de doc Chr. c. 37. 40. l. 3. c. 10. in praef Ps 31. purity cleannes of conscience which must euer (d) 2. Cor. 1 7. Heb. 3 6. 10 34. 1. Io. 3 3. Col. 1 21. 2. Pet. 1 10. shew it selfe by good workes inuincible patience in all aduersitye For they that wante the testimony of a good conscience or haue not a purpose to amend their life they I saye haue not that hope which they shoulde but do rather rashlie vaunt of (e) 2. Pet. 2 18. Eccli 5 4.6 Greg. 33. mor. c. 15. praesumption and a very vaine and vnfruitfull coÌ„fidence how-soeuer they boaste of Gods grace and of the merites of Christ Hope in our Lorde sayth the (f) Ps 36 3. Prophet and do goodnesse againe Be thou subiect to our Lord and pray to him And an other Prophet (g) Thren 3 25. Our Lord is good to those that hope in him to the soule that seeketh him And that this hope must not be al-together (h) Greg. l. 6. ep 22. ad GregoriaÌ„ Ber. de Fest Magdal voyde of feare it appeareth by this place of the psalme Our Lord (i) Ps 146.11 is wel pleased ouer theÌ„ that feare him in theÌ„ that hope trust in his mercy 3 What good thinges are those which a Christian must hope for FIrst and specially those good (a) Tit. 2 13. 3 7. thinges of the Kingdome of heauen which do make men blessed happy and exempteth them from all manner of miserie Then all such things as (b) Heb. 4 16 Aug. in Enc. cap. 114. seruing for the necessarie vses of mortall men in this life are rightly desired prayed for at Gods hands ought to be reputed in the number of those good thinges which are to be hoped for and expected All which are specially expressed in our Lordes prayer as which Christ our Lorde with his owne most sacred (c) Mat. 6 9. Luc. 11 2. mouth deliuered with wonderfull wisdome prescribed to all those that would gladly by prayer lay opeÌ„ their hope and good desires befote All. God 4 What is the forme of our Lords prayer THis that followeth The Pater noster is expounded by these Tert. Nysen l. de ora Cypr. ser 6. de or Dom. Cyr. cat mys 5. Chry. ho. de or Dom. in cap. 6. Mat. HieroÌ„ Theop. Eut. in Mat. Ambr. lib. 5. de Sacr. cap. 4. Aug. ep 121. ad Probam c. 11. l. 2. de ser Do. c. 4. seq ho. 42. ex 50. ser 126. 135. 182. de temp ser 9. ex diu Chrysol ser 67. seq Innoc. 3. lib. de Myst Missae c. 17. seq Petrus Laod. German Patriarcha Const Cassia coll 9. c. 18. sequ Our Father which art in heauen 1 Hallowed be thy name 2 Thy Kingdome come 3 Thy will be donne in earth as it is in heauen 4 Giue vs this day our dayly bread 5 And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. 6 And lead vs not into temptation 7 But deliuer vs from euill Amen 5 What is the suÌ„me of our Lords prayer THere are (a) Aug. in Ench. c. 115 l. 2. de ser Dom. c. 10. seuen petitions therin conteyned vnto which all manners and formes of prayers (b) Aug. ep 121. ad Probam c. 12. what-soeuer may and ought to be referred whether we treate with al-mightie God for the obtaining of some good things or for the wiping away of sinne or for the turning away of any euill whatsoeuer And in the three first petitions those thiÌ„gs are in order demanded which are properly aeternal euerlasting in the fower others we do aske euen temporal things as being necessary for vs to the getting of the aeternal 6 What is ment by the beginning of this prayer Our father which art c. Ex. 15 11. Esa 42 5. 63 15. Mal. 1 6. 2. Cor. 1 3. Phil. 4 20. Ap. 4 10. Ro. 8 15. Gal. 4 5. 1. Pet. 3 22. Leo. ser 6. nat Do. IT is a little preface and it putteth vs in minde of that great inaestimable benefite wherby God the Father that eternall maiestie raigning most happily in heauen receiued vs into his fauour for Christ his Sonnes sake adopted vs by the holy Ghost to be his soÌ„nes heires vnto his heauenly Kingdome And this remeÌ„brance of so great benefites doth not only stirr vp (a) Cypr. in ser de or do attentioÌ„ but prouoke also the soÌ„nes to render loue againe to their father and to obay him it doth in like maner encourage theÌ„ to pray afford theÌ„ (b) Luc. 11 11. Iac. 1 6. confidence to obtaine 7 What is the sense of the first Petition Hallowed be thy name VVE desire that aswell in our selues as in all others Mat. 5 17. 1. Pet. 2 12. 4 11. 1. Cor. 10 31. Col. 3 17. Ro. 15 6. Eccli 36 1. that may alwaies be preferred aduanced which standeth most with the glory and honor of our Soueraigne and most excellent Father And this indeede wee doe performe when the confession of the true faith hope and charity holy couersation (a) Luc. 1 72. 1. Pet. 1 15. 3 16. Phil. 2 15. of Christian life do shewe forth their light and force in vs that (b) Mat. 5. 17. others also beholding the same may take occasion to glorifie our Father 8 What is contained in the second Petition Thy kingdome come VVE do aske that God by his grace iustice Mat. 6 33. Ro. 14 17. Ps 22 1. 79 2. Luc. 1 33. 17 20. 1. Cor. 3 16 4 20. Eph. 1 18.23 Mat. 13 41 1. Co. 15 24 Col. 1.13 Ps 67 2. may raign in his Church yea in the whole world all aduersary powers euill affections beeing once abandoned rooted out Then we do wishe and pray that being once called out of this world as out of a troublesome (a) Phil. 1 23. Heb. 11 13. 1. Pet. 2 11. Iob. 7 1. 2. Cor 5 6. Sap. 5 16. Apoc. 22 4. Mat. 8 11. pilgrimage and warfare we may be speedily transported into the kingdome of glory and euerlasting felicity to raigne with Christ and his Saintes for euer 9 What importeth the third Petition Thy will be done VVE doe wishe in this petition Ps 102 20. Ro. 1 10. Act. 9 6. 21 14. Deut. 12 8 Heb. 13 21. Iâ—c 4 15. Luc. 22 42. 1. Pet. 4 2 Act. 5 29. Iob. 1 21. 1. Pet. 5 6. that as the Angels and blessed Saints in heauen so we also vpon earth though weake and of small force may exhibite vnto Almighty God exacte obedience desiring or coueting nothing so much as that we may willingly submit our selues to the will of God both in prosperity aduersity renouncing our owne wil which is prone (a) Gen. 8 21. Mat. 26 41
cō Donat. c. 4. hath prescribed vs this rule Sacramentes saith he are not therfore more true and more holy because they are ministred by a better man for they of themselues are true and holy by meanes of the true and holy God whose Sacraments they are And againe Remember (f) Con. lit Petill. l. 2. c. 47. et tract 5 in Euang. Ioan. that the manners of euill men doe nothing hinder the Sacramentes of God to make them either nothing at all or euer the lesse holy To which accordeth that sentence of (g) de iis qui mysteriis initiantur c. 5. S. AMBROSE doe thou not regard the merits of the persons but the offices of the Priestes I meane in the administration of the Sacramentes For euen by the (h) Io. 11 50 Mat. 23 2. vnworthie God accustometh to woorke and by the life of the Priest there can be no preiudice to the grace of the Sacrament as witnesseth (i) ho. 8. in 1. Corinth S. CHRYSOSTOME 8 What conceipte ought we to haue of Ceremonies those espeacially that are ordinarily and solempnly vsed in the Sacramentes CEremonies approued by the Church are certaine externall (a) Io. 9 6. et 11 33.43 20 22. Luc. vlt. 50. Mar. 7 33. et 8 23. et 10 16. Mat. 8 3. et 14 19. rites religiously and decently instituted first that they may be signes testimonies and exercises of the interiour worshipe which (b) Io. 4 23. Mat. 15 8. Esa 1 14. God principally requireth at our handes Then that there may be some liuely forcible prouocations vnto Religion wherby the frailty of man may be fortified and vnderpropped as it were trained with the hand both to receiue and also to retaine holy mysteries Lastly that those thinges which doe appertaine to the aduancemēt of Gods seruice and to the preseruation of publike discipline and (c) Leo. ep 81. ad Dios Innoc. ad Decent ep 1. Conc. 4. Tol. can 2. concorde may be prosecuted in the Church after an honest comely decent (d) 1. Cor. 14 40. Phil. 4 5.8 order as the Apostle willeth But those ceremonies speacially which are vsed in the administration of the Sacramentes and which we haue receiued (e) Hier. 6 16. Pro. 22 28. of the Fathers (f) Bas de Spir. Sanct. c 27. Triden Conc. can 13. de Sacr. deliuered and commended vnto vs as it were by hande oughte with great diligence to be kept and obserued For besids that they bring a decency vnto the Sacramentes ingender a certaine reuerence they are also venerable vnto vs by a singular commendation of (g) Tert. de Cor. mil. c. 3 Dionis de Eccle. hierar per totum antiquitie Then besides theire institution most auncient Apostolicall they haue plentie of mysteries full of grauitie and dignitie as most holy and learned (h) Amb. de initiand myst August alii passim vide Isid de off Eccle. Fathers haue noted Finally concerning these things and others of the like tenour it is an excellent saying of (i) in ser de defunctis DAMASCEN Those things which Christian Religion most free from all errour doth admit and embrace and for so many ages together keepe vntouched are not vaine but profitable pleasing to God much auailable to our saluation True it is that the Sectaries laugh at the ceremonies vsed in the Sacramentes but themselues are indeed more to be laughed at or rather bewailed in that trusting vnto their blinde iudgement and mortall hatred two pernitious Counsailours they doe wage battaile against the most cleare and euident truth Surely of the ceremonies of Baptisme euen the most auncient Diuines do witnesse vnto vs (k) Dion c. 2 Eccle. hier S. DENIS S. CLEMENT (l) Clemen ep 3. TERTVLLIAN (m) Tert. de cor mil. c. 3. ORIGEN (n) Origen ho. 12. in Num. S. CIPRIAN (o) Cypriā ep 70. S. BASIL (p) Basil de spir Sanct. c. 27. Saint CHRYSOSTOME (q) Chrysos ho. de Adam et Eua. S. CYRILL (r) Cyril Hiero. Catech. myst 1. 2. 3. 4. Let the wicked scoffe blaspheme neuer so much those Fathers certainely with one consent doe commend Abrenuntiatiō Exorcismes holy Water holy Chrisme and the signe of the Crosse Almost twelve hundred yeeres agone wrote Saint BASILL (s) Bas ibid. vid. Rabanū de inst cler li. 1. c. 27 28. et Isid l. 2. de off cap. 20. Amb. l. 1. 2. 3. de Sa ra de iis qui mysti initiantur Aug. l. 1. de nupt c. 20. l. 2. c. 18. 29. l. 4 de symb ad catech c. 1 in this manner We do consecrate the water of Baptisme and the oyle of vnction and him also that receiueth Baptisme But to giue particular admonition of the ceremonies that are annexed vnto all the Sacramentes as it woulde be very long so is it also very difficulte and to this our purpose not needefull Yea ORIGEN doth plainly cōfesse that in such ecclesiasticall (t) Hom. 5. in Num. Dion c. 1. et vlt. de hier Eccle. Aug. lib de doct Christ ca. 9. obseruances there are many things which of necessitye all must doe but the reason of thē why they are so done is not yet sufficiētly known OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISME 1 What is Baptisme and is it necessary to all THis is the first Act 2 38. Mar. 16 16. Io 3.22 4.1 Tit 3 5. Mat. 28 19. Eph 5 26. 1. Pet. 3 21. and most necessary Sacrament of the new law consisting in the outward washing of the body and the due pronuntiation of the words according vnto the institution of Christ A necessary Sacrament I say not only for those (a) Trid. sess 6. c 4. sess 7. can 5. de Baptismo Aug. tract 13. in Ioan. Amb. de mister initi c. 4 Clem. ep 4. ad Iulium that are of yeeres of discretion but (b) Concil Later can 1 Mil. can 2. Dionys Eccle. hierar cap. 7. Cyp. l 3. ep 8. Chrys ho. de Adam Eua. for Infantes also and withall effectuall for them to life euerlasting All are borne the sonnes of (c Eph. 2 3. Trid. sess 5. wrathe and therefore euen Infantes also haue neede to be purged from sinne neither can they bee cleansed regenerated into the children of God without this (d) Aug. ep 28. l. 3. de anima eius orig c. 9 Item l. 1. de pec mer. c. 23. Sacrament For generally hath the Lawmaker proclaimed that (e) Io. 3 5. Aug. lib. 3 de pec mer. c 4 12 Vnlesse a man be borne againe of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God And in an other place It is (f) Math. 13 14. Ber. ser 66. in cantic epi. 140. ad Hil. de fons not the will of your Father which is in heauen that one perish of those litle ones But Infants (g) Aug.
workes of Christi an Iustice procure VEry singuler certes and manifolde both in this life and in the life to come For hereunto belongeth that speach of S. PAVL Pietie (a) 1. Tim. 4. Pro. 11 17 18. 2. Par. 15 7. Mat. 10 41. 19 21.29 Gen. 12 1. 15 1. Eccli 12 2. 36 18. Hier. 31 16. is profitable to al things hauing promise of the life that now is of the life to come Then in an other place we finde it written (b) Sap. 3 10.17 Mal 3 14. 1. Cor. 15 58. Heb. 6 10. Of good labours there is glorious fruite 1 For first these workes proceding frō a liuely faith that is from a faith working by (c) Gal. 5. charitie are not only signs of Christian vocation but do also cōfirme make sure the same in vs. And therefore S. PETER the Apostle who in euery place exhorteth to good woorkes hath added this also (d) 2. Pet. 1. Cypr. ep 57. ad Corn. in fine Brethren labour the more that by good workes you may make sure your vocation election for doeing these thinges you shall not sinne at any time 2 Secondly they doe (e) 2. Cor. 9 10. Col. 1 10. 1. Pet. 2 2. augment grace in the beleeuers and doe perfitte sanctificatiō (f) 2. Cor. 7 1. Ro. 6 22. Apo. 22 11. Eccli 18 22. Trid. sess 6 cap. 10. as witnesseth the Apostle In so much that hereupon Saint IAMES also affirmeth that faith which doth worke with workes is also consummate by the same (g) Iac. 2 22. workes 3 Thirdly they engender (h) Io. 3 20. 1. Io. 4 17. Iac. 2 25. Gal. 6 4. a cōfidence of a good conscience and doe the more incourage to pray to obtaine any thing at Gods hand for it is written Almes shall be a great (i) Tob. 4. confidence before the high God to all them that doe the same And againe My (k) 1. Io. 3. Io. 15 7. Aug. in Praef in Psal 31. dearest if our heart doe not reprehend vs we haue confidence towards God And whatsoeuer we shall aske wee shall receiue of him because we keepe his commaundements and doe those things which are pleasing before him There is an example extant in EZECHIAS the King who hauing confidence in a good conscience and beeing approued therein by Gods owne voice said I beseech (l) Esa 38. 4. Reg. 20 3. Psal 7 9. 16 1. 17 21 25. et 25 1. 34 24. 131 1. thee o Lorde remember I pray thee how I haue walked before thee in truth and in a perfect harte and haue done that which is good in thy sight 4 Finally they doe cause that labouring in the (m) Mat. 20. Aug. tra 67. in Io. Greg. l. 4. dial c. 35 vineyarde of Christ we may receiue the day penie to wit the promised rewarde of life euerlasting and the crowne (n) 2. Tim. 4.8 Iac. 1 12. of Iustice which keeping the commandementes of God in the (o) Mat. 19 17. Church we doe in (p) Io. 3 21. 15 2.4 Christ (q) Eccli 16 15. Heb. 13 16. Sap. 3 5.6 2. Thess 1 5.6 Apoc. 3 4.5 Trid. sess 6. cap. 16. Cyp. de vnit Eccles Aug. ep 105. l. demorib Eccles Cathol cap 25. deserue Therefore our Lorde (r) Mat. 20. Sap. 5 16. saith Call the worke foulkes paie thē theire hiere Holy DAVID saith Thy (s) Psal 18. Heb. 11 6. Luc. 14 14. Col. 3.24 Ephes 6 8. 2. Cor. 4 17. Aug. in Psal 93. seruant kepeth them to wit the commandementes of God In keeping them much retribution And againe I haue (t) Psal 118. Mat. 19 12. Aug. in Psalm 120. inclined my harte to keepe thy iustifications for euermore because of retribution S. PAVL also saieth I haue (v) 2. Tim. 4. Aug. hom 14. ex 50. cap. 2. in Psal 83. 100. tract 3. in Io 2. Conc. Araus cap. 38. Mat. 5 12. 6 4.6.17 10 41. Apoc. 2 7.10.26 3 11. 14 13 fought a good fight I haue consūmate my course I haue kepte the faith Concerning the rest there is laide vp for me a crowne of iustice which our Lorde will render to me in that day a iust Iudge And not only to me but to them also that loue his comming Finally Christ himselfe saith If thou (x) Mat. 19. wilt enter into life keepe the commandementes And againe (y) Ioan. 5. Mat. 25 34. Aug. in Psal 49. They that haue done good things shall come forthe into the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill into resurrection of iudgement Then in an other place (z) Mat. ◠Hee that doth the will of my father which is in heauen he shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen By all which it is made very manifest how much it standeth euery one of vs vpon if we desire life euer lasting to ponder those speaches of almightie God (a) Apo. 2◠Eccli 18 22. He that is iust let him be iustified yet And let the holy be sanctified yet Beholde I come quickely and my rewarde is with me to render to (b) Ps 61 12 Mat. 16 27. Rom. 2 6. 1. Cor. 3 8. euery man according to his workes Therefore doing (c) Gal. 6. Eccli 51 58. Aug. in Psa 111. q. 4. ad Dulcitiū good let vs not faile for in due time we shall reape not failing 3 How many kindes of good woorkes be there wherein Christian Iustice is cheifly seene and exercised Petr. Chrysol ser 43. Leo. ser 1. et 4. de ieiun 10. mensis Bern. in sentētiis sect 11 THere are three kindes as wee finde in holy scripture to wit Praier Fasting and Almes For other good deedes for the most parte which doe proceed of a liuely faith and doe sette forthe increase and consummate Christian iustice are easelye reduced (a) Aug. de perf iust c. 8. respons 17. to these three fountaines Heereupon was that notable speache of the Angell RAPHAEL Praier is (b) Tob. 12. good with Fasting and Almes more than to hoorde vp treasures of golde And Saint AVGVSTINE saith plainly (c) In Ps 42. This is the iustice of a man in this life Fasting Almes and Praier Of this doth Christ seuerally intreate in S. MATHEVVES Gospell (d) Mat. 6. addeth promises of the heauenly reward prepared for those who within the Church without hypocrisie (e) Aug. ser 60. de temp doe syncerelye Fast Praie and giue Almes Hence is that faithfull promise so often repeted Thy Father (f) Mat. 6. which seeth in secrete will repaie thee And these be the very things wherein Christ to the intente that we may liue well and happely woulde haue (g) Mat. 5 21. our iustice to abound and so to shine (h) Ibid. ver 17. before men that they may see our good workes glorifie the Father To the performance of
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
A SVMME OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE COMPOSED IN LATIN By the R. Father P. CANISIVS of the Society of IESVS With an Appendix of the fall of Man Iustification according to the Doctrine of the Councel of Trent Newly translated into Englishe To which is adioined the explication of certaine Questions not handled at large in the Booke as shall appeare in the Table 2. THESS 3 6. We denounce vnto you Brethren in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ that you withdrawe your selues from euery Brother walking inordinately and not according to the Tradition which they haue receiued of vs. Against those which are ignorant of thinges necessary to saluation AVG. de grat Lib. arb Cap. 3. NO man must runne to the darkenes of ignorance that in them hee may seeke an excuse For one thing it is not to haue knowne another thing to haue refused to knowe For the will is reprehended in him of whom it is said he would not vnderstande that he might doe wel Yea that very ignorance which is not of those who wil not know but of those who simply doe not know doth excuse no man so that he shall not burne with the euerlasting fire if therefore hee did not beleeue because he neuer heard what he might beleeue but perhappes that he may burne more tolerably For not without cause was it said Powre out thy anger vpoÌ„ the nations which haue not knowen thee And that which the Apostle saieth When he shall come in flame of fire to giue reuenge vpoÌ„ those which know not God Because thou hast reiected knowledge I also will reiect thee OSE 4 6. They said vnto God Departe from vs we will not haue the knowledge of thy waies IOB 21 14. If any man know not he shall not bee knowne 1. COR. 14 38. Be ye not made as the horse and mule in whome there is no vnderstanding PSAL. 31 9. Cease not my sonne to heare doctrine neither bee thou ignorant of the speaches of knowledge PRO. 19 27 We must not thinke that ignorance will be a sufficient excuse for there will come a time when euen for our ignorance we shal be punished when not so much as our ignorance shall obtaine pardon CHRYS ho. 26. in ep ad Rom. The Preface to the Reader THe gloriouse Apostle Saint PETER very fittely compareth the worde of God 2. Pet. 1 19. and the doctrine of the holy-Ghost vnto a Candell shining in a darke place vntill the day dawne and the day starre arise in our hartes For although Christ our Sauiour the true light of the worlde hath by his most bitter Passion and pretiouse woundes giuen light vnto our darkenes yea and of darkenes which we were before made vs a shining light yet so long as we remaine in the mist of this mortalitie and that it appeareth not what we shal be we are truely light in comparison of Heretickes and Infidells but in respect of heauen we are in the night and continually conuerse in obscurity and darkenes All honour then and glory be as it is worthy yeelded vnto him who least we walking in darkenes know not whither to goe hath prouided vs a Candell of his holy doctrine euen in the middest of Egypt and set it vpon a candlesticke in the Catholicke Church where those which are out of this house of God liuing in palpable darkenes the children of this light may safely expecte the rising of that starre which neuer shall sette which is the cleare vision of Gods euerlasting glory This light although by diuerse persons who loue darkenes better than light it hath by sundry meanes bene assaulted yet hath these assaultes done nothing eâ—se but by encreasing the aduerse darkenes made the light appeare more gloriouse and contrary to mans expectation yet agreeably to Gods disposition not brought water to quench but fewell to feede so liuely slames Hence may we in all places of our Countrey to our owne great comforte and Gods singular glory out of Prisons out of Iudgementes out of all maner of publicke places out of many priuate persons and families behold the beames of this light so vehemently issuing forth Mat. 24 27. that comming out of the East for to vse our Sauiours wordes it appeareth euen to the West and it shineth so generally abroade that it is renowmed in the wholle world which seeing the beauty thereof glorifieth our Father of light which is in heauen Onely my deare Catholicke Brother who being vnlearned seekest to treade the steppes of thy forefathers walking in darkenes of this mortall life procurest to follow those which befâ—re thee haue caried lightes for thy direction it sometime cometh into my minde to feare least either thy torchbearers being taken from thee or for ouer-long watching the oile of the Lampe which they may leaue thee I meane charitie and a good conscience * 1. Tim. 1 19. the tinder and fewell of that light of Faith begining to faile the light it selfe may by little and little be extinguished and so thou returning to thy former darkenesse togither with the children of darkenes maiest fall and perishe We are not ignorant of his cogitations who like a roaring Lion goeth about seeking whom he may deuour and amongst other sleightes which he vseth transfiguring himselfe into an Angell of light with a counterfaite light of hypocrisy and heresy seeketh to depriue thee of that which is true and sincere Wherefore I offer vnto thee a torch or candell containing in it although in a small match the whâ—ll lighte of Christian Relâ—gion which although it bee lighted at the candel of another man yet thou knowest that light is neuer the lesse because it is receiued of another and in this it is more free from all suspition whereas it is the same light which lighteneth many other partes of the world This when thou hast once receiued and fully enioied thy selfe thinke that thou hast not performed thy duety if thou imparte it not to thy children O how they are deceiued in how great daunger of euerlasting damnation doe they liue who as though they had by carnall generatioÌ„ brought into this world brute beastes whose onely end is to liue here without any end of heauenly blisse do not seeke for their children the meanes of their saluation onely prouiding for them earthly riches not caring for heauenly Nor considering that besides the very bonde of the lawe of nature of God himselfe who hath giuen most straite charge of good education of children Christ our Sauiour hath consecrated Christian mariages into a sacrament for this end amongst others that they may present vnto our Sauiour sanctified children by baptisme first and afterward by all Christian and Catholike discipline Mariage was instituted to propagate the people of God not to build vp the confused walles of Babilon The Turke or Iew if he should perceiue his child to haue bene present at Christian Ceremonies would not sticke to embrew his handes in that which he begotte And
OF FAITH AND OF THE CREED 1 Who is to be called a (a) Act. 11 26. 1. Pet. 4 16. Christian HEE which doeth professe the holesome doctrine of Iesus Christ true God and man in his (b) Athanas contr Arrianos orat 2. Cypr. lib. 4. ep 2. de simp praelat Ignat. ad Magnes Aug. tract 113. in Ioa. ser 181. de temp ca. 12. Ench. cap. 5. Tert. lib. de praescript Church He therefore which is a true Christian doth vtterly condemne and detest all other Religions and Sectes that are else-where to be found in any Nation or cuntrey out of the doctrine Church of Christ as the Iewishe Heathenishe Turkishe or hereticall Secte And doth firmely staie himselfe in the very Doctrine of Christ 2 In what briefe summe may Christian Doctrine be comprehended THat a Christian do know obserue those things which do belong both to (a) Ecli 1 3◠wisedom Iustice Wisedome as S. Austen (b) Lib. 2. Retract cap. 63. Ench. cap. 2. 3. sheweth consisteth in the vertues Theological (c) 1. Cor. 13 13. Faith Hope Charitie which are both infused by God (c) 1. Cor. 13 13. beeing purely most feruently practised in this life they doe make men blessed diuine Iustice standeth in (d) Pros sen 98. ex Aug. two parts in declining frō euil doing good For hereūto belongeth that which the kingly Prophet saith (e) Psal 33 15. 36 27 1. Pet. 3 10. Turne from euill doe good Now out of these fountains to wit Wisedome and Iustice other things are easily drawē deduced whatsoeuer do appertaine to Christian Instruction Ro. 10 14. Heb. 11 6. Aug. serm 38. de temp sermo 1. de verbis Apost cap. 4. Leo. ser 4. de nat Dom. and Discipline 3 What is first taught in Christian Doctrine FAith that very gate entrāce to our saluation without the which none in this life can find cal vpō serue please almighty god For he that cōmeth to god must beleue (a) He. 11 6. saith the Apostle And (b) Mar. 16 16. he that beleeueth not shal be condemned is (c) Io. 3 18. already Iudged by the sentence of Christ 4 What is vnderstoode by the name of Faith A (a) Eph. 2 8. Heb. 11 1. Basil ser de fidei conf Ber. ep 190. Aug. cont ep sund c. 5. gifte of God and a light wherewith man beeing illuminated doth firmely assent cleaue vnto those things which are reuealed by God proposed vnto vs by the Church to be beleeued As are these that followe That God is (b) 1. Io. 5 7. one in three persons that the world was (c) Gen. 1 1. Io. 1 14. Luc. 2 7. Rom. 3 8. created of nothing that god was made mā suffered death for our sakes that MARY (d) Conc. Eph. cap. 13. Luc. 1 35. 1. Cor. 15 51. Io. 3 5. is both a Virgine the mother of God that all the deade are to be raised againe to life that man is borne againe of Water and the holie Ghost that Christ is wholly in the (e) Conc. Constantie Flor. Trid. B. Sacrament and other such of like sorte that are the reuerend mysteries of our religion which being reuealed by God cannot be comprehended by mans (f) Eccli 3 22. 2. Cor. 10 5. capacity but maie be conceiued onlie by faith Whereupō the Prophet saith (g) Esa 7 9. secundū 70. Basil in Psa 115. in moral Reg. 80. cap. 21. Greg. ho. 26. in Euang. Chrys in 1. ad Cor. homil 4. Vnlesse ye will beleeue yee shall not vnderstand For faith respecteth not the order of nature neither doth shee trust to experience of senses or relie vpon the might or reason of man but vpon the power authority of God holding this as a most vndoubted verity that the most soueraigne eternal trueth which is God cā neither deceiue nor euer be deceiued Wherfore it is the very cōdition property of faith to bring all vnderstanding into (h) 2. Cor. 10 5. captiuitie vnto the obedience of Christ with whom there is no (i) Lu. 1 37. Hier. 32 27. worde that is hard to be done much lesse impossible This (k) Euseb Emis ho. 2. de symb Cyr. catech 5. Illum Chrys serm de fide spe charit Cyril lib. 4. in Ioa. ca. 9. faith is the light of the soule the dore or entrance to life the foundation of eternal saluation 5 Is there any brief cōprehēsion of Faith and summe of all those thinges that we must beleeue There is that which the twelue Apostles haue deliuered in their Creed and which they haue aptely distinguished into twelue Sections and Articles A worke doubtlesse worthy of such (a) Clem. ep 1. ad sr Do. Amb. ep 81. serm 38. Aug. serm 181. de tēp Ruf. in sym Iren. lib. 1. c. 2. l. 3. c. 4. Hieron ad Pammach aduers errores Ioā Hieros cap. 9. Leo. ser 11. de pass ep 13. ad Pulc ser cont Eutyc Maxim ser de traditione symb The Creede is expoūded by these Authors following Cyril in Catech illum Chrys ho. 1. 2. in sym Aug in Enc. ad Laurent in lib. 4. de symb ad Catech. lib. de sid symb ser 115. 119. 123. 125. 131. 181. 192. 193. 194. de tēp Euseb Emi. ho. 1. 2. in symb Chrysol ser 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. Max. ho. 1. de diuersis authors which next vnto Christ our Lord were the principall and most holy founders of the Christian faith And this Creed surely is as it were a plaine euident marke whereby christians are to be distinguished discerned from those wicked persons which doe professe either none at all or not the right faith of Christ 6 Which be the Articles of this Creede I Beleeue in God the Father Almighty maker of Heauen earth 2 And in IESVS CHRIST his onely Sonne our Lorde 3 Which was conceived by the holie Ghost borne of the VIRGINE MARY 4 Suffered vnder PONTIVS PILATE was crucified dead buried 5 He descended into hell the third day he rose againe from the dead 6 Hee ascended into Heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almightie 7 From thence he shal come to iudge the quicke and the deade 8 I beleeue in the Holy Ghost 9 The holy Catholicke Church the communion of Saints 10 The forgiuenesse of sinnes 11 The resurrection of the fleshe 12 And the life euerlasting Amen 7 To what end specially are these wordes of the Creede TO this end surely Hier. 9 23. Io. 17 3. 1. Cor. 2 2. 1. Pet. 1 8. cap. 13 1. that we may haue comprehended in a briefe summe the true knowledge of god of heauenly things which knowledge truly is necessary to euery mā that he may liue wel happily And in this Creed the acknowledging confessing
of the most holy Trinity hath the first principal place that it may in no wise be doubted but that God than whoÌ„ nothing more mighty (a) Aug. l. 1. conf cap. 4. or better or wiser can bee imagined is one and simple in essence or diuine nature but is distinguished into three (b) Aug. l. de fid symb cap. 9. persons so that before all thinges it bee vndoutedly beleeued that one is the (c) Mat. 28 19. Athan. in symb Father another is the Sonne an other is the holy Ghost The Father is he which begetteth his Sonne (d) Ps 109 3 Heb. 1 2. 1 Io. 4 10.14 from al eternity the fountaine and framer of thinges The Sonne being begotten of the substance of the Father is the Redeemer Sauiour of the worlde The holy Ghoste which is also called the (e) Io. 15 26. 16 7. 14 16 26. Paraclet is the gouernor of the Church or of Christs faithful people Now these (f) 1. Io. 5 7. 1. Tim. 1 17 6 15. Hier. 32 17. three are one That is to say one True Eternall Infinite incomprehensible God Therefore to this most holy indiuisible Trinity three principall partes of the Creed do very fitly answer To wit the first of CreatioÌ„ the secoÌ„d of RedeÌ„ption Deut. 6 4. Mat. 6 9. 1. Tim. 1 17 Gen. 1 1. Esa 53 1. Iob. 37 3.23 Eccl. 3 11. Luk. 1 37. Hier. 32 17. the third of SanctificatioÌ„ 8 What is the sense and meaning of the first Article of the Creede I beleeue in God the Father IT doth first of all shewe vs one God the first person in the godhead to bee the heauenly Father eternal most soueraigne in might and maiesty to whom nothing is impossible or hard to be done who hath al (a) â—a 16 13. 1. Reg. 2 6. power of life of death This God the Father begot the Sonne (b) Psal 2 â— Heb. 1 2. Rom. 8 14. froÌ„ all eternity in this time of grace hee made vs also his children by adoption His power is so great that with his only (c) Ps 32 6. Col. 1 16. Mat. 6 26. Heb. 13 5. 1. Tim. 4 10 6 15. Ro. 11 36. word hee made aswell visible as inuisible things of nothing being so made doth from time to time preserue gouerne them with most high and supreme goodnesse and wisedome froÌ„ whom to whom are al things Hee is the (d) Iac. 1 17. 2. Cor. 1 3. Act. 14 14. Father of light with whom there is no change or alteration the Father of mercies God of al consolation finally such a one and so puissaunt that all thinges in heauen in earth vnder the earth do presently obay at his (e) Lu. 12 5. Gen 17 2. Psal 26 1. 90 1. 124 1. Iob. 41 1. 1. Co. 10 13 Eccli 33 1. 1. Io. 5 20. Luc. 1 32. 2 10. Mat. 1 21. Esa 9 6. 61 1. Luc. 4 18. Ps 44 8. 88 21. Act. 4 27. 10 38. 1. Reg. 10 1. 16 13. becke who being our guide protector we are preserued safe harmelesse eueÌ„ in the greatest euils dangers 9 What hath the second Article I beleue in IESVS CHRIST IT doth shewe the second person in Deity IESVS CHRIST very God very man called surely by the name of IESVS that is to saie the Sauiour of his people And CHRIST to witte annointed by the holy Ghost and (a) Io. 1 14. Ap. 17 14. 19 16. Heb 3 1. 5 5. 1. Pet. 2 25. Col. 1 18. 2 9. full of all grace and trueth our Messias King high Priest that holdeth the principallity soueraignty in al things and in whom doth corporally in habite the whole fulnesse of the Godheade Furthermore it doth shewe him to (b) Eph. 1 3. Io. 10 36. Heb 1 1. Ap. 1 17. Mat 28 18. Dan. 7 2. Phil. 2 6. be the onely Sonne of God born of his Father begotten before all worldes natural consubstantial and altogether equall vnto him according to the Godhead Also our Lord Lord of al those that beleue in him as hauing himselfe of his owne accord deliuered vs when we were (c) Luc. 15 6.24 Rom. 8 1. 1. Cor. 6 20. 1. Pet. 1 19. lost out of the bondage thraledome of Sathan and most liberally redeemed vs being subiecte to the yoke of sinne damnation He also hath dominion ouer the wicked For al things are made subiect vnder his (d) Ps 8 7. Rom. 14 9. feet But then he will openly shewe himselfe Lorde of (e) Ap. 19 16. 17 14 Lords king of kings both to the wicked and to the (f) Mat. 25 30. 1. Cor. 15 24. Ps 109 1. whole worlde when he shall bring in subiection al euery his enemies whether they wil or no and shall burne them as chaffe in (g) Luc. 3 17.22 Mat. 3 12.17 Luc 20 13. Mat. 17 5. Esa 7 14. vnquenchable fire This is that beloued Sonne this is our Emanuell master whoÌ„ we must heare neither is there anie other name vnder heauen (h) Act. 4 12 giueÌ„ vnto meÌ„ wherin we must be saued 10 What is set before vs to beleeue in the third Article Conceiued by the holy Ghost Mich. 5 2. Ioh. 1 1. 16 28. Esa 53 8. Io. 6 39.46 51. IT doth testifie vnto vs that the same Lord that was begotteÌ„ euen from al eternity of God the Father without a Mother for our sakes descended from heauen and toke vpon him the (a) Gal. 4 4. Rom. 1 3. Mat. 1 18.20 Luc. 1 26. 2 1. Esa 7 1. Hier. 31 22. nature of man in which hee was temporally conceiued in Nazareth in Bethelem vnder the Emperour AVGVSTVS born without a Father of the most pure vndefiled Virgin the power of the holy Ghost thus working in her so that which exceedeth all admiration the woorde was made (b) Conc. Eph. cap. 13. fleshe God became man MARY was both the mother of God and a (c) Hieron in Helu Amb. ep 81. Ezech. 44 2. Virgin This temporall conception and generation of the Sonne of God doeth containe the (d) Ioh. 3 5. 1. Pet. 2 1. 3 21. Heb. 2 3. 7 25. Tit. 3 5. originall of mans Saluation Redemption it is the forme of our regeneration whereby it commeth to passe that we the cursed children of ADAM being (e) Iob. 14 4 Ephes 2 3. Rom. 6 3. 8 1.12 conceiued of an vnclean feede and borne the children of wrath are purified made cleane also that of carnall wee are made spirituall and the very sonnes of God in Christ to whom the eternall Father woulde haue the electe to bee made conformable That hee myght bee as saith (f) Ro. 8 29. S. PAVL the first borne in many breethren 11 What doth the fourth Article
Pauli de vir illust in Iacobo gesture and disposition of the body together with many ceremonies And therein they doe very well as appeareth by the examples of holye Scripture For euen Christ our Lorde sometimes with (q) Io. 17. a 11. a eies lifted vp to heauen sometimes with (r) Mat. 17. c Luc 23. f loude voice sometimes prostrate (s) Mat. 26. d Mar. 14. d Luc. 22. c vpon the ground praied vnto his Father The praier also of (t) Dan. 9. a DANIEL and the (v) Ion. 3. c d Iudith 4. b c d 9. a 1. Mach. 3. f Niniuites is the more coÌ„mended because it was not taken in hand without Fasting Sackecloth Ashes And it is not in vaine written of the (x) Luc. 18. c Exod. o. f g 17. c. Deut. 9. c d Num. 20. a Psal 87. b 140. a 2. Par. 6. b 29. f 3. Reg. 8. f Dan. 6. c 1. Esd 9. b Mat 2. b Exod. 7 g 9. g 20. g 21. a Ephes 3. c 1. Cor. 11. a Damasc l. 4 orth fid c. 13. Of set times of Praier See Aug. haeres 57. Beda in cap. 18. Luc. Anselm in c 5. epist 2. ad Thess Clem const lib. 8. cap. 40. Tert. in apol cap. 2. Cypr. de orat Dom Athan. de Virgin Bas ser 1. de instit Monach. cap. 57. in regulis longioribus Chrys ho. 59. ad pop Hieron in cap. 6. Dan. ad Eustoch ep 22. cap. 17. in epitaph Paula cap. 1. Conc. Aquisgr cap. 126. sequent Psal 118.5 a 54. c. Dan. 6. c Act. 3. a 10. b 16. c Publicane that he made his praier in the Temple with an humble countenance his eies cast downwarde and knocking of his breast Which thinges certes though they seeme externall may be done eueÌ„ by wicked persons for ostentatioÌ„ sake yet do they deserue praise and coÌ„mendation in that they both exercise the body deuoutely bring it into the obedience of the Creatour stir vp the mind confirme strengthen it in the interiour worshippe These are moreouer certain testimonies of faith humilitie and pietie in no case to be neglected as being thinges that doe procure much edification not only to the beholders but also to the wholle Church 8 Why is it that it behoueth vs so diligently and dayly to pray FIrst because of the greate and infinite coÌ„modities that redounde to them that pray as they shoulde Isid de summo bono l. 3. cap. 7 Aug. serm 226. 230 de temp ep 121. ca. 8 sequ ser 5. de verb Dom. cap. 4 sequ Cypr. de or Do. Amb. l. 3. de Virg. et ser 93. de Nazario Celso Then also for that praier is a proper necessarie exercise of faith Moreouer it is euery where commanded in diuine (a) Mat. 26. d Mat. 13. d. Luc. 18. a 11. a b 21. g Eccli 18 c 21. a Ro. 12. c Phil. 4. b Col. 4. a 1. Pet. 4 b 1. Thess 5. c f 6. c 1. Tim. 5. a Heb. 4. d Luc. 1. a 4. a 5. d scripture and it hath a promise not only often repeated but also such a one as is excellent full of all consolation and sweetnes (b) Mar. 11. c Mat. 21. b. 18. c d I say to you saith the trueth himselfe Christ all thinges whatsoeuer you aske praying beleeue that you shall receiue they shall come vnto you And againe I say (c) Luc. 11. b Mat. 7. b Io. 14. b 15. a 10. d 1. Io. 3. d 5. c Psal 49. c 144. d Pro. 15. d 2. Par. 7. c Eccli 2. b 3. a 38. a Iâ—cuit 4. f g 5. c d 6. a to you aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shall be opened to you for euery one that asketh receiueth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened And again If you (d) Mat. 7. b Luc. 11. c being nought know how to giue good guiftes to your children how much more will your Father which is in heauen giue good thinges to them that aske him With such kinde of speaches as well noteth Saint CHRYSOSTOME and with such a (e) Lib. 1. de orand DeuÌ„ vide etiam l. 2. ho. 5. de incomprehensib Dei natura ad pop Antioch ho. 71. 79. Greg. ho. 27. in Euang in Ps 6. Poenit. hope hath the Lorde of all thinges prouoked vs to pray It is our parte that being obedient to almighty God we passe ouer our whole life in the praise of god in praier vsing more diligence care about the seruice of God then about our owne life For so it will come to passe that we shall alwaies leade our life worthy of a man Thus farre Saint CHRYSOSTOME 9 By what examples may wee gather what the force and commoditie of praier is THe Apostle S. IAMES to the intent he might explicate the vertue of praier with an example wrote thus ELIAS (a) Iac. 5. d 3. Reg. 17. a d 18. f g Luc. 4. d Eccli 48. a was a man like vnto vs passible and with praier he praied that it might not raine vpon the earth and it rained not for three yeeres sixe monethes And he praied again and the heauen gaue raine and the earth yeelded her fruite S. AVGVSTINE (b) Aug. ser 22. ad stat in Eremo proueth the same thing with many more examples MOYSES (c) Exod. 17. c d Iudith 4. c d and SAMVEL (d) 1. Reg. 7. c d praying the Iews ouercame their enemies the Amalechites the Philistians HIEREMIE praying is (e) Hier. 32. c d f comforted strengthned in prison DANIEL (f) Dan 6. c f praying triumpheth amongst the Lions The three (g) Dan. 3. c e Children praying doe daunce in the fornace The Theefe (h) Luc. 23. f praying vpon the Crosse doth finde Paradise SVSANNA (i) Dan. 13. c by praier is defended amiddest the Elders that accused her falsly S. STEVEN (k) Act. 7. g. Hier. contra Vigilant c. 3 Aug. ser 1. 4. de SaÌ„ctis praying is receiued into heauen and hearde in the behalfe of SAVL amongst theÌ„ that stoned him By which (l) Gen. 25. c Exod. 8. c g 9. g 10. c 14. c d 32. c f Num. 11. a 12. d 14. c 16 c e g 21. b 1. Reg. 1. b d 12. c 4. Reg. 19. c g 20. a 2. Par. 20. a c e 33. c 1. Esd 8. c Tob. 3. a b d Iudith 9. a d 13. a Ps 17. a 119. a Ionae 2. a 1. Mac. 3. f 4. a b Act. 12. a examples not only is declared the profite of praier but also the loue and diligence of praying is commended vnto vs. Wherfore the Apostolical writings doe thus exhorte vs Praie without intermission (m) 1. Thes 5. c in all thinges giue thankes And againe Praie one (n) Iac. 5. d
for an other that you may be saued for the continuall praier of a iust man auaileth much In like manner This (o) 1. Io. 5. c is the considence which we haue towards God that whatsoeuer we shall aske according to his will he heareth vs. Moreouer he that (p) 1. 5. d knoweth his brother to sinne a sinne not to death let him aske and life shall be giuen him OF ALMES AND THE WORKES OF MERCIE 10 What is Almes Vide Chrys ho. 13. in 2. Cor. et Aug serm 30. de verb. Do. c. 3 IT is a gifte or benefite whereby vpon an affection of compassion we doe succour an other mans miserie Heereunto beelongeth that which the Angell RAPHAEL testifieth in TOBIAS Praier is good (a) Tob. 12. b with Fasting and Almes That we may vnderstand as S. CYPRIAN (b) De opere eleemos item Petr. Chrysol ser 43. Leo. ser 3. de Ieiun Pentecost Osc 6. c. Mat. 6. b 12. a Pro 21 a Phil 4. d Heb. 13. c admonisheth that our praiers fastings are little auaileable vnlesse they be holpen with Almes Good is mercie saith S. AMBROSE (c) Lib. 1. offic o. 11. Chrys ho. 36. ad pop Ant. Aug. ser 76. de temp hom 36. ex 50. Leo. ser 5. 10. de quadrag Nyss de beatitud which of her selfe maketh men perfite because it doth imitate the Father which is perfect Nothing doth so commend a Christian soule as mercie Thus saith he (d) Luc. 6. d Psal 32. a 118. h 144. b c Be yee therefore mercifull as your Father also is mercifull that you may be the sonnes of your Father which is in heauen who maketh his sonne to rise vpon the good the euill raineth vpon the iust vniust Thus saith Christ our Sauiour and our (e) Luc. 10. f Samaritane full of all grace and mercie who went (f) Act. 10. f throughout doing good healing al that were oppressed of the Deuil 11 In what manner doth the scripture commend Almes vnto vs VVIth many certes (a) Deut. 15. b Esd 8. c Tob. 4. b Psal 40. a Pro. 11. c 14. c d 19. c 22. b 25. c 28. d Eccli 4. a b d 7. a d 12. a 17. c 29. b Ezech. 18. b c Mat. 25. d. Luc. 14. c and plaine preceptes promises and examples Yea S. CYPRIAN (b) De opere eleem Vide Aug. ser 50. cap. 8. sequ 227. de temp hom 18 19.29 cap. 1. sequ 47. ex 50. Nazian orat 16. de paup amore Chrys ho. 32. ad pop sequ teacheth that in the gospel there is nothing more often cōmaunded than that wee perseuer in giuing Almes that we be not busied in earthly possessions but rather lay vp treasures in heauen Hence are those speaches of Christ But (c) Luc. 11. f Hieron ad Hedib ep 150. quest 1 yet that which remaineth giue almes beholde al things are (d) Aug. in Ench. c. 75.76.77 ser 30. de verb. Dom. cleane vnto you (e) Luc. 12. d 3. c Mat. 6. a c 19. c d Mar. 10. c 1. Tim. 6. d Sel the things that you posses giue Almes make to you purses that weare not treasure that wasteth not in heauen And in an other place Make vnto you (f) Luc. 16. c Aug. ser 25. c. 3. 35. c. 1. seq de verb. Dom. frendes of the Mammon of iniquitie that when you faile they may receiue you into the eternall Tabernacles In briefe giue and there (g) Luc. 6. f 2. Cor. 8. b c 9. b 1. Tim. 4. c Ro. 12. c d Iac. 1. d shall be giuen to you And for that cause DANIEL the Prophet counseleth the wicked King Redeeme (h) Dan. 4. c Pro. 13. b. Amb. ser 30 31. de Helia Ieiun cap. 20. Leo. in ser de collectis Chrys hom 25. in Act. thy sinnes with Almes and thy iniquities with the mercies of the poore Then in an other place we read Water (i) Eccli 3. d Amb. serm 15. Chrys hom 34. in Gen. Pros part 2. de promiss praedict tionibus c. 7 doth quench the burning fire and Almes resistethe sinnes And not of a man certes but of an Angell was that speach Almes (k) Tob. 12. b 4. b Esa 1. c Pro. 15. d 16 a 10. b 1. Pet 4. b Iac. 5. d deliuereth from death and shee it is that purgeth sinnes and maketh a man to finde mercie and life euerlasting Yea and Christ himselfe pronounceth (l) Mat. 10. d Greg. ho. 5. in Euang. Amb. in lib. de viduis Leo. ser 4. 6. de qua drag ser 6 de Ieiun 10. mensis Whosoeuer shall giue drinke to one of these little ones a cuppe of colde water only in the name of a Disciple Amen I say to you he shall not loose his rewarde Blessed (m) Mat. 5. a therefore are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercie And contrarywise as S. IAMES affirmeth (n) Iac. 2. b. Pro. 21. b. Iudgement without mercie to him that hath not done mercie 12 With what examples is the effecte profite of Almes declared IN the holy scripture ABRAHAM and LOTH (a) Gen. 18. a 19. a through hospitalitie are saide both to haue pleased God and to haue entertained (b) He. 13. a Angels The Almes (c) Tob. 12. c 1. d of TOBIE and the Centurion (d) Act. 10. a See notable examples of Almes in these Saints liues Ioannis Eleemosinarii apud Leentium Martini apud Sulpitium Paulae apud Hieron ep 27. cap. 7. Paulini apud Greg. Turon de glor Conf. cap. 107. apud Greg. 3. dial c. 1. Tiber. apud Turon lib. 5 hist Franc. cap. 19. Bened. apud Greg. 2. dial c. 28. 29. Martyrii apud cund ho. 39. in Euang Greg. apud Ioan. Diac lib. 1. vitae eius cap. 10. lib. 2. cap. 22. 23. Osuald apud Bed lib. 3. hist Aug. cap. 6. were so auailable that they ascended into remembrance in the sight of God had the holy Angels not only for witnesses but also for commendors ZACHEVS moued by the words of Christ and of a prince of Publicans being made a mirror of mercy giueth halfe his goods to the poore and is presently pronounced the (e) Luc. 19. a b sonne of ABRAHAM by Christ himselfe TABITHA (f) Act. 9. f g Vide etiam Pratum Sprituale Sophronii cap. 175. 185. 195. 201 is praised by S. LVKE as being ful of good works and Almes which she bestowed especially vpon widdowes So are those deuoute Matrons singulerly commended in the (g) Luc. 8. 10. g Ioan. 12 a 3. Reg 17. b c d 4. Reg. 4. b c f Gospell which with MAGDALEN MARTHA did liberally minister of their goods to Christ our Lorde and to his poore disciples And of Sainte LAVRENCE the (h) Amb. lib 2. offic cap. 28. Leuite and Martyr it is most