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
14. can 5. procured if a man doe diligently beholde the foulnesse enormity multitude of his sinnes if hee carefully thinke vpon that soueraigne goodnesse offended of the grace of God and other giftes loste if he doe deepelie waighe and stand in awe of the ineuitable (b) Heb. 9 27. Sophō 1 15. Mat. 25 41. Mar. 9 43. necessitie of the vncertaine houre of death the horrible seuerity of the iudgement to come and the euerlasting paines prepared for sinners Hereūto appertaineth that of EZECHIAS (c) Esa 38 15. I wil recoūt vnto thee all my yeeres in the bitternesse of my soul And that of DAVID (d) Ps 118 120. I stoode in awe of thy iudgemēts And that which hee also in lamenting manner doth pray (e) Ps 37 9. I am afflicted too much hūbled I did rore with the sighs of my hart And a little after (f) Ibid. v. 19 I will declare my iniquity and I will thinke for my sinne Also it is an expresse speach of God himselfe vnto a sinner Thou (g) Apoc. 2 4. 2. ad Cor. 12.21 7 9. hast lefte thy first Charity be mindfull therefore from whence thou art fallē doe Penance (h) Luc. 12 5 Mat. 10 28. And Christ in the Gospell Feare him saith he who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell Yea I say vnto you feare him Nowe finally this griefe of Contrition doth prepare vs to remission of sinnes in-case it be ioined with (i) Amb. l. 1. de paenit c. 1. a confidence of Gods mercie and a desire of performing those thinges which do belong to the Sacrament of (k) Aug. de paenit med cap. 11. in Ench. ca. 65. Ambr. in Ps 37. c. 8. ad Virg. laps Penance 5 Is Confession necessary YEA verily but not only as some doe falsely suppose that interiour Confession which is to be done in the presence of God (a) Chry. ho. 42. in Mat. euerie day according to the example of holy DAVID who saith I haue (b) Ps 31 5. saide I will confesse against my selfe my vniustice vnto our Lord But also this exteriour confession which is done vnto a (c) Orig. in Ps 37. ho. 1. ho. 2. in Leu. Chry. l. 3. de sacer Niss orat in eos qui alios acerbius iudicant Pet. Clun l. 1. mirac c. 3. 4. 5. 6 l. 2. c. vlt. Priest of all the sinnes which doe come into a mans minde after diligent searche and examination of his conscience So is it written of men of the Primatiue Church Many of them that (d) Act. 19 18. beleeued came confessing and declaring their deedes Which manner of confessing to be very neecssary not only the holy lawes of the Church (e) Con. Lateran cā 21. Flor. Trid ses 14. cap. 5. and the reuerent writings (f) Clem. ep 1. ad frat Do. Dion ep 8. ad Demoph Tert. de paenit ca. 8. 9. 10. 12. Orig. in Ps 37. ho. 1. 2. ho. 2 in Leuit. Cyp. de laps Pacia in paraen ad paenit Hier. in c. 10. Eccle. Chry. ho. 30. in Gen. 16. in Mat. of the Fathers doe confirme but also the diuine words of Christ doe cōclude and declare when hee saith (g) Ioan. 20 23. Whose sinnes you shall forgiue they are forgiuen them And whose you shal retaine they are retained But to remitte retaine sinnes whereas this is an office of a Iudge no Priest can haue authority except he first examine and knowe verie perfectlie the sinners cause whereof hee hath to iudge Neither can this knoweledge be had before that the partie which committeth himselfe to bee iudged and absolued by the Prieste as his (h) Aug. lib. 20. ciu c. 9. Greg. ho. 26 in Euang. Chry. l. 3. de sacer ho. 5. de verb Esa Hier. ad Heliod ep 1. cap. 7. Iudge and (i) Con. Lat. can 21. Wormat. c. 25. Orig. ho. 1. 2. in Psal 37. Phisition doth so discouer and laie open his woundes in such distincte seuerall manner by voluntary Confession that the Priest may plainly perceiue where the sinnes are to bee loosened and where they are to be bounde 6 What doe the Fathers write of Confession THey certes doe with one consent not onely commend approue vnto vs the benefite of Confession and perpetuall practise of it in the Church but the bond also necessitie thereof And to alleadge amongest verie many a fewe and those most approued witnesses first (a) Quaest 288. in reg breu vide quaest 229. in ep 3. can ad Amphil can 73. S. BASIL the great saith thus It is iudged necessary that sinnes be confessed vnto those to whom is committed the dispensation of the mysteries of God for so the verie Penitents of auncient times are found to haue confessed their sinnes vnto holy mē Then (b) De laps vide ep 10. 55. S. CYPRIAN I beseech you my breethren saith he euery one to confesse his sinne whilest yet he that sinneth remaineth in this world whilest his confessiō may be admitted whilest euery mans Satisfaction remission giuen by the Priests is acceptable vnto our Lorde Hereunto accordeth the sentēce of S. AVGVSTINE Hom. 49. ex 50. cap. 3. ho. 41. 50 cap. 4. 5. who teacheth in this manner Doe yee Penance such as is done in the Church that the church may pray for you Let no man say within himselfe I doe it in secret I doe it before God alone God who pardoneth mee knoweth that I doe in heart Was it there foresaid in vaine (c) Mat. 18 18. Ioan 20 23. Whatsoeuer you shall loose in earth shall be loosed in Heauen Were the KEIES giuen to the Church of God in vaine Doe we frustrate the Gospell of God Doe we frustrate the wordes of Christ Doe we promise you that which he denieth Doe we deceiue you And in another place (d) Lib. 2 de visit infirm cap. 4. There are saith he that do thinke it sufficient for their saluation if they confesse their sinnes to God alone vnto whō nothing is hidden and euery mans conscience lieth open For they will not or they are ashamed or they disdaine to shew themselues vnto PRIESTS whō yet our Lord hath by MOISES ordained to discerne betweene (e) Leuit. 13 2. 14 12. Luc. 17 14. Mat. 8 4. Leaper Leaper But I will not haue thee deceiued with this opinion and bee ashamed thereby to confesse them vnto the vicegerent of our Lord either languishing with shamefastnesse or stiffe-necked with indignation For of reason in like manner must we admit him for our iudge which our Lorde doth not disdaine to bee his Vicar And it is no lesse euident that (f) Ep. 91. ad Theod. vide ep 80. ad Episc Camp LEO the great hath lefte in writing The manifold mercies of God doth so succour the falles of men that not only by
(d) Eph. 5 11. with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenes but rather reproue them Then that also of the same Apostle Withdrawe (e) 2. Thess 3 6. your selues from euery brother walking inordinately and not according to the Tradition which they haue receiued of vs. 2 How many in number are these alien sinnes NIne as they are for the moste parte committed nine manner of waies to wit by councel by commanding by consent by prouocation by praise or flatterie by silēce by winking or Indulgence by participation in the fault and by wicked defending or maintaining the same Eccli 27 28. 6 7. 8 20. 37 7.9 Iob. 5 13. 12 13.16 18 5.7 Esa 19 11.13 Psal 7 16. 9 16. Prou. 26 27. Eccles 10 8. 3 When is an alien sinne committed by Councell AT such time certes as we are the authors and instrumentes of euill counsell which others doe or maye followe Let CAIPHAS be an example (a) Io. 11 49 who by his coūsell incensed and prouoked the Senate of the Iewes to worke the death of Christ But commended on the contrarie parte is IOSEPH of Aramathia and is called a good and iust man because he had not consented (b) Luc. 23 50. Psal 1 1. Gen. 49 5. Iob. 21 16. to the counsell and actes of them̄ to wit of the high Preistes and Pharisies wickedlye conspiring to put Christ to (c) Io. 11 53. Mat. 26 3. death Of the same sorte of men was that (d) Act. 19 24. 2. Reg. 10 3. 16 20. 17 1.5 3. Reg. 12 4. 21 25. 2. Par. 22 3. 25 16.20 1. Esd 4 5 Hest 5 10. Dan. 6 5. 1. Mac. 1.12 2. Mach. 1 11. 4 32. Act. 14 18. DEMETRIVS who with other Artificers for the tendering of his owne lucre gaine filled in a maner the whole citie of the EPHESIANS with a greate tumulte and sedition against S. PAVL his doctrine Herin also did offend that infamous (e) Mar. 6 24 Mat. 14 8. HERODIAS Kinge HERODS aduoutres For her dauncing daughter by her counsell and persuasion did wickedly obtaine the bodiles heade of the glorious S. IHON Baptist which she cruelly before had requested 4 When is commanding an alien sinne 1. Reg. 22 17. Iudith 2 5. Hest 3 12 Dan. 3 5. 6 16.1 Mach. 1 43. 2. Mach. 6 1. Mar. 6 27. Act. 23 2. VVHen by our decree commission or commaundement any wrong doth redound to our neighbour or any euill whatsoeuer is committed In this manner DAVID the King killed innocent VRIAS (a) 2. Reg. 11 15. not certes with his owne or with his seruantes handes but working it and charging it by letter that he should be slaine in the battaile And PILATE the President (b) Io. 19 16 Luc. 23 25. was giltie of Christs death because for the fauour of the Iewes although otherwise after a manner vnwilling he adiudged him and deliuered him ouer by his authoritie to be crucified So did PHARAO (c) Exod 1 16. and HERODE (d) Mat. 2 16. binde them selues with a monstrous crime whē they made the Tirannicall lawe of murdering the Infantes of the Hebrues But (e) Esa 10 1. Mat. 15 3. Mar. 7 9. woe be vnto them that make vniust lawes Leu 20 4. Num. 16 24 26. Iudith 8 9. Hest 14.15 Luc. 11.47 5 When doth consent make vs guiltie of an alien sinne VVHen that which is wickedlye donne by others hath as it were our voice to go with it or is at the least in secret sorte (a) Iren. l. 4. cap. 46. by vs approued So sinned SAVL consentinge (b) Act. 7 60 to the deathe of the Protomartyr Saint STEVEN Also herein offended aboue fortie (c) Act. 23 12. men of the Iewes who by vowe bound armed themselues to put S. PAVL to death Finallye herein offended the Citizens of Hierusalē (d) Mat. 27 20. Mar. 15 11. giuing their voices to their Magistrates that Christ might suffer death so that S. PETER for that cause vpbraiding them saide The author (e) Act. 3 15 2 23. of life you killed Wherfore is that sentence of S. PAVL to be noted Not (f) Ro. 1 32. only they which doe euill thinges but they also which consent vnto the doers are worthy of death And hereunto may be referred that which we reade in S. CYPRIAN Hee is (g) ep 51. quae est Cleri Rom. ad Cypr. not free from wickednes that gaue commandement to haue it accomplishede nor hee cleare from crime whoe notwithstandinge hee neuer committed the same yet geuethe his consent that it shall be otherwise giuen out and publikely registred 6 When doe we contract an alien sinne by prouocation 1. Reg. 1 6. Psal 105 16 2. Mach. 14 27. Gal. 5 15.26 Eph. 6 4. Col. 3 21. VVHen we doe wittinglye prouoke another to anger reuenge blasphemie crueltie or other such like vices whether it bee done by worde or deede or any other meanes howsoeuer As when IOBS (a) Iob. 2 9. wife wantonly scorning her most patient husband did also persuade him so much as lay in her to blaspheme God And Tobies wife (b) Tob. 2 15. 3 7. as troublesome as the other often molesting exasperating her husband with her reprochfull speaches brought the matter to this passe that the afflicted man was constrained to bewaile his domesticall iniurie with sighes and teares and praiers vnto Almightie God But Ecclesiasticus admonisheth the contrarie saying Keepe (c) Eccli 28 10. Pro. 15 18. 18 6. 22 10. et 26 17. 29 22. 30 33. thy selfe from contention and thou shalt diminishe sinnes For an angry man doth kindle contention a man a sinner will molest his frendes and in the middest of them that are in peace soweth enmitie And so hath Salomon saide An euill man (d) Pro. 17 11. 3 30. Esa 33 1. alwaies seeketh chidings but the cruell Angell shal be sent against him 7 When are we spotted with an alien sinne by praise or flatterie Pro. 24 24.28 27 2.5.6 28 23 Psal 140 5. Esa 5 20. Chrys ho 2. de Dauid et Saule Cyp. de laps Basil hō in Psal 61. Aug. in Psa 134. VVHē we cōmend any man in misdeeds or lewd behauiour or as though the thing were very well done we giue a spurre to him that runneth amisse that he may holde on his wicked course But woe be vnto them (a) EZech. 13 18. that sowe coushens vnder euery elbow and doe make pillowes vnder the heade of euery age to take soules as the Prophet saith And into this vice do preachers (b) Hier. 14 13. 23 15 17. 27 9 28 15. 29.8 Thren 1 14 Mich. 3 5. 3. Reg. 22 6 sometime fall Magistrats naughtely flattering the common people whilest they doe openly fauour approue their licentiousnesse And therefore rightly saith ESAIE O my people
armour vnto weake persons against the (a) 1. Io. 2 c Luc. 14 de f g 8 b Mat. 19 b c 13 c 1 Cor. 7 f Eccli 31 a Pro. 29 c Iudic. 17 c 21 d Gal. 5 b baites of the worlde and the flesh which doe further the endeuours of good men in the race of true pietie which doe make the Spirite more at libertie to performe the functions of religion and diuine worshippe and which moreouer are much auaileable as we haue declared for the atchiuing of the reward of eternall life and more ample glory (b) Mat. 19 b c d Greg. lib. 26. moral c. 25. in the kingdome of heauen But the whole summe of Euangelicall perfection standeth in this that as much as thou maiest thou endeuour to get (c) 1. Cor. 13 a 1 Io. 2 a 4 c Col. 3 c Aug. de morib Eccles Cathol c. 33 charitie and that thou followe (d) Luc. 9 c Christ And him thou doest imitate if according to thy power thou doest seeke to conforme thy selfe to Christ who was both (e) 2. Cor. 8 b Mat. 8 c poore and a (f) 1. Pet. 1 e Virgin subiect (g) Luc. 2 g to others and obedient (h) Phil. 2 b euen to the death of the Crosse If with the Apostle S. PAVL (k) Phil. 3 c Psal 83 c Ber. ep 253. ad Garinū Abbatem et ep 341. ad Monachos Sanct. Bertini item ser 2. de Purific B. Mariae Aug. ep 137. ad Hip. neglecting those thinges that are behinde (i) 1. Pet. 2 d with vnwearied labour thou doest trauaile towards those things that are before doest stretch out thy selfe euery day to the price of the supernal vocation vtterly forsaking in the mean season as much as thou canst thy owne proper will and submitting it to a man for gods sake that thou maiest (l) 1. Cor. 12 d pursue the better giftes and maiest both choose (m) Luc. 10 g the best-parte and with faithfulnes conserue the same euen to the (n) Apo. 2 c end OF THE FOVRE LAST THINGES OF A MAN 1 Which are called the foure last things of a man THese surely Death Iudgemēt Hell and the Kingdome of heauen called certes the last (a) Eccli 7 d 28 a 38 b Deut. 32 d Pro. 19 c Bern. in ser de primord medijs nouissunis things because that amongst all the things that can chance vnto a man they chalenge vnto themselues the very last place For death according to the common saying is the last line of thinges After Death followeth the Iudgement of God as S. PAVL also hath declared in these wordes It is (b) Heb. 9. g appointed to men to die once after this the Iudgement To wit both that (c) Aug. lib 2. de anima eius origine cap. 4. Item tract 49. in Ioan. Chysost ho. 14. in Mat. particular which euery one hath at his death and that last and generall Iudgement which expecteth all men at the end of the world as we haue alreadie (d) In Symbolo declared And some are iudged those that die in mortall sinne to be deliuered to euerlasting (e) Luc. 16 c Mat. 25 d paines in Hell others who departing this life are adorned with the mariage (f) Mat 22 b Aug. li. post collat cont Donat. c. 20 Greg. ho. 38 in Euang. garment of charitie that they may enioy the most happie life in the kingdome of heauen That is it which the Euangelicall veritie affirmeth They (g) Io. 5 c Mat. 25 d that haue done good thinges shall come forth into the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill into the resurrection of iudgement For (h) Mat. 16 d the sonne of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angells and then will he render to euery man according to his workes 2 What instruction doth the scripture giue vs of death AS (a) Ro. 5 b Sap. 1 d Concil Mileuit cap. 1. Aug. de praedest gratia cap. 3. by one man sinne entered into this worlde and by sinne death and so vnto all men death did passe as S. PAVL affirmeth Therefore although nothing be more vncertain vnto vs then (b) Greg. ho. 13 in Euāg Aug. in Ps 144. ho. 27. ex 50. cap 3. cap 2. soliloquiorū animae Hugo Vict. lib. 1. de anima cap. 3. the houre of death for a man knoweth (c) Eccles 9 c Iac 4 d Eccli 11 c 14 b Luc. 12 c not his end yet nothing can be more sure thā death it selfe For which cause it is written All (d) 2 Reg. 14. c Eccles 2. c Ps 89 b 101 a b 102 c Iob. 8 b 14. a 1 Pet. 1. d Aug. lib. 13. de ciu Dei cap. 10. 11. ser 21. de verbis Domini c. 2. 3. Innocent de contemptu mundi lib. 1. cap. 24. of vs die and as waters we fall into earth which doe not returne againe And Ecclesiasticus confirming the same And (e) Eccli 10 b Iob 17 d Psal 18 b d Baruch 3 b Eccli 41 a Aug. senten vlt. apud Prosp a King saith he is to day and to morow he shall die and when a man dieth he shall inherite serpentes and beastes and wormes And because it concerneth vs much in what manner and how well prepared we die therefore so often in the Gospell is this repeated vnto vs Be (f) Mat 25 a 20. d Mar. 13 d Aug. ep 80. ad Hesych quaest 59. lib. 83. quaestionum watchfull Also be ye ready (g) Luc. 12 c for at what houre you thinke not the sonne of man will come Apoc. 3 a 16 c Cypr. epist 52. ad Anton Aug ser 3. de Innocentibus tra 33. in Ioan. Greg. lib. 16. moral c. 31. And we shall be watchfull and ready to entertaine death if euery man doe for his owne parte earnestly and in all his life meditate that which is written Before (h) Eccli 14 c Eccles 9 c 12 a Gal. 6 c Aug. de discip Christiana cap. 11. 12. Conc. Lateran can 21. Trid. sess 14 Neruens c. 4 Greg. 4. dial c. 58. Possid in vita Aug. death worke iustice because there is not in hell to finde meate As also Christ himselfe hath saide The (i) Ioan 9 a Aug. in enc cap. 110. tract 44. in Ioan. nighte commeth when no mā can worke (k) Ioan. 12 c Luc. 19 c walke whilest you haue the light that the darkenes ouertake you not But fittely doth the Prophet put a difference betweene the death of the good the euill For of these he saith The death (l) Psal 33 d Pro. 11 a Sap. 5 b c Psal 10 b Aug. serm 47. 59. ad fratr in Eremo Hugo Victorinus lib. 1. de anima cap. 2. lib. 3. cap. 23. lib. 4. cap. 13. Innocent 3. de contemptu mundi lib. 2. cap. 42. of sinners
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