Loose and Binde and confirme the saine in Heauen M. Hardinge Heare againe you confounde the Power of Bindinge and the office of Preachinge as you did before speaking of the power of Loosinge VVhereto wee saye as wee saide before of that other that Bindinge and Shuttinge consisteth not in denouncinge of Goddes engeaunce but in the exercise of the Keie of Iurisdiction committed to the Churche The Ministers whereof Binde sinners whom for iust cause they Loose not but knowe that they are not to be loosed And to that Keie perteineth excommunication and by the same it is exercised VVhat so euer by them is thus Loosed or Bounde in Earthe God him selfe alloweth for loosed and bounde in Heauen Suche Priestes because ye 1. haue not in your Newe Churche at least after this wise 2. vsinge Priestly Auctoritie 3. and none wil suffer to be made 4. nor suche Auctoritie to be exercised ye 5. defraude the faithful people of the greate benefite of the Sacrament of penaunce kepinge them faste bounde to their sinnes after baptisme committed And so ye cause their Euerlasting Damnation for whom Christe hath shed his Bloud the Price of their Redemption The B. of Sarisburie Wée Confounde not these Keies M. Hardinge but speake plainely and distinctely of either other Wée saie that the Power as wel of Loosinge as also of Bindinge standeth in Gods Woorde and the exercise or execution of the same standeth either in Preaching or els in Sentence of Correction and Ecclesiastical Discipline Of the later hereof there is no question of the former M. Harding pronounceth precisely although as it appeareth not moste aduisedly Bindinge saithe he and Shuttinge standeth not in denouncinge of Goddes Vengeaunce And hereof he certainely assureth vs as of a most vndoubted Veritie How be it in so saieinge he séemeth not to consider the Power and Weight of the Woorde of God Christe him selfe saithe If any man shal heare my Woordes and shal not Bèleèue I condemne him not He that refusethe me and receiueth not my Woordes hath one that condemneth him The Woorde that I haue spoken is it that shal Iudge him at the last daie Like wise saithe S. Paule VVe are the good sauour of Christe in them that be saued and in them that perishe Vnto them that perishe wee are the sauoure of Death vnto Deathe In them that be saued wee be the sauour of Life vnto Life And againe If the Gospel be hidden it is hidden from them that perishe So saith God vnto the Prophete Ezechiel If thou geue warninge to the wicked and he wil not be turned from his wickednesse he shal perishe in the same Yet haste thou discharged thine owne soule To be shorte The whole Scriptures are ful hereof And therefore S. Augustine saithe Praedicatur Euangelium quibusdam ad praemium quibusdam ad Iudicium The Gospel is Preached to somme vnto rewarde to somme vnto Iudgemente For the rest M. Hardinge saithe Suche Priestes bicause ye haue not in your Newe Churche at leaste after this wise vsinge Priestly Auctoritie and none will suffer to be made and suche Auctoritie to be exercised ye defraude the faitheful people of the great benefite of the Sacramente of Penance keepinge them fast bounde to theire sinnes after Baptisme committed And so ye cause theire euerlastinge Damnation for whom Christe hathe shead his Bloud the Price of their Redemption These great woordes are not very wel seasoned They are bigge in sounde and smal in weight they are ful of terroure and voide of witte For the Churche of Englande hath Authoritie this daie by Goddes Woorde to Binde and Lose as mutche as euer Christe gaue any to his Apostles And by the same Authoritie is hable to Binde not onely M. Hardinge and his Felowes as Peter bound Simon Magus or as Paule bounde Elymas the False Prophet but also the Pope himselfe if he be an Open Offender and as S. Paule saithe to deliuer him ouer vnto Sathan And vndoubtedly beeinge so bound in Earthe he shal also stande Bounde in Heauen Our People remaine not Bounde nor perishe in theire sinnes as these menne so vncharitably and fondly haue imagined They be so certaine of the Remission of theire sinnes in the Bloude of Christe as if Christe himselfe were presente and spake it to them They are taught and knowe that The Bloude of Christe the Sonne of God hath made vs cleane from al our sinnes and that there is no name vnder Heauen whereby wee shal be saued but onely the name of Iesus Christe As for Priuate Confession Abuses and Errours set aparte as it is saide before wée condemne it not but leaue it at libertie And therein wée maie séeme to folowe the aduise of Charles the Emperoure in his late Interim For thus he writeth Confessio Peccatorum Enumeratio vt non nimis laxanda est ita uicissim non nimis est astringenda Touchinge the Priestes of your makinge M. Hardinge of whom ye séeme to make so great accoumpte your owne Peter Lombard saith of them as it is saide before Sané dici potest quòd alteram Clauem id est Scientiam discernendi multi Sacerdotes non habent And in like manner saithe your owne Bonauentura Omnes ferè ita sunt Simplices Idiotae post susceptionem Sacerdotij ficut antè Al Priestes for the most parte are as Simple and Vnlearned after the receiuinge of Orders as they were before But be it graunted that your Priest be fully furnished with al his Keies Yet is it not he that by any his Authoritie forgeueth sinnes Your owne Gratian saithe Euidentissime datur intelligi quòd sine Confessione Oris Peccata possunt deleri It is euidently geeuen vs to vnderstande that vvithout Confession of mouthe Sinnes maie be forgeeuen And againe Ore tacente veniam consequi possumus Though vvee saie nothinge yet wee maye haue pardonne Againe Luce clariùs constat Cordis Contritione non Oris Confessione Peccata dimitti It is apparente and more cleare then the light that Sinnes be forgeeuen by Contrition of the Harte and not by Confession of the mouthe And againe Dominus ostendit quòd non Sacerdotali iudicio sed largitate Diuina Peccator mundatur Our Lorde hathe taught vs that the sinner is made cleane not by the Iudgement of the Prieste but by the Mercie of God Thus M. Hardinge it is plaine by the Iudgemente of your owne Doctours that were your Auriculare Confession quite abolished yet might the People notwithstandinge haue ful Remission of theire Sinnes But of you it maie he verified that Christe saide vnto the Phariseis Ye haue taken awaye the Keies of the Kingedome of Heauen And neither doo ye enter your selues nor wil your suffer others that would enter Of your Keies Veselus saide longe sithence Claues Papae Praelatorum non aperiunt Regnum Dei sed claudunt potiùs The Popes and the Prelates Keies doo not Open the
the B. of Rome whom for al the spite ye beare towarde him ye must acknowledge to be a Bishop to haue the Keies at al onlesse he preache in his own Personne ye declare your greate ignorance and fowle temeritie Know ye not that a Power annexed to an Order and Vocation is not taken away from one by not exercisinge the same in his owne Person The B. of Sarisburie The effecte hereof besides other ordinarie idle talke standeth in twoo pointes Firste M. Harding saithe The Pope though he doo nothing him selfe in his owne Personne yet he maye sufficiently féede the Flocke of Christe and Binde Loose and discharge al dewties by his Deputies and Vnderuicars that is to saye by his Cardinalles and Bishoppes whiche are as careful and zelous for their offices and tender theire charge as mutch as he This ground I trow is not false and therefore what so euer M. Harding shal builde thereon it can neuer faile Notwithstanding I doo not remember that either Christe or his Apostles euer vsed to doo yâ— like One saide sommetime Impudens est Imperator qui cùm alienis oculis omnia ei agenda sint postulat sibi aliorum Capita Fortunas coÌ„mitti He is a shamelesse Captaine that whereas he must guide al thinges by the eies of others wil require other mennes liues ad goodes to be committed to his handes Pope Damasus saithe Illi Episcopi qui talia sibi praesumunt videntur mihi similes esse Meretricibus quae starim vt pariunt infantes suos alâ—s nutricibus tradunt educandos vt suam citiùs libidinem explere valeant Sic isti Infantes suos id est populos sibi Commissos alijs educan dos tradunt vt ipsi suas libidines expleant id est vt pro suo libitu Saecularibus curis inhient quod cuique visum fuerit liberitis agant Sutche Bishoppes takinge sutche maters vpon them selues seeme like vnto Hâ—rsottes Whiche as soone as they be once deliuered streight waie deliuer out theire Children vnto Nâ—urces that they maie the rather folow their pleasures Euen so these Bishoppes diliuer ouer theire children that is to saie the people committed to theire Charges to be reared and brought vp by others â–ª that they maie the better accomplishe theire pleasures that is to saie that they maie geeue them selues ouer to worldly cares and doo what so euer shal like them beste Further saith M. Harding Christ said vnto Peter To thee wil I geeue the Keies Feede my Sheepe Confirme thy Brethren Ergo the Pope is a Lorde Paramounte and hathe a Power Pierclesse ouer al the world Peter of Palus hereof writeth thus Christus dixit Apostolis Quaecunque ligaueritis in terra erunt ligata in Coelo Non dixit In Coelis sicut Petro dixerat Sed in Coelo Vno Vnde non sunt tantae perfectionis sicut Petrus Christe saide vnto the Apostles what so euer ye shal Binde in Earthe it shal be bounde in Heauen He saide not It shal be bounde in Heauens as he saide to Peter But in One Heauen Therefore the other Apostles were not of sutche perfection as Peter was Againe he saithe Illa verba Quaecunque ligaueris intelliguntur de Vtroque Foro de Vtraque Potestate Illa autem Verba Quorumcunque ligaueritis intelliguntur anúm de Foro Conscientiae These woordes spoken vnto Peter VVhat so euer thou shalt Binde are vnderstoode of bothe Courtes as wel of the Courte of Judgemente as of the Courte of Conscience But these other woordes Spoken vnto the other Apostles VVhat so euer you shal Binde c. are vnderstoode onely of the Courte of Conscience This fantasie it séemeth he learned out of these woordes of Origen Non modica differentia est quòd Petro quidem datae sunt Claues non Vnius Coeli sed multorum Caelorum vt quaecuque I gauerit super tertam sint ligata non tantùm Vno in Caelo sed euam in omnibus Coelis Ad alios dicit vt soluant ligent non in Coelis sicut Petrus sed in Vno Caelo quia noÌ„ sunt in tanta perfectione sicut Petrus vt ligeÌ„t soluaÌ„t in omnibus Coelis The difference is greate For vnto Peter are geeuen the Keies not of one Heauen but of many Heauens that what so euer he bindeth in Earth shal be bound not onely in One Heauen but also in al the heauens But vnto the reste he geeueth Power to Binde and Loose not in the Heauens as Peter doo the but in One Heauen for that they were not in sutche perfection as Peter was to Binde or Loose in al the Heauens This Multiplication of Heauens as I haue saide is but a fantasie and yet to M. Hardinges pourpose it maketh nothing For Origen by this woorde Peter meante not Peter the Apostle but any other Godly Learned Prieste or Bishop whom he expresseth here vnder the name of Peter For it foloweth immediately Ergo quantò melior fuerit qui soluit tantò beatior erit qui soluitur quoniam in omnibus solutus est Coelis Therefore the better man he is that looseth the moore blessed is he that is Loosed for that he is Loosed in al the Heauens Againe he saithe Quod si nos idem loquimur quod Petrus locutus est efficimur Petrus Et nobis dicetur Tu es Petrus Petra enim est quisquis est Discipulus Christi If wee speake the same that Peter spake wee are made Peter And vnto vs it shal be saide Thou arte Peter For he is the Rocke that is the Disciple of Christe And againe he saithe Hoc dictum Tibi dabo Claues Regni Coelorum Coeteris quoque commune est Et quae sequuntur velut ad Petrum dicta sunt omnium Communia This saieinge To thee wil I geue the Keies of the Kingdome of Heauen is common to the reste of the Apostles And the woordes that folow as spoken vnto Peter are common vnto al. So saith S. Augustine Petrus quando accepit Claues Ecclesiam SanctaÌ„ significauit Peter when he receiued the Keies signified the Holy Churche So saithe S. Basile Petre inquit amas meâ— Pasce Oues meas Et consequenter Omnibus Pastoribus Doctoribus eandem potestatem tribuit Cuius signum est quo'd omnes ex Aequo ligant Absoluunt quemadmodum ille Christe saide vnto Peter â—ouest thou me Feede my Sheepe And in like sorte vnto Al Pastours and Doctours he gaue the same Povver A tokeÌ„ wherof is this that al others Binde Loose Equally as vvel as he Likewise saithe S. Ambrose Dominus dixit Petro Pasce Oues meas Quas Oues quem Gregem non solùm tune Beatus Petrus suscepit sed nobiscum eas suscepit cum illo cas nos suscepimus omnes Our Lorde saide vnto Peter Feede my Sheepe Whiche Sheepe and Flocke not Onely Blessed Peter then receiued but he receiued the sa ne togeather
some deale here before These be the matters wherein you and your ignorant felow ministers gladly shewe your vile railinge and scoffinge eloquence Yet concerninge the doctrine of pardons least I saie nothinge this much I haue thought good to saie here In the Sacramente as wel of Baptisme as of penaunce al the bandes of sinne are loosed and the whole euerlastinge paine due to sinne is forgeuen At Baptisme no temporall paine is enioyned to vs because Christe moste freely bestoweth the benefite of his death vpon vs at that our firste entrie into the Churche But if afterwarde we abuse his mercie returninge againe to filthy sinne Christe would our seconde thirde and al other reconciliations from thence foorth to be with due satisfaction not of his dreadful angre whiche onely his bloude and the Sacrament of penaunce by due contrition and confession in deede or in vowe receiued is able to remoue but with satisfactiō of such temporal paine as his mercifull iustice required bothe of all others from the beginninge and namely of Kinge Dauid To whome confessinge his faulte Nathan saide Our Lorde hath put a way thy Sinne thou shalte not die Beholde the forgeuenesse of the mortal sinne and of the euerlastinge paine due to the same But yet so is it forgeuen that withal it is transferred into a temporal satisfaction VVhat was that It foloweth in the storie that bicause Dauid through his aduoutrie and murther had caused the ennemies of God to blaspheme his holy name the childe borne of the wife of Vrias should surely die And so it came to passe If the death of a Sonne be so greuous a punishment to a good Father that King Dauid was content to praie to faste to lie on the groūde afflicting him selfe seuen daies onely to trie whether he might as it were by exchaunge bie out the death of his Sonne and yet so could not obteine his desire we may be most certaine that the very best frendes of God sinning after Baptisme or circuncision whiche in the olde lawe stode in place thereof muste by ordinary course sarisfie with some temporall affliction that iuste iudgement of our merciful Make and Redeemer if farther grace be not founde by some other waie This satisfaction hath benne therefore iustly called the thirde and last parte of penaunce VVhiche if it be not fulfilled in this life vndoubtedly it shal be straightly exacted in the worlde to come in the fire of Purgatorie For that sinnes maye be in an other worlde forgeuen to those who die not in the deadly bondes of them our Sauiour hath geuen vs to vnderstande sayinge That the sinne against the Holy Ghost shal not be forgeuen neither in this worlde nor in the worlde to come whereof it appeareth that somme other Sinnes may be forgeuen in the worlde to come VVell this satisfaction may notwithstanding be fulfilled more then one waie For a man beinge once by the Sacrament of penaūce iustly reconciled to the mystical Body of Christe which is his Church wherein as the Prophete saithe a faithfull man is made partaker of al that feare God and keepe his commaundementes we haue in that bande of peace suche an vnitie of Spiriie communicated to vs al that the defect of one may be in spirituall causes supplied out of the plenty of all others his felowe membres accordinge as the Apostle saithe Beare ye one an others burdens And because the Head whiche is Christe is the chiefe membre of all and farre more then all the rest such influence is from him deriued throughout his mysticall Body that euen his death may as well inwardely by charitie as outwardly by another waie also be applied to vs for the pardoninge of that temporal satisfactiō which after the Sacrament of penaunce is lefte vnforgeuen And that is by such authoritie as Christ gaue to Peter saying To thee I will geue the Keies of the Kingedome of Heauen and what so euer thou bindest in Earth it shal be bounde also in Heauen and what so euer thou loosest in Earth it shall be loosed also in Heauen Lo what so euer Peter looseth in earth it shall be loosed in the sight of God If therefore the Pope who succedeth Peter do by iuste cause loose not onely the mortall Sinne by the sacrament of penaunce but also the bande of Temporall paine whiche remaineth yet due to to the Sinne it is vndoubted that suche paine is loosed in the sighte of God The cause of loosinge must be not onely the will of the Pope who is put in Authoritie to builde and not to destroy to dispense and not to lauishe but a reasonable change or recompence substituted in that behalfe suche as apperteineth to the Honour of God or to the profite of soules As mainteininge warr and fightinge against infidels for the defence of Christendome recouery of the Sepulchre of Christe succouringe widowes Orphanes or other poore persons the buildinge or mainteininge of Holy places the visitinge of Prisons and Martyrs toumbes or any like Deuout and Charitable deedes VVhiche whiles the faithfull Christian dothe obediently performe although otherwise the thinge enioyned be not great he may obteine remission also of that temporall satisfaction whiche was left in penaunce vnremitted This kinde of Pardon S. Paule gaue to that notorious sinner who at Corinth had his Fathers wife and was for that faulte separated from the Churche of God to be afflicted temporally in his fleashe But when the Corinthians had informed S. Paule of his earnest and true repentance and had shewed their owne fauour and good willes towarde him the Apostle answeareth VVhome yee forgeue ought I also forgeue for I also in that I haue forgeuen if I haue forgeuen ought for your sakes in the person of Christe I haue forgeuen it VVell we are assured the Apostle speaketh of forgeuinge such afflictions as the partie was in by reason he was deliuered out of the defence of holy Church to that state where the Deuill as S. Chrysostome vpon that place noteth Pro solutione Peccatorum for payment of his Sinnes might vexe him and wherein suche persons beinge put to their penaunce vsed to remaine for a certaine space of moneths or yeeres vntill their penaunce were done and expired Now the reconcilinge of the man not yet hauing done due satisfaction before his ordinary time is a pardon VVhich the Apostle saithe he dothe geue in the person of Christe as hauinge auctoritie of him to doo it and for the Corinthians sakes as who were able by their Holy Praiers and common sorowe whereof the Apostle speaketh to make recompence for that whiche lacked on the behalfe of his owne satisfaction If this muche doo not satisfie any man desiringe to be fully resolued herein let him resorte to the Latine woorkes of the Holy and learned Bishop of Rochester The B. of Sarisburie These obiections ye saie in your pleasante homely comparison are as common with
penaunce not sutche as liketh your selues not sutche as Newe fangled selfe pleasinge Preachers teache you but sutche as is done in the Churche whiche consisteth in Contrition of harte confession of mouthe and satisfaction of worke that so ye maie be assoiled and perfitely reconciled Touchinge the seconde pointe wee doo not attribute the Loosinge of sutche as be excommunicate to the offeringe of Christes Merites and pronouncinge of the Gospell vnto them as you doo but to the power of Iurisdiction by Christe geeuen to the Churche By the fathers Excommunication in consideration of the necessitee of it is called neruus Ecclesiasticae disciplinae the sinnowe of Churchely discipline by the Canons Mucro Episcopi the swerde of a Bishop by S. Augustine Episcopalis iudicij damnatio qua poena nulla in ecclesia maior est The condemnation of a man by Bishoply Iudgemente then the whiche there is no greater punishmente in the Churche The B. of Sarisburie Wée commit the Keies of the Kingedome of Heauen onely vnto the Priesteand to none other and to him onely wee saie What so euer thou bindeste in Earthe shal be Bounde in Heauen Yet neuerthelesse hath not euery Prieste the vse of these Keies Peter Lombarde him selfe saithe Sanè dici potest quòd alteram istarum Clauium id est Scientiam discernendi non habent omnes Sacerdotes Wee maie safely saye that al Priestes haue not the one of these twoo Keies I meane the Knowledge to discerne Yf they haue not the Keies them can they neither Open nor Shutte Neither doothe it folowe of Our Doctrine that either Children or Laye menne doo or maie forgéeue sinnes And yet Gods Woorde maie be mighty be the pronouncer of it neuer so simple S. Augustine saithe Cùm Christus Petro dicerer Tibi dabo Claues Regni Coelorum Vniuersam significabat Ecclesiam When Christe saide vnto Peter Vnto thee I wil geeue the Keies of the Kingdome of Heauen he signified thereby the whole Churche And againe Quaecunque ligaueris super Terram erunt ligara in Coelo Coepisti habere Fratrem tuum tanquam Publicanum Ligas illum in Terra Cùm autem correxeris concordaueris cum Fratre tuo soluisti illum in terra Cùm solueris in terra solutus erit in Coelo What so euer thinges thou shalt Binde in Earthe they shal be Bounde in Heauen Thou beinge a Lateman hast begonne to haue thy Brother as a Publicane Thou Bindest him in Earthe But when thou hast corrected him and hast agreed with thy Brother thou hast Loosed him in Earthe And when thou haste Loosed him in Earthe he shal be Loosed in Heauen Likewise Theophylacte saithe Si tu offensus habes eum qui te affecit iniuria sicut Publicanum Gentilem erit ille in Coelo talis Si autem solueris eum hoc est Si illi condonaueris erit illi in Coelo condonatum Non enim solùm quae soluunt Sacerdotes sunt soluta sed quaecunque nos iniutia affecti vel ligamus vel soluimus ipsa erunt ligata vel soluta If thou beinge offended haue him that hathe donne thee wronge as a Publicane and as an Heathen sutche shal he be also in Heauen But if thou Loose him that is to saie if thou pardonne him he shal be pardonned also in Heauen For not onely the thinges that Priestes Loose are Loosed but also what so euer wee being Laimonne hauinge taken wronge doo Binde or Loose the same thinges shal also be Bounde or Loosed This Doctrine maie not séeme so strange to M. Hardinge Onlesse he be a stranger emongest his owne For by the Order of his owne Churche of Rome an Olde wife or a Yonge gyrle maie Minister the Sacramente of Baptisme And I trowe he wil not saie They maie Minister Baptisme without Remission of Sinnes In his Churche of Rome the Power of the Keies is lapped vp oftentimes in a Bulle of Lead and sente abroade into the world by a Laye Pardoner and is thought neuerthelesse good sufficient vnto the Receiuer for Remission of Sinnes notwithstandinge the messenger be no Priest Somme of the late Doctours of his saide Churche haue taught vs that a man maie make his Confession by a bille of his hande and receiue Absolution by a Trusheman or by a Broker Peter Lombarde the Grande Maister of theire whole Schole saithe Si tamen defuerit Sacerdos Proximo vel Socio est facienda Confessio If thou wante a Prieste thou muste make thy Confession vnto thy neighboure or vnto thy felowe And Beda saithe as he is alleged by the saide Peter Lombarde Coaequalibus quotidiana leuia grauiora verò Sacerdoti pandamus Let vs open our smal and daily sinnes vnto our felowes and the greatter vnto the Prieste And to be short vpon the Decretales it is noted thus In necessitate Laicus potest Audire Confessiones Absoluere In case of necessitie a Laie man maie bothe heare Confessions and Absolue This is the Order and Doctrine of M. Hardinges owne Churche His owne Doctours tel him that Laye Menne and Wéemenne maie Absolue the Penitente and Forgeeue Sinnes Therefore hée hathe the lesse cause to mislike it M. Hardinge saithe further Christe saithe not To whom ye offer by preaching of the Gospel my Merites and Pardonne or whose sinnes ye pronounce by the Gospel to be remitted but Quorumcunque remiseritis whose so euer sinnes ye remitte they are remitted Yf M. Hardinge wil Conclude of this Negatiue Ergo Sinnes be not forgeuen by the preachinge of the Gospel I trowe it wil be but a Simple Argumente For Chrysostome saithe Clauicularij sunt Sacerdotes quibus creditum est Verbum Docendi Interpretandi Scriptutas The Keiebearers be the Priestes to whom is committed the VVoorde of Teachinge and Expoundinge the Scriptures And S. Hierome saithe Quaecunque Solueritis super Terram erunt Soluta in Coelo Soluunt autem eos Apostoli Sermone Dei testimonijs Scripturarum exhortatione virtutum What so euer thinges ye Loose vpon Earthe they shal be Loosed also in Heauen But the Apostles Loose them by the VVoorde of God and by the Testimonies of the Scriptures and by exhortation vnto vertue Likewise S. Augustine saithe Iam vos Mundi estis propter verbum quod Ioquutus sum vobis Quare non ait Mundi estis propter Baptismum quo loti estis Nisi quia in Aqua Verbum Mundat Now are you cleane bicause of the VVoorde that I haue spoken to you VVhy saithe he not you are cleane bicause of the Baptisme wherewith ye are wasshed Sauinge that euen in the VVater it is the VVoorde that maketh Cleane Likewise S. Ambrose Remittuntur peccata per Verbū Dei cuius Leuites est Interpres Sinnes be forgeeuen by the VVoorde of God the Expounder whereof is the Leuite or Prieste Al the Power is in the Woorde of God whiche S. Paule
in thinges necessarie That sinnes can not either be remitted or reteined excepte the Prieste knowe them we are bolde so to saye with the Fathers and specially with S. Hierome who so vnderstoode the woordes of Christe where he promised the Keies of the Kingedome of Heauen to Peter Sacerdos pro officio suo cùm peccatorum audierit Varietates scit qui ligandus sit qui Soluendus The Prieste saithe he when as accordinge to his office he hath hearde the diuersities of sinnes knoweth who is to be bounde who is to be loosed Right so as in the time of Moses lawe he pronounced not who was cleane of Lepre who was not before that he had vewed the colour the bunches and al other tokens of that disease And thus it foloweth of the woordes of Christe that Confession of al Sinnes at leaste deadly muste be made to the Prieste before they can be remitted VVhiche Prieste is the Minister of this Sacramente and hath auctoritie to absolue either Ordinarie or by Commission of the Superiour Againe for proufe that Confession is necessarie wee sate that to remitte and reteine sinnes committed againste God as to binde and to loose be iudicial actes And therefore by these woordes Christe ordeined a Courte a Consistorie a seate of Iudgemente in the Churche and appointed the Apostles and their Successours to be Iudges And that this maye appeare not to be a fantasie of our owne heades S. Augustine so expoundeth those woordes of S. Iohn in his Reuelation Et vidi ledes c. And I sawe seates and some sittinge on them and iudgement was geuen VVe muste not thinke â—aithe he this to be spoken of the laste iudgement but we muste vnderstande the Seates of the Rulers and the Rulers themselues by whome nowe the Churche is gouerned And as for the Iudgement geuen it semeth not to be taken for any other then for that whereof it was saide VVhat thinges yee binde in Earthe they shal be bouÌ„de also in Heauen and what thinges ye loose on Earthe they shal be loosed also in Heauen Sundrie other Fathers haue vttered in their writinges the same Doctrine Hilarius vpon the sixtenth Chapter of Matthewe saithe Beatus Coeli ianitor c. Blessed is the Porter of Heauen whose earthly iudgement that is to saie whiche is geuen here on Earthe is a foreiudged auctoritie in Heauen that what thinges be bounde or loosed in Earthe they haue the condition of the same Statute also in Heauen S. Cyprian hath the like sayinge in an Epistle to Cornelius Chrysostome saithe that Christe hath translated al iudgemente whiche he receiued of the Father vnto the Apostles and Priestes Gregorie Nazianzene in an Oration to the Emperour and his Princes saithe to the Emperour Ouis mea es nos habemus Tribunalia Thou arte my Sheepe and we haue our seates of iudgement S. Gregorie the Pope compareth the Sacrament of Penaunce with a courte of Iustice in which causes be first examined and tried and afterwarde Iudged That the same is to be donne by the Prieste S. Bernarde sheweth VVho as also the learned Father Hugo de S. Victore be not afraide to saie after S. Cyprian Hilarie and Chrysostome that the sentence of Peter remittinge Sinnes goeth before the sentence of Heauen This Ordinance of Christe requireth that al. Trespasses Offences Disorders Transgressions and Sinnes committed against him and his Lawes be referred to this Consistorie VVhether these Defenders allowe Publike Confession or no we knowe not but whereas they inueigh against Priuate Confession and saie in spiteful woordes which they haue learned in the Schole of Satan beinge lothe the Sinnes of the People whereby he holdeth his Kingdome shoulde be remitted that Christes Disciples receiued not the auctoritie of the Keies that they shoulde heare priuate Confessions of the People and listen to their whisperinges VVe tel them that Confession of al deadly Sinnes is of the Institution of God not of Man But concerninge the maner of confessinge secretely to a Prieste alone it is moste agreable to Natural Reason that secrete Sinnes be confessed secretely Clement amongest those thinges that he acknowledgeth him selfe to haue receiued of Peter this is One as he writeth in his firste Epistle translated by Rufine the Prieste That if it fortune either enuie or Infidelitie priuely to crepe into any mans harte or any other like euil he whiche regardeth his Soule be not ashamed to confesse those thinges to him that is in Office ouer him to the ende that by him through the woorde of God and holesome counsel he maye be healed So as by perfite Faithe and good woorkes he maye escape the paines of euerlastinge fire and come to the rewardes of Life that endureth for euer No man speaketh more plainely of Secrete Confession then Origen and that in sundry places to whiche for Breuities sake I remitte the Reader In. 2. Ca. Leuitici Homil. 2. De Principijs Lib. 3. In Psal 37. Homil. 2. VVhere he compareth the state of a sinner to a man that hath euil and vndigested humours in his Stomake And saithe that as by remaininge of suche euil matter the man feleth him selfe very sicke and by vomitinge of it foorthe he is eased so the sinner by keepinge his sinnes secrete is the more greuousely charged in his owne conscience and standeth in daunger to be choked with the Fleume and humour of his sinnes But if he accuse him selfe and confesse his faultes he bothe vomiteth foorthe his sinnes and digesteth the cause of the same S. Cyprian as in many other places so moste plainely speaketh of Secrete Confession Sermone 5. de lapsis Although saithe he of certaine deuoute persons they be entangled with no greate Sinne yet because at leaste they thought of it the same vnto the Priestes of God Confesse they sorowfully and simply They make Confession of their Conscience they laie foorthe the burthen of their minde c. S. Augustine treatinge of the Power of the Keies in many places but specially of Confession in Psal 60. VVhere speakinge muche of the necessitie of Confession he saithe thus VVhy fearest thou to be Confessed If not beinge Confessed thou remaine hidden not beinge Confessed thou shalt be damned And afterwardes thus To this ende God requireth Confession to deliuer the humble to this ende he damneth him that confesseth not to punishe the Proude Therefore be thou sorie before thou be Confessed beinge Confessed Reioyse thou shalt be hole By these and many other Holy Fathers of whome there is no doubte but they had the Holy Ghoste for their Teacher and prompter of al Truthe the Catholike Churche hath benne persuaded that the recital and rehersinge of al sinnes before the Prieste is necessarie to Saluation onlesse necessitie for lacke of a Prieste or other wise exclude vs from it and that a General Confession in no wise suffiseth True Faithe acknowlegeth that Confession is to be made of al â— Sinnes
slinge and blowethe downe Antichriste in al his glorie with the breathe of his mouthe I thanke thee O Father saithe Christe for that thou haste hid theise thinges froÌ„ the wise and Politique and haste reueled the same vnto the simple The Faithe of Christe is not bounde to place The whole Earthe is the Lordes and al the fulnesse of the same There is nowe no Distinction of Gréeke and Barbarâ—us Wée are al one in Christe Iesu Notwithstanding the Gospel of Christe that wée professe neither had his beginninge from that Learned Father Doctour Luther nor came first from Wittenberg It is the same Gospel wherof it is Written by the Prophete The Lawe shal come out of Sion and the VVoorde of God out of Jerusalem Touchinge your longe tale of Doctour Luthers auarice and sale of Pardounes I minde not nor néede not to answeare you It is a simple stale sclaunder Yet it often seruethe your turne of course when other thinges beginne to faile In déede Fréere Tecel the Pardoner made his proclamations vnto the people openly in the Churches in this sorte Although a man had lyen with our Lady the Mother of Christe and had begotten her with Childe yet were he hable by the Popes power to Pardonne the faulte Against this and other like foule Blasphemies Doctour Luther firste beganne so speake Nowe whether this occasion were sufficient or no let M. Hardinge him selfe bée the Iudge Wée graunte the Princes and Estates of the world haue nowe laide theire power to assiste the Gospel Goddes Holy Name therefore be blessed Howe be it the Gospel came not first from them It sprange vp and grewe by them many wheres against theire willes Neither is the Gospel therefore the more to be suspected bicause it hathe entred into Princes Courtes Daniel was in Kinge Nabuchodonosors Palaice and taught him to knowe the Liuinge God S Paule reioiced and tooke comforte in his bandes for that there were some euen in Neroes Courte that began to hearken to the Gospel And Eusebius saithe Valeriani Aula erat iam Ecclesia Dei Valerian the Emperours Courte was now become the Churche of God Athanasius saithe vnto the Emperour Iouinian Conueniens est Pio Principi c The Studie and loue of Godly thinges is very meete for a Godly Prince For so shal you surely haue your harte euer more in the hande of God Likewise saithe S. Cyril to the Emperours Theodosius and Valentinian Ab ea quae erga Deum est pietate Reipub. vestrae status pendet The state and assurance of your Empiere hangethe of your Religion towardes God So likewise saithe Sozomenus of the Emperour Arcadius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore it behouethe Princes to vnderstande the cases of Goddes Religion and to receiue Christe with his Gospel into theire Courtes For God hathe ordeined Kinges as the Prophete Dauid saithe to serue the Lorde and as Esai saithe to be Nources vnto his Churche If there be occasions of vanities or wickednesse in Princes Courses yet is there no Courte therein comparable to the Courte of Rome For there S. Bernard saithe Mali proficiunt boni deficiunt The wicked waxe the godly wane Ye striue in vaine M. Hardinge This Counsel is not of Man it is of God Yf Princes with theirs powers could not staie it mutche lesse can you staye it with vntruthes and fables The poore beguiled soules of whom ye speake are neither so séely nor so simple but they are able to espie your folies The Truthe of God wil stande Vanitie will falle of it selfe RemeÌ„ber the Counsel of Gamaliel Fight not against the Sprite of God The Apologie Cap. 5. Diuision 3. For they be not al madde at this daye so many Free Citties so many Kinges so many Princes whiche haue fallen awaye from the Seate of Rome and haue rather ioined them selues to the Gospel of Christe The B. of Sarisburie M. Hardinges answeare hereto is longe the effecte thereof in short is this The Faithe of the Holy Romaine Churche is the very Catholique Faith which who so foresake shal be companions with Diuels in euerlastinge fiere And where ye saie so many Free Citties so many Kinges I praie you howe many free Citties can you name that haue receiued your Sacramentarie Religion Nay the Free Citties of Germanie as many as haue foresaken the Catholique Churche doo they not persecute you the Sacramentaries But say ye they be fallen from the Seate of Rome So be the Greekes also in a pointe or twoo yet condemne they you for Heretiques Neither be al the Free Citties in al the Countrie of Germanie fallen from the See Apostolike Of fiue partes of that great Countrie at leaste twoo remaine Catholique Let vs see how make ye vp the number of so many Kinges ye speake of The Realmes of Englande and Scotlande bicause by Goddes prouidence the Gouernement of them is deuolued to VVomen for as mutche as they be no Kinges though they haue the ful right of Kinges of them I speake not Now onely twoo Christened Kinges remaine the Kinge of Denmarke and the Kinge of sweden Geate you nowe vp into your Pulpites like bragginge cockes on the rowst Flappe your whinges and crow out aloude so many free Citties so many Kinges But what thinke you of al the world before this daye VVere al Citties al Prouinces al Countries al Kinges al Princes c. til Freer Luther came and with his Nunne tolde vs a newe Doctrine and controlled al the old were al these mad The Vertuous menne of the Societie of Iesus haue they not brought many Countries many Kinges many Princes to the Faithe of Christe by preachinge the Doctrine of the Catholike Churche VVee wil not folowe your folishnesse in boastinge c. The Faithe professed in the holy Romayne Churche is now preached in Peru in the Kingdome of Ignamban in the Kingdome of Monopotapa in Cambaia in Giapan in Cina in Tartaio in Basnaga in Taprobana in Ormaz in Ceilon in Zimor in Bacian in Macazar The Miracles wrought by these Holy Fathers whiche conuerted these Countries I trowe ye wil not accoumpte to be madnesse Thus your vaine boast in wickednesse wrought by the power of Satan is put to silence c. The B. of Sarisburie The Faithe of the Romaine Churche saithe M. Hardinge is the very Catholique Faithe of Christe whiche who so foresakethe bée he Kinge or Emperour he shal be Companion with Diuels in euerlasting fire Thus mutche I trow M. Hardinge learned of the Countrefeite Decrée of Anacletus For thus it pleaseth him to glose and interlace the woordes of Christe Super hanc Petram id est Super Ecclesiam Romanam aedificabo Ecclesiam meam Vpon this Rocke that is to saye Vpon the Churche of Rome I wil build my Churche And therfore Pope Bonifacius for a ful resolution of the mater saithe thus Subesse Romano Pontifici omni humanae creaturae declaramus dicimus definimus pronuntiamus omnino esse