AN AMPLE DECLARATION OF THE CHRISTIAN doctrine COMPOSED IN Italian by the renowmed Cardinal Card. BELLARMINE Translated into English by RICHARD HADOCK D. of Diuinitie PRINTED at ROAN A DECLARATION OF THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE For the vse of those that teach children and other vnlearned persons Composed in forme of a Dialogue betweene the Maister and Scholar CHAP. I. What Christian doctrine is and what are the principall parts thereof SCHOLER SEEING I do vnderstand that it is necessarie to saluation to know the Christian doctrine I desire you to declare vnto mee what this doctrine is MASTER The Christian doctrine is a briefe summe of all those thinges which Christ our Lord hath taught to shew vs the way of saluation S How many be the principal and most necessary parts of this doctrine M Foure to wit the Creede the Pater noster the ten Commandements and the holy Sacraments S Wherefore are there foure and neither more nor fewer M Because there are three principal vertues Faith Hope and Charitie and Grace necessarie to saluation And so the Creede is necessarie for Faith because it teacheth vs that which we haue to beleeue the Pater noster is necessary for Hope because it teacheth vs what wee haue to hope the ten Commandements are necessarie for Charitie because they teach vs what we haue to doe to please God the sacraments are necessarie because they are the Instruments of Grace by which those vertues are receiued and conserued S I would be glad you should giue me some similitude to vnderstande better the necessitie of these foure parts of Christian doctrine M S. Augustine giueth vs the similitude of a house for as to make a house it is needfull first to place the fundation then to rayse the walles and last of all to couer it with the roofe and to doe these things there are some instruments necessarie so to make in our Soules the building of saluation we haue need of the foundation of Faith the walles of Hope the roofe of Charitie and the instruments which are the most holie Sacraments CHAP. 2. The declaration of the vsuall blessing with the signe of the Crosse S BEfore wee come vnto the first part of this doctrine I would be glad you should giue mee some taste of those things which are to be beleeued declaring vnto mee in grosse and in summe the most necessarie mysteries that are conteined in the Creede M You haue reason and so I will doe You must then know that the principall mysteries of our faith are two and both two are conteyned in the blessing that wee vse to make with the signe of the holie Crosse The first mysterie is the Vnitie and trinitie of God the second is the Incarnatiō Passion of our Sauiour S What meaneth the Vnitie and Trinitie of God M These are most high matters by litle and litle are to be declared in the progresse of this doctrine but for this time it shall suffice to learne the names to vnderstād so much as you may The Vnitie of God signifieth that besides all things created there is one thinge that hath not had beginning but hath alwaies been and euer shall bee and hath made all other thinges and maintaineth and gouerneth them and is aboue all most high most noble most glorious most potent absolutely Patrone of all thinges and this is called God who is one onely because there can not bee more then one true Diuinitie that is to saye one onely Nature and Essence infinitely potent Holie good and so foorth Yet notwithstanding this Diuinitie is founde in three persons which are called the Father the Sonne and the Holie Ghost which three persons are one onely God because they haue the selfe-same Diuinity and essence As for example if three persons here in earth called Peter Paul Iohn should haue one the same soul one the same bodie they should be called three persōs because one is Peter an other Paul and an other Iohn and yet they should be one man onely and not three men not hauing three bodies nor three soules but one bodie and one soule This is not possible amongst men because the being of a man is dererminat limited and therefore cannot be in many persons But the being of God his diuinitie is infinite And there fore the selfe-same being and the selfe-same Diuinitie of the Father may be and is found in the soone and in the Holie-Ghost There bee then three persons because one is the Father another is the Sonne and the third is the Holie-Ghost And yet they are one God onely because they haue the same Diuinitie the same being the same power wisedome goodnes c. S. Tell me now what signifyeth the Incarnatiō Passiō of our Sauiour M You are to know that the second Diuine person the which as wee haue said is called the Son besides his diuine being which he had before the world was created yea from all eternitie tooke the flesh soule of man that is to say our whole nature in the wombe of a most pure Virgin and so hee who was before only God came likewise to be Man And after hee had conuersed with men thirtie and three yeares teaching the way of saluation and working many miracles in the ende hee suffered himselfe to be nayled vpon a Crosse and on the same dyed to satisfie God for the sinnes of the whole world and after three daies he rose from death to life and after fourtie daies more ascended into heauen as wee shall shew in the declaration of the Creede this is the Incarnation and Passion of our Sauiour S Wherefore are these the principal mysteries of our Faith M Because in the first is contayned the first beginning and last end of man In the second the onely and most effectuall meanes to know the first beginning and how to attaine vnto the last end because in beleeuing and confessing these two mysteries we manifest our selues distinct from all the false Sectes of Gentils Turkes Iewes and Hereticks and lastly because without beleeuing and confessing these two mysteries no man can be saued S How are these mysteries conteyned in the signe of the Crosse M We make the signe of the Crosse when we say In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holie Ghost and that in this forme putting the right hand vnder the forehead when we saye In the name of the Father then vnder the breast when we say of the Sonne lastly frō the left shoulder vnto the right when we say and of the holy Ghost And withall the word In the name doeth shew the vnitie of God because it is said in the name and not in the names by the word name is also vnderstood the diuine power and authoritie which is one only in all the three persons These words of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holie Ghost doe shew vnto vs the Trinitie of persons The signing in forme of
a Crosse representeth vnto vs the Passion and consequently the Incarnation of the Sonne of God the passing from the left shoulder to the right and not from the right to the left signifyeth that by the Passion of our Sauiour we are transferred from sinne vnto grace from transitorie things vnto eternall from death to life S To what purpose is this signe of the Crosse made M First it is made to shew that wee are Christians to wit souldiers of our chiefe Emperour Christ because this signe is as it were an ensigne or liuerie which distinguisheth the soldiers of Christ from all the enemies of the Holie Church to wit Gentils Iewes Turkes Heretiks besides this signe is made to call for Gods helpe in all our works because with this signe the most holie Trinitie is called to help by meanes of the passion of our Sauiour and therefore good Christians vse to make this signe when they arise from bed wheÌ„ they goe to sleepe and in the beginning of all other things which they haue to do finally this signe is made to arme vs against all temptations of the Deuill because the Diuel is a fraid of this signe and flyeth from it as malefactors doe when they see the signe of the officers of Iustice and often-times by meanes of this signe of the holie Crosse a man escapeth many dangers aswell spirituall as temporal when he maketh it with faith and trust of Gods mercy and of the merits of Christ our Sauiour CHAP. 3. The declaration of the Creede S NOwe comming to the first part of this doctrine I desire to learne the Creede M The Creede contayneth twelue parts which are called Articles and they are twelue according to the number of the twelue Apostles who composed the same and are these 1 I Beleeue in God the Father almightie Creator of heauen and earth 2 And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord. 3 Who was conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary 4 Suffered vnder Pontious Pilate was crucifyed dead and buried descended into Hell 5 The third day he rose again from death 6 Ascended into heauen siâ—â—eth at the right hand of God the Father almightie 7 From thence hee shall come to judge the quicke and the dead 8 I beleeue in the Holie Ghost 9 The holie Catholike Church the Communion of Saints 10 Remission of sinnes 11 Resurrection of the flesh 12 Life euerlasting Amen S May it please you declare to mee the first article word by word What signifyeth I beleeue M It signifyeth I hold for certaine and for most true all that is contayned in these twelue articles and the reason is this because the same God hath taught the holy Apostles these sentences and the holy Apostles the Church and the Church doth teach them vs and because it is impossible that God should saye that which is false I therefore beleeue these things more certainely then those I see with mine eyes and feele with my hands S What meaneth In God M It meaneth that we ought to beleeue firmely that there is a God albeit we do not see him with corporal eies this God is one only therefore it is said in God and not in Gods And you must not imagine that god is like to any corporal thing how great or faire so euer it be but you must thinke that God is a spiritual thing which euer was foreuer shal be hath made the whole filleth the whole gouerneth the whole knoweth seeth euery thing finally what thing soeuer is represented vnto our eies or vnto our imagination you must say that this which now is represeÌ„ted vnto me is not god because God is a thinge infinitelie better S Wherefore is it said that God is a Father M Because he is truly the Father of his onlie begotten Son of whom we shal speake in the second article and also because he is the Father of al good men not by nature but by adoption and finally because he is the father of al creatures not by nature or by adoption but by creation as we shal say hereafter in this same article S Wherefore is he called Almighty M Because it is a proper title of God and albeit God hath manie proper titles as eternal infinite vnmeasurable and others yet in this place the most fit is that he is omnipotent because it may not seeme hard vnto vs to beleeue that hee hath made heauen and earth of nothing as in the words following is added For that vnto him who can do al that he wil thereby is omnipotent nothing can be hard And if you should say vnto me God can not dye nor sinne and therefore it semeth not that he can do al things I would answere you that to dye or to sinne is not power but impotencie as when it is said of a most valiant soldier that hee can ouercome al and that he cannot be ouercome of anie it doth not preindicate his force to say that he cannot be ouercome because that he can be ouercome is not streÌ„gth but weaknes S What is signified by Creator M It signifieth that God hath made al thinges of nothing and he alone can bring them againe vnto nothing The Angels Men and also Diuels can make and vnmake some things but they can not make them otherwise then of some kinde of matter which was before neither can they vnmake theÌ„ but by changing them into some other thing as a Maison cannot make a house of nothing but he must haue stones lyme and wood neither can he destroy it in bringing it to nothing but into stones dust wood and such like so that God only is called is a creator because he only hath no need of any matter to make all things S Why is he called creator of heaueÌ„ and earth hath not God also made the ayre the water stones trees men and all other things M By heauen and earth is also vnderstood all that is in heauen and earth as he that saith a man hath a bodie a soule meaneth also that he hath al things belonging to a bodie as veines bloud bones sinewes and the rest all things belonging vnto a soule as vnderstanding will memorie internal and external senses and the rest so that by heauen is vnderstood the ayre where birds vse to be all things aboue where the clouds the stars are wherevpon it is said the birds of heaueÌ„ the clouds of heauen the stars of heauen finally the Angels By the earth is vnderstood al that is compassed by the aire as the waters of the sea of the riuers which are in the lower partes of the earth also al liue creatures plants stones mettals and all other things which are found in the earth or in the sea it is therefore said that God is creator of heauen earth because these two are the principall parts of the world the one aboue in the which the Angels remaine and the other
are now liuing but also those which haue ben from the beginning and shal be vntil the end of the world And therefore it is not only called one but also Catholike that is to say vniuersal because it is extended to all places and to all times S For what reason is the Church called one onlie if it conteine so great a multitude of men M It is called one onelie because it hath one onlie head which is Christ and his one Vicar in earth the Bishop of Rome and againe because it liueth by one and the same spirit and hath one and the same law As a kingdome is called one because it hath one onlie king and the same lawes though in that kingdome there be manie prouinces manie more Cities or townes S Wherefore is it saide that this Church is holie seeing there are manie wicked men in it M It is called holie for three reasons first because the head there of which is Christ is most holie like as one that hath a fayre faice is said to be a faire man though he haue some crooked finger or some blot on his breast or shoulders Secondly because all faithfull people are holy by faith and profession for they haue one moste true and diuine faith and make profession of the holie Sacraments and of a most iuste law which doth not command any thing but that which is good and forbiddeth nothing but that which is euill Thirdly because there are alwaies in the Church some assuredly good not onely by faith and profession but by vertues and maners also Whereas among Iewes Turkes Heretiks and such like people who are out of the Church none at all can truely be good S What signifyeth the Communion of Saints M It signifyeth that the body of the holie Church is in such sort vnited that of the good of one member all the rest doe participate whereby how many soeuer there bee in farre countries though we do not knowe them yet their Masses diuine offices other prayers and good workes helpe vs also And this Communion is not onely heere vpon earth but our Masses prayers and other good workes helpe those that be in Purgatorie And the prayers of such as are in heauen helpe vs the soules also in Purgatorie S If this be so it needeth not to pray for any in particular nor to procure Masse to be said for this or for that soule in Purgatorie seeing all good is common M It is not so Because Masse praiers and other good workes though they be in some sort cōmon vnto al yet they help more such as they are done for in particular then others S What shall wee say of such as are excommunicated do they also participate of the good workes of the faithfull or no M For this they are called excommunicated because they haue not the communion of the Saints for they are like bowes cut from the tree or like members separated from the bodie which do not enjoy the good humors that are spread amongst the other bowes and vnited members And by this you may gather what account is to be made of excommunication seeing he cannot haue God for his Father that hath not the Church for his Mother S Are then the excommunicated out of the Church as the Iewes and other Infidels be M So it is but there is this difference that the Iewes and Turkes are out of the Church because they neuer entred in being neuer baptised the Heretikes which are baptised and haue lost their faith are out because they are gone foorth and fled away of themselues and therefore the Church enforceth them by diuers punishments to returne vnto the Holy faith As when a sheepe flyeth from the fold the shepheard forceth him with his stafe to returne But other excommunicated which haue baptisme and faith and did enter in and not goe out of themselues are driuen out by force As when the shepheard driueth foorth an infected sheepe and leaueth the same a pray for the Wolfe Yet true it is that the Church driueth not out the excommunicated to the end they should euer remaine out but to the end they should repent of their disobedience and demaund to returne being humbled and so bee receiued againe into the bosome of their mother and to the communion of Saints Of the tenth article S VVHat is signified by the remission of sins which is the tenth article M This is the first of those three principal benefites which are found in the Church For which it is needful to know that al men are borne sinners and enimies to God and after increasing they passe from euil to worse vntil by the grace of God their sinnes be remitted and so become his friends and children This grace which is so great is not found other where thē in the holie church In which are the holie Sacramēts namely Baptisme Penance which as heauenlie medicins curemen of al spiritual diseases which are sinnes S I pray you declare vnto me a little better how great this benifite is of remission of sinnes M In the world is not found a greater euil then sinne is not onely for that al euills in this life and in the life to come do spring from it but also for that sinne is the cause that man becommeth an enemie to God And what can be said worse then to be enimie vnto him who can do al that he wil and none can resist him who can defend him with whom God is angrie And contrariwise in this life a greater good can not be found then to be in grace for who can hurt him whom God defendeth al things being in the hands of God Briefly you know that amongst corporal thinges life is most esteemed because it is the foundation of al other good things and death is most abhorred because it is contrarie vnto life So then seeing sin is the spiritual death of the soule and the remission of sin is the life of the same soule you may easely consider how great a benefit is receiued in the church seeing in it only is the remission of sins Of the eleuenth article S VVHAT meaneth the resurrection of the flesh which is the eleuenth article M This is the second principal benefite of the Holy Church to wit that in the last daye all those whose sins shall be remitted shal returne to life S And others which are out of the Church or haue not remission of their sinnes shall not they returne also to life againe M Touching naturall life all shall returne to liue as the good so the bad but because the resurrection of the bad shall be for their perpetuall torment not for any good to thē therefore that life of theirs is called rather a death then a true life so the true resurrection to wit vnto life worthy to be desired shall not be of any but of the good which shall be found without sinne S I would know if the same bodies which wee now haue shall
exercised in the vertues of meekenesse and of patience considering the examples of holie men and of Christ himselfe who by supporting and suffering haue triumphed more gloriouslie then worldly men do by endeuoring to be reuenged of their enemies S What is Sloath what sinnes produceth it what is the remedie against it M Sloath is called in Greeke Acidia signifyeth tediousnes loathsomnes and griefe to doe well And it is a mortal sinne when one giueth taketh loathsomnes to do well is displeased for that he is bound to obserue the cōmandements of God and to walke in the way of vertue The sinnes which he produceth are light esteeming the commaundements easelie yeelding him selfe to vices desperation of wel-doing hatred and dislike of such as would draw or force a sinner to leaue sinne and to take a good way The remedie is neuer to be idle to read good bookes to consider the great reward which God promiseth to those that are diligent and obseruing his commandements and the eternall and intollerable punishments which is prouided for the negligent Cap. XX. Of the sinnes against the Holie Ghost VVHat how many be the sinnes against the Holie Ghost M They are sixe to wit despaire of our saluation presumption to bee saued without merits to impugne the knowen truth enuie at an other mans grace obstinacie in sinne and finall impenitence S Wherefore are they called sinnes against the Holie Ghost M Because they are committed vpon meere malice and speacially the third which is of all other properly a sinne against the Holie Ghost that is when a man knoweth the truth and yet will obstinatly hold and proue that it is not true To sin of malice is said to be against the Holie Ghost because goodnes is attributed to the Holie Ghost which is contrarie to malice like as to sinne of ignorance is said to be against the Son of God to whome wisdome is atributed and sinning of frailtie is said to be against the Father to whom power is attributed S What haue these sinnes proper M They haue this that they are not pardoned in this world nor in the other as our Lord admonisheth vs in the Gospel Which yet is thus vnderstood that they are hard to be pardoned because seldom hardly those that fal into these sinnes come to true repentance like as when wee say a disease is incurable we will not for all that say it can not be cured by anie meanes but that it is seldome cured or that ordinarily it is not cured Chap. XXI Of sinnes that crie vnto Heauen S HOw manie are they what bee the sinnes which crie vnto Heauen M They are four to wit wilful murder carnall sinnes against nature oppression of the poore and chiefly of orphans and widowes and to defraud workmen of their wages S Wherefore is it said that they crie to Heauen M Because the iniustice of these sinnes is so maniefest that it can not be couered or hidden by anie means Chap. XXII Of The foure last things S I Would haue some general document to flie sinne M The wise man saith Remember thou the last things and thou wilt neuer sinne The last things are foure Death the Generall Iudgement Hell and Heauen S Wherfore are these foure things called the last M Because death is the end of life and the last thing which is to happen in this world Finall iudgement is the last of all the iudgments that are to be geuen and therfore there is no appealing from it Hell is the last euil that melefactours are to haue and they are to remaine therin for euer without possibilitie euer to change Heauen is the last good which the good are to haue they are neuer to lose it S I would haue some considerations to exercise my self in these last things for that remembring my self often of them I should neuer sinne as the wise man saith whom you alleaged M Concerning death you may consider these four points First that death is most certaine and none can escape it The second that the houre of death is vncertaine and manie die when they least thinke of it The third that in death all the designments of this life do end and then the vanitie of the world appeareth The fourth that at their death euerie one repenteth the euill he hath done and the omission of good which he might haue done therfore it is great folie to do that wherof we are sure to repent vs. Touching Iugement you may consider these points First that the iudgement shal be geuen of a most important matter to wit of the chiefest good or the greatest euil Secondly it shal be geuen by the highest Iudge who knoweth all things and whom none can resist Thirdly it shall bee geuen in the presence of the whole world where none can hide themselues Fourthly there wil be no hope to flie the sentene or the execution of Gods Iustice Concerning Hell consider that it is large long high and deepe Large for that it conteyneth all the paines that can bee imagined Long for that they are eternall High for that they are all most bitter in the highest degree Depe because they are all absolute paynes without mixture of anie sort of consolation Concerning Heauen consider in like maner that it is large for that it conteyneth all the goodnes that can be imagined and more also then we can imagine or desire It is long because all those Beatitudes are eternal It is high because they are most high and noble It is deepe because they are pure good without any mixture of euill And here you may adde that the commodities of this life haue no one of these conditions for that they are few short little and alwaies mixed with vexations and troubles of mind And likewise the euils of this world are few short litle and alwaies tempered with some consolation Wherupon you are to conclude that all those haue truly lost their wittes that for loue of the commodities of this life or for feare of present tribulations lose the happines or fall into the euils of the world to come FINIS A Table of the Chapters and principall contents of this booke VVHat Christian Doctrine is and what are the principall partes thereof pag. 1 The declaration of the vsuall blessing with the signe of the Crosse 5 The declaration of the Creede 13 And first of the first Article 20 Of the second 20 Of the third 24 Of the fourth 29 Of the fifth 40 Of the sixt 43 Of the seauenth 44 Of the eight 53 Of the ninth 57 Of the tenth 68 Of the eleuenth 64 Of the twelfth 71 The declaration of our Lords prayer 77 The declaration of the Aue Maria. 105 The declaration of the ten command 111 And first of the first commandement 117 Of the second 130 Of the third 145 Of the fourth 148 Of the fifth 152 Of the sixt 156 Of the seuenth 159 Of the eight 147 Of the ninth 253 Of the tenth 168 Declaratiō of the precepts of the church 201 Declaration of Euangelical counsell 276 Declaration of the Sacramēts of the church 279 Of the Sacrament of Baptisme 215 Of the Sacrament of Confirmation 293 Of the Sacrament of the Eucharist 294 Of the Sacrament of Penance 241 Of the Sacrament of Extreme Vnctiō 217 Of the Sacrament of Order 220 Of the Sacrament of Matrimonie 220 Of vertues in generall 258 Of the Theologicall vertues 231 Of the cardinall vertues 221 Of the seauen gifts of the Holy Ghost 237 Of the eight Beatitudes 240 Of the seauen works of mercy corporall spirituall 253 A declaration of vices sins in general 284 Of mortall and venall sinne 254 Of Original sinne 259 Of the seuen capital sinne 296 Of the sinnes against the Holie Ghost 243 Of sinnes that crie to heauen 270 Of the foure last things 312 FINIS * Likewise beginning the day at mid-night our Sauiour rising as he did after mid-night rose the third day * Counting the day to end at Sunne-setting Or if you count to midnight there was more of Fridaye and some part of Sunday * Fridaye is also Fasting daye where custome so bindeth as it doth in England
that the holie Ghost did this worke of the Incarnation Did not the Father and the Sonne also concurre therein M That which one Diuine Person worketh the other two worke likewise the same because they haue one and the same power wisdome and goodnesse yet notwithstanding the workes of power be attributed vnto the Father those of wisdome vnto the Son those of loue vnto the Holie Ghost and because this was a worke of the highest loue of God towards mankinde it is therefore attributed vnto the holy ghost S I would haue some example to vnderstand how all the three diuine Persons haue concurred to the Incarnation and yet the Sonne is onlie Incarnate M WheÌ„ one man putteth on a garment two others do help to cloth him three do then concur to the clothing of him yet one only is clothed so all the three diuine Persons concur to worke the Incarnation of the Sonne of God but onely the Sonne is incarnate and made man S Wherefore is it added in the article Borne of the Virgin Marie M Because in this also there is a strange mysterie that is that the Sonne of God came foorth of the wombe of his Mother at the end of the ninth moneth without paine or harme of his said Mother not leauing any signe there at all euen as hee did when rising from death he went out of the close Sepulchre and when he entred and went foorth of the chamber where his Disciples were the doores being shut there vpon it is saide that the mother of our Lord Iesus Christ was alwaies a Virgin before his birth in his birth and after his birth Of the fourth Article S VVHat meaneth that which followeth in the fourth article Hee suffered vnder Pontious Pilate was crucified dead buried M This Article conteineth the most profitable mysterie of our redemption and the summe is that Christ after he had conuersed in this world about thirtie three yeares and had taught with his most holy life his doctrine and his miracles the way of saluation was vnjustly caused by Pontius Pilate who was gouernour of Iewrie to be whipped and nayled vpon a Crosse vpon the which hee dyed and by certaine holy men was buried S Concerning this mysterie there do occurre vnto me some doubts I desire by you to be cleered of theÌ„ to the end I may be the more grateful vnto God for so great a benefite by how much I shall the better vnderstand it Tell me then if Christ be the Sonne of God omnipotent how happened it that he was not deliuered by his Father out of the handes of Pilate Or rather if the same Christ be God wherefore did hee not deliuer himselfe M Christ could if hee would haue deliuered himselfe by a thousande meanes out of the handes of Pilate Yea more the whole world had not bin able to do him any euil if he had not bin willing and this is clearely seene because he knew foretolde vnto his Disciples that the Iewes would seeke to put him to death that they would whippe him stone him and finallie kill him Yet he did not hide himselfe but went to meete his enemies And when they sought to take him and knew him not hee said vnto them himselfe hee was that man for whom they sought at which time also they al faling backwards as dead meÌ„ he did not depart thence as he might haue done but expected permitted them to recouer theÌ„selues after he suffred him selfe to be taken bound led like a meeke Lambe where they would S For What cause did Christ being innocent suffer him selfe to be vniustly crucified and slaine M For manie reasons But the principal reason was to satisfie vnto God for our sinnes For you haue to know that the offence is measured according to the dignitie of him who is offended and contrariewise the satisfaction is measured according to the dignitie of him who doth satisfie as for example if a seruant should geue his Prince a blow it should be esteemed a most greeuous offence according to the greatnes of the prince but if a prince should giue his seruant a blowe it were a smal matter according to the base estate of the seruant And contrariwise if a seruant take off his cappe vnto his Prince it is but little esteemed but if the Prince should take off his vnto his seruant it would be a notable fauour according to the rule we speake of Now because the first man and with him al we haue offended God who is of so infinite dignitie the offence did require infinite satisfaction and because there was neither man nor Angel of so great dignitie therefore the Sonne of God came who being God and of infinite dignitie hauing taken mortal flesh in the same flesh he submitted him selfe for the honour of God to the death of the Crosse and so satisfied with his paines for our faults S What other cause is there for which Christ would suffer so bitter a death M To teach vs by his example the vertues of Patience Humilitie Obedience and of Charitie which are foure vertues signified in the foure extreame parts of the Crosse because greater patience can not be found then to suffer vniustly so ignominious a death nor greater humilitie then for the Lord of all Lordes to submit him selfe to be crucified betwixt thieues nor greater obedience then to be willing rather to die then not to fulfil the commandement of his Father nor greater charitie then to yeeld his life to saue his enimies And you must know that Charitie is more shewed in deedes then in wordes more in suffering then in doing And so Christ who would not only bestow vpon vs infinit benifits but suffer also die for vs hath shewed that he loueth vs most ardently S Seeing Christ is God and man as you saied before and it semeth that God can not suffer nor die how do we then say that he suffered and died M Christ being God and man can suffer not suffer die not die for in that he is God could neither suffer nor die but as he is man he could both suffer and die and therefore I â—old you that being God hee was made man to satisfie for our sinnes suffering the paines of death in his most holie flesh which he could not haue done if he had not been man S If Christ haue satisfied his Father for the sinnes of all men whence â—ommeth it that so many are damned that we haue neede to doe penance for our sinnes M Christ hath satisfied for the sins â—f all men but it is necessarie to apâ—lie this satisfaction in particular to â—his man and to that man which is one by faith by the Sacraments by good workes and particularlie by penance therefore we haue neede â—o do penance other good works though Christ haue suffered and wrought for vs And the cause that many are daÌ„ned or remaine enemies to God is for that either they
wil not haue faith as Iewes Turkes Heritikes or because they wil not receiue the Sacraments as those that wil not be baptised or wil not confesse their sinnes or wil not do such penance as they can for their sins nor resolue to liue conformably to the law of God S I would haue some example to vnderstand this M Take the example of one which should take great paines and with sweate and labours should gaine so much money as were sufficient to pay al the debts of this citie and should put the same in a bank to the end it should be geuen vnto al such as should bring a warant from him this man surely had satisfied for al somuch as lieth in him yet manie might remaine stil in debt for that they would not either for pride or for slouth or for some other cause demand his warant and carie it to the bank to receiue the money S What signifieth He descended into hel and what doth hel signifie in this place M Hel is the lowest deepest place in this world to wit the midle of the earth And the Scripture in manie places putteth heauen as opposite vnto hel as the highest place vnto the lowest But in this depth of the earth there are foure as it were great caues one for the damned which is the deepest of al and so it is agreable that the proud Diuels and the men which imitate them be in the lowest place and furthest from heauen that can be In the second caue which is something higher are those soules which suffer the paines of Purgatorie In the third which is yet higher are the soules of those children that die with out Baptisme who do not suffer torments of fire but onely the perpetuall priuation of eternall felicity In the fourth which is the highest remained the soules of the Patriarchs Prophets and other Holie men that dyed before the comming of Christ for albeit those holy soules had not any thing to be purged yet they could not enter into glory before Christ by his death had opened the gate of eternall life therefore they remained in that higher place called the place of holy Fathers otherwise Abrahams bosome where they suffered no paines at all but enjoyed a sweete repose expecting the comming of our Lord with great joy And so we read in the Gospel that the soule of that poore beggar Lazarus was carried by an Angell to rest in the bosome of Abraham where hee was seene by the rich glutton who burning in flames of hell cast vp his eyes and saw Lazarus in a farre higher place remayning in great joy and consolation enjoying the fruits of his former patience S Into which of these foure partes of Hell did Christ descend after his death M There is no doubt but hee descended into the place of holy Fathers and suddainely made them blessed after led thē with him in to the kingdome of heauē He made himselfe also seene vnto all the other parts of hell terrifying the Diuels as a victorious Triumpher threatning the damned as a supreame Iudge comforting the soules in Purgatorie as their Aduocate and deliuerer So that Christ descended into Hell as a King vseth sometimes to repaire into prisons to visite prisoners and to shew fauour to whom it pleaseth him S If Christ was dead his body did lye in the sepulchre then he did not whollie descend into hell but onely the soule of Christ and how is it then said that Christ descended into hell M Death had force to separate the soule of Christ from his body but it could not separate either the soule or the bodie from the Diuine person of the same Christ And therefore we beleeue that the Diuine person of Christ remained with his bodie in the sepulcre that the same person descēded with his soule into hel Of the fift Article S HOw is it true that our Lord rose from death the third day seeing that from Friday in the euening when he was buried vnto the night before Sunday when hee rose there wanteth of two whole daies M We doe not say that Christ rose after three whole daies but the third daye which is most true For he was buried on Friday which is the first day though not a whole day and so hee remained in the Sepulchre all Saterday and a part of Sundaie which is the third day For the natural day beginning the night before at the setting of the Sunne the first houre after the Sunne-setting is the first of the day following S. For what cause did not Christ rise streight after his death but would expect the third day M Because he would shew that he was truely dead he would remaine there in the graue so long as sufficed to prooue this truth Moreouer I would haue you considder that like as Christ liued amongst men thirtie three or thirty foure yeares so hee would stay amongst the dead at least thirtie three or thirtie foure houres For so many they are if you put together one houre of Friday for hee was buried an houre before Sunne-setting twentie foure houres of the Saturday and eight or nine houres of Sunday For he rose after midnight towards the beginning of the morning S Why is it said of Christ that hee rose and of other dead as of Lazarus and the Widdowes sonne that they were raysed from death M The reason is because Christ being the Son of God rose of himself to wit by vertue of his God-head he reunited his soule to his bodie so began to liue againe But other dead men can not returne to life by their owne power And therefore it is said they were raised by others As we al at the day of Iudgment shal be raised by Christ S Is there anie other difference betwixt the Resurrection of Christ of others which returned to life before him M There is this difference that the others rose mortal therefore they died againe but Christ rose immortal neither can he euer die anie more Of the sixt Article S Now let vs come vnto the sixt article which is of the Ascension I desire to know how long our Sauiour remained vpon earth after his Resurrection and for what cause M He remained fourtie dayes as you may consider by numbring the dayes betwixt the feasts of his Resurection and Ascension And the reason of his so long stay was because he would with manie diuers apparitions establish the Mysterie of his most true Resurrection For that the same seemeth as it were the most hard And he that beleeueth it hath no difficultie to beleeue the rest For he that riseth was certainly dead before And he that was dead was first borne And so he that beleueth the Resurrection of Christ findeth no labour in beleeuing his death and natiuitie And likewise for so much as the earth is not a conuenient place for glorious bodies but heauen therefore he that beleueth the Resurrection of our Sauiour can
obey or giue eare vnto them no otherwise then if they were our enimies Finally we are bound to reuerence our father mother in bearing them respect and honoring them in words exterior behauior as is conuenient so great account God made of this in the olde testament that he commanded that who soeuer durst curse his father or mother should be killed S I know not for what cause the law of God hath cōmanded the children that they should help their father mother to assist them hath not also commanded the fathers mothers that they should helpe succour their children especially whiles they are little haue need of helpe M Truely the bonde is reciprocall and all one betwixt the parents and the children For euen as the childrē are bound to help to reuerence and to obey their parents so the parents are bound to prouide for the children not only meate clothes but also that they be taught and instructed But the law of parents towardes their children is so naturall and ordinarie that there is no neede of any other written law to put Parents in mind of their bond towards their children But contrariwise it is often seene that children are not answerable in loue towardes their parents And therfore it was necessary to admonish them by this commandement of their dutie neither is God contented with a bare commandement but hath adjoyned a promise and a threatning to make them obserue it S I would gladly know what promise and threatning that is M Vnto this fourth commandemēt God adjoyneth these wordes that thou maist liue long vpon the earth Meaning that those who honour their father and mother shall haue for rewarde to liue long and those who do not honour them shall haue amongst other punishmēts this particular not to liue long And it is a very iust punishment For there is no reason thar he enioy long life who dtshonoreth those of whom he receiued the same life S There occurreth vnto me to demand whether this that hath been said of the father mother be vnderstood also of other superriors who towardes vs haue the place of parents M It is very wel considered of you For indeed this commandement is extended vnto al Superiors as wel Ecclesiastical as temporal Of the fifth Commandement S DEclare now if you please the fiifth commandement M This commandement chiefly forbiddeth murder to wit to kil men For to kil other liuing things is not forbidden by this precept And the reason is because liuing things wen created for man and therefore where it is needeful that he serue himself of the life of those liuing creatures he may kil them but one man is not created for an other man but for God and therefore one man is not maister of an other mans life And so it is not lawfull for one man to kill an other S Notwithstāding we see that Princes and Gouernours put thieues and other malefactors to death who neuerthelesse are men it is not holden that they do euil herein but wel M Princes and Gouernours that haue publique authoritie put malefactors to death not as masters of mens liues but as ministers of God as S. Paul saith Because God willeth and commandeth that malefactors be punished killed when they deserue it that good men may be safe and liue in peace And for this purpose God hath geuen the sword into the handes of Princes and Rulers to do iustice in defending the good and chastising the bad And so when by publique authoritie a malefactor is put to death it is not called murder but an act of iustice and whereas the commandement of God saith Thou shalt not kil it is vnderstood by thy priuat authority S I haue heare a doubt whether this commandement forbiddeth a man to kil him selfe as it forbiddeth to kil an other M Without all doubt this commandement forbiddeth to kil himselfe because no man is maister of his owne life man being made not by himself but by God And therefore no man by priuat authoritie can take the life from himself And if any holie men not to lose their faith or their chastitie haue killed them selues it is to be thought that they had particular and cleare inspiration from God to doe it which otherwise could not be excused frō most grieuous sinne For that who killeth himselfe killeth a man and so committeth murder which is a sin principally forbidden in this fift precept of the lawe S Wherfore do you say principally M Because not only to kill is forbidden but also to hurt to beat or to doe anie other injurie whatsoeuer to the body person of our neighbor Yea Christ our Lord in the holie Gospell declaring this commandement forbiddeth also disdaine hatred rancour reuiling other like passionat behauiour and speaches which vsually are the cause roote of murders And contrariwise willeth that we be meeke and curteous procuring peace and concord with all men Of the sixt Commandement S VVHat is contained in the sixt commandement M The prohibition of adulterie is principally therein cōtained Which is to sinne with an other mans wife And for that next vnto life honour or honestie is most esteemed in this world therefore next after the commandement not to kill with great reason adulterie is forbid by which honestie is lost S Wherefore doe you say principally M Because in the ten commandements which are lawes of Iustice those sinnes are principally forbid by which injustice is more manifestly committed of which sort is adulterie But besides this all other sortes of carnall sinnes are also secondarily forbidden as sacriledge which is to sinne with a person consecrated to God incest which is to sinne with those of our owne kindred deflowring which is to sinne with a virgin fornication which is to sinne with a woman corrupted and single as a Widow or a harlot and other sortes of sinnes more abhominable which ought not so much as to be named amongst Christians S Albeit I doe beleeue that all is true which you haue saide yet I would be glad to vnderstand where vpon it is grounded that fornication is a sinne for that he seemeth not to do any harme or injurie vnto any that committeth simply fornication M It is grounded in all lawes in the law of Nature in the written lawe and in the law of Grace In the lawe of nature it is found that the Patriarch Iudas would haue put to death a woman called Thamar who had bin his sonnes wife and being now widdow was founde with childe Whereby it appeareth that in that time before the Law of Moses was giuen by the instinct of nature men did know that fornication was sinne After in the lawe of Moses fornication is forbidden in many places And in the Epistles of S. Paul wee reade many times that fornicators shall not enter into the glorie of heauen Neither is it true that fornication doth no hurt nor injurie to anie For it hurteth the same
the Octaues of Easter But of these commandements I will say no more now partly because they are easie partly for that of the Masse of Confession and Communicating as also of Fasting we shall speake hereafter when we shal declare the holy Sacraments of the Church Cap. VIII The declaration of the Euangelicall Counsailes S I Desire to know if besides the commandements of our Lord there be any counsels also of his to liue more perfectly M There are many most holy counsels and most profitable to obserue the commandements with more perfection But there are three most principall voluntary pouertie chastitie and obedience S Wherein consisteth the counsell of pouertie M In not hauing any thing proper all his goodes being giuen to the poore or put into the common which likewise hath giuen all to the poore And this counsell Christe taught not onely in wordes but also by his example And after Christ the holy Apostles followed it as also all the first Christians who dwelled in Ierusalem in the time of the Primatiue Church and finally al religious persons make vow to obserue this holie counsaile of voluntarie pouertie S Wherein consisteth the counsaile of chastitie M In a resolution to be perpetually chast not only abstayning from all sortes of carnal sinnes but also from Mariage And this coūsaile also our Lord taught by word and example And our Ladie likewise obserued the same S. Iohn Baptist al the Apostles after they were called by Christ to the Apostleship And al religious persons make particular vow hereof as also al Ecclesiastical men that take holie Orders S Where in consisteth the counsaile of obedience M In renouncing our proper iudgment and proper wil which in the holie Gospel is called denying of a mans selfe and to subiect him selfe to the wil of his superior in al things that be not against God And this counsaile likewise the Sauiour of the world taught not only in word but also by his example obeying in all thinges his eternall Father and submitting himself when he was a child to his mother and to S. Ioseph his supposed Father the spouse of our B. Lady albeit indeede he was not his Father being borne of a mother who was alwaies a Virgin And this is the third counsaile to the vvhich all religious persons bind themselues by vowe S Wherefore are there three principall counsailes and no moe M Because these principall counsailes serue to take away the impediments of perfection that consisteth in charity for the impediments are three to witte the loue of goods which is taken away by pouerty the loue of carnall pleasures which is taken away by chastitie the loue of honour and power which is taken away by obedience Moreouer because a man hath but three sorts of goods to wit a soule a body and his exterior wealth therefore giuing the exterior goods to God by pouertie his bodie by chastitie and his soule by obedience he maketh a Sacrifice vnto God of all that he hath and so disposeth himselfe to perfection of charitie in the best maner that in this life is possible Chap. IX The declaration of the Sacraments of holie Church S I HAVE learned through the grace of our Lorde the three principal parts of Christiā doctrine it remaineth that you declare vnto me the fourth which if I well remember contayneth the seauen Sacraments of the Church M This part of doctrine is also very profitable therefore it is conueent that you learne it with great diligence You must then know that in the holie Church there is a great treasure to wit these holie Sacraments by meanes whereof we receiue the grace of God we keepe it we increase it and when by our defalt wee lose it wee may recouer it again I wil therfore declare vnto you what a sacrament is how many Sacraments there bee by whom they were instituted and some other fewe things and after we will come to the declaration of euerie one of them in particular S. Begin then I pray you to declare what a Sacrament is which I much desire to vnderstand M. A Sacrament is a holy Mystery by which God bestoweth his grace and with all it representeth exteriorly the inuisible effect which grace worketh in our soule For if wee were spirits without bodies as the Angels are God would giue vs his grace spiritually but because we are composed of a soule and a bodie therefore our Lord condescending to our nature geueth vs his grace by means of certayn corporal actions which as I haue said together with certain exterior signes declare to vs the inward effect of grace As for example holie Baptisme which is one of the Sacraments is done by washing the bodie with water and therwith calling vpon the most holie Trinitie By means of which ceremonious washing God geueth his grace putteth it in the soule of him that is baptised And it instructeth vs that as that water washeth the bodie so grace washeth the soule clenseth it from al sinne S If I haue wel vnderstood three conditions are requisit to the nature of a Sacrament first that it be a ceremonie or as we would say an exterior action the second that God by it giue his grace the third that the same ceremonie haue a similitude with the effect of grace and so represent and signifie it exteriorly M You haue vnderstood it very wel Now you haue to know further that these Sacraments are in al seauen are called Baptisme Confirmation or Chrisme Eucharist Penance Extreame Vnction Order and Matrimonie The reason wherfore they are seauen is this for that God would proceed in giuing vs spiritual life as he vseth to proceed in giuing vs our corporal life Touching corporal life first is needful to be borne secondly is needfull to grow thirdly is needfull to be nourished fourthly when a man falleth sicke it is needful he vse phisicke siftly when he must fight he hath need to arme himselfe sixtly is needfull that there bee some to gouerne and rule those that are now borne growne seuenthly is needfull there be some to multiplie mankind for seeing those that are borne do die if others should not succeed mankinde would soone decay So then touching the spiritual life first it is needfull that Gods grace bee borne in vs this is done by baptisme secondly it is needfull that the same grace increase and bee made strong this is done by Confirmation thirdly is needful that it be norished and maintained this doth the Eucharist worke fourthly is needfull that it be recouered whenit is lost and this is done be the medicine of Penance Fiftly is needfull that at the poynt of death a man arme himselfe against the infernal enimy who then more thē euer assalteth vs this doth extreme Vnctiō worke Sixtly is necessary that there be in the church such as may guid gouerne vs in spiritual life this is done by Orders Seuenthly is needfull that there bee in the Church
because by Indulgence is satisfied onely for the bond of paine or punishment but by these workes we do both satisfie and withall merite eternall life but best of all is to vse both their helps satisfying our selues so much as wee can withall taking Indulgences Of the Sacrament of extreame Vnction S VVHat is Extreame Vnction M Extreame Vnction is a Sacrament which our Lord instituted for the sick It is called Vnction because it consisteth in annoynting the sicke with holie Oyle and receyting ouer him certaine prayers And it is called Extreame as being the last amongst the Vnctions which are vsed in the Sacramēts of the church For the first vnction is giuen in Baptisme the second in confirmatiō the third in Priesthood the last in sicknes it may also be called extreme for that it is giuē at the end of the life S What be the effects of this Sacrament M They are three The first is remission of sins that remaine sometimes after the other Sacraments to wit those which the party did not remember or not know and which if he had knowen and remembred he would willingly haue repented and confessed them The second is to cōsort the sicke to make him stronger in spirite in that time when hee findeth himselfe oppressed with bodely infirmities and with temptations of the diuel The third is to restore the health of the bodie if that be expedient for the eternal saluation of the same sicke person And these three effects are signifyed by the oyle which is vsed in this Sacrament for that oyle refresheth strengthneth and healeth S At what time ought this Sacrament to be receiued M In this many doe commit great error who wil not take this Sacramēt but when they are in departing this life for the true time to take it is whē the phisitions iudge the disease to be dangerous for when humane remedies seem to be insufficient the celestial remedies are chiefly to besought for And so sometimes it hapneth that by the meanes of this holy oyle the sicke party doth recouer health therefore as this Sacrament ought not to bee demanded when there is no danger to die so ought it not to be deferred so long till there bee no hope remaining And this is the cause why holie oyle is not giuen to those that are put to death by justice because such are neither sicke nor haue hope of life Of the Sacrament of Order S VVHat is the Sacrament of Order M It is a Sacrament in whtch power is giuen to consecrate the most holie Eucharist and to minister the other Sacraments to the people or to serue by proper offiee those that haue receiued such power And it is called Order because there are manie degrees in this Sacrament one subordinate to an other As Priests Deacons and other inferiors But of these there is no neede to tell you any more seing this Sacrament doth not pertaine to all but only to men of yeares and learning who are not to learne the Christian doctrine but rather it belongeth to them to teach others Of the Sacrament of Marriage S VVHat is the Sacrament of Matrimonie M The Sacrament of Matrimonie is the lawfull joyning of man and woman in holie wedlocke which signifyeth and representeth the Vnion of Christ with his Church by the Incarnation and the vnion of God with the soule by grace S What effects worketh this Sacrament M First it giueth grace to the husband the wife to comport thēselues wel to loue each other spiritually as Christ loueth his Church and as God loueth a faithful just soule Secondly it conferreth grace to know and to desire to bring vp their children in the feare of God Thirdly it produceth a bonde betweene the husband and the wife so straight that it is not possible to bee dissolued like as betweene Christ his Church And hereof it commeth that no bodie can dispence that the husband leaue his first wife take an other neither that the wife leaue her first husband and take an other S What is necessarie to the making of Mariage M Three things are necessarie First that the parties be without impediment to be ioyned together that is that they be not kinsfolkes within the fourth degree that they haue no solemne vowe of chastitie nor the like Secondly that in contracting of Matrimonie there be witnesses and that in particular the Curate or proper Pastor be present or as wee cal him the Parrish Priest Thirdly that the consent of both parties be free not forced by any great feare that it be expressed by wordes or some equiualent signe And if anie of these three things shal be wanting the Mariage is not of force S Whether is it better to take the Sacrament of matrimonie or to kepe virginitie M The Apostle S. Paul hath cleered this doubt hauing written that who ioyneth himselfe in Mariage doth wel but he that doth not ioyne himself but keepeth virginitie doth better And the reason is because Mariage is a thing humane virginitie is Angelical Mariage is according to nature Virginitie is aboue nature And not only virginitie but widowhood also is better then mariage Therefore whereas our Sauiour said in a parable that the good seede yelded in one field thirtie fold fruit in an other threescore in an other a hundred fold the holie Doctors haue declared that the thirtie fold fruite is of Matrimonie the threescore fold of widowhood hundereth fold of virginitie Cap. X. Of vertues in general YOv haue declared the foure principall partes of Christian Doctrine I desire to know if there be any thing else to learne M The necessarie thinges to bee knowne are those foure which I haue already shewed you But there be some other things profitable also to the end we pretend of obtayning eternall saluation to wit Vertues and Vices good workes and sinnes For albeit wee haue spoken alreadie of these things in general in the declaration of the Creede and of the Commandements yet it will be very profitable to speake of them more distinctly and in particular S Tell me then what is vertue M Vertue is a qualitie which is receiued in the soule and maketh a man good For as science maketh a man a good Philosopher and art maketh one a good artificer so vertue maketh a good man and causeth him to doe that which is good and that with facilitie readinesse and perfection Whereas hee that hath not vertue though hee may sometimes do well yet he shall not doe it without difficultie and imperfection whereof to giue you some example vertue is like to art and practise For you see one that hath art to play on the Citerone or Lute playeth both wel with facilitie although he neuer look vpō the strings where as an other that hath not the art or hath not practise may well touch the strings and make them sounde but hee shall neither doe it readily nor so well Euen so hee that hath the vertue for
Originall sinne is that in which we are borne and it commeth vnto vs by succession frō our first father Adam For you haue to know that when God made the first man and the first woman called Adam and Eue he gaue them seuen gifts First he gaue them his grace by which they were iuste and the friends of God his adopted children Secondly he gaue them great knowledge how to doe well and to shunne euill Thirdly he gaue them obedience of the flesh to the spirite that it should not be mooued to vnlawful desires against reasō Fourthly hee gaue them promptnes and great facilitie to do well and to flie euill and but one most easie commandement to obserue Fiftly hee freed them from all labour and feare For the earth brought foorth fruites sufficient for mans life of it self neither was there any thing that could hurt man Sixtly hee made them immortall that is that they should neuer haue dyed if they had not sinned Seauenthly hee would after some time haue translated thē into Heauen to such an eternal and glorious life as Angels haue But the first man and woman inueigled by the Diuell did not obserue that commandement and so they sinned against God and thereby lost those seuen giftes which I spoke of And because God gaue them those giftes not only for them selues but also for all their posteritie therefore they lost them for themselues and for vs all and made vs partakers of their sinne and of all their miseries as we should haue bene of all their graces and other benefites if they had not sinned This then is Original sinne an emnitie with God and a priuation of his grace with which priuation wee are borne Whereof proceedeth ignorance euil inclinations difficultie to do well and facilitie to do euill the paine trauel to prouide to liue the feares and periles in which we remaine most certaine death of the bodie also eternall death in hell if before we dye we be not deliuered of sinne returne not into the sauour of God S What remedie haue wee against this Originall sinne M It is already saide before that the remedie is the Passion death of Christ our Lorde For so God would that hee that should satisfie for the sinne of Adam should bee himselfe without sin and the same was God and man and so hee was infinitely acceptable to God and did obey not in an easie thing as that was which was commanded to Adam but in a most hard thing as was the ignominious death of the Crosse And this remedie is applyed to vs by holie Baptisme as hath bin saide And albeit God doth not straight-waies render vnto vs all those seauen gifts yet he hath restored to vs the most principall which is his grace by meanes whereof we are made iust the friends and children of God and heires of Heauen The other gifts shal be restored vnto vs hereafter with great increase in the other life if we behaue our selues well in this Cap. XVIII Of mortal and veniall sinne S DEclare vnto me now what is actuall sinne and how one is mortall and an other veniall M Actuall sinne is that which wee commit by our owne will when wee are come to the vse of reason As to steale to kill to sweare falsely and such like things contrarie to the law of God And it is mortal sinne when it depriueth vs of the grace of God which is the life of the soule maketh one worthie of eternal death in hell It is veniall sinne when it displeaseth God but not so much that it depriueth vs of his grace and meriteth punishment but not eternall S How shall I know whether the sin be mortal or venial M To know when a sinne is mortall you must obserue two rules one is that the sinne be contrarie to the charitie or loue of God or of our neighbour The other that it bee with full consent of the will For when either of these two things is wanting it is not mortall but veniall And a sinne is then said to bee a-against charitie when it is against the lawe in a matter of weight as when it is a sufficient offence to breake friendship but when it is in a small matter such as ordinarilie breaketh not friendship It is not then against charitie but is said not to be according to charitie And so such as commonly breaketh friendship is against the law because it is against charitie which is the end of the law such as commonly breaketh not frendship is not against the law but not acording to the law because it is not against charitie but not according to charitie Take an exāple to steale a great quantitie of money is a mortal sinne because it is against the law of God being in a matter of weight and in the iudgement of most men sufficient to breake frendship and so is against charitie but to steale a farthing or a pinne or a like thing is not a mortall sinne but a venial because it is in a small matter which although it be not according to charitie yet it is not against charitie because it is not a thing that in reason can breake frendship In like manner we may say of being voluntarie For when a thing is against the law in a matter of weight and fully voluntarie it is a mortall sinne but if it be not fully voluntarie as if one haue a thought or a sodaine desire to steale or to kill or to blaspheme and presently perceiueth his error before he fully consent with his will it is only a veniall sin Therefore a man must stand vpon his gard and presently as he is aware of an euil thought or desire he must driue it away before they geue consent Chap. XIX Of the seuen Capitall sinnes S I Desire now to know which be the most principall sinnes to the end I may flie them with more diligence M Some sinnes are more principal because they are as fountaines or roots of others and therefore called capital and these are seuen Others are more principall for that they are more hard to be pardoned and are called sins against the Holie Ghost and they are six Finally there are others more principall because they are more manifestly enormious and against all reason and therfore it is said that they crie for reuenge to Heauen and they are foure S Which are the Capitall sinnes M They are these Pride or as others call it Vainglorie Couetousnes Lecherie Enuie Glutonie Anger and Sloath. S Wherefore are they called capitall M They are not called capitall because they are mortal for many sins are mortall and are not capitall as blasphemie and murder and many capital which are not alwaies mortal as gluttony anger sloath But they are called capitall because they are heads of many others which proceed from them as branches from the roote and riuers from the fountaines S What is Pride what sinnes doth it bring forth and what is the remedie