will loue him and will manifest my selfe vnto him The Commandemēts are thus distinguished by S. Aug. 9.71 in Exo. et ep 119. c. 11. Clemens Alexan. l. 6. strom comment Hier. in Ps 32. Ex. 20 1. 34 28. Levi. 19 1.37 Deut. 4 13. 5 6. 10 4. He that loueth mee not keepeth not my wordes 5 Which are the Commaundements of God specially belonging to Charity THE ten wordes of God first deliuered by MOYSES to the Iewes and afterward commended by Christ his Apostles to (a) Mat. 19 17. 5 18. 22 37. Mar. 10 19. 12 31. Luc. 18 19. 10 25. Ro. 2 13. 13 8. 7 12 Gal. 5 14. Jac. 2 8. 1 25. 4 11. 1. Tim. 1 5. Cō Tri. sess 6. c. 19.20 21 all Christians which are commonlie called the Decalogue or the ten Commaundementes and are thus set downe I am thy Lord God 1 Thou shalt not haue any strange gods before me Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauē thing (b) Le. 26 1. The cōmādements are expounded by Orig. ho 8. in Exod. Aug. quaest 71. in Ex. tract de 10. plagis lib. de 10. chord to worshippe it 2 Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord God in vaine 3 Remember thou keepe holy the Sabboth daie 4 Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thou maiest liue long in the lande which thy Lord God will giue thee 5 Thou shalt not kill 6 Thou shalt not commit aduoutry 7 Thou shalt not steale 8 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour 9 Thou shalt not (c) Deut. 5◠21 couet thy neighbours wife 10 Thou shalt not couet his house nor his fielde nor his seruant nor his handmaid nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is his 6 What meaneth this beginning I am thy Lord God ALmightie God beginneth the ten Commaundementes with the knowledge of himselfe Deut. 6 1.15.24 4 23.40 10 16. Mal. 1 5.14 Hier. 32 17. Psal 46 3. with the insinuation of his Maiesty That the Law-maker being once known we may feare reuerence him the more the Commaundementes which he hath set down may bee of greater authority amongst al men For we are so seriously dealt withal that if euer we meane to be (a) Mat. 4.18 19 17 28 20. Heb. 5 9. Ps 118 1.4.1 Io. 3 24. Aug. quaest 140. sup Ex. saued we must first as in a most bright glasse here assuredly behold the wil of the diuine Maiestie the whole perfecte manner of liuing well then this most holy Lawe being once knowne by the (b) Ro. 8 26. Ioan. 1 17. Phil 4 13. helpe of Christs spirite exactly keepe obserue the same Neither truely doth our Lawemaker onelie giue Commaundements but doth withal promise his (c) Ps 83 8. Deut. 28 1. Leuit. 26 3. blessing and assisteth with his helping hand I will put saith hee my (d) Ezec. 36 27. 11 19.20 spirite in the middest of you and I wil cause that you may walke in my Commaundements and that you may keepe my iudgements and that you may worke For which cause when Christ also (e) Mat. 11 28.30 1. Ioan. 5 3. Conc. Trid. sess 6. ca. 11. Can. 18. Chrys l. 1. de com cor Bas q. 176. in reg breu Aug de nat gra c. 43. 69. ser 61. 191. de temp Hier. in sym ad Damas had commaunded Take vp my yoke vpon you least any man shoulde aleadge the difficulty thereof as an excuse hee added For my yoke is sweete and my burthen light Vnto those vndoubtedly that beeing indued with the spirite of grace doe walke in charitie not fained 7 What importeth the first Commaundement IT forbiddeth and condemneth Idolatry Deut 12 2. 4 15. 18 19. 1. Reg. 28 3. Psa 113 12. Leui. 19 26.31 20 6.27 Eccli 34 4. Superstitious obseruations and the vse of Arte-Magicke diuination It teacheth also and requireth that wee account (a) Aug. lib. 10. ciuit c. 1. ep 49 q. 3 no creature at all for God though it be neuer so excellent but that we beleeue confesse one only true eternall infinite God and that to him only we offer Sacrifice and giue that singular (b) Aug. l. 10 ciu c. 1. 4. l. 15. con Faust c. 9. l. 20. cap. 21. soueraigne honor which the GRAECIANS call Latria And by meanes heereof it commeth to passe that aboue (c) Io. 4 23. Rom. 10 11 1. Ioan. 4 8. Mat. 4 10. Luc. 4 8. Esa 43 1. 1. Tim. 6 13 all thinges we honour call vpon and adore that soueraigne and eternall good the most excellent mightie Maker Redeemer Sauiour one immortall God who (d) Ro. 9 5. Psal 83 12. is blessed aboue all thinges the giuer of all grace and glory 8 How and in what sort doe we besides Almighty God honor call vpon the Saints also OF Saintes to witte of all those that are sanctified and borne againe in Christ our meaning is not to speake in this place as S. PAVL (a) Ro. 1 7. 2. Cor. 1 1. Phil. 4 22. Col. 1 1. Philem. 7. doth often applie this name to all Christians but those we meane that haue obtained the true rewards of their holinesse in (b) Apo. 7 9 heauen Of whom the same S. PAVL doth testifie that (c) Heb. 11 33. Eph. 5 27. Apo. 5 8. 7 9. 21 2. 22.3 Eph. 4 30. 1. Cor. 6 19. by faith they ouercame Kingdomes wrought Iustice obtained Promises And these in very deed are Saints immaculate without spotte and wrinckell these are the most excellent members of the Church very choise instruments of Gods holy spirite vnto whome no sinne or euill can euer haue accesse Which Saintes doe consiste partly of Angelicall partly of humane nature Creatures certes of almost noble and blessed to whom it is graunted to be replenished with those most excellent and eternall good things that are in heauen to liue alwaies in most perfite loue and friendship with (d) Phi. 1 23 2. Cor. 5 1.6 Gregor 4. mor. c. 32. Niss de S. Ephr. Ephrem l. 1. comp c. vlt. Christ our Lorde Therefore by his fauour both they are able to (e) Greg. lib. 12. mor. cap. 13. lib. 4. dial c. 33. Aug. de cura pro mort c. 15. 16. Orig. lib. 8. con Cels 4. Reg. 5 26. 6 9. 1. Co. 14 25 vnderstande what thinges are done amongst vs vpon earth because they are inflamed with an exceeding Charitie towardes their breethren though farre absent from them they (f) Dā 10 12 Mat. 18 10. Heb. 1.14 Tob. 12 12. Luc. 15 7. Act. 5 19 12 7. Apoc. 5 8. 8 3. Cypr. de mort Naz. orat 19. are careful of our saluation they fauor vs and doe wishe vs all manner of good And
containe suffered vnder PONTIVS PILATE IT sheweth that Christ when hee had made an ende of his most excellent teaching working of miracles Act. 10 37. Mat. 27 50. Mar. 15 24. Esa 50 6. 53 1. Ioh. 1 29. Heb. 7 26. 1. Pet. 1 19. 2 22. Ap. 1 18. 1. Tim. 6 13 Rom. 5 6. Ioa. 15 13. did at last accōplishe his conflicte and agony for the Redemption of vs that were perished Therefore although hee were a most innocent and vnspotted Lambe yea and God also immortal yet to shew his passing great charity towards vs hee suffered (a) Io. 18 4. 19 11. 3 14 12 32. Mat. 27 27. Mar. 15 16. Luc. 23 14. Io. 19 16. Act. 13 28. willingly of most wicked persons all manner of extreame and bitter torments wherevpon he neither eschewed the most vniuste iudgement of the wicked Iudge PILATE nor yet the most shamefull and (b) Sap. 2 12 Heb. 12 2. Phil. 2 8. Rom 5 6. Mat. 27 60. Tit. 2 14. Gal. 1 4. Esa 53 12. opprobrious punishment of the CROSSE vndertaking a most cruell death for vs not refusing to bee buried in an other mannes monument to the intent that both liuing and dying hee might giue and imploy himselfe wholly for the behoofe of mortall men Which Passion of Christ (c) 1. Pet. 1 18. 1. Io. 1 7. Ap. 1 5. Eph. 1 7. Bloude Crosse Wounds and Death doe continually yeeld comforte health vertue and life vnto sinners yet so that wee obay and (d) Ro. 8 17. 2. Cor. 1 7. 2. Tim. 2 11 suffer together with our Head that so wee may also bee glorified with him For he being (e) Heb. 5 9. consummate was made to all that obay him cause of eternall saluation 12 What vse profite is there in that we frame the Crosse of Christ with our fingers do signe our fore-head there-withall THis Ceremony surely both the piety of men of (a) Tert. cor mil. cap. 3. Bas de spir sa cap. 27. Aug. de Catech rud ca. 20. tra in Io. 118. Naz. ogat 3. Hieron ad Eustoc de virg ser ep 22. ca. 16. ad Fabiol de veste sac ep 128. in Ezech. 9. Chrysost ho. 55. in Mat. Hist trip l. 6. c. 1. Essr de vera paen cap. 3. Orig. ho 8. in diuers Euang. Ruff. lib. 2. hist cap. 29 Niceph. lib. 18. cap. 20. Cyril catech 4. 13. illū Chrysost in demonst quod Christ sit Deus ancient time passed and the constant custome of the Church doth commende vnto vs. And first of all wee are hereby stirred vp to a thankefull remembrance of the most high mystery benefite which was for our sakes accomplished vpon the Crosse and most bountifully bestowed vpō vs. Then we are prouoked to fixe settel the true and holy glory and the Ancker of our saluation in the Crosse of our LORD Furthermore this is a testimonie that we haue no communication with the enemies of Christes Crosse IEWES or HEATHENS but doe freely professe against all such him whom we serue our Lord Iesus and him crucified By this signe also we are moued to the studie of Patience that if we be desirous of eternal glory as surely we ought all to bee wee doe not think much to imbrace that Crosse which we honour and the way of the same Crosse (b) Mat. 16 24. Luc. 9 23. 1. Pet. 3 14.17 2 19. with Christ our Captaine Moreouer we fetch from hence victorious armour (c) Atha in vita Ant. Hieron in Hilarion Ignat. ad Philip. against Satan long since subdued by the vertue of the Crosse yea so we are fensed against all the aduersaries of our welfare Finally that wee may the more happily take any (d) Ambros serm 43. thing in hand and finde more prosperous successe in all our actions wee take vnto vs this noble and triumphant ensigne of the Crosse and expecting in this signe to get (e) Euseb li. 1. 2. de vita Constan Nice l 8 c. 3. l. 7 c. 47. et 49. the victory we do not doubt often times to say In the name of the †Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost 13 What woulde the fifth Article haue vs to beleeue He descended into Hell Ps 15 10. Zach. 9 11. 1. Pet. 3 19. Col 2 15. Eccli 24 45. Act. 2 24. Ose 13 14. Iren. l 5 c. 31 Aug ep 99 57. quaes 1 l. 20. ciu c. 15 ser 137. de tēp Hier. in c 4. ad Eph. in Ose 13. Tert. l. 2. cont Mar. cap. 4. Mat 12 29. Heb. 2 14. Mar. 16 9. Ap. 1 5.18 Io 2 19. Col. 1 18. 1. Cor. 15 8 and rose againe IT teacheth vs that Christ after he was dead vpon the Crosse did penetrate in Soule euen downe to Hell that he might both shew himselfe a conquerour of death and the deuill also a deliuerer of the Fathers that were detained in Limbo but that according to his bodie wherein hee had lyen in the Sepulcher the third day after when it pleased him to returne triumphantly from Hel he by his own power arose again vnto life being immortal and glorious and the first borne of the dead By which wonderfull worke he doth comfort instruct vs that the Electe are deliuered out of the power of death hell and the diuell and hee doth offer and commend vnto all men such grace and fauour of rising againe that those which beleeue truly in Christ may rise from (a) Ro. 6 4. Col. 3 1. Phil. 3 20 Eph. 4 22. 1. Pet. 1 3. vice to vertue frō the the death of sinne vnto the life of grace and finally in the (b) 1. Cor. 15 22. end of the world from the death of the bodie to an immortal life For he which (c) 2. Cor. 4 14. 1. Thes 4 14 raised vp IESVS will raise vp vs also with IESVS 14 What signifieth the sixt Article He ascended into Heauen Ps 67 19.33 46 6. 8 2. Mar. 16 19 Io. 3 13. Act. 1 1. Eph. 4 8. 12 6. 1 20. Col. 3 1. Heb. 1 3 1. Pet. 2 4. 1. Io. 2 1. Io. 20 17. It sheweth that our Lord Iesus after that hee had finished the worke of mans Redemption and appeared aliue againe vnto his Disciples and confirmed with many arguments the trueth of his Resurrection at the last on the forty day after ascended into heauen that according to his humane nature he might bee exalted aboue all thinges and himselfe alone aboue all others renowmed and honored of al men Therefore our Lord IESVS (a) Ps 109 8 Act. 7 55. Luc. 22 69. 1. Cor. 15 25. Eph. 1 20. Mat 28 18. sitteth in heauen on the right hand of the power of God exercising equall power with the father gouerning al things wholly shining with diuine Maiesty which is indeede (b) Aug lib. de si
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
14. can 5. procured if a man doe diligently beholde the foulnesse enormity multitude of his sinnes if hee carefully thinke vpon that soueraigne goodnesse offended of the grace of God and other giftes loste if he doe deepelie waighe and stand in awe of the ineuitable (b) Heb. 9 27. Sophō 1 15. Mat. 25 41. Mar. 9 43. necessitie of the vncertaine houre of death the horrible seuerity of the iudgement to come and the euerlasting paines prepared for sinners Hereūto appertaineth that of EZECHIAS (c) Esa 38 15. I wil recoūt vnto thee all my yeeres in the bitternesse of my soul And that of DAVID (d) Ps 118 120. I stoode in awe of thy iudgemēts And that which hee also in lamenting manner doth pray (e) Ps 37 9. I am afflicted too much hūbled I did rore with the sighs of my hart And a little after (f) Ibid. v. 19 I will declare my iniquity and I will thinke for my sinne Also it is an expresse speach of God himselfe vnto a sinner Thou (g) Apoc. 2 4. 2. ad Cor. 12.21 7 9. hast lefte thy first Charity be mindfull therefore from whence thou art fallē doe Penance (h) Luc. 12 5 Mat. 10 28. And Christ in the Gospell Feare him saith he who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell Yea I say vnto you feare him Nowe finally this griefe of Contrition doth prepare vs to remission of sinnes in-case it be ioined with (i) Amb. l. 1. de paenit c. 1. a confidence of Gods mercie and a desire of performing those thinges which do belong to the Sacrament of (k) Aug. de paenit med cap. 11. in Ench. ca. 65. Ambr. in Ps 37. c. 8. ad Virg. laps Penance 5 Is Confession necessary YEA verily but not only as some doe falsely suppose that interiour Confession which is to be done in the presence of God (a) Chry. ho. 42. in Mat. euerie day according to the example of holy DAVID who saith I haue (b) Ps 31 5. saide I will confesse against my selfe my vniustice vnto our Lord But also this exteriour confession which is done vnto a (c) Orig. in Ps 37. ho. 1. ho. 2. in Leu. Chry. l. 3. de sacer Niss orat in eos qui alios acerbius iudicant Pet. Clun l. 1. mirac c. 3. 4. 5. 6 l. 2. c. vlt. Priest of all the sinnes which doe come into a mans minde after diligent searche and examination of his conscience So is it written of men of the Primatiue Church Many of them that (d) Act. 19 18. beleeued came confessing and declaring their deedes Which manner of confessing to be very neecssary not only the holy lawes of the Church (e) Con. Lateran cā 21. Flor. Trid ses 14. cap. 5. and the reuerent writings (f) Clem. ep 1. ad frat Do. Dion ep 8. ad Demoph Tert. de paenit ca. 8. 9. 10. 12. Orig. in Ps 37. ho. 1. 2. ho. 2 in Leuit. Cyp. de laps Pacia in paraen ad paenit Hier. in c. 10. Eccle. Chry. ho. 30. in Gen. 16. in Mat. of the Fathers doe confirme but also the diuine words of Christ doe cōclude and declare when hee saith (g) Ioan. 20 23. Whose sinnes you shall forgiue they are forgiuen them And whose you shal retaine they are retained But to remitte retaine sinnes whereas this is an office of a Iudge no Priest can haue authority except he first examine and knowe verie perfectlie the sinners cause whereof hee hath to iudge Neither can this knoweledge be had before that the partie which committeth himselfe to bee iudged and absolued by the Prieste as his (h) Aug. lib. 20. ciu c. 9. Greg. ho. 26 in Euang. Chry. l. 3. de sacer ho. 5. de verb Esa Hier. ad Heliod ep 1. cap. 7. Iudge and (i) Con. Lat. can 21. Wormat. c. 25. Orig. ho. 1. 2. in Psal 37. Phisition doth so discouer and laie open his woundes in such distincte seuerall manner by voluntary Confession that the Priest may plainly perceiue where the sinnes are to bee loosened and where they are to be bounde 6 What doe the Fathers write of Confession THey certes doe with one consent not onely commend approue vnto vs the benefite of Confession and perpetuall practise of it in the Church but the bond also necessitie thereof And to alleadge amongest verie many a fewe and those most approued witnesses first (a) Quaest 288. in reg breu vide quaest 229. in ep 3. can ad Amphil can 73. S. BASIL the great saith thus It is iudged necessary that sinnes be confessed vnto those to whom is committed the dispensation of the mysteries of God for so the verie Penitents of auncient times are found to haue confessed their sinnes vnto holy mē Then (b) De laps vide ep 10. 55. S. CYPRIAN I beseech you my breethren saith he euery one to confesse his sinne whilest yet he that sinneth remaineth in this world whilest his confessiō may be admitted whilest euery mans Satisfaction remission giuen by the Priests is acceptable vnto our Lorde Hereunto accordeth the sentēce of S. AVGVSTINE Hom. 49. ex 50. cap. 3. ho. 41. 50 cap. 4. 5. who teacheth in this manner Doe yee Penance such as is done in the Church that the church may pray for you Let no man say within himselfe I doe it in secret I doe it before God alone God who pardoneth mee knoweth that I doe in heart Was it there foresaid in vaine (c) Mat. 18 18. Ioan 20 23. Whatsoeuer you shall loose in earth shall be loosed in Heauen Were the KEIES giuen to the Church of God in vaine Doe we frustrate the Gospell of God Doe we frustrate the wordes of Christ Doe we promise you that which he denieth Doe we deceiue you And in another place (d) Lib. 2 de visit infirm cap. 4. There are saith he that do thinke it sufficient for their saluation if they confesse their sinnes to God alone vnto whō nothing is hidden and euery mans conscience lieth open For they will not or they are ashamed or they disdaine to shew themselues vnto PRIESTS whō yet our Lord hath by MOISES ordained to discerne betweene (e) Leuit. 13 2. 14 12. Luc. 17 14. Mat. 8 4. Leaper Leaper But I will not haue thee deceiued with this opinion and bee ashamed thereby to confesse them vnto the vicegerent of our Lord either languishing with shamefastnesse or stiffe-necked with indignation For of reason in like manner must we admit him for our iudge which our Lorde doth not disdaine to bee his Vicar And it is no lesse euident that (f) Ep. 91. ad Theod. vide ep 80. ad Episc Camp LEO the great hath lefte in writing The manifold mercies of God doth so succour the falles of men that not only by
Church they vsed imposition of (a) Act. 6 6. 13 3. 14 22. 1. Tim. 4 14 5 22. 2. Tim. 1 6. hands For by this as by a certain effectual tokeÌ„ of present grace which is exhibited and (b) Amb. li. de dignit Sacerd. c. 5. Niceph. lib. 12. cap. 14. receiued in the giuing of holy orders is this Sacrament which we speake of commended vnto vs. And therefore S. PAVL writing to TIMOTHY whom he had created Bishop and admonishing him of the grace that he had receiued in this Sacrament doth speake in this manner (c) 1. Tim. 4 14. ibid. Theoph. Haymo Neglect not the grace that is in thee which is giuen thee by Prophesie with impositioÌ„ of the hands of Priesthoode And againe writing to the same Bishoppe (d) 2. Tim. 1 6. ibid. Theoph. I admonishe thee that thou resuscitate the grace of God which is in thee by the imposition of my handes And because it is very much materiall (e) Leo. ep 87. ad Episc Maur. synod RoÌ„ sub Sylu c. 11. Trid. ses 23. c. 7. 12. reforma what kind of men be placed in euery of the Churches sunctions and doe receiue Ecclesiasticall power by meanes of this Sacrament therefore it is saide to euerie Bishop (f) 1. Tim. 5 22. Impose handes on no man lightly neither doe thou communicate with other mennes sinnes 4 Howe many degrees doth this Sacrament containe in it IT containeth in generall lesser greater orders the lesser are foure (a) Conc. Carth. 4. caÌ„ 6. sequ Laod. can 24. Trid. ses 23. Ignat. ad Antioch Dion eccles hierarch c. 3. Euseb hist l. 6. cap. 35. ex epist Corn. in number to witte of Ostiaries Lectors Exorcistes Acolites And the greater are three to wit of Sub-deacons Deacons and Priestes And of Priestes some are greater some lesser knowen to bee ordained (b) Luc. 9 1. 10 1. ibid. Beda Clem. ep 1. Anacl ep 2 3. by Christ For the greater sort of Priests are the Apostles and Bishops their (c) Hier. ad Marcel ep 54. Cypr. ep 69. 65. Ignat. ad Phila. Aug. in Psal 44. successors excelling doubtles with a great power and reuerend prerogatiue of dignitie For it is their office as the (d) Act. 20 28. 1. Pet. 5 1. Heb. 13 17. Tit. 1 5. Act. 14 22. Scripture testifieth to take heed to themselues to the wholle flocke which they doe receiue of the holy-Ghost to bee cured and fedde to rule the Church to reforme the things that are wanting to ordaine Priests by Cities And the lesser sort of Priests doe attende in the Ministerye of the Church vnder Bishops as those (e) Luc. 10 â— Leo. ep 88. ad Epi. Gall. Innoc. 3 l. 1. de myst Alt. cap. 6. 72. Disciples did vnder the Apostles doe (f) Heb. 5 1. 8 3. offer giftes and Sacrifices for sinnes and are next vnto the same Bishops as it were workemen (g) Mat. 9 37. Luc. 10 2. in our Lords haruest But the Clarkes of the foure lesser orders haue this proper office to (h) Carth. 4. caÌ„ 6. seq Isid lib. 2. de offic c. 11. seq lib. 7. â—tym c. 12. Raban lib. 1. de inst cler c. 9. sequ Con. Aquis 1. sub Ludouico Pio. ca. 2 sequ Râ—m sub Sylu. c. 3. 6. 9. attend vpoÌ„ Priests Bishops in many businesses and affaires to dispose the people that doe resorte to holy thinges that they themselues by little and little as it were by certaine degrees may be wel informed and prepared to vndertake greater offices in the Church But the other three (i) Carth. 4. caÌ„ 3. sequ Isid sup c 7. Rabanus c. 6. vbi sup Aquisgr ca. 6. Arator l. 1 in Acta cap. 1â— greater orders doe afforde greater power both in other things in the holie mysteries of the Euchatiste Therefore the Sub-deacon and Deacon may be present at the saide mysteries as Ministers be next vnto the Priests themselues And although as touching the Sacrament of Orders the authority of offering Sacrifice there be no difference between Bishoppes and Priests (k) Damasus ep 4. Isid lib. 2. de offic cap. 7. Hieron coÌ„t Lucif cap. 4. Leo. ep 88. Conc. Hisp 2. cap 7. Epiph. haeres 75. Acrianorum yet are they more excellent high thaÌ„ Priests if wee consider the power and authority of gouerning the Church of feeding soules of confirming the Baptised and of ordering Clearkes But it is not our intente at this present exactely to declare what functions and Lawes are prescribed to euery particular order Most certaine it is that al orders are to be had in great estimation diligently to be kepte and maintained For most firme testimony is giuen vnto the same by the holie Discipline of the Apostles Tradition and (l) Amb. in cap 4. ep ad Ephes the Churches obseruance which hath continued euen vnto this day 5 In what sort doe the auncient Fathers write of this Sacrament OF this doth Sainte AVGVSTINE a Doctor without doubt verie Catholike manifestly declare both his owne and the Churches minde in these wordes (a) Li. quaest Vet. Nou. Test quaest 93. vide lib. 2. cont ep Parm. c. 13. In that that our Lorde is read to haue breathed vpon his Disciples a fewe daies after his Resurrection and to haue saide receiue (b) Io. 20 21 yee the holy-Ghost Ecclesiasticall power is vnderstoode to haue beene giueÌ„ For because all thinges in the Tradition of our Lord are done by the holy-Ghost Therefore when a certaine rule forme of this Discipline is deliuered vnto them it is saide to them receiue yee the holie-Ghost And because it appertaineth truely to Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction he presently addeth saying whose sinnes you retaine shall be retained and whose you remitte shall be remitted Therefore this inspiration or breathing is a certaine grace which is infused by Tradition to those that receiue Orders whereby they may be accounted more commendadable Whereupon the Apostle saith to TIMOTHY (c) 1. Tim. 4 14. Neglect not the grace which is in thee which was giuen thee by the imposition of handes of a Priest Therefore once it ought to bee done that for euer after this Tradition might be thought not to be voide of the gifte of the holy-Ghost Hitherto S. AVGVSTINE There are extante also the Cannons of the Apostles in which it is thus (d) Can. 1. 2. decreed Let a Bishoppe bee created by two or three Bishops A Priest by one Bishâ—p So a Deacon others of the Cleargie Then a little after (e) Can. 68. vide canoneâ— insignes dist 59. seq If any Bishop or Priest or Deacon or Subdeacon or Lector or Chaunter doe not faste the holy Lent or the Wensdaie or the Parasceue which we nowe call Friday let him be put out of Orders vnlesse happely
betweene God and his people Wherupon S. AMBROSE saith (b) In ca. 12. 1. ad Cor. A man that is placed in the order of an Ecclesiasticall office hath grace whatsoeuer he be not truly of him selfe but of his order by the operation of the holy Ghost Furthermore the said parties that receiue orders (c) Act. 6 5.8.10 13 2. 14 20. 15 2.42 1. Tim. 4 14. Tit. 1 5. Cypr. ep 76. haue thereby a certaine and euident testimonie whereby they may commend and approue both themselues and their Ministeries also vnto others And so it commeth to passe that they being as it were marked with those orders and being separated vnto the ministerie of the Church are well knowne and esteemed according to their degree and verie worthely honoured But woe be to them (d) Num. 16 31. Heb. 5.4 1. Par. 13 10. 2. Reg. 6 6. 2. Par. 26 16. whom not the example of AaRON that was called by God doth induce but seditiouse humors and swelling of the minde like vnto OZIAS the king doth cary hed long to the occupying vsurping by whatsoeuer meanes the offices of Priestly dignitie vpon whome this speach of God doth fitlie fall (e) Hier. 23 21. 14 14 27 15. 29 9. I did not send Prophets and they did runne I did not speake to them they did Prophesie And these the Scripture warneth vs not to accounte as Ministers of the Church but to eschew as (f) Io. 10 1. Cant. 2 15. Act. 20 29. Mat. 7 15. Theeues Robbers Foxes Dogges and Wolues because they doe not enter in by the dore but either of their owne rashnesse or for the fauour only of some ciuil magistrate (g) Trid. sess 23. cap. 4. or the popular multitude (h) Laod. can 13. they assume vnto themselues Ecclesiasticall offices seazing vpon those holy functions without any lawfull calling ordering * Ro. 10 15. But hâ—w shall they preach vnlesse they be sent as S. PAVL being one himselfe that was (i) Act. 13 2. separated vnto the worke doth say Doubtlesse order beinge once broken (k) Vide Leonem ep 87 ad Epis Afr. Greg. li. 4. ep 52. Dion cap. 5. eccles hier and Priesthoode taken away the Hierarchie and princely disposition of the Church consisting as well of Priests and other ministers as also of Bishoppes rightly ordered woulde come to decay Neither shoulde the Churche be that which it is called a Campe sette in battaile araye (l) Cant. 6 9. nor the true and lawefull Ministers of the Church should be discerned the office and authoritie of teaching would become contemptible the dispensation of the Sacramentes woulde be vnfaithfully and preposterously performed yea and altogither frustrate finally the functions of the Church woulde bee perturbed and as the proofe it selfe too much doth shewe newe and false Doctrines would increase and swarme by the means of these newe and false Ministers of Christ his spouse wherby the Church would often be shaken with sore deadly coÌ„motions as we doe in our daies feele by experience And for that cause the Apostle (m) 1. Cor. 12 28. Saint PAVL hath not only set down diuerse degrees of Ministers in the Church but hath also shewed howe holesome and necessarie they be in so much that hee affirmeth that they were giuen by (n) Ephes 4 11. God vnto the church as it hath bin said before To the consummatioÌ„ of Saints vnto the worke of the Ministerie vnto the edifiing of the body of Christ that nowe wee be not children wauering and carried about with euery winde of Dostrine in the wickednesse of men in craftinesse to the circumuention of error And certes this is a most euident sure note of the Church in that we see that perpetuall and neuer as yet at any time interrupted sucession of Bishops of lawefull orders in the same which God hath placed there-in for the perfect gouernment of this his kingdome And therefore this institution of Ministers as a most firme (o) Iren. lib. 3 cap. 3. lib. 4. cap. 43. Optat lib. 2. cont Douat Aug. ep 165 42. con epist Fund c. 4. in Psal cont part Donat. Tert. de praescript c. 36. knitting together of the Church and a most pretious bonde to preserue vnity is the more carefully to be retained and euen in the euill Ministers of the Church as we said before because of Gods ordinance is euer to be honored Which S. AVGVSTINE well vnderstanding saith Into that (p) Ep. 165. vide l. 2. con lit Petil. c. 51 order of Bishops which is deriued from PETER himselfe euen to ANASTASIVS who nowe sitteth in the same Chaire If any Traitour had in those daies crept in it had beene nothing preiudiciall vnto the Church and vnto Innocent Christians for whom our Lord was so carefull and prouident that he saith of euill Prelates (q) Mat. 23 3. whatsoeuer they say doe yee but according to their workes doe yee not Thus farre Sainte AVGVSTINE OF THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY 1 What is Matrimony MAtrimony is a laweful (a) Aug. li. de fid op ca. 7. lib. 1. de nupt coÌ„cup cap. 10. 21. lib. de bono coÌ„iug ca. 24. Amb. in c. 5. Eph. Pet. Damia ser 1. de dedic Lucius 3 in 5. Decret tit 7. c. 9. CoÌ„stant Conc. ses 15. artic 8. Trid. ses 24. can 1. coniunction of a man a woman instituted by God that they maie leade together an vndeuided society of life I say lawefull that there may be mutual (b) GeÌ„ 24 57 Tob. 7 15. Amb. de instit Virg c. 6 consent of both partes and that there be not found betweene them the degrees as they call them of (c) Calixt 1. ep 2. Later can 50. Trid ses 24. can 3. 4. de refor Matr. c. 2. sequ Consanguinity Affinity and other thinges of the like sort either prohibiting or disanulling Matrimony Of which Matrimoniall Coniunction if thou wouldest knowe the first author it is (d) Gen. 2 23. Mat. 19 6. 1. Cor. 7 10. Eph. 5 21. God himselfe most excellent and mightie who ioyned the first Couple and Parents of mankind in Paradise it selfe and honored them with his benediction But if thou regard the ende why it was instituted it is no other but the propagation of (e) Gen 2 23 Fulg. ep 1. cap. 3. Isid lib. 2. offic cap. 19. mankind to the glory of God and a familiar and faithfull liuing together (f) Chry ho. 20 ad Eph. in moral exhort ho. 5. in 1. Thess of Man Wife And finally the auoiding (g) 1. Cor. 7.9.10 Aug. li. 9. de Gen. ad lit c. 7. Chry. in Ps 43. ho. 3. de verb. Isaiae vidi DominuÌ„ of fornication in this imbecillitie of a corrupted nature 2 Howe is Matrimony a Sacrament IN that the (a) Amb. in cap. 5. Eph. Aug. vt supr
to be punished with death For which cause S. PAVL doth not once only rebuke the liers (m) 1. Cor. 6 9. Rom. 1 24. 1. Tim 1 10 Gal. 5 10.11 with mankinde And he condemneth also vncleane and effeminate persons of which one was Onan (n) Gen. 38 9. Hier in cap. 5. epist ad Ephes sonne of Iudas who could not escape the present reuenge of God for that he sinned against his owne body and worse then any beast would violate the honestie and order of nature 4 What doth the scripture propose touching the oppression of the poore Thou shalt not make sad the stranger saith our Lord neither shalt thou (a) Exod. 22 21. Deut. 15 9. 24 10. Eccli 35 16. Hier. 21 12. 22 3. Mal. 3 5. 2. Reg. 12 1. afflict him for you your selues were strangers in the land of Egipt Yee shall not hurte the widdow the fatherlesse If you doe hurte them they will cry out vnto me and I will heare their cry and my fury shall take indignation and I will strike you with the sworde your wiues shall be widdowes and your children Orphanes For which cause the Egiptians were (b) Exod. 7. sequent scourged with so manie plagues and with their most cruell King and Tirant PHARAO who spared not to kil the very Infants (c) Exod. 1 8 of the Hebrues were finally (d) Ex. 14 27 drowned because of their cruelty more then barbarous against the Israelites I haue seene saith our Lorde the affliction (e) Exod. 3 7 of my people in Egipt and I haue hearde their cry because of the hardnes of those that are ouerseers of the workes knowing their griefe I came downe to deliuer them out of the handes of the Egiptians For this cause doth our Lorde threaten by ESAIE the Prophet Woe (f) Esa 10 1 Deut. 27 19 Iob. 24 1. Mat. 23 14. they that make vniust lawes writing haue written vniustice that they might oppresse the poore in iudgement and doe violence to the cause of the humble of my people that widdowes might be their pray and that they might spoile the fatherlesse And in the same Prophet there is extant this complaint of cruell and vniust Magistrates Thy Princes (g) Esa 1 23. Hier. 5 28. Zach. 7 9. Psal 93 3. Amos. 5 11. are Infidels companions of theeues all doe loue bribes they follow after rewardes They do not giue iudgement to the fatherlesse and the cause of the widdowe doth not enter in vnto them Againe their (h) Esa 3 12.14 Collectours haue spoiled my people And there is no doubt but that Cities Prouinces by reason of this abominable sinne which is committed by tirannicall Magistrates are oftentimes brought into extreame danger 5 What finally doth the scripture teach cōcerning the withholding or diminishing of the labourers wages VVE reade in the Apostle S. IAMES how vehemently he doth vpbraide riche men with their cruell sparing and egregious wickednesse in defrauding poore labourers (a) Iac. 5 4. Beholde the hiere of the workemen that haue reaped your feeldes which is defrauded by you crieth And their cry hath entered into the eares of the Lorde of Sabaoth And (b) Eccli 34 25 7 22. Ecclesiasticus writeth in this manner The breade of the needy is the life of the poore man he that defraudeth him is a man of blood He that taketh awaie the bread in sweate as he that killeth his neighbour He that sheddeth bloode and he that defraudeth the hired man are brethren Therefore it is decreed by the law of God Thou shalt not deny the (c) Deut. 24 14. Leuit. 19 13 Tob. 4 15. Mal. 3 5. hiere of thy poore needie brother or of the stranger that abideth with thee in the land and is within thy gates but the very same day thou shalt render to him the price of his labor before the sunsette because he is poore and thereby he sustaineth his life least he cry against thee to our Lord it be reputed to thee for a sinne 6 To what ende is all this discourse of sinnes to be referred and what is the vse and commoditie thereof THis discourse belongeth to the first parte of Christian Iustice which consisteth in knowing and fleeing of euils And the vse commoditie thereof is rightlye to discerne and being discerned vtterly to eschew those thinges which are verely euels contrary to God pernitious vnto men and if in case any of them be committed then diligentlie to endeuour to purge the same Heereby we learne also how a wise man differeth from a foole a iust man from a wicked person For a wise man (a) Pro. 14 16. feareth and declineth frō euill but a foole leapeth ouer and is confident For (b) Pro. 18 2 a foole doth not receiue the words of wisdome except thou speake those thinges which his hearte is sette vpon as witnesse the SALOMON who also writeth thus The pathes of iust (c) Pro. 4 18 persons as a bright shining light proceedeth and encreaseth euen vnto a perfect day the way of the wicked is darke and obscure they know not where they fall Many certes are (d) Aug. de gra lib. arb cap. 3. lib 3. de lib. arb cap. 22. Bern. epi. 77. ad Hugon Chrys hom 26. in epist ad Rom. shamefully ignorāt of those pernitious plagues of the mind the sinnes that we haue declared others althoughe they know them neuer so well yet doe they not auoide and detest them But worst of all are others who are obdurate (e) See before of obstinacie Aug. in Enc. cap. 80. with the custome of sinne of which kinde it is thus said A wicked (f) Pro. 18 3 man when he is come into the bottome of sinnes contemneth but shame and reproch doth followe him And this kinde of men doth contemne those thinges espeaciallye which Christian Iustice dothe require not only for the marking and discerning of vices but also for the necessary auoiding and purging of the same OF THE PVRGING OF SINNES Conc. Trid. sess 5. can 3. ses 6. cap. 2. 7. 1 And by what meanes are sinnes purged HEere first of all it is out of controuersie that Christ is vnto vs a (a) Ro. 3 24. 1. Io. 2 1. 4 10. 1 7. propitiatour and that Lambe (b) Io. 1 36. Mat. 1 21. 1. Cor. 1 30. 1. Tim. 2 5. Heb. 1 3. 9 12. Act. 4 12. of God that taketh awaie the sinnes of the world who only could deserue for vs remission of sinnes make purgation of the same Then is it most certaine that God doth purifie mennes hearts by Faith as (c) Act. 15 9. Heb. 11 1.6 Gal. 2 16. 3 8. Rom. 3 24. Luc. 7 50. Ephes 2 8. Trid. sess 6. cap. 8. S. PETER saith because that without Faith which is the dore and foundation of mans saluation none can obtain or hope for
c. 32. Chrys hom 6. ad pop 1. 2. in Gen. Councell willeth them to bee excōmunicate who without vneuitable necessity euident weakenesse doe eate fleshe in Lent And the holy Fathers zeal is most singular in commending vrging requiring (o) Bas ho. 2. de Ieiun Aug. ser 62. de temp Amb. ser 23. 25. 34. 36. 37 Fasting espetially that of Lent which they will haue accounted as instituted by the (p) Hieron ep 54 cont Mont. ad Marcell Apostles From this spirite of the Fathers are they farre off that doe disburden themselues others of the Lawe of Fastes taking vpon themselues the Patronage not of Euangelicall liberty but of licentiousnes of the fleshe These fellowes will not haue the fleshe with the (q) Gal. 5 24 vices and concupiscences to be crucified therefore they (r) 1. Cor. 2 14. sauor not those thinges that are of the Spirite but doe rather extinguishe (s) 1. Thes 5 19. Maxim in Litan the Spirite contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostle They do also resist the holy Church our Mother yea (t) Aug. in ep 86. ad Casul Christ also speaking gouerning in the Church (v) Luc. 10 16. Mat. 18 17. 1. Cor. 14 37. 1. Thes 2 13 Act. 15 28. Hier. 35 6.18 2. Mac. 6 19 7 1. his Spouse wherfore they purchase vnto themselues (x) Ro. 13 2. Leu. 23 27. 1. Reg. 14 24. 3. Reg. 13 16. Conc. Trid. sess vlt. Aug. tract 73. in Ioan. Amb. ser 25. 36. Chrys hom 12. in 1. ad Tim. Raban lib. 2. de instit Cler. cap. 25. assured damnation wheras they abrogate reiecte the holy holesome ordinance of Fastes alwaies commēded vnto vs by the Church 6 What doth the holie Scripture teache concerning Fasting Iud. 20.26 1. Reg. 7 6. 31 13. 2. Reg. 1 12. 3 35. 12 16. 22. 3. Reg. 21 27. 1. Par. 10 12 2. Par. 20 3. 1. Esd 8 21. 2. Esd 1 4. IT is the voice of Almightie God himselfe which by the Prophet IOEL cryeth out vnto sinners (a) Icel 2 12 1 14. Be yee conuerted vnto mee in your whole heart in Fasting Weeping and Mourning And a little after (b) Ibid. 2 15. Greg. ho. 16. in Euang Maxim ho. 1. de Ieiun quadrag Sound the trumpet in Sion saith hee Sanctifie a Faste call the company assemble the people together or as others do reade Sanctifie a Faste preache the curing That hereby we may learne that Faste is sanctified by other good woorkes and being sanctified is (c) Aug. ser 60. 62. 69. 230. de tēp Bern. ser 4. de quadrag Hier. in c. 6. Danielis auailable to the curing of sinnes as S. HIEROME doth (d) Lib. 2. adu Iouin cap. 11. interpret For as the same holy Father gathereth our of holie (e) Ibid. vide Aug. ser 65. de temp Chrysost in homil de Iona. write by Fasting DANIEL a man of (f) Dan. 9.3.23 10 3.11 desires knewe thinges to come And the Niniuites appeased the wrath (g) Ionae 3 10. of God And (h) 3. Reg. 19 8. ELIAS and (i) Exod. 24 18. 34 28. Deut. 9 9.18 MOYSES with fortie daies hunger were filled with the familiarity of Almighty God our Lord (k) Mat. 4 2. Luc. 4 2. himselfe Fasted so manie daies in the wildernesse that he might leaue vnto vs solemne daies of Fasting And hee taught that the fiercer sort of diuels cannot be vanquished but by (l) Mat. 17 21. Mar. 9 29. Praier Fasting the Apostle saith that he (m) 1. Cor. 11 27. Fasted often And in the Psalmes the Penitent saith I did (n) Ps 101. eate my breade as ashes and did mingle my drinke with teares And when (o) Psal 34. they were troublesome vnto me I did weare heare cloth I did humble my soule in Fasting What is more manifest then that which Christ affirmeth shoulde come (p) Luc. 5 35. Mar. 2 20. Mat. 9 15. ibid. Hier to passe that when he the Spouse most deare vnto his disciples should be taken away then they thoughe full of the holy-Ghost (q) Act. 13 3 14 22. shoulde Fast Therefore S. PAVL exhorteth all the faithfull Let vs (r) 2. Cor. 6. Luc. 2 37. Mat. 6 16. Tob. 3 10. Iudith 4 8. 8 6. Esth 4 3. 14 2. Hier. 36 9. Bar. 1 5. 1. Mac. 3 47 2. Mac. 13 12. exhibite our selues as the ministers of God in much patience in watchinges in Fastinges in chastitie For they (s) Gal. 5. that be Christes haue crucified their flesh with the vices and concupiscences 7 What is Praier IT is a deuoute affect of our mind towards God wherby we do faith fully demand (a) Damasc l. 3. orth fid c. 24. Aug. l. 2. de ser Do in Monte. c. 3. ser 230 de temp Bas in Iul. Chrys ho. 30. in Gē Nyss in lib. de orat whatsoeuer things are holesome for vs and others and whereby we doe praise celebrate the grace and power of Almightie God or by any manner of meanes exhibite our selues (b) Ex. 35. c d 2. Par. 29. g deuoute before that soueraigne eternall maiestie So that heerunto belongeth not only beseeching but also (c) Mat. 4. b adoration (d) Mal. 1. c Esa 56. c Ioan. 4. c oblation or Sacrifice (e) Ro. 10. c inuocation (f) Psal 17. a 145. a praise and (g) Esa 56. c 1. Tim. 2. a Aug. ep 59 ad Paulin thankesgiuing The (h) Aug. tract 73. in Euang Io. Bas in cap. 2. const Monast Bern. ser 4. 5. de quadrag in ser de 4. modis orandi maner and exact forme of praying Christ hath (i) Mat. 6. b Luc. 11. a See before of our Lordes Praier prescribed as we haue already declared And there is no worke more (k) Ps 140. a Tob. 12. c Act. 10. a Ex. 32. c Ps 105. d Hier. 7. c 27. d ibid. Hieron epist 12. ad Gaudentiū c. 3 cōmended in holy scripture none more familiar with deuoute and holy persons none that of more persons and more often with greater diligence and more necessarily is to be exercised in this life than is praier It is a true saying (l) Eccles 35. d Ps 105. c 36. alud 9. d The praier of him that humbleth himselfe shall pearce the cloudes Also (m) Lu. 18. a Eccli 18 c. 1. Thess 5. c it behoueth alwaies to praie to wit with a zealous affect of harte and without hypocrisie or respect of the praise (n) Mat. 6. a of men that is to saie in spirite (o) Io. 4. c. truth Notwithstanding they that doe praie doe often vse an externall (p) Tert. in apol aduers Gent. c. 30 Aug. in l. de cura pro mort cap. 5 Hieron adu Lu. if cap. 6 in vita
f g souldier of Christ doth ofte encourage others to true and Christian fortitude My beloued (g) 1. Cor. 15 g 16. c 9 d Ro. 11. c Gal. 6. c 2. Thess 3. c Teb 2. c Eccles 10. a Eccli 4. d 5 c 11. c 2. Par. 15 b Iac. 5. b Heb. 10. f Mat. 10. c 24. b Bern. epist 129. ad Ianuenses brethren saith he be stable vnmoueable abounding in the work of our Lord all waies knowing that your labour is not vaine in our Lorde And againe Brethren be (h) Ephes 6. b Esa 40. g Pro. 14. c 2. Paral. 16. c lac 4. b 1. Pet. 5. c Vide Prosp l 3. de vira contempl c. 20. Amb. l. 1. offic c. 35. seq strengthned in our Lord and in the might of his power Put you on the armour of God that you may stand against the deceiptes of the Deuill and resiste in the euill day and stand in all thinges perfite Of a man that hath Fortitude these are the proper speeches I haue (i) Ps 55. a c trusted in God I will not feare what fleshe can doe vnto me Our (k) Ps 26. a Lorde is the protectour of my life of whom shall I tremble If whole armies stand against me my heart shall not be affraide If I (l) Ps 22. a shal walke in the midst of the shaddowe of death I wil not fear euils bicause thou art with me Who (m) Ro. 8. g shall separate vs frō the charity of Christ (n) Phil. 4. c I cā al things in him that strengthneth me This is that which the most couragious King DAVID (o) 1. Reg. 17. d 2. Reg. 14. d 16. b c 17. b 23. a Psal 17. c as it were soundinge the allarume to al the sonnes of god his fellowe souldiers doth say Doe (p) Psa 30. d manfully and let your hart be comforted all you that trust in our Lorde In god (q) Ps 107. d Heb. 11. f g Dan. 3. b 1. Mach. 2. b f g 2 Mac. 7. a f Act. 4. c 5. f g Apo. 2. b c g 3. a c d we will doe vertue and he will bring to nothing those that trouble vs. But that certes is a life worthie of a Christian man wherein we do liue wisely iustly temperately and with fortitude Hence is it that golden (r) Bern. lib. 2. de consid cap. 10. mediocritie that we do nothing too much nor too little This is that which the Scripture meaneth when it saith Doe thou (s) Pro. 4. b not decline either on the right hand or on the lefte OF THE GIFTES AND FRVITES OF THE HOLY GHOST 1 How many giftes of the holy Ghost be there THey are found in ESAIE the Prophet (a) Esa 11 a ibid. Hieron Amb. lib. 1. de spiritu sancto c. 20. Aug. ser 209. de temp c. 4. 17. de sanct c. 2. Item l. 1. de ser Do in monte c. 3. 4. l 2 de doctrina Christ c. 7. Greg. ho. 19 in Ezech. lib. 1. moral cap. 28. lib 35 cap. 7 Bern. in ser de donis Spir. Sanct. and the Fathers of the Church to be seauen The Spirite of wisdome of Vnderstanding of Councell of Fortitude of Science of Pietie finally the spirite of the feare of our Lorde Which giftes certes or spirites are found to be after a more perfite (b) Orig. ho. 3. in Esa ho. 6. in Nū manner in CHRIST IESVS our Lorde than in any other For he is full of grace (c) Io. 1. b and truth In him doth inhabite all the fulnes of the Diuinitie (d) Col. 2. b corporally Of his (e) Io. 1 b fulnes we all haue receiued who hath also giuen (f) 1. Io. 4. c vnto vs of his holy spirite And if (g) Ro. 8 b any man haue not the spirite of Christ he is not his if we beleeue the Apostle 2 How many are the fruites of the holy Ghost THey are of the same Apostle S. PAVL (a) Gal. 5 d vide ib. Hier. Theop. c. numbred Twelue The first is (b) Col. 3 c 1. Ioan. 4 c Aug. tra 87. in Euang. Io. Hier. in c. 5. ad Gal. CHARITY the most excelent kinde of fruit the roote also of all good thinges Without the which (c) 1. Cor. 13. a Aug. in ep Io. tra 5. all other good things cannot profite which cannot herselfe be had without all other good thinges whereby a man is made good as saith (d In Euāg Io. tract 87. S. AVGVSTINE An other fruite is (e) Phil. 4 a IOY excelling in this that a spiritual man doe serue God cheerefully with alacritie The third is PEACE (f) Luc 2 b Phil. 4 b Psal 118 ◠which seruethe to this ende that in the stormes of this worlde the tranquilitie of the minde be kepte The fourth is (g) Luc. 21 d Iac. 1 a PATIENCE which consisteth in suffering aduersitie The fifth is LONGANIMITY (h) Aba 2. a 2. Cor. 6. b Mat. 10 c which doth declare the greatnes of the minde in expecting good thinges to come The sixt is GOODNES which (i) Eph. 5 b hurteth no man wisheth well to all The seauenth is BENIGNITY (k) Col. 3 b inuiting to familiaritie sweet in speach temperate in manners The eigthe is MILDNES (l) Mat. 5 a 11. d Pro. 31 d which doth qualifie and mitigate al the motions of anger The ninthe is FAITH or FIDELITY (m) 1. Tim. 3 c Pro. 12 d towards our neighbour that we be faithfull and obseruers of all couenantes and promises The tenth is MODESTY (n) Phil. 4 a which excludethe all suspition of haughtines and arrogancie The eleuenth is CONTINENCY (o) Eccli 37 d Tob. 1 b 1. Thess 5 d whereby we doe not only abstaine from meate but from all manner of wickednes The twelueth is CHASTITY (p) Sap. 4 a 1. Cor. 7 f which keepeth a chast minde in a chaste bodie 3 How may we rightly vse the doctrine concerning the giftes and fruites of the holy-Ghost BY this means surely if with gratful mindes we acknowledge frō whence they come vnto vs and feele the effectuall vertue and vse of them in ourselues and shew forth and preserue the same They proceede certes from the fountaine of all grace that Father (a) Iac. 1 ◠of lightes who in the same commendeth vnto vs his infinite goodnes and charitie whilest through Christ he doth so (b) Tit. 3 b aboundātly powre his spirit vpō vs For (c) Ro. 5 ◠the charitie of God as witnesseth the Apostle is powred forth in our hartes by the holy Ghost which is giuen vs to witte according to this seauen folde grace Christ so deseruing in our behalfe He that (d) Io. 7 f beleeueth in me saith he as the scripture saith out of his bellie shall flowe riuers of liuing water And this hee saide
is very euill To wit of them who like the obstinate Iewes doe die in their sinne without penance and for that cause doe so perish that they are to be tormented perpetually (m) Luc. 16 c f Greg. 4 dial cap. 38. hom 12. in Euang. Beda lib. 5. hist Angl. cap. 14. 15. in hell with the rich Glutton But of the other he testifieth (n) Psal 115 a Pretious in the sight of our Lord is the death of his Saintes For to (o) 2. Cor. 5 a b Greg. 4. dial cap. 11. sequent Cyprian de mortal Amb. de bo no. mort c. 2. seq such this death of the bodie is nothing else but an end of this earthly peregrination a conclusion of the miseries of this mortall life a quiet sleepe and a secure repose the begining of true life and a wished passage to most happie immortalitie with the desire whereof the Apostle burning and being weary of this life (p) Phil. 1 d Luc. 2 d Psal 41 a 83 a 141 b Num. 23 b I desire saith he to be dissolued and to be with Christ (q) Luc. 12 c Blessed are those seruantes that whē the Lorde commeth he shall finde watching And blessed (r) Apoc. 14 c are the dead which die in our Lorde And (s) Sap. 4 b a iust man if he shall be preuented with death he shall be in a refreshing 3 In what sorte doth holy scripture admonish vs of Iudgement IT is horrible to (a) Heb. 10 f Bern. ser 8. in Psal Qui habitat fall into the hands of the liuing God and of Christ the Iudge before whose (b) 2. Cor. 5 b Tribunall we must all be manifested and euerie man (c) Rom. 14 b Luc. 16 a 12 f 19 d must render accounte for himselfe For all (d) Eccles 12 d 11 d 1. Cor. 4 a Ro. 2 a b c Sap. 1 c Eccli 11 c Mat. 12 c 16 d Apoc. 20 d 22 c Psal 61 b 2. Tim. 4 b Damas in orat de def Cyr. de exitu animae Leontius in vita Ioanis Eleemosin thinges that are done God wil bring into iudgement for euery faulte whether it bee good or euill And therefore not only vnto sinners but also vnto (e) 1. Pet. 4 d Sephon 1 c Psal 74 a Ber. ser 55. in Cant. Greg. lib. 8. moral cap. 13. Saints often-times the expectation (f) Heb. 10 c of this iudgement is terrible This did holie DAVID feare so that hee did earnestlie pray Enter not (g) Psal 142 a into iudgement with thy seruaunt O Lorde This feared IOB also notwithstanding hee was innocent (h) Iob. 1 a and his feare he expresseth in these wordes (i) Iob. 31 b What shal I do when God shal arise to iudgement And when he shal aske what shal I answere him as swelling waues (k) Ibidem c Greg. 21. moral cap. 15. 16. ouer me I alwaies feared Almighty God and his waight I coulde not beare I did feare al (l) Iob. 9 d 24 b Eccles 9 a 1. Cor. 4 a my works knowing that thou wouldest not spare him that offendeth And certes that iudge is (m) Aug. in lib. de decē chordis cap. 1. 2. Prosp lib. 3. de vita contempl c. 12. Bern. ep 1. Innocentius 3. lib. 3. de contemptu mundi c. 15. to be feared whose power we cannot escape whose wisedome is infallible Iustice inflexible Iudgement vnreuocable Of which it is thus writtē The Zeale (n) Pro. 6 d and furor of the Man to witte of Christ the Iudge shall not spare in the day of reuenge nor yeelde to any mans petition nor will take for redemption neuer so many giftes Who also of himselfe and his iudgement least any man should be ignorant hath foretolde this vnto all men When (o) Ps 74 a Bern. ser 55. in Cant. I shall take time I will iudge iustice I the Lord (p) Hier 17 b 11 d 20 c 32 c Pro 16 a Heb. 4 d 1. Par 28 b Mal. 3 a Ps 7 b 43 d scarching the hart prouing the reines who doe giue to euery one according to his way according to the fruit of his inuētions I come (q) Esa 66 f Iudae epist c Mat. 10 c to gather togither their works and their cogitations with all nations and toungs they shal come see my glory But of the day of the last iudgement (r) Aug. 20. de ciu Dei cap. 1. 2. 30. lib. 18. c. 53. item ep 78. 80. ad Hesych Hippol. de consum mundi Damas lib. 4. orth lid cap. 27. which is also called in Scripture the day of our (s) Soph. 1 d Ioel. 2 a e g 3 a Esa 13 b c 24 c d 66 c Hier. 23 d Mal. 3 a 4 a b Dan. 7 c d Apoc. 20. d 6 d Psal 96 a 59 a Mat. 24 25 c d 13 f 3 c Sap. 5. a d Lorde the day of anger the great horrible day the Apostle Saint PETER teacheth in this manner The day of our Lord shall (t) 2 Pet 3 c Aug. lib. 20. de eiu Dei cap. 16. 18. Chrys ho. 46 ad pop Antioch sequent Ephrem in lib. de ilidicio extremo lib. de vera paenitent Aug. ser 67. d c temp Isid de summo bono lib 1. c. 30. Cyr. catech 15. Illum Hier. ep 1. ad Heliod cap. 9. Greg. hom 1. 12. in Euang. lib. 26. moral cap. 24. 25. Aug. cap. 4. meditat Anselmus de miseria hominis Bern. de interiori domo cap. 38. come as a thiefe in the which the heauens shall passe with great violence but the Elements shall be resolued with heate and the earth and the workes that are in it shall be burnte Therefore whereas all these thinges are to bee dissolued what manner of men ought you to be in holy conuersations and godlinesses expecting and hasting vnto the comming of the day of our Lorde by which the heauens burning shall be resolued and the Elements shall melt with the heate of fire And that wee may finde Christ then a gentle Iudge and that daie wherein Heauen and (v) Luc. 21 f 1. Cor. 7 f Apoc. 21 a Earth shall passe ioyful vnto vs most excellent is this counsaile of the wise man Before (x) Eccli 18 c 2. Pet. 3 c Luc. 21 g Tit. 2 d 1. Thess 5 a Luc. 17 f Chrys ho. 5. de poenit sickenesse apply the medicine and before iudgement examine thy selfe and in the sight of God thou shalt finde propitiation For if wee (y) 1. Cor. 11 g did iudge our selues we should not be iudged To (z) Eccli 1 b Greg. lib. 31. moral c. 21. Aug. ser 120 de temp him that feareth our Lorde it shall bee well at the last and in the day of his death he shall be blessed 4 And what of hell and the paines thereof Vide Chrys epist 5.
Neither did Saint Paul superstitiously iudge between day day Act. 20 16. vide Bedā ibidem Epiph. haeres 75. when he made hast if it were possible to keepe the day of 〈◊〉 that is of remission and of the holy-Ghost as noteth Beda at Hierusalem giuing vs therin both example of Celebrating Christian Feasts also as S. Hierom Epist 17. ad Marcellam noteth of the lawefulnesse of Pilgrimage of which we will speake hereafter So doe wee also obserue the Feastes of the Passion of our LORDE of Easter of Ascension and others which S. Augustine saith Epist 118. eitther vndoubtedly to haue beene instituted in generall Councels or rather to haue proceeded from the Apostles themselues as these forenamed Feastes must needes whereas they are motioned of Fathers Clem. lib. 5. const c. 21 Iren. apud Iust q. 115. Tert. lib. de cor mil. Orig. lib. 8. Con Cels more ancient than any general Counsail Finally of the holy-daies of our LORDE thus saith Lib. 10. ciu cap. 16. S. Augustine Wee dedicate and consecrate the memorie of Gods benefites with solemnities Feastes and certaine appointed daies least by tract of times there might creep in ingratefull and vnkind obliuion But of Festiuities of Martyrs the same saith thus Lib. 20. cont Faust cap. 21. Christian people Celebrate the memory of Gods Martyrs with religious solemnity both to mooue themselues to imitaton of them and that they may be partakers of their merits and be holpen with their praiers And of all Saints generally In Ps 88. Conc. 2 vid. Clem. lib. 8. const c. 39. Eccl. Smyrn apud Euseb lib. 4. hist ca. 15. Orig. ho. 3. in diuersos Euangelij locos Tert. de cor mil. Cyp. l. 3. ep 6. l. 4. ep 5. Bas orat in Gord. Nyss orat in Theod. Naz. orat in Iul. Amb. ser 66. 77. 78 Hier. in cap. 4. ad Gal. epist 19. ad Eustoch Prudent in Hymno de SS Petro Paulo Chry. hom 66. ad pop Theod. l. 8. de Martyribus Aug. in Ps 63. 88. Paulin. natali 2. 3. S. Felicis Cōc Laod. ca. 51. Carth. 3. cap 47. Tolet. 3. cap. 23. Lugdun cā pronuntiād do Cons d. 3 Mogūt c. 36 Keepe yee and celebrate with sobriety the natiuities of Saints that we may imitate them which haue gone before vs they may reioice with vs which pray for vs. These daies therefore are worthely accounted more holy reverend than other ordinary prophane daies because they represent vnto vs the singular liberallity of Almighty God shewed in them first in the person of oure Sauiour as the Sunday of which insteede of all the Feasts of our LORDE we we will exemplifie on which day he was borne rose againe and sent the holy-Ghost And therefore that day representing vnto vs the Natiuity of Christ both vnto this life vnto immortall glory and also the natiuity of the Church by the holy ghost is no doubt of greater dignity thā the Sabboth of the Iewes For that day in that it signified a gratefull memorie of thinges passed did onely carry a relation vnto the material creation of the world And in that it represented things to come partely it is to be abolished for that those things now be He. 4 10. fulfilled as the rest of Christ in the Sepulcher from his workes of our redemptiō Aug tra 30. in Io. the rest quiet of those which are regenerate in Christ from the seruile workes of sinne and the Aug. ep 119. rest of holy soules in the bosome of Abraham Partely it is more notably excellently supplied by the DOMINICAL day For the Sonday farre more exceeding that in signification of rest representethe vnto the deuoute obseruers therof the euerlasting glorie reuealed in Christ rising from death and expected of all those which are his liuely members As S. Augustine Ibid. noteth Nowe in the Feasts of Saintes also we both Celebrate the memory of so great a benefite as is the birth-day of our brethren into Heauen and their Assumption to so high a dignity and their glorious triumph ouer the worlde the fleshe and the diuell we reioice also at so good examples giuen to all the Church and a newe patron in heauen and a newe cause of ioy to all the Celestiall Courte This therefore is the conclusion of this our discourse that some daies especially and before others according to the custome of holie Scripture and the auncient Fathers of the Church Amb. ser 62. Aug. Praef. in ep Io. l. 22. ciu cap. 30. lib. 20. cont Faust c. 21. ser 21. detemp Leo. serm 4. de quadr are truely called Holie Sacred Mysticall of religious solemnity 3 And what must we esteeme of holie Water such like AS we call some daies more holy and religious than others so do we also say the same of many other Creatures of God which although they be good of themselues as created by him which is essentiallie good and Gen. 1 31. sawe that all thinges that he made were very good Yet because both they for our punishement often-times become hurtfull vnto vs either by their owne qualitie and disposition or by the malice Greg. lib. 1. dial cap. 4 Aug. lib. 18. ciu cap. 18. of the Diuell also for to bring to passe and signifie some spirituall effecte they be very holesomly 1. Tim. 4 5. sanctified by the worde of God and Praier as Saint Paul hath written Mat. 14 19. Luc. 9 16. Christ himselfe in blessing the loaues which hee multiplied hath taught So doth the Church Clem. l. 8. Const cap 35. Dion de eccles hier c. de Baptism Alex. 1. ep 1 Cyr. catec 3. Cypr. l. 1. ep 12. Amb. l. 4 de Sacr. c. 5. lib. delis qui initiant c. 3. Bas de spir sanct c. 27. Epiph. haer 30. Aug. ho. 27. ex 50. ser 19. de sanct l. 6. in Iul. cap. 8. Conc. Nannet c. 4. vse to blesse Water of which we haue most auncient testimonies as also miraculous Epiph. haeres 30. Theod. l. 5. cap. 21. Pallad cap. 19. Greg. lib. 1. dial cap. 10. Beda lib. 5. hist cap. 4. Bern. in vita Malach. See the histories of the newe Indies exāples of the effecte thereof And S. Basil calleth it an Apostolicall Tradition as it may alos appeare by the Apostles own Scholers who make mentiō of the same But S. Alexander he who 50. yeeres after S. Peter gouerned the Church of holy water saith thus shewing both the auncient vse therof by giuing a generall commandement confirming that which before hee practised Wee blesse water sprinckled with salte for the people that al being sprinckled with it may be sanctified purified which thing also we ordaine as to be done of all Priestes For if the ashes of Heb. 9 13. an Heifer being sprinckled with blood did sanctifie and clense the people much more water sprinckled with salte consecrated with diuine praiers doth sanctifie clense the