publican in which places Christ attributeth willeth to be attributed the chiefe and last iudgement vnto the Church that (g) 3. Reg. 8 14. is to say to the Prelates Gouernours of the Church as (h) hom 61 in Mat. Bas c. 30. constit monasti Theophylac Eutim in c. 18. Mat. S. CHRYSOSTOME doth interpret and the wordes of the Gospell immediatelie following doe declare and conuince For which cause it is not in vaine writteÌ„ of the Apostle Saint PAVL He (i) Act. 15.42 et 16 4. walked through Syria Cilicia confirming the Churches commanding them to keep the precepts of the Apostles and the Auncients 11 What theÌ„ are the precepts of the Apostles Auncients which S. PAVL would haue vs to keepe SAint DENIS the Areopagite Scoller of S. PAVL (a) Eccl. Hier cap. 1. Bas de spir Sanct. c. 27. Euseb lib. 1. demonst c. 8 Epiph. haer 61. contra Apostolicos Tert. de cor mil. c. 3. â—t 4. affirmeth that they are of two sortes to witte partly written partly vnwritten To both kindes doth belong that which Saint IHON the Euangelist saith He (b) 1. Io. 46. that knoweth God heareth vs. He that is not of God heareth vs not In this we know the spirit of trueth and the spirit of errour And surely the first kinde which is committed to letters and standeth in written Lawes is apparant enough for that it consisteth of those bookes that are Canonicall But the latter consisteth in those precepts and ordinances which are compreheÌ„ded vnder this one name of Traditions and vsually so called by the (c) Cyprian de ablu ped Hiero. cont Lucif c. 4. Chrysost in 2. ad Thef hom 4. Fathers For they are not kept in writing as the former but deliuered by word of mouth as it were by hand from our Auncestors surrendered ouer vnto vs and commended vnto the Church 3 Are both these kindes of precepts necessary to be obserued THey are doubtlesse if wee will followe the doctrine of Saint PAVL giuing vs this charge Stand (a) 2. Thes 2 15. ibid. Chrysost Theophylact and hold the Traditions which you haue learned whether it be by Worde or by our Epistle Whereupon he in this respect coÌ„mendeth the Corinthians because they did diligently keepe the preceptes of the (b) 1. Cor. 11 2. Apostles which they had already by word of mouth receiued Then he warneth the Thessalonians that they withdrawe themselues from euerie (c) 2. Thes 3 6. brother walking inordinately and not according to the Tradition receiued from the Apostles And this is that which the holy Counsaile of Nice consonant to (d) 2. Nicen. act 7. 8. Sinod c. 1. diuine Scripture hath expressed in so plaine termes It behoueth vs to obserue with one consent and inuiolably Ecclesiasticall Traditions whether they by writing or by custome bee reteined in the Church And we (e) De abâ—â—â— pedum read in S. CYPRIAN that that is of no lesse force which the Apostles by the inspiration of the holy Ghost haue deliuered thaÌ„ that which CHRIST him-selfe hath deliuered For as (f) Ibidem the holie Ghost and CHRIST haue one and the same God-heade so is the authoritie and power of them both equall in their sacred ordinances 4 How maie wee knowe which are Apostolicall and approued Traditions in the Church OF these S. AVSTEN hath (a) In Epist 118. ad Ian. cap. 1. prescribed vs a rule worthye to be noted saying Those things that we keep not written but deliuered which are certainly obserued al the worlde ouer it is vnderstoode that they are holdeÌ„ as coÌ„meÌ„ded ordained ether by the Apostles theÌ„selues or by general Counseles whose authority in the Church is most holesome So the same holy Doctor discoursing against the (b) Lib. 4. c. 24. lib. 2. c. 7. lib. 5. cap. 28. Donatistes yea eueÌ„ against al Hereticks admonisheth this very seriously looke what the vniuersal church holdeth which by couÌ„sels hath not bin decreed yet euer hath bin vsed it is very wel beleeued that by no other meanes than by the authority of the Apostles theÌ„selues it hath bin deliuered And LEO (c) Ser. 2. de Ieiunio PeÌ„tecostes the great agreeing hereunto saith It is not at al to bee doubted but that what-soeuer is holden in the Church as a custome of deuotion it proceedeth from Apostolical Tradition and of the Doctrine of the holy Ghost 5 What
(n) 2. Cor. 10 8. 13 10. hath God giuen this power to edification and not to destruction Moreouer to the intente that the stubbourne and rebellious persons may feele that (o) Mat. 18 17. et ibi Hieron power of chastising and excommunication which Christ hath ordained and Sainte * 1. Cor. 5 3. 1. Tim. 1 20. PAVL exercised and by the same may be corrected repressed Here vpon (p) l. de fid et op c. 5. 3. l. 3. con Parm. c. 2. Greg. ho. 26 in Euang. Chrysost l. 3. de Sacerd. S. AVGVSTINE they saith he that gouern in the Church maye exercise discipline so it bee without tumulte and in peaceable manner against the wicked outragious Wherfore in all these thinges to omit many others it is manifest that the Churches authoritie is not only profitable but also necessarie so that without the same doubtlesse the Christian common welth might be thought nothing els but a very Babylonical confusion And therefore as we doe beleeue the Scripture and relie vpon it and attribute vnto it speaciall authoritie for the testimony of the holy Ghost speaking (q) 2. Pet. 1 19. 2. Tim. 3.16 Mat. 18 17. Io. 14 16.26 16 12. within it so also doe we owe faith reuerence and obedience to the Church for that by Christ her heade and spouse she is informed endowed confirmed with the (r) Act. 2 4. Eph. 4 4. same spirite so that it is not possible but that she be as she is called the (Å¿) 1. Tim. 3 15. Piller and grounde of truth 17 What is the fruite and commoditie of the whole doctrine touching the preceptes Traditions of the Church IT is certes very greate and full of variety And surely the first is that we may knowe that we are not tied to letters only or to diuine Scriptures For to vse the words of Saint Ireneus (a) Lib. 3. c. 4 Epi. haer 61. What if the Apostles had lefte vs no Scriptures must we not haue haue followed the order of Tradition which they deliuered vnto them to whom they committed the Churches therfore hath S. BASILL (b) Lib. de spir sanct c. 27. saide very well The verities which are helde and taught in the Church some we haue out of the doctrine set forth in writing some wee haue receiued from the Tradition of the Apostles in mysterie that is in hidden and secrete manner Both which haue equall force and authoritie to the furtherance of pietie And these no man will gainesay that hath beene but euen meanly experienced what the lawes of the Church are And it caÌ„ not be doubted but that (c) Io. 20 30 21.25 Aug. ep 108 ad seleucianam Christ and his Apostles both did taught many thinges which although they are not written yet they doe very much appertaine vnto vs and all posteritie Of which S. PAVLL (d) Phil. 4 8. warning vs in generall saith For the rest brethren what thinges soeuer be true whatsoeuer honest whatsoeuer iust whatsoeuer holye whatsoeuer amiable whatsoeuer of good name if there be any vertue if any praise of discipline these thinges thinke vpon which you haue both learned and receiued and heard and seene in me these thinges doe you and the God of peace be with you The next commoditiy of them is that we may rightly vse Christian libertie which men giuen to idlenesse and riote if euer at any time now most of all doe make an occasion to the fleshe as the (e) Gal. 5 13 2. Pet. 2 19. Apostle speaketh vnder pretence thereof they serue their filthy pleasures whatsoeuer in a manner they haue a fancie vnto though it concerne euen the alteration of the decrees of Religion they thinke it lawfull for them to doe Aug. ep 118 cap. 1. 5. But froÌ„ this prophane noueltie and rashnesse the Apostolicall and Ecclesiasticall Doctrines decrees do call away defend terrifie vs bridling mans licentiousnesse teaching vs to vse Christian liberty in a coÌ„uenient sort to wit so that (f) 1. Pet. 1 18. Ro. 6 18.22 Gal. 3 13. 4 31. Ro. 8 2. being made free by Christ froÌ„ the yoke of sinne bondage of the olde lawe we may willingly of our (g) Psa 53 8. Col. 3 23. Luc. 1 71. 2. Cor. 3 17 Ro. 6 22. 1. Cor. 9 19. 1. Pet. 1 22. 2 20. Luc. 21 19. Mat. 4 1.7 16 14. owne accorde performe Christian dutie we may serue God in holinesse and iustice we may followe the holy Ghost as our guide in the lawe of Charitie being the seruauntes of iustice the sonnes of obedience the practisers of humilitie the keepers of patience and louers of penance and of the Crosse You saith the (h) Gaâ—l 5 1â— Apostle are called into libertie only make not this libertie an occasioÌ„ to the flesh but by charitie of spirite serue one another To the nourishing maintenaÌ„ce of which charitie of spirite in the dutifulnesse of an holy seruitude both all honest thinges are profitable and the deuoute obseruation of the Tradition of the Church is vndoubtedlye most auaileable The last vse and commoditye is that we may truly discerne betwene the lawfull and bastarde children of the Church or betwene Catholikes and Heretikes For (i) Vincen. Liren the first doe simply stay them selues in the doctrine of the Church whether the same be deliuered vnto them in writing as in the Bible or approued by the TraditioÌ„ of the Fathers For they doe followe the worde of God Doe (k) Pro. 22 28. Eccli 8 11. Deut. 32 7. Hier. c 16. not goe beyond the auncient boundes which thy Fathers haue set But the other which are Heretickes doe swarue from this simplicitie of faith from the approued sentence of our reuerende mother the Church of the holy Fathers and they trust to much either vnto them selues or to those that haue reuolted from the Church insomuch as euen being warned they doe not come backe amend their error And therfore of them hath Saint PAVL so seuerely decreed when he saith A man (l) Tit. 3 10. that is an Hereticke after the first and second admonition auoide knowing that he that is such a one is subuerted And to conclude with (m) ad Pompeium S. CYPRIAN whosoeuer hath reuolted from the vnitie of the Church he must needes be founde in the company of Heretickes 18 What finally is the summe of all the premises THose thinges that from the beginninge hetherto haue bene handled touchinge the summe of Christian doctrine doe tend to this end that the true wisdome of a Christian man might be described and set before vs which is comprehended in these three (a) Aug. l. 2. tetr c. 63. vertues (b) 1. Cor. 13 13. 2. Tim. 2 22 faith hope charitie By faith the soule doth (c) Heb. 11.1 firmlie consent vnto Gods truth and relie vpon the same By hope
fayth and beleefe hereof a good and patient man doth take solace and comforte in the greatest miseries that maye befall so that at the verye laste gaspe of life he will say (d) Iob. 19 25. I knowe that my Redeemer dothe liue in the laste day I shall rise from the earthe agayne be compassed aboute with my skinne and in my fleshe I shall see God Wise therfore certes and moste wise are those that doe bring into the seruitude of Iustice and (e) Col. 3 5. 1. Pet. 3.18 1. Cor. 9 27 Ro. 6 12. 1. Cor. 15 42. vertue these earthly dyeng meÌ„bers doe prepare this body as a pure vessell for the happy immortallity that is to come 21 What is the laste Article OF lyfe * 1. Cor. 2 9. Io. 17 3. Mat. 19 12.14.17.23.29 25 34 46 Apoc. 2 7. 10.17.26 3.11 21. 7 14. 21 2.10.23 22 1.12 Ro. 2 6. Tit. 1 1. â— 13. 3 7. 2. Tim. 4.7 1. Io. 2 25. 3 2. 1. Pet. 1 3. Ro. 6 22. euerlastinge which we may nothing doubt to remaine vnto the electe after theire deathe And this is the fruite finall end of Fayth Hope Patience Christianlike exercise For the obtayning of whiche life to a true beleeuer no worke of pietie ought to seeme difficulte no labour paynfull no greife bitter no time long or taedious in well working or sufferinge And if this life notwith-standinge that it is repleate with all manner of calamities be accouÌ„pted a thing moste choyse and delightfull how muche more is that life to be had in greate price and aestimation which is (a) Aug. de ciu Dei l. 22 c. 29 30. l. 3. de lib arb c. vlt. ser 64. de Ver. Do. â— 1 seq l. 3 de symb ad catech c. 12 so farre off from any feeling and feare of euill is replenished on euery syde with heauenlye and vnspeakeable ioyes pleasures and delights that neuer shall haue end Of whiche life Christe sayth thus (b). Luc. 12 32. Feare not litle flocke for it hath pleased your Father to giue you a Kingdome And at the latter day of iudgemente he will saye vnto the electe (c) Mat. 25 34. Come yee blessed of my father possesse you the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the worlde But vnto the wicked he will speake in this manner Get yee (d) Ibid. 46. away from me you cursed into fire euerlasting which was prepared for the Deuill and his Angels Which sentence doth not onelie touch (e) Fulg. in lib. de fide ad Pet. c. 38. 40. Heathens Heretickes Schismatickes publike sinners but appertaineth also to all those Christians that doe (f) Ez. 18 4. 33 8. Ro 6 23. Sap. 1 16. 1. Cor. 6 9. end their liues in mortall sinne Last of al this clause (g) Hier. ad Mared ep 137. AMEN is added in the end that it may plainly appeeare howe firmely and surely grounded we stand in the profession and testimony of this Christian Faith and Confession 22 Is it sufficient for a Christian to beleeue those thinges only that are contained in the Creede FIrst specially no doubt Heb. 5 12. 6 1. 1. pet 3 15. those thinges that are taught vs in the Creed of the Apostles are to be beleeued openly (a) Amb. l. 3 de Virg. Aug. l. 1 de symb ad Cat. c. 1. l. 2. cap. 1. professed of euery one Which also are made more plaine beeing conferred with the Creed of the FATHERS with that of ATHANASIVS Secondly a ChristiaÌ„ must of necessity beleeue whatsoeuer the (b). 2. Pet. 1 19. Ro. 15 4. 2. Tim. 3 15 diuine Canonical Scripture doth containe But the certaine (c) Conc. Tol. 1 c. 21. Aug. ser 129. 191 de temp Hic in sym ad Damas Aug. coÌ„ ep fund c. 5. Trid. Sess 4. legitimate books of Scripture no man may discerne by any other meanes than by the iudgement authority of the Church Thirdly hereunto doe belong those thinges that are necessarily drawen (d) Mat. 22 29. deduced partly out of the Articles of the Creede and partly out of holy Scriptures Fourthly lastly are all such documents to be holden as most holy to be firmely beleued which the holy ghost reuealeth vnto vs pronounceth by the (e) Cypr. ep 10. ad Nest Iren. l. 3. cap. 4. li. 4. c. 45. 63. Hier. con Lucif c. 4. Vinc. Lir. con Nouat Church whether they be commended vnto vs by writing or deliuered by tradition word of mouth Which point we will touch more at large hereafter These therefore are the things in which the true catholike faith doth coÌ„sist without the (f) Iâ—eo ser 4. de natiu Dom. which al sectaries do in vaine promise to theÌ„selues others grace saluatioÌ„ in christ THE SECONDE CHAPTER OF HOPE Aug. in Eâ—c cap. 8. 1. Cor. 13 13. Ro. 5 2. 8 24. Tit. 2 13. 3 7. 1. Pet. 1 3. 1. Io. 5 14. Iac. 1 3.5 Io. 14 13. 15 7.16 16 23. Mar. 11 24. Ps 26 13.14 129.6 72 28. 61 8.11 1. Tim. 4 10 1. Thes 5 8. Eph. 6 17. Heb. 10 35. 6 18. AND OVR LORDS PRAIER 1 What is Hope HOpe is a vertue infused by God whereby wee doe with assured trust confidence expect at Gods hande the good of our saluation life euerlasting To small purpose it is to beleeue in God and the word of God to professe the diuine Doctrine of holie Church vnlesse a Christian hauing once vnderstoode the goodnesse of Almighty God doe conceiue hope confidence of obtaining grace and aeternall saluation Which hope doth so fortifie vphold the iust man in the greatest (a) Eccli 34 15. Rom. 8 35. Psal 30 25. Prou. 28 1. miseries that although he be destitute of all wordly helpes yet will he confidently say (b) Iob. 13 15. Al-though he kill me yet will I hope in him And (c) ps 55 5. in God I haue hoped I wil not feare what fleshe may do vnto me (d) Ps 24 2. My God I trust in thee I will not be ashamed 2 By what meanes may a man come to haue this hope FIrst of al one great helpe heerunto is to (a) 1. Thes 5 16. Luc. 11 9. 18 1. Mat. 7 7. Eccli 18 22. pray feruently often to almighty God Also hope is to be nourished and stirred vp with dayly meditation of the goodnesse and benefites (b) Eph. 2 4. Tit. 3 3. Ro. 8 29. Io. 3 16. 1. Co. 4 9. Heb. 10 23. Tit. 1 2. Ro. 5 8.17.20 8 18. of God those especially which Christ our Lorde for his infinite charity towards vs performed promised euen to the vndeseruing Last of all there must be annexed (c) Pro. 15.15 1. Io. â— 21. Aug. l. 1.
they deale so much more feruently in our behalfe by how much lesse cause they haue to be carefull for them-selues and by how much greater perfectioÌ„ of synceare (g) Hier. in vigil c. 2. 3. Bern. in vig. Pet. Pau. serm 2. in festo eorundem ser 2. de S. Vict. charity and of all kinde of vertue agreable vnto blessed Saints they continually doe exercise Not with-out greate cause therfore doe wee (h) Dam. l. 4. cap. 16. reuerence these lightes of heauen and nexte vnto God the fortresses principall ornaments of the Church Not without greate cause doe we esteeme praise imitate and loue exceedingly these Saintes aboue all mortall men thoughe neuer so excellent Not with-out greate cause according to our small power we doe exhibite great honor vnto theÌ„ being now aduanced to such and so great dignity Finally not without great cause do we according to ChristiaÌ„ pietie make sute vnto theÌ„ (i) Bas in 40. Mart. et in Mamátem Naz. ora 18. in Cypr. 21. in Ath. 20 in Bas Nyss de San. Eph. Chrys in ser de catenis S. Petri. Amb. de vid. de fid resur in c. 22. Luc. Chrys ho. 66. ad pop Ephr de laud. Mart. Hier. in epit Paulae ep 27. c. 1. 7. 14. Aug. de cura pro mort c. 4. l. 7. con Don. c. 1. Ber. ser 66. in cant Theod. l. 8. Graec. aff in Philoth. Prud. in lib. peri steph 7. synod Act. 6. vide etiam supra in salutationem Angelicam Gen. 48 16. Iob. 5 1. Gen. 32 26. Ose 12 4. Zach. 1 12. Hier. 15 1. call vpoÌ„ theÌ„ not that they may giue any thing as of themselues but that they may pray with vs to God the giuer of all goodnesse and that they may be fauorable and effectuall intercessours eueÌ„ in their behalfe that haue deserued no good at all Which kinde of worship and inuocation if it bee done rightly as it should to witte so as that supreame (k) Aug. lib. 10. ciu c. 1 lib. 20. cont Faust ca. 21. lib. 8. ciu cap. 27. worshippe and honor due vnto Almighty God which wee called Latria may stand whole perfite there is doubtlesse no inconuenience therein neither is it (l) Ro. 15 30 Heb. 13 18. Ephes 6 18. Col. 4 2. 1. Thes 5 25 2. Thes 3 1. Luc. 7 3. Iob. 42 8. repugnant to holy Scripture but is approued by many firme testimonies of the Church is very profitable And in that we do in this manner with the Church honor cal vpon the Saints it is so farre off from obscuring the glory (m) Conc. Trid. sess 25. of Christ our Lord Sauiour that it doth more set forth and aduance the same For herein doth the most excellent vertue and glory of Christ our Redemer shine and shewe it selfe in that he doth not only in himselfe but in (n) Ps 67 36. Ioan. 14 12. his Saints also appeare mighty glorious and marueilous in that he honoureth (o) Io. 12 26 Mat. 19 28. Luc. 19 17. Ap. 2 26. 3 21. 5 10 them himselfe and will haue them exceedingly (p) Psal 138 17. honored in heauen and in earth also in that that by them and for their sakes (q) Chry. ho. 2. in Psal 50. ho. 27. in Mat. 42. in Gen. fâ—r de virt et vit he giueth many thinges and spareth oftentimes the vndeseruing For it is well knowne that ABRAHAM (r) Gen. 26 3.24 Ex. 32 13.3 Reg. 11 12.32.34.36 et 15 4. Esa 37 35. 4. Reg. 8 19. et 19 34. et 20 6. et 2. Mac. 15.12 ISAAC IACOB DAVID HIEREMIE are reade to haue profited the liuing though they themselues were departed before Whereupon the fathers (s) Amb. vid. et in ca. 21. Luc. Leo. seâ— 1. et 2. de Pet. et Pau. et ser de annâ—uers Paulin. ad Cyth et de B. Faelice Maxim de Taur Mar. Bas in 40. Mar. Aug. quest 108. in Exod. Euseb de praep lib. 13. cap. 7. wheÌ„ they speake of the Saints they often call them our fauorers intercessors and Patrones And not without cause doubtlesse forasmuch as the faithful suffrages of the Saints wheÌ„ they are humbly and deuoutly desired in the name of CHRIST are knowne by experience to haue done good to many For which cause were (t) Hier. con Vig. ca. 2. seq epist 53. adu Ripar in ca. 65. Esa er 2. Syn. Nic. Gangreh the VIGILANTIANS long since condemned who do defraud the saints their holy (u) 4. Reg. 13 21. Eccli 48 14. Aug. 22. ciu cap 8. Dam. lib. 4. cap. 16. Bas in Psal 115. Chrys in Iuuent Max. in Bab. ser de catenis Petri. Amb. ep 85. ser 91. 93. Naz. Iamb 18. Conc. Trid. sess 25. Act. 19 12. 5 15. Luc. 8 44. Mat. 14 36. Relickes of their honours which the true Catholike Church hath alwaies giueÌ„ vnto theÌ„ Neither must we giue eare vnto malitious cauilers who doe falselye affirme that the honour due vnto God is by this meanes translated (x) Gen. 19 1. 23 7. 33 3.6 42 7. Ios â— 14. 1. Reg. 20 41. 25 23. 4. Reg. 2 15. 1. Pat. 29 20. vnto men that Saints are adored for Gods that creatures are by Catholikes made equal vnto the Creatour For that it is nothing so bothe many other thinges doe conuince amongst the rest that olde and solempne supplication called the Lytanie dothe testifie where God the diuine persons are worshiped and inuocated first of all in a farre more high and excellent manner than the Saintes (y) Bern. ser de 4. modis orandi Victor lib. 3. de persecutione Wand or all the orders of Saintes together Hereupon also were those feasts of Saintes instituted which Sainte AVGVSTINE writing againste FAVSTVS the Manichee (z) Lib. 20. con Fau. ca. 21. in Ps 88. Conc. 3. ser 47. de sanctis Ber. in Vig. Pet. Pau. Isid lib. 1. de off ca. 34. 35. defendeth in this manner The Christian people saith he dothe celebrate the memories of Martirs with a religious solemnity that they may both stirre themselues vp to the following of their steppes and also be made partakers of their merits and holpen by their prayers 9 Is the receiued vse of the images of Christ and his Saintes contrary to this first commaundement Bar. 6 25.38 Deut. 4 15. 5 8. Psa 113 12. 134.15 Sap. 14 1.21 1. Cor. 10 7. 8 4. NO surely for we doe not as the Heathens are wonte worshipe images stockes stones as if they were certaine (a) Leu. 26 â— Tert. l. 2. 501. Mar. cap 22. Goddes for that is speacially prohibited in this commandement but after a Christian maner and with a deuoute minde we doe there honour Christ himselfe his Saintes where they are represented (b) Bas
are those Apostolical Traditions which Christians must obserue THere are sufficient store of examples extant amongest the Fathers and such of the Fathers as aboue a thowsande yeares since deserued publike credit By Tradition ORIGEN (a) in c. 6. ep ad Rom. (b) l. 10. de gen ad lit c. 23. et con Don. lib. 4. c. 24. S. AVSTEN doe teach that Infants are to be baptised S. DENIS (c) de Eccle. hier c. 7. and (d) in exhor ad castit c. 11. et de cor mil. c. 3. et de monog c. 10. TERTVLLIAN do shew that praiers oblations ought to be made at the Altar for them that are departed Hereupon S. HIEROME (e) ad Marcell ep 54. cont erro Montani (f) haeresi 75. Acrii EPIPHANIVS doe plainly affirme that the set fasts of the church especially that of LENTE are to be obserued So in like maner doth Saint AMBROSE (g) in officio Mediolan (h) in Liturgia Saint CHRYSOSTOME auouche the dignitie of those things that are solemnely prosecuted in the holy office of the MASSE Than besides (i). l. 4. c. 17. in orat de Imag. DAMASCEN the Fathers that the second Nicen Councell doth (k) act 6. tom 4. act 7. cite doe witnes by the same reason that the Images of Christ and his Saintes are to be reuerenced Finally to omit all others that great and holy (l). l. de spir sanct c. 27. doctour Saint BASIL affirmeth that the sacred Chrisme other solemne ceremonies vsed in the most holy Sacramentes are holden vpon tradition And the same Sainte addeth (m) Ibidem further If we doe once attempt to refuse the ordinances and customes that are not written as thinges of small moment and importance we shall couertly and by little little fal to disproue the very ratified sentences of the Gospell or rather wee shall bring the preaching thereof to a bare name But I (n) c. 29. clus dem li. saith he doe thinke it Apostolicall to sticke to those Traditions also that are not written 6 How much at this day doe men erre goe astray about Apostolical Ecclesiastical Traditions VEry much no doubt whilest many do despise them others neglecte them or at the least make no more account of them than of the statutes of (a) Ro. 13 1. ciuil Magistrates and faine them to be decrees of meÌ„ which may bee obserued broken at a mans pleasure as being to verie little or no profite at all calling them thinges indifferent Some there are who wil haue all manner of Traditions of like moment and so they doe shamefullie confound certaine places of Scripture as though there were no difference between (b) Math. 15 9. Pharisaicall Traditions and Apostolicall between (c) Col. 2 8.20 Mar. 7 3. Iudaicall and (d) 2. Thes 2 15 Act. 15 42. 16 4 Ecclesiastical betweene priuate particular Traditions and (e) Aug. ep ad Ian. 118. c. 1. 2. epist 86. ad Casul those which being receiued by the coÌ„sent of the whole Church approued so many ages together by the common custome of deuout persons and as it were by hande deliuered ouer vnto vs are found in a maner al the world ouer 7 What is to be thought of such as reiect make no account of the Traditions of the Church THese doth the word of God reproue and condemne when it appointeth Traditions to be (a) 2. Thess 2 15. 1. Cor. 11 2 obserued commaundeth vs to (b) Mat. 18 17. heare the Church and to keepe the (c) Act. 15 42. 16.4 precepts of the Apostles Auncients It is the worde of God that maketh vs subiecte to Magistrates both (d) Ro. 13 1. Mat. 22 21. Ciuil (e) Mat. 23 2. Luc. 10 16. Ecclesiastical to the modest also to the (f) 1. Pet. 2 13. waiwarde for (g) Ro. 13 5. conscience-sake It will haue vs giue both great (h) Tit. 3 1. reuerence and obedience vnto their Lawes (i) He. 13 17 Obay saith it your prelates and be subiect vnto them (k) Mat. 23 2. Al things that they shall say to you obserue yee and doe yee but according to their workes do yee not Wherefore these fellowes doe not only despise men but God (l) 1. Thess 438. 1. Cor. 14 37. himselfe most gratious mighty whom they shoulde heare reuerence in the (m) Ioa. 20 21. 17 18 Luc. 10 16. Apostles their (n) Cyprian epist 69. ad Flor. Pas cap. 23. constitut mon. successours Therefore they do manifestly resist the worde of God whilest they resiste the power and ordinance of God and purchase damnation vnto themselues thereby if we beleeue (o) Ro. 13 2. S. PAVL Vndoudtedly this is the very ordinance of God himselfe which caÌ„not be abolished by any authoritie of man that by certaine Lawes those partly written and partly vnwritten which the Tradition of the (p) Bas de Spir. Sanct. cap. 27. Aug. lib. 4. cont Dona. c. 24. et l. 2. c. 7. et l. 5. c. 23. et 26. Epiph. haeresi 55. Euseb l. 3. histor c. 30. Apostles commendeth vnto vs the Church be gouerned true Doctrine preserued Religion defended Concorde nourished Discipline kept and obserued 8 What hath the iudgement of the Fathers beene about this matter ORIGEN a famous and verie auncient author hath written in these wordes Euerie such onâ— is of vs to bee accounted an (a) In cap. 3. ep ad Tit. teste Pamphilo in apol pro Origen Iten l. 4. c. 43 Hereticke that professeth himselfe to beleeue Christ beleeueth otherwaies of the trueth of Christian faith than hath the definition of the Churches Tradition And the same in an other place That (b). â—l 1. periar in Prooâ— mio only is to be thought the truth saith he which in no pointe disagreeth froÌ„ the Tradition of the Church And it is the speach of S. HIEROME I doe (c) ad Lucinium ep 28 thinke it good to admonishe thee that the customes of the Church espeacially those that are not against faith are so to be obserued as they were deliuered from our auncestors And S. AVGVSTINE (d) ep 118. cap. 5. teacheth in this manner If the authoritie of diuine Scripture doe prescribe any thing there is no doubt but that we ought so to doe as we haue read so in like maner if the Church doe vse any thing through out the worlde for to dispute that a man ought not so to doe were a part of most insolent madnesse And againe the same In (e) ad Casul ep 86. those matters wherin the worde of God hath set downe no certainty the custome of Gods people or the decrees of our Auncestours are to be holden as a lawe And as the transgressours (f) Distinct 11. c. in his of diuine lawes so also the contemners
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
mer. c. 19. li. 4. contr Donat cap. 24. God-fathers hee made in the holy Lauer. Therefore let euery Christian consider that of the childe of Wrathe and slaue of Satan hee there was made the Sonne (d) Ro. 8 1.14 Gal. 4 5. of God and a member and coheire of Christ a liuelie (e) 1. Cor. 6 19. Temple of the holy-Ghost Thou enteredst into the sanctuary of regeneration saith (f) Amb. de initiā myst ca. 2. Chrys hom 21. ad pop Antioc Aug li. 4. de symb ad Cat. cap. 1. S. AMBROSE call to minde what thou werte demaunded Recognize what aunswer thou diddest make Thou hast renounced the diuell and his workes the worlde with all her luxuriousnesse pleasures (g) Amb. l. 1. de Sacram. c. 2. Cyr. Hieros catech mystag 1. Bee mindfull of thy speache and neuer let the processe of thy obligation depart out of thy remembrance And it is an excellent speache of S. PAVL exhorting all those that are Baptised (h) Ro. 6 3. Gal. 3 27. Aug. de fide operibus cap. 26. Are you ignorant that all we which are Baptised in Christ Iesus in his death we are baptised For wee are buried together with him by Baptisme into death that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father so we also may walke in the newenesse of life OF THE SACRAMENTE OF CONFIRMATION 1 Which is the other Sacrmente next vnto Baptisme COnfirmation which is a Sacrament of the new Law as sacred holy saith (a) Lib. 2. cōtra lit Petil. c. 104. Concil Eliber ca. 38 Aurel. c. 3. Lac. c. 48. Melden c. 6. Flor. Const ses 15. Trid. ses 7. Bern. in vita Malach. episc Petrus Damiā ser 1 dededicat eccles Isid de eccles offic li. 2. c. 25. 26. Raban de inst cler l. 1. c. 30. S. AVGVSTINE as Baptisme it selfe which is ministred vnto the Baptised with the impositiō of the hands of a Bishop the annointing with holy Chrisme 2 What warrant haue we to vse this Sacrament IT hath the testimonie of diuine Scripture according to the vniforme sentence and interpretation of the Fathers and the (a) Cyp. l. 1. ep 12. Aug. lib. 5. cont Dona. cap. 19. 20. item tract 6. in ep Ioan. Church For hereunto belongeth that which (b) Act. 8 17. 19 5. Cypr. ad Iubaian S. LVKE the Euāgelist not once writeth of the Apostles that laide their hands vpō the Baptised vsing this visible signe ordained by God himselfe because a newe and more plentifull grace of the holy-Ghost was giuē to those which were new borne in Christ And therfore whē the Apostles laid hands vpon them they receiued as S. LVKE recordeth of those (c) Ibidem Baptised the holie Ghost to witte with a certaine encrease and aboundance of spirituall grace But at this time whereas the Bishoppes doe beare the roome and possesse the place of the Apostles God doth not defraud his Church of this so holesome a grace but by the same Bishoppes (d) Hier. cōt Lucif cap. 4. in this Sacrament woorketh effectually so that as (e) serm de vnctione Chrismatis testifieth S. CYPRIAN The verity is ioined with the signe and the spirite is present in the Sacrament And hereunto doth appertaine that Canon of the Church of olde set downe (f) Vrban Pont. et Martyr qui. anno 227. vixit in ep ad omnes Christianos All the faithfull ought to receiue the holy-Ghost after Baptisme by the imposition of handes from a Bishoppe that they may bee founde perfite Christians because when the holy-Ghost is infused the faithfull heart is dilated to prudence and constancie 3 What things are necessary for the perfection of this Sacrament THree thinges are speciallie required thereunto the proper matter of the Sacrament the due forme of wordes and a conuenient Minister The matter is compound of Oile and (a) Conc. Braccar c. 4. Cypr. de vnction Chris Greg. in 1. c Cant. Fab Con Flo. Baulme which being consecrated by a Bishoppe hath nowe of olde obtained the name of holye (b) Cypr. vt supra l. 1. ep 12. Bas de spir sā c. 27. Fab qui vixit anno 241. ep 2. Chrisme and in this Sacrament is after a solemn manner laid vpon the forehead The prescripte forme of wordes is this (c) Con Flo. 2. Cor. 1 21. Ephes 1 13. I doe signe thee with the signe of the Crosse and confirme thee with the Chrisme of saluation In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost The Minister of this Sacramente is a Bishop only that the example forme Tradition of the (d) Act. 8 14 Clem ep 4. Vrbā Melc Damasc ep 4. Leo. epi. 88. ad episc Ger. Gall. Conc. Wor. Flor. Tri. Apostles may be kept Of which thing we haue receiued a decree set down of olde in this maner (e) Eus Pon. Mart. ep ad Episcop Tusc Cāpan Innoc. c. 1 ep 1. ad Decent c. 3. The Sacrament of imposition of hands is to be had in great reuerence which cannot be done by any other but by the high Priests neither is it reade or knowen to haue beene donne by any other in the Apostles time but by the (f) Act 8 14. 19 6. Apostles themselues 4 And why are the Baptised annointed with holy Chrisme BEcause that by the instincte of the holy-Ghost Bas de spir san cap. 27. the Apostles haue so deliuered vnto vs as (a) Epi. 4. ad Iulium Iulian. S. CLEMENT and (b) De eccle hier c. 4. 2 S. DENIS the disciples of S. PETER and S. PAVL doe proue and they deliuered that doubtlesse concerning the hallowing of Chrisme which they had receiued of our Lord himselfe as is thereof a graue witnes (c) In ep ad Orientales Episc FABIANVS who was both a Martyr of Christ and high Bishop of the Church Also there is extant of this matter such a precept of a most holie (d) Synod Laod. can 48. Corn. ad Fab. Antioc apud Euseb l. 6. hist c. 35. Theodor. de haer Fabul in Nouat Synode The Baptised after Baptisme must receiue the most holy Chrism and be made partakers of the kingdome of heauen Sainte CYPRIAN alleadgeth (e) l. 1. ep 1◠de vncti Chrismat Cyril l. 9. in Leuit Cyril Hier. catech 3. myst this reason that a Christian hauing once receiued Chrisme to witte Vnction or Annointing may be the annointed of God and haue in him the grace of Christ and continually maintaine holinesse And this visible Ointmēt wherwith the Church doth annoint the Baptised as (f) l. 15. de Trinit ca. 26. Pacianus Barcilonen de Baptis et ep 1 ad sympron S. AVGVSTINE teacheth doth signifie the gifte of inuisible grace wherewith the holy Ghost doth with his internal Vnction replenishe and confirme Christ principally who tooke his
but also to couer his faultes with more reformed actions that sinne may not bee imputed vnto him And againe in another place For a great (f) Ad Virg. laps ca. 8. lib. 1. de paenit cap. 2. wound a deepe long medicine is necessarie Great wickednesse must of necessity haue great Satisfactiō Finally so saith S. GREGORY It is to be (g) Hom. 34. in Euan. vide Emis ad mon. ho. 5. 10. Theod. in epit diuinor decret ca. de paenit l. 4 haeret fab de Audianis seriously thought considered that he which knoweth himselfe to haue committed things vnlawefull must endeuour to abstaine from some things that are lawefull that thereby he may make Satisfaction vnto his Creatour 9 Is there any place for Satisfaction after Death FOr the explication of this point wee must consider the diuerse estates of them that die For some of them do keepe the grace of God and innocency of life euen to their end Vnto whom appertaineth that saying of (a) In orat Manassis MANASSES That Vnto iust persons and those which haue not sinned as ABRAHAM ISAAC and IACOB Penance was not ordained Others haue sinned indeed fallen from the grace of God which once they receiued but they haue purged in this life the filthe of their sinnes with the woorthy workes of Penance as (b) 2. Reg. 12 13. Psal 6 7. DAVID (c) Esa 38 15 EZECHIAS (d) Mat. 26 57. S. PETER (e) Luc. 7 37 S. MARY MAGDALEN Bothe these kindes haue no neede of Satisfaction after death but are altogether free from all bonde thereof But far more in number are those of a middle sorte and yet not verie euil as (f) Ench. ca. 11◠Beda in cap. 11. Pro. S. AVGVSTINE sheweth who haue not performed perfite Penance for their sinnes in their life time and therefore are to be saued (g) 1. Cor. 3 15. So doth Saint Augustine expoūd this place in Psal 37. l. 21. de ciuit c. 26. de fide oper cap. 16. in Psal 80. So doth also Origen ho. 12. 13. in Hier. 25. in Num. 6. in Exod. Amb. in 1. Cor. 3. ser 20. in Psal 118. Hieron in cap. 4. Amos. in fine vlt. libri in Esa lib. 2. in Iouin cap. 1◠Also Saint Gregory li 4. Dial. cap. 39. Beda in 3. cap. Luc. by fire that whatsoeuer was wanting of conuenient Satisfaction in this life may be paide vnto Gods Iustice in another For there (h) Apoc. 21 27. Psal 14 1. 23 3. shal not enter any polluted thing into that Cittie Therefore that we may aunswer to the question proposed such kind of persons departed must abide some Satisfaction yea that most painfull after their death Which yet neuerthelesse (i) Aug. vt supra li 21. ciu c. 24. ho. 16. ex 50. ser 41. de sāctis Greg. 4. Dial. cap. 39 Ber. de obitu Humb. Damasc in orat de def Conc. Flor. Trid. ses 6. can 30. ses 25. part 1 God of his great mercie is wonte to release by the deuout intercession of those that are aliue that so they which are depated being holpen in the Church by the Suffrages of their brethren and members may bee lightned of their sinnes of the terrible paines due vnto the same And hereunto belongeth that which the authority of holy Scripture deliuereth It (k) 2. Mach. 12 43. 1. Reg 31 13 Bedā ib. 2. Reg 1 12. 3 31 Tob. 4 18. Eccli 7 37. 17 18. 38 14. Hier. 16 6. 2. Tim. 1 17 1. Io. 5 16. is a holy and holesome cogitation to pray for the dead that they may bee loosened from their sinnes Whereupon IVDAS the Machabee was commended for that beeing mooued with a singular religious zeale he did with great care and sumptuosenesse procure that not only praiers but also (l) Ibidem sacrifice should be offered for the sinnes of the souls departed In this Doctrine doe agree the Reuerende (m) Conc. 4. Cart. ca. 79. 95. Tolet. 11. cap. 31. Bra. 1. c 34. Flor. Trid ses 25. ses 22. cap. 2. can 3. Councels and Fathers which haue deliuered the true Doctrine of the Church Of whō to alleadg one in steede of many him a witnesse most worthie of credite (n) Li. de cura mor. ca. 1. S. AVGVSTINE writeth thus In the bookes of the Machabees we reade Sacrifice to haue been offered for the dead But although it were no where extant in the olde Scriptures yet is the authority of the Vniuersall Church not small whose practise in this behalfe is most euident where in the praiers of the Priests which are made vnto our Lorde at his Altar the commendation also of those that are departed hath a peculiar place And againe It is to be thought saith hee that there shall bee no Purgatorie (o) Lib. 21. ciu ca. 16. vide Mat. 12 32. Which place is expounded of remission of sinnes in the other world by praiers of the Church By S. Aug. l. 21. ciu c. 24. l. 6. in Iul. c. 5. Greg. l. 4 Dial. ca. 39. Beda in c. 3. Mar. Bern. hom 66. in Cant. Pet. Clun in ep cōt Pet. Bru. Raban lib. 2 de inst cler cap. 44. vide etiam Mat. 5 26 Which place also is expoūded of Purgatorie By Tert. l. deanima cap. 17. Cypr. lib. 4. ep 2. Orig. ho. 35. in Luc. in ep ad Ro. Emis ho. 5. de Epiph. Amb. in Luc. 12. Hier. in Mat. 5. Bern. ser de obitu Humbert vide Mal. 3 3. Phil. 2 10. Apoc. 5 3.13 paines after that last and terrible iudgement And what can bee more plainelye spoken than those wordes It is not to bee doubted but that by the praiers of the (p) Aug. de verb. Apo. ser 32. cap. 1. 2. vide Isid lib. 1. de offic cap. 18. Raban lib. 2. de instit Cler. cap. 44. holy Church and by the most holesome Sacrifice by Almes which are bestowed for their soules those which are departed be holpen that our Lord may deal more mercifully with them than their sinnes haue deserued For this hath beene deliuered by the Fathers and the vniuersall Church obserueth that for those which are departed in the Communion of the Body and Bloode of Christ when their memory is made at the Sacrifice in the due place Praiers also are powred out vnto God it is expressely mentioned that the Sacrifice is offered for them And whē for the helping of them works of mercy are exercised who may doubt but that they are auaileable vnto them for whom praiers are not in vaine offered It is not at al to be doubted but these things doe profite the dead yet such only who liued so before death that these thinges might be profitable to them after death Thus writeth Saint AVGVSTINE aboue 1200. yeeres agone to omitte many also
18. ho. 39. in Euang. Clim grad 6. Eus Emis ho. 1. ad monac Seuer Sulp de uaÌ„s S. Mart. dying man must haue very sore conflictes both with most bitter paines also with most horrible feendes Wherefore although bodily health bee not alwaies hereby restored vnto the sicke person who often chaunceth to die after this vnction receiued yet a peculiar grace is giuen in this Sacrament to beare the force troublesomnesse of the disease more coÌ„stantly to take death it selfe more easily And this is it that by his Apostles God hath promised (d) Iac. 5 15. The praier of faith shall saue the sicke And our Lorde shall lift him vp And if he be in sinnes they shal be remitted him To the signifieng certes of which effects euen the nature and natiue force of oile doth fitlie agree as (e) In cap. 6. Mar. THEOPHILACTE sheweth Wherfore it behoueth vs exactly to obserue that which (f) Ser. 215. de temp vide etiam de rect Cath. câ—nuers de visit insir lib. 2. c. 4. iteÌ„ in speculo S. AVGVSTINE doth most holesomelie admonishe So often as anie infirmitye chaunceth let him that is sicke receiue the Body and Bloode of Christ and after that let him annoint his body that that which is written may be accomplished in him Is (g) Iac. 5 14. any man sicke Let him bring in the Priests and let them praie ouer him annoiling him with oile in the name of our Lord. And the praier of faith shall saue the sicke And our Lorde shall lifte him vp And if he be in sinnes they shall be remitted him OF THE SACRAMENT OF ORDERS 1 What is the Sacrament of holy Orders Aug. lib. 2. cont ep Parmen c. 13. et de bono coÌ„iug c. 24 li. 1. coÌ„t DoÌ„ cap. 1. Leo. ep 81. ad Diosc Greg. in cap 10. 16 lib. 1. reg Nyss orat de sanct Bapt. Conc. Flor. Trid. ses 23. Amb. in 12. cap. 1. ad Cor. Theoph. in cap. 19. Luc. Pet Clun lib. 6. ep 1. IT is that whereby a singular grace and spirituall power is giuen to some that they may by open profession beare office in the Church This is the Sacrament by which as by a dore do necessarily enter the lawful dispensers of the (a) 1. Cor. 4 1. Mal. 2 7. 1. Tim. 3 1. 5 17. Ephes 4 11. 1. Cor. 14 2.19 12 28 mysteries and of the worde of God the Ministers of Christ his Church as Bishops Priestes Deacons Finallie all those whosoeuer they be that do exercise functions in the Church orderly and with authority For no man as the (b) Heb. 5 4. Act. 1 24. Cypr. ep 52. Tert de praescript ca. 41. Conc. l. at c. 3. Innoc. 3. ad Metens cap. cum ex iniuncto Tit. de haer Scripture testifieth Taketh or ought to take the honor to himselfe to witte of exercising the functions of the Church But he that is called of God as AARON that is vnlesse he be consecrated by the Sacrament of visible ordinatioÌ„ bee by a (c) Mat. 10 1 Luc. 9 1. Mar. 16 15. Io 20 21. 17 18. Act. 13 2. Tit. 1 5. Bishop lawefully ordered sent to the worke of some certaine Ministery which in his degree he may exercise in the Church according to the Lawes of Diuine and Apostolicall Tradition 2 Are not all Christians Priests a-like THey may surely be (a) Apo. 1 6. 5 10. 1. Pet. 2 9. so called in this sense that as Priests were wonte to exercise certaine externall Sacrifices sacred functions so as many are regenerated in Christ may and ought daily to offer and diligently to exercise certaine spirituall (b) 1. Pet. 2 5 Rom. 12 1. Psal 49 23. 50 19. Phil. 4 18. Heb. 13 15.16 vide â—as ser 2. de Fap cap 8. Aug. 20. ciu c. 10. Leo. ser 3. in anniuers Amb. lib. 4. Sacr. cap. 1. sacrifices to witte Praier Praises Thankes-giuings mortifying of the Fleshe and others of like sorte So that for this cause they are saide in holy Scripture to be spiritual Priests before God and to offer vp spirituall Sacrifices But if we take this name of Priesthoode properly all indifferentlie are not Priests but those only vnto whom the authority of the Church hath committed to be proper ministers (c) Ignat. ad Her Chry. â—i 3. 6. de sacerd ho. 60. ad pop Hier ad Heliod ep 1. ca. 7. aduers Lucif c. 8 ep 85. ad Euag Victor l 2 de persec Cypr. ep 54. of Sacramentes and hath granted power and right to consecrate offer and distribute the holy Euchariste and both to remitte and to retaine the sinnes of men And of these priests prelates of the new Lawe thus writeth S. PAVL The Priestes that rule (d) 1. Tim. 5 17. well let them be esteemed woorthy of double honour especially they that labour in the worde and Doctrine And this doubtlesse cannot appartaine to women whome (e) 1. Tim. 2 11. 1. Cor. 14 34 Tert. de praescrip cap. 41. Epiph. haer 42 40. the same Apostle forbiddeth to teach in the Church biddeth to be silent neither can it concern the (f) Leo. ep c 2. ad Maxi. Laity at all whose part it is after the manner of sheepe to be fedde (g) Io. 10 11 21 15. 1. Pet. 5 2. 2 13. Heb. 13 17. Rom. 13 1. Mat. 23 2. Luc. 10 16. 1. Io. 4 6. not to feede to be gouerned not to gouerne not to preferre but to submitte and humble themselues vnto their Prelates to heare obserue and doe whatsoeuer they sitting in the chaire shall say whether they be good or euill according as wee reade it commaunded by the worde of God Wherfore as in the Church Triumphant there are Angels different (h Eph. 1 2â— Col. 1 16. Dan. 7 10. Dion de caelest hier ca. 10. in order and power who with decent disposition doe faithfullie execute and fulfill the offices imposed vpon them So also the Church (i) 1. Tim. 3 15. Cant. 6 9. Anacl ep 1. 2. 3. Isid lib. 2. de offic ca. 5. sequ Militant which is the house of God as it were a certaine campe set in battle a-ray hath her peculiar Ministers distinct from other Christians and disposed in Godly order amongest themselues for the prosecuting of the publike common sunctions of the Church vpoÌ„ earth to witte that for the benefite of the Christian people they maie euen by publike profession and with due Comelinesse and Maiesty bestowe their labours in those (k) Heb. 5 1. 8 3. 13 17. 2. Cor. 5 20. thinges which belong vnto God and the health of soules 3 In what place doth the Scripture giue testimony vnto this Sacrament Tit. 1 5. THere truly where it teacheth of the Apostles that in choosing appointing ordering of the Ministers of the
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
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.
Rom. 2 b c Mat. 5 a Bern. in ser de conuers ad Cler. cap. 25. O Lord who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle or who shall rest in thy holy hill The answere is readie He that entereth with out spotte worketh iustice Or if thou takest more delight in the speach of Christ He (p) Ma. 7 c 19 c 25 b c Apo. 2 b c g 8 b c d 7 d Bern. ser 2. de verb. Apost Non est regnum Dei esca potus that doth the will of my Father which is in heauen he shall enter into the kingdome of heauen This is a holy cittie and it also requireth holy citizens there shall not enter (q) Apoc. 21 g into it any polluted thing 6 What is the vse and commoditie of the wholle doctrine concerning the foure last thinges Vide Chrys epist 5. ad Theod. lapsum Damasc in hist Barlaam Iosaphat ca. 5. 12. 13. 14. FIrst of all to knowe and seriously to meditate these thinges it is profitable to this end that we may the more easely be withdrawen frō the care affection loue of those thinges which are transitorie vaine and floating in this worlde For (a) Eccles 1 a ibidem Hier. item Greg. lib. 5. c. 2. in 1. Reg vanitie of vanities saith Ecclesiastes Vanitie of vanities and all is vanitie I sawe (b) Ibid. c all thinges that are done vnder the sunne and behold all is vanitie and affliction of spirite Then they doe not only being well considered auerte a man from vaine cogitations and earthly cares but also doe terrifie him from all (c) Aug lib. 2. de Genesi cont Manie cap. 28. serm 120. de temp Greg. hom 39. in Euang. Isid lib. 3. de summo bono cap. vlt. libertie custome and pronesse to sinne Hence is that golden sentence In (d) Eccli 7 d Bern. ser 1. in festo omniū Sanctorum item in serm de primordijs me dijs nouissimis nostris all thy workes remember thy last things thou shalt neuer sinne Moreouer they doe admonish a wise man that in all affaires he doe no thing rashly but that first he set (e) Deut. 32 d before himselfe the last thinges and hauing foreseene the end doe go on in the high rode way that he may neither decline on the righte (f) Pro. 4 d hand or on the lefte from that which is right But speacially the memorie and contemplacion of such things doth cause that the feare of God which is the fountaine of true (g) Eccli 1 b Psal 110 b Pro. 1 a 9 b Iob. 28 d Eccles 7 c Pro. 14 c Chry. ho. 15 ad pop Ant itē ho. 2. in 2. ad Thess Aug tract 9 in ep Io. in Psal 127. wisdome the guardian of all vertue and a necessarie scholemaster in all the life of man may confirme and sette vs forewarde in the zeale of Iustice goodnes For (h) Eccli 1 c the feare of God expelleth sinne And hee that is without feare cannot be iustified They (i) Eccli 2 d Aug. ser 13. c. 13. 18. c. 8. de verb. Apost itē l. de Sancta Virg. cap 38 serm 214 de temp that feare our Lorde will enquire what things are well pleasing vnto him they will prepare their hartes and in his sight they will sanctifie their soules Finally they (k) Ibidem that feare our Lorde will keepe his commandementes and will haue patience vntill he beholde them saying If we doe not Penance wee shal fall into the handes of our Lorde But the children of this worlde who loue (l) Psal 4 a vanitie and seeke after a lie who (m) Pro. 2 c reioise when they doe euill triumphe in things that be worst before whose (n) Ps 13 b eies the feare of God is not they doe nothing lesse then thinke of these matters It is a (o) Deut. 32 d Bern. ser 2. in die Apost Petri Pauli item epist 292. people without counsaile and without wisdome woulde to God they were wise and did vnderstand and fore-see the last thinges With them we see it fall out daiely by experience that which holy IOB saith They holde (p) Iob. 21 b the Taber and the Lute and reioice at the sounde of the instrument They passe ouer their daies in pleasures and in a moment they descend into hell So (q) Pro. 14 b laughter shal be mingled with greefe the end of ioye is mourning 7 What is the Summe of those thinges that are contained in this booke THe summe of the whole worke is comprised in two thinges in Christian wisdome iustice To wisdome are these pointes referred to wit of Faith and the Creede of Hope our Lords Praier of Charitie and the tenne Commaundementes For Faith Hope and Charitie are those vertues wherein the diuine scripture cōprehendeth the true wisdome of man as Saint AVGVSTINE (a) Lib. 2 retract cap. 63 in Ench. cap. 2. 3. hath noted Then is there further annexed a discourse of the Preceptes of the Church and of the Sacramentes For as the foresaide vertues cannot stand without the Sacramentes and perfecte obseruance of the Preceptes of the Church so being ioined with thē they are effectually grafted in vs being grafted are confirmed augmented and brought to perfection Therfore in explicating those things which we reduce vnto wisdome is the first part of the booke cōcluded The latter which treateth of Iustice doth briefly demonstrate two partes thereof belonging both to the fleeing (b) Psal 33 c 36 c of euill thinges and the pursueing of those which are good For to abstaine from euill as witnesseth S. CHRYSOSTOME (c) Chrys in Psal 4. plura vide supra pag. 269. is not sufficient for vs to saluation excepte therewithall be annexed the following of good thinges the action of vertue Therfore to either of these two partes we haue applied some discourses which doe chiefelie serue to the obseruing of the difference of good euill But the force and largenes of all iustice TOBIE a man no lesse wise then iust doth briefely comprehende where he admonisheth his sonne consequently in him all the childrē of God in particuler with these wordes (d) Tob. 4 ◠Feare not my sonne wee leade surely a poore life but we shall haue many good thinges if we feare God and abstaine from all sinne and doe well Thus finally wee learne the exacte duety of a christiā man which doth not only require faith but a life also ordered according to the rule of Christian wisdome and iustice For a wise harte that hath vnderstanding as the scripture testifieth Eccli 3 d will keepe it selfe from sinne and will haue successe in the workes of Iustice But to the intent that wee may not passe the bandes of our intended breuitie let this be the ende conclusion of this Doctrine appertaining to the instruction of Christians and those especially of
God Aug. sent 313. Prosp and to haue truely deserued life euerlasting to be possessed also in the due time if they departe out of this world in grace Forasmuch as CHRIST our Sauiour saith Io. 4 b He that shall drinke of the water that I will giue him shall not thirst for euer but it shall become in him a fouÌ„taine of water springinge vp vnto life euerlasting So neither our owne proper iustice as proper from our selues is established neither are we ignorant of the iustice of God or doe reiect the same For that which is called our iustice because by it being inherent in vs we are iustified that very same iustice is the iustice of God because it is by God infused into vs through the merit of Christ. Neither is this to be omitted that although there be so much attributed to good workes in holy scripture that euen vnto him Mat. 10 d that shall giue a cuppe of colde water to one of his little ones Christ doth promise that he shall not loose his rewarde the 2. Cor. 4 d Apostle witnesseth that the tribulation which presentlie is momentanie and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall weight of glorie in vs yet God forbid that a ChristiaÌ„ man should either Aug. de Praed sanct ca. 5. de grat lib. arbit cap. 6. trust or 1. Cor. 1 d 2. Cor. 10 d glory in himselfe not in our Lord whose goodnesse is such towards all men that hee will haue those thinges to bee their Coelest l. ep 1. can 11. Aug. in Ench. c. 107. ep 105. de gratia et lib. arbit cap. 6. Gennad lib. de Eccles dogmat c. 32. merites which are his giftes And because Iac. 3 a all of vs offend in many things euery one ought to haue as mercy goodnesse so also seueritie and iudgement before his eies no man iudging himselfe although 1. Cor. 4 a he be not guilty in conscience of any thing because the wholl life of man is to be examined and iudged not by the iudgement of man but of God who Ibidem will lighten the hidden thinges of darkenesse and will manifest the counsailes of the hartes and then the praise shal be to euery man of God who as it is written Mat. 16 d Rom. 2 a Psal 61 b will render to euerie man according to his workes Laus DEO Virginique Matri MARIAE The Translatour to the Reader HITHERTO gentle Reader haue I performed the part of a Translatour howe faithfully and soundly thy selfe shall iudge Yet this will I promise of my selfe that there hath not wanted that diligence which in Translating a worke of matters of CATHOLICKE Doctrine abounding with so many places of Scripture or rather compacte of words and sentences of Scriptures and Fathers in so short a Volume setting downe the whole summe of our RELIGION is in anie Learned mans iudgement necessary Nowe whereas I haue founde in the running ouer this notable worke some fewe questions either not touched at all or not so throughly handled as the necessity of our COVNTREY doth require I haue heere thought good with as much breuity as the thinges will permitte and according to my simple skill in DIVINITIE to addresse thee the same that thou hauing as it were in one Posie each pleasaunt flowre contained maiest be prepared against all manner of pestilent vapours which in so vnsauorie an aire thou maiest meete withall Thy part it shal be that as with the going forewarde of this worke my desire of thy spirituall good hath increased so thou also doe continue if not increase the gratefull acceptance of my labours AN EXPOSITION OF CERTAINE QVESTIons not handeled in this Booke I. Of Hallowed and Sanctified Creatures vsed in the Church II. Of Pilgrimage vnto holy places III. Of Indulgences or Pardons IIII. Of Seruice and Praier in the Vulgar tongue Euery one diuided into certaine Articles in which are also expounded diuerse other Controuersies belonging to the better vnderstanding of the principall Question OF HALLOWED AND SANCTIFIED CREATVRES IN GODS CHVRCH 1 Is there any creature holier than another ALthough all sanctitie and holines be principally in God himselfe yet from him as from a most plentifull fountaine of all goodnes doth also spring and flowe holines into his creatures first into his reasonable creatures who onlie may by his grace be made his liuely meÌ„bers and so be endowed with true holines and than both the Sacramentes by which hee worketh his grace whatsoeuer thing hath any speaciall relation or order vnto the holinesse which is in God or in his creatures may iustly and truely be called holie And concerning the sanctification of the members of Christs mystical body and the holines of his Sacramentes by which we are sanctified to euerlasting life enough hath beene said before in this wholle booke but of the holines of other creatures religiouslie deputed in the Church for our spirituall good we meane here briefly to intreate and namely of Holy daies Holy water Hallowed Palmes Ashes Oyle and finally of Hallowed places 2 Is not the different estimation of daies contrarie to holy Scriptures NO verely for we account some daies holier than other by the example of God himselfe who sanctified the Gen 2 3 Sabaoth commanded also the same to be hallowed by Exod. â—0 1 his people with many other daies which he calleth holy soleÌ„ne and venerable daies yea the people of God did not only Religiously obserue these daies but also vpon new occasions of singuler benefites receiued from God they instituted newe Feasts deuoutely obserued the same As wee reade of the Feast instituted by Esth 9 27 Mardocheus the dedicatioÌ„ 1. Mach. 4 56. ordained by Iudas Machabeus honored by our Io. 20 22 Sauiours owne presence Neither doth this differeÌ„ce of daies so long as it is not obserued according to the ceremonious figures of the Iewes which are nowe expired nor according to the vaine and superstitious obseruation of the Gentiles which Ro. 14 5. Gal. 4 10. Col. 2 16. vide Theod. Theoph. Orig. Amb. Oecum Primas Ansel in Ro. 14. Hier. lib. 2. in Iouin Amb. in Gal 4. Aug. Enchir c. 79. ep 119. c. 7. the Apostle condemneth euen in the newe Law of grace repugne against the Lawe of God yea it is agreeable to holy Scriptures and according to the continuall practise of the Church So doe we see in steed of the Iewes Sabboth the Act. 20 16. ibid. Chrysost Beda 1. Cor. 16 2. ibidem Chry Amâ— Theoph. aliâ— Apoc. 1 10. et ibi omnes interpretes Clem. can 65. Apost Ignat. ad Magnes Iust apol 2. Tert. de cor mil. apol c. 16. CleÌ„ Alex l. 7. stroÌ„ Orig. ho. 7. in Exod. Athan. ho. in illud Omnia mihi tradita sunt Amb. ep 83. Hier. in Gal. 4. Aug. lib. cont Adim cap. 16. Greg. lib. 11. epist 3. Leo. epist 81. Hylar praefat in Psal Sunday to haue beene brought in and alwaies obserued
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
God saide by Moises Exod. 23 15. Deut. 16 17 Thou shalt not appeare in my sight empty For in the Collectes of of holy Fathers it manifestly appeareth that all Christians ought according to the custome of holy Fathers to offerre something to God Wherby we gather the custome to haue beene far more auncient than this decree what things were offered in the Primitiue Church Now what thinges were in auncient times offered is not hard to be gathered For first it is not vnlikely that thos suppers which were made sometimes in the Church sometimes neare vnto the Church for the poore and were called 1. Cor. 11 20. Conc. Gang cap. 11. Laod. cap. 27.28 Tert. apol c. 39. Chry. ho. 27. in 1. Cor. See the Rhemes Test vpon 1. Cor. 11 20. Agapae as it were charities were comprohended amongst other offrings which seeme to haue remained vntill S. Augustins time who bringeth as an obiection of Faustus that Lib. 20. contr Faust c. 20. c. 4. the Catholickes had conuerted the sacrifices of the Gentiles into Agapes Which Agapes as may be gathered out of S. Augustine were both of fruite and of flesh and of all ordinarie foode of man And being in vse in Africa his mother in Milan attempting Lib. 6. conf cap. 2. to practise it at the memories of Martyrs as shee had done at home was by S. Ambrose forbidden not because it was euill but because there the custome of such banqueringe in the Church was abrogated Secondly wee finde that sometimes in the Church the faithfull people Conc. Affric c. 4. offered hony and milke whiche was vpon Easter Eue on which day to those that were baptised were those two things giuen or in some places wine and milke as witnesseth S. Hierome In Esa 55. dial contr Lucif and Tertulliam Tert. l. 1. con Marc. Sometimes we reade of offering of corne and grapes as we haue touched aboue Last of all we finde that the people solemnely offered bread and wine for the sacrifice of which S. Cyprian Serm. de Eleemosyn Iustin apol 2. vide Greg. 4. dial c. 55. speaking to some negligent rich womē saieth after this maner Thou comest into the Church without sacrifice and takest part of the sacrifice which the poore hath offered Of which also there is a commaundement extant of Fabian Fab. ep 3 the Pope That euery Sonday as wel by men as women there should be an offering of breade and wine that by these offertnges they might be deliuered from the bands of their sinnes Which decree also is reade in the Councel Cap. 4. See before of Almes pag. 372. of Matisco Wherby we may learne what effect the auncient Fathers attributed vnto these offerings As generally Vrbanus the Epist 1. first a most auncient Pope calleth thē the Vowes of the faithfull the prices of their sins the patrimony of the poore things giuen and dedicated to God Yet now the custome of offering other thinges is ceassed and the people remaining bounde to no ordinarie oblation there being other sufficient prouision for the sacrifice doth voluntarily offer in the sacrifice of the MASSE either money or candells Now therefore what do our aduersaries reprehend in offeringes the geuing of Almes but what is more commended in scripture than Almes the offring it in the church where cā the members of Christ be more decently releeued than in the house of CHRIST The solemninity of the offering but that doth putte vs in mind to whom we doe it rectifie our intention edifie the wholle congregation and honour Almightie GOD. The doing it for the honour of a Sainte then may it be done euen by theire consent to the honour of Christ immediately so offerings may be made solemnly but not to Saintes But we haue learned aboue that Saints both may be and are to be honoured See pag. 68. As also we haue shewed of Images according to the true meaning and intention of the Church So that they cannot in reason deny but offrings may be made before an Image and by that Image to the Saint Vnlesse they will yet deny that we may honour Saintes at all to which pointe we are not now to returne largely to discusse the same onely I will desire them to call to mind that Saint Paul writing to the Philippians Phil. 2 2. desireth thē to fulfill his ioy that they be of one meaning hauing the same charity of one minde agreeing in one c. Now if S. Paul willeth them and so earnestly intreateth them as may be seen in the epistle it selfe to fulfil his ioy whilest here he liued by seruing of God in all maner of perfection why may not S. Paul now require the like or if they cannot yeeld that S. Paul hath so much traficke with vs as to demaund our duetifull behauiour towardes Almightie God for his ioye why may not any deuoute person of his owne accorde seeke now to fulfill S. Paules ioy in any maner of good and lawfull action therefore if I will loue God why may I not say I will loue God to fulfill S. Paules ioy likewise I will Fast to fulfill S. Paules ioye I will pray to fulfill S. Paules ioye I will go to the Church to fulfill S. Paules ioy and that which belongeth to our offerings I will offer this almes for the ornament of Gods Church maintaining of his Ministers or releeuing the poore this to fulfill S. Paules ioy before whose Image I doe it in whose Church and by whose intercession I hope my praiers shall be accepted and last of all since that God will haue his Saintes whom he honoureth him selfe Esth 6 9. Gen. 41 43. to be honored of all why may I not without any superstition say I will honour S. Paul for to fulfill S. Paules ioye For as God himselfe deseruing al kind of honour and glory doth iustly seeke that which is due vnto him and therefore he saith Esa 42 8. I will not geue my glory to another So is there nothing more conformable to his holye will or of his Saintes who alwaies agree thereunto thā that to the Saints be yeelded that honor which God hath imparted vnto them according to that of S. Paul Ro. 13 7 To whom honour honour So that without all doubt by honouring S. Paul we may fulfill S. Paules ioy The same Apostle in like maner saith Phil. 4 1. Therfore my dearest brethren and most desired my ioye and my crowne so stand in our Lorde my dearest The Philippians therfore were S. Paules ioy and crowne for the gloriouse paines which he had taken amongst them for his notable examples continuall preaching And is not S. Paules Doctrine yet extant are not his examples liuely doe we not still reape the fruites of his labour Therefore if the Aungells doe conceiue ioy Luc. 15 7.10 of a sinner repentinge whose conuersion cost them no sweate no labour no tormentes shall not S. Paul reioise at the fruite springing from his iorneis from his writinges from his Passions
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
certaine it is that the first redoundeth onely to the good of him which w rketh Eccles 16 15 Rom. 2 6. For all mercy shall make a place to euery man according to the merite of his workes no pure creature hauing this priuiledge to merite for any other that being the priuiledge of Christ alone who hauing no neede of merite himselfe for the glory of his owne soule it being endowed with all wisdome grace and glory euen from the first moment of his conception deserued grace and glory for vs al. Who therefore is compared vnto a Nurse For euery other person by his ordinary nutriment receiuing benefitte substance for himselfe alone the nurse eateth for her selfe and for her child But the other two may effectually be donne for others for as a man may pray for another so may he also satisfie for another if both be in grace as we haue prooued Exod. 32 32 Rom. 9 3. Gen. 18 33. may be vnderstood also by MOISES and S. PAVL who desired of God to satisfie for their peoples faulte by those iust which if they had bene found in SODOME shoulde haue saued the wholle Citie Yet there is here to be obserued that although those which are in deadly sinne be not wholly excluded from the communication of the meritts of the Church this is onely in respect of her praiers in which they are included and of a certaine kinde of meritte which the Diuines call DE CONGRVO of conueniency farre inferiour to that which we spoke of and of no certainty But of this satisfaction by way of Iustice they are no way partakers because they be deade members Thirdly heereof doth followe that necessarily we must admitte some workes of Supererogation 3 Workes of Supererogation See pag. 410 which may be vnderstoode of two sorts First those are called workes of Supererogation which belong to the Euangelicall Councells of which enough hath beene saide before Secondly those are called workes of Supererogation which although in respecte of Meritte they be profitable to the person by which they bee wrought yet in respect of their Satisfaction which they haue in them were not necessarie to the doers of them They hauing not in Gods iudgement deserued so much penaltie as they heere suffered their euerlasting punishment first beeing remitted if euer they deserued it which I adde because of our Blessed LADY who was neuer subiecte to such deserte Such a one was first our Blessed LADY the most aboundant fountaine nexte vnto Christ of al Meritte and Satisfaction Col. 1 24. Such another was Saint PAVL who as he saith himselfe suffered for the wholle body of Christ Such a one was also the holy Patriarche IOB by Gods owne iudgement and testimony approoued Iob 42.7 Iob 6 2. who although he confessed that he had deserued wrath yet he bouldly saieth that the calamitie which he suffered in respecte of his desertes was heauier than the sande of the sea Such were the holy Christians of Hierusalem whom S. PAVL saieth to haue hadde aboundance of spiritual treasures 2. Cor. 8 14. Such also no doubt were the holy Apostles and infinite Martyrs other Saintes of God Gen. 16 12. And here no doubt an Hereticke like a reprobate Ismaelite whose hands are against al and all handes against him who alwaies pitcheth his tenthes opposite to his Brethren wil scoffe and taunt vttering the wholle stoare and talent of his scurrill religion But how shall we auoide him for if we exaggerate our sinnes and humbly seeke to confesse them then are we superstitious and butchers of our owne consciences if we with all humilitie 1. Cor. 1 31. glory in our Lorde who hath by his blessed Passion giuen such pretiouse 2. Pet. 1 4. giftes vnto vs that we 1. Io. 3 1. may be the sonnes of God receiue 2. Cor. 1 22. the pledge of his spirite in our hartes and haue him Mat. 10 20. 2. Cor. 13 3. speaking and Phil. 2 13. 1. Thes 2.13 working within vs by whose instinct and influence Ro. 8 3. we may doe workes acceptable vnto God then doe wee depresse the merittes of Christs death are enemies vnto his grace If we be very seuere in exacting rigorous Penances as in the Primitiue Church than doe we trust too much in our own Satisfaction If with the lenity mildnesse of Christ and his Apostles we remitte due necessarie Satisfactions then we vsurpe the office of Christ to pardon sinnes Quo teneam nodo mutantem Protea vultus Mat 11 18. So was Saint IHON Baptist by the Iewes reprehended for too much austeritie and our Sauiour for his kinde and liberall conuersation But letting alone al large discourses of this pointes least we should make a long volume to a Catholicke whome I intend onely heere to instructe this which I will nowe adde shal be a sure demonstration For if one be a Martyr An euident argument for works of Supererogation both according to the holy Scriptures and to the wholle consent of Fathers practise of the Church his only death is a sufficient satisfaction for all his temporal punishement Nowe if he doe not only die for iustice but be most barbarously Whipped Mocked Racked Mangled and that without any respecte of ordinary humanity as we knowe to haue beene doone in the Primitiue Church O let Num. 23 10. my soule die with the death of the iust how Psa 115 15. pretiouse in the sight of God is the death of his Saints our Lord Psal 23 31. keepeth all the bones of them one of them shall not perishe what superaboundance of Passions is heere Now these and such like workes in that they were Meritorious are rewarded in their own persons with glory but in that they are Satisfactorious Col. 1 24. they accomplishe that which wanteth in the Passions of Christ for his body They shall not want their correspondence of deserued remission applied vnto others their fellowe members No otherwise than when nature hauing serued the vitall members with due nourishement afterward deriueth her liberality vnto all other partes of the body And thus much of workes of Supererogation Fourthly hereof nowe is heaped an infinite masse The Treasure of Indulgences or treasure of the Satisfactions of Christ and of his Saints that is of the wholle mysticall body of Christ which is called the treasure of Indulgences For all the benefite of our satisfactions is first applied to our own necessities if we doe not otherwise apply them to the good of our neighbour which we may doe with very great Charity although we neede them our selues But if there be any thing in them superfluous vnto any Saint for his owne paiments not applied by himselfe in the very doing of them for some other than are they layed vp in the Churches Treasure to be applied as she shall with her wisedome decree Nowe therefore out of al these infallible foundations I gather my purpose in this manner An inuincible reason for Indulgences There is a sufficient