The seuenth Age Anno. Dom. 600. Leontius Episc Sophronius Episc S. Isidorus Hispalen Episc Concilium Hispalense 2. Concilium Toletanum 4. Georgius Alexandrinus Episc hic sorte Concilium Braccarense 2. Concilium Toletanum 8. Concilium Braccarense 3. The sixt generall Councell of Constantinople Synodus Trullana Constātinopolitana * The eight Age Anno Dom. 700. Venerabilis Beda S. Ioannes Damascenus The seuenth general Coūcell of Nyce 2. * The ninth Age Anno. Dom. 800. Alcuinus Paulus Diaconus Concilium Moguntinum Ionas Aurelianens Episc Concilium Aquisgranense 1. 2. Haymo Episc Rabanus Episc Concilium Wormatiense Phocius Episc The eight general Councell of Constantinople Ioannes Diaconus Rom. Remigius Antisiod Episc Theophilactus Episc Concilium Triburiense Concilium Nannetens hic force * The eleventh Age Anno Dom. 1000. Burchardus Wormatiensis Episc Concilium Salegūstadiens S. Petrus Damianus Episc S. Lansiancus Episc Concilium Rom. sub Leone 9. cont Petergar Concilium Vercellense sub eodem Concilium Turonense sub Victore 2. Concilium Rom. sub Nicolao 2. Guitmundus Episc Algerus Concilium Rom. sub Gregor 7. contr eundem Berengarium S. Anselmus Episc Oecumenius S. Iuo Carnotensis Episc * The twelfth Age Anno Dom. 1100. Zonaras Rupertus Tuitiensis Gulielmus Abbas S. Bernardus Hugo Victorinus Gratianus Euthymius Concilium Lateran sub Alexandro 3. Lucius 3. Pont. Nicetas Innocentius 3. Pont. * The thirteenth Age Anno 1200. Concilium Lateran magnum sub Innocent 3 S. Thom Aquinas Concilium Lugdunen sub Gregor 10. Gulielmus Durand Episc * The fourteenth age Anno Dom. 1300. Nicephorus Calixtus Concilium Viennense sub Clemenet 5. * The fifteenth Age Anno Dom. 1400. Concilium Constantiense Concilium Basilcense Concilium Florentinum Bessarion Episc Sixtus 4. Pont. * The sixteenth Age Anno Dom. 1500. Concilium Tridentinum A TABLE CONTAINING the order and Summe of the whole Catechisme CHRISTIAN Doctrine consisteth in Wisedome Iustice To Wisedome maie bee referred these Chapters that followe in order CHAP. I. OF FAITH and the CREEDE where amongest other thinges are handled these that followe Of the author of the Apostles Creede q. 5. Of the descending of Christ into Hell q. 13. Of the Markes of the Church that it is Visible q. 18. One q. 18. Holy q. 18. Catholicke q. 18. CHAP. II. OF HOPE and our Lords Praier with the ANGELICALL Salutation as also Of Hope to be ioined with Feare q. 2. Of the Praise of our Blessed LADY q. 15. 16. 17 18 19. Of the Veneration of our Blessed LADY q. 15. 16. 17 18 19. Of the Inuocation of our Blessed LADY q. 15. 16. 17 18 19. CHAP. III. OF CHARITY and the Ten Commaundements Also Whether the Ten Commaundementes doe belong vnto Christians q 6. Whether they may be kepte q. 6. Of the Inuocation of Saintes q. 8. Of the Worshippe of Saintes q. 8. Of the Relickes of Saintes q. 8. Of the Holy-Daies of Saintes q. 8. Of the Images of Christ and the Saintes q. 9. Of the Preceptes of the Church namely Of Traditions Apostolicall Ecclesiasticall q. 1. as followeth Of the Church and her autorty q. 9 10. 16. Of the Bishoppe of ROME and the Church of ROME q. 9. Of Councelles q 11. Of the autority of holy Fathers Ibidem Of the fiue precepts of the Church q. 14. Of the holy Scripture and the interpretation thereof q. 16. CHAP. IIII. OF the SACRAMENTES in generall Of Ceremonies q. 8. Of the Sacrament of Baptisme Of Concupiscence in the Regenerate q. 3. Of the Sacrament of Confirmation Of Chrisme q. 4. Of the Blessed Sacrament Of the Reall Presence q. 4. Of Transubstantiation q 5. Of the adoration thereof q. 6. Of the sacrifice of the MASSE q. 7. Of communicating vnder both kindes q. 8. Of the Sacrament of Penance Of Contrition q. 4. Of Confession q. 5. 6. Of Satisfaction q. 7. 8. Of Purgatory and the faithfull departed q. 9. Of the Sacrament of Extreame-Vnction Of the Sacrament of Orders Whether al Christians be Priestes q. 2 8. Of honour due vnto PRIESTES whether they be good or euill q. 6. 7. Of the Sacrament of Matrimony Of diuorcement q. 3. Of Vowe breakers q. 4. Of the Marriage of Mounks Nunnes Ibidem Of the single life of PRIESTES q. 4. 5. Of VIRGINITY q. 5. and more at large in the question of the Euangelicall Councelles CHAP. V. OF CHRISTIAN IVSTICE The first part of the Chapter 1 Of sinnes in generall 2 Of the seauen deadly sinnes 3 Of Alien sinnes that is of sinnes of other men which by any defaulte of ours doe touche vs. 4 Of the sinnes against the Holy-Ghost 5 Of the sinnes that cry into Heauen 6 Of the purging or expiation of sinne 7 Of small or Veniall-sinnes The second part of the Chapter 1 Three kindes of good Workes where also is intreated Of the fruite of good Workes q. 2. Of Fasting q. 4. and as followeth Of Praier q. 7. and as followeth Of Almes the workes of Mercy q. 10. as followeth 2 The Cardinall vertues 3 The gifts fruits of the Holy-Ghost 4 The eight Beatitudes 5 The Euangelical Counsels of the Gospel Of Euangelical Pouerty Chastity Obedience q. 3. 4. 5. Of Mounkes Religious Orders q. 5. 6 The foure last things of a Man To cōprehend the summe of al Christiā Doctrine in one worde this sentence of Ecclesiasticus is worthy the noting which saith My Sonne coueting WISEDOME Eccli 1 33. conserue IVSTICE and God will giue it vnto thee THE TABLE OF THE APPENDIX 1 Of the fall of the first Man 2 Of the transfusing of Adams sinne into all men 3 Of the remedy of Originall sinne 4 Of the relicks of Original sin in those which are baptised 5 Of the imbecility of nature of the law to iustify mē 6 Of the dispensation and mystery of the comming of Christ 7 Who are Iustified by Christ 8 A description of the Iustification of the wicked man the manner thereof in the state of the Lawe of Grace 9 Of the necessity of preparation to Iustification in those of full age and whereof it riseth 10 The manner of preparation to Iustification 11 What is the Iustification of a wicked Man and what are the causes thereof 12 Howe it is to be vnderstoode that a wicked Man is iustified by Faith and freely 13 Against the vaine confidence of Heretickes 14 Of the increase of Iustification once receiued 15 Of obseruing the Commaundements the necessity and possibilitie thereof 16 That the rashe presumption of Predestination is to be auoided 17 Of the gifte of perseuerance 18 Of those which are fallen of their reparation 19 That by euery mortall sinne Grace is lest but not Faith 20 Of the fruites of Iustification that is to say of the Merite of good workes and of the reason of the same Meritte A Table of the other Questions following 1 Of Hallowed Creatures in the Church 2 Of Pilgrim age vnto he ly places 3 Of Indulgences or Pardons THE FIRST CHAPTER
fayth and beleefe hereof a good and patient man doth take solace and comforte in the greatest miseries that maye befall so that at the verye laste gaspe of life he will say (d) Iob. 19 25. I knowe that my Redeemer dothe liue in the laste day I shall rise from the earthe agayne be compassed aboute with my skinne and in my fleshe I shall see God Wise therfore certes and moste wise are those that doe bring into the seruitude of Iustice and (e) Col. 3 5. 1. Pet. 3.18 1. Cor. 9 27 Ro. 6 12. 1. Cor. 15 42. vertue these earthly dyeng meÌ„bers doe prepare this body as a pure vessell for the happy immortallity that is to come 21 What is the laste Article OF lyfe * 1. Cor. 2 9. Io. 17 3. Mat. 19 12.14.17.23.29 25 34 46 Apoc. 2 7. 10.17.26 3.11 21. 7 14. 21 2.10.23 22 1.12 Ro. 2 6. Tit. 1 1. â— 13. 3 7. 2. Tim. 4.7 1. Io. 2 25. 3 2. 1. Pet. 1 3. Ro. 6 22. euerlastinge which we may nothing doubt to remaine vnto the electe after theire deathe And this is the fruite finall end of Fayth Hope Patience Christianlike exercise For the obtayning of whiche life to a true beleeuer no worke of pietie ought to seeme difficulte no labour paynfull no greife bitter no time long or taedious in well working or sufferinge And if this life notwith-standinge that it is repleate with all manner of calamities be accouÌ„pted a thing moste choyse and delightfull how muche more is that life to be had in greate price and aestimation which is (a) Aug. de ciu Dei l. 22 c. 29 30. l. 3. de lib arb c. vlt. ser 64. de Ver. Do. â— 1 seq l. 3 de symb ad catech c. 12 so farre off from any feeling and feare of euill is replenished on euery syde with heauenlye and vnspeakeable ioyes pleasures and delights that neuer shall haue end Of whiche life Christe sayth thus (b). Luc. 12 32. Feare not litle flocke for it hath pleased your Father to giue you a Kingdome And at the latter day of iudgemente he will saye vnto the electe (c) Mat. 25 34. Come yee blessed of my father possesse you the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the worlde But vnto the wicked he will speake in this manner Get yee (d) Ibid. 46. away from me you cursed into fire euerlasting which was prepared for the Deuill and his Angels Which sentence doth not onelie touch (e) Fulg. in lib. de fide ad Pet. c. 38. 40. Heathens Heretickes Schismatickes publike sinners but appertaineth also to all those Christians that doe (f) Ez. 18 4. 33 8. Ro 6 23. Sap. 1 16. 1. Cor. 6 9. end their liues in mortall sinne Last of al this clause (g) Hier. ad Mared ep 137. AMEN is added in the end that it may plainly appeeare howe firmely and surely grounded we stand in the profession and testimony of this Christian Faith and Confession 22 Is it sufficient for a Christian to beleeue those thinges only that are contained in the Creede FIrst specially no doubt Heb. 5 12. 6 1. 1. pet 3 15. those thinges that are taught vs in the Creed of the Apostles are to be beleeued openly (a) Amb. l. 3 de Virg. Aug. l. 1 de symb ad Cat. c. 1. l. 2. cap. 1. professed of euery one Which also are made more plaine beeing conferred with the Creed of the FATHERS with that of ATHANASIVS Secondly a ChristiaÌ„ must of necessity beleeue whatsoeuer the (b). 2. Pet. 1 19. Ro. 15 4. 2. Tim. 3 15 diuine Canonical Scripture doth containe But the certaine (c) Conc. Tol. 1 c. 21. Aug. ser 129. 191 de temp Hic in sym ad Damas Aug. coÌ„ ep fund c. 5. Trid. Sess 4. legitimate books of Scripture no man may discerne by any other meanes than by the iudgement authority of the Church Thirdly hereunto doe belong those thinges that are necessarily drawen (d) Mat. 22 29. deduced partly out of the Articles of the Creede and partly out of holy Scriptures Fourthly lastly are all such documents to be holden as most holy to be firmely beleued which the holy ghost reuealeth vnto vs pronounceth by the (e) Cypr. ep 10. ad Nest Iren. l. 3. cap. 4. li. 4. c. 45. 63. Hier. con Lucif c. 4. Vinc. Lir. con Nouat Church whether they be commended vnto vs by writing or deliuered by tradition word of mouth Which point we will touch more at large hereafter These therefore are the things in which the true catholike faith doth coÌ„sist without the (f) Iâ—eo ser 4. de natiu Dom. which al sectaries do in vaine promise to theÌ„selues others grace saluatioÌ„ in christ THE SECONDE CHAPTER OF HOPE Aug. in Eâ—c cap. 8. 1. Cor. 13 13. Ro. 5 2. 8 24. Tit. 2 13. 3 7. 1. Pet. 1 3. 1. Io. 5 14. Iac. 1 3.5 Io. 14 13. 15 7.16 16 23. Mar. 11 24. Ps 26 13.14 129.6 72 28. 61 8.11 1. Tim. 4 10 1. Thes 5 8. Eph. 6 17. Heb. 10 35. 6 18. AND OVR LORDS PRAIER 1 What is Hope HOpe is a vertue infused by God whereby wee doe with assured trust confidence expect at Gods hande the good of our saluation life euerlasting To small purpose it is to beleeue in God and the word of God to professe the diuine Doctrine of holie Church vnlesse a Christian hauing once vnderstoode the goodnesse of Almighty God doe conceiue hope confidence of obtaining grace and aeternall saluation Which hope doth so fortifie vphold the iust man in the greatest (a) Eccli 34 15. Rom. 8 35. Psal 30 25. Prou. 28 1. miseries that although he be destitute of all wordly helpes yet will he confidently say (b) Iob. 13 15. Al-though he kill me yet will I hope in him And (c) ps 55 5. in God I haue hoped I wil not feare what fleshe may do vnto me (d) Ps 24 2. My God I trust in thee I will not be ashamed 2 By what meanes may a man come to haue this hope FIrst of al one great helpe heerunto is to (a) 1. Thes 5 16. Luc. 11 9. 18 1. Mat. 7 7. Eccli 18 22. pray feruently often to almighty God Also hope is to be nourished and stirred vp with dayly meditation of the goodnesse and benefites (b) Eph. 2 4. Tit. 3 3. Ro. 8 29. Io. 3 16. 1. Co. 4 9. Heb. 10 23. Tit. 1 2. Ro. 5 8.17.20 8 18. of God those especially which Christ our Lorde for his infinite charity towards vs performed promised euen to the vndeseruing Last of all there must be annexed (c) Pro. 15.15 1. Io. â— 21. Aug. l. 1.
are those Apostolical Traditions which Christians must obserue THere are sufficient store of examples extant amongest the Fathers and such of the Fathers as aboue a thowsande yeares since deserued publike credit By Tradition ORIGEN (a) in c. 6. ep ad Rom. (b) l. 10. de gen ad lit c. 23. et con Don. lib. 4. c. 24. S. AVSTEN doe teach that Infants are to be baptised S. DENIS (c) de Eccle. hier c. 7. and (d) in exhor ad castit c. 11. et de cor mil. c. 3. et de monog c. 10. TERTVLLIAN do shew that praiers oblations ought to be made at the Altar for them that are departed Hereupon S. HIEROME (e) ad Marcell ep 54. cont erro Montani (f) haeresi 75. Acrii EPIPHANIVS doe plainly affirme that the set fasts of the church especially that of LENTE are to be obserued So in like maner doth Saint AMBROSE (g) in officio Mediolan (h) in Liturgia Saint CHRYSOSTOME auouche the dignitie of those things that are solemnely prosecuted in the holy office of the MASSE Than besides (i). l. 4. c. 17. in orat de Imag. DAMASCEN the Fathers that the second Nicen Councell doth (k) act 6. tom 4. act 7. cite doe witnes by the same reason that the Images of Christ and his Saintes are to be reuerenced Finally to omit all others that great and holy (l). l. de spir sanct c. 27. doctour Saint BASIL affirmeth that the sacred Chrisme other solemne ceremonies vsed in the most holy Sacramentes are holden vpon tradition And the same Sainte addeth (m) Ibidem further If we doe once attempt to refuse the ordinances and customes that are not written as thinges of small moment and importance we shall couertly and by little little fal to disproue the very ratified sentences of the Gospell or rather wee shall bring the preaching thereof to a bare name But I (n) c. 29. clus dem li. saith he doe thinke it Apostolicall to sticke to those Traditions also that are not written 6 How much at this day doe men erre goe astray about Apostolical Ecclesiastical Traditions VEry much no doubt whilest many do despise them others neglecte them or at the least make no more account of them than of the statutes of (a) Ro. 13 1. ciuil Magistrates and faine them to be decrees of meÌ„ which may bee obserued broken at a mans pleasure as being to verie little or no profite at all calling them thinges indifferent Some there are who wil haue all manner of Traditions of like moment and so they doe shamefullie confound certaine places of Scripture as though there were no difference between (b) Math. 15 9. Pharisaicall Traditions and Apostolicall between (c) Col. 2 8.20 Mar. 7 3. Iudaicall and (d) 2. Thes 2 15 Act. 15 42. 16 4 Ecclesiastical betweene priuate particular Traditions and (e) Aug. ep ad Ian. 118. c. 1. 2. epist 86. ad Casul those which being receiued by the coÌ„sent of the whole Church approued so many ages together by the common custome of deuout persons and as it were by hande deliuered ouer vnto vs are found in a maner al the world ouer 7 What is to be thought of such as reiect make no account of the Traditions of the Church THese doth the word of God reproue and condemne when it appointeth Traditions to be (a) 2. Thess 2 15. 1. Cor. 11 2 obserued commaundeth vs to (b) Mat. 18 17. heare the Church and to keepe the (c) Act. 15 42. 16.4 precepts of the Apostles Auncients It is the worde of God that maketh vs subiecte to Magistrates both (d) Ro. 13 1. Mat. 22 21. Ciuil (e) Mat. 23 2. Luc. 10 16. Ecclesiastical to the modest also to the (f) 1. Pet. 2 13. waiwarde for (g) Ro. 13 5. conscience-sake It will haue vs giue both great (h) Tit. 3 1. reuerence and obedience vnto their Lawes (i) He. 13 17 Obay saith it your prelates and be subiect vnto them (k) Mat. 23 2. Al things that they shall say to you obserue yee and doe yee but according to their workes do yee not Wherefore these fellowes doe not only despise men but God (l) 1. Thess 438. 1. Cor. 14 37. himselfe most gratious mighty whom they shoulde heare reuerence in the (m) Ioa. 20 21. 17 18 Luc. 10 16. Apostles their (n) Cyprian epist 69. ad Flor. Pas cap. 23. constitut mon. successours Therefore they do manifestly resist the worde of God whilest they resiste the power and ordinance of God and purchase damnation vnto themselues thereby if we beleeue (o) Ro. 13 2. S. PAVL Vndoudtedly this is the very ordinance of God himselfe which caÌ„not be abolished by any authoritie of man that by certaine Lawes those partly written and partly vnwritten which the Tradition of the (p) Bas de Spir. Sanct. cap. 27. Aug. lib. 4. cont Dona. c. 24. et l. 2. c. 7. et l. 5. c. 23. et 26. Epiph. haeresi 55. Euseb l. 3. histor c. 30. Apostles commendeth vnto vs the Church be gouerned true Doctrine preserued Religion defended Concorde nourished Discipline kept and obserued 8 What hath the iudgement of the Fathers beene about this matter ORIGEN a famous and verie auncient author hath written in these wordes Euerie such onâ— is of vs to bee accounted an (a) In cap. 3. ep ad Tit. teste Pamphilo in apol pro Origen Iten l. 4. c. 43 Hereticke that professeth himselfe to beleeue Christ beleeueth otherwaies of the trueth of Christian faith than hath the definition of the Churches Tradition And the same in an other place That (b). â—l 1. periar in Prooâ— mio only is to be thought the truth saith he which in no pointe disagreeth froÌ„ the Tradition of the Church And it is the speach of S. HIEROME I doe (c) ad Lucinium ep 28 thinke it good to admonishe thee that the customes of the Church espeacially those that are not against faith are so to be obserued as they were deliuered from our auncestors And S. AVGVSTINE (d) ep 118. cap. 5. teacheth in this manner If the authoritie of diuine Scripture doe prescribe any thing there is no doubt but that we ought so to doe as we haue read so in like maner if the Church doe vse any thing through out the worlde for to dispute that a man ought not so to doe were a part of most insolent madnesse And againe the same In (e) ad Casul ep 86. those matters wherin the worde of God hath set downe no certainty the custome of Gods people or the decrees of our Auncestours are to be holden as a lawe And as the transgressours (f) Distinct 11. c. in his of diuine lawes so also the contemners
(n) 2. Cor. 10 8. 13 10. hath God giuen this power to edification and not to destruction Moreouer to the intente that the stubbourne and rebellious persons may feele that (o) Mat. 18 17. et ibi Hieron power of chastising and excommunication which Christ hath ordained and Sainte * 1. Cor. 5 3. 1. Tim. 1 20. PAVL exercised and by the same may be corrected repressed Here vpon (p) l. de fid et op c. 5. 3. l. 3. con Parm. c. 2. Greg. ho. 26 in Euang. Chrysost l. 3. de Sacerd. S. AVGVSTINE they saith he that gouern in the Church maye exercise discipline so it bee without tumulte and in peaceable manner against the wicked outragious Wherfore in all these thinges to omit many others it is manifest that the Churches authoritie is not only profitable but also necessarie so that without the same doubtlesse the Christian common welth might be thought nothing els but a very Babylonical confusion And therefore as we doe beleeue the Scripture and relie vpon it and attribute vnto it speaciall authoritie for the testimony of the holy Ghost speaking (q) 2. Pet. 1 19. 2. Tim. 3.16 Mat. 18 17. Io. 14 16.26 16 12. within it so also doe we owe faith reuerence and obedience to the Church for that by Christ her heade and spouse she is informed endowed confirmed with the (r) Act. 2 4. Eph. 4 4. same spirite so that it is not possible but that she be as she is called the (Å¿) 1. Tim. 3 15. Piller and grounde of truth 17 What is the fruite and commoditie of the whole doctrine touching the preceptes Traditions of the Church IT is certes very greate and full of variety And surely the first is that we may knowe that we are not tied to letters only or to diuine Scriptures For to vse the words of Saint Ireneus (a) Lib. 3. c. 4 Epi. haer 61. What if the Apostles had lefte vs no Scriptures must we not haue haue followed the order of Tradition which they deliuered vnto them to whom they committed the Churches therfore hath S. BASILL (b) Lib. de spir sanct c. 27. saide very well The verities which are helde and taught in the Church some we haue out of the doctrine set forth in writing some wee haue receiued from the Tradition of the Apostles in mysterie that is in hidden and secrete manner Both which haue equall force and authoritie to the furtherance of pietie And these no man will gainesay that hath beene but euen meanly experienced what the lawes of the Church are And it caÌ„ not be doubted but that (c) Io. 20 30 21.25 Aug. ep 108 ad seleucianam Christ and his Apostles both did taught many thinges which although they are not written yet they doe very much appertaine vnto vs and all posteritie Of which S. PAVLL (d) Phil. 4 8. warning vs in generall saith For the rest brethren what thinges soeuer be true whatsoeuer honest whatsoeuer iust whatsoeuer holye whatsoeuer amiable whatsoeuer of good name if there be any vertue if any praise of discipline these thinges thinke vpon which you haue both learned and receiued and heard and seene in me these thinges doe you and the God of peace be with you The next commoditiy of them is that we may rightly vse Christian libertie which men giuen to idlenesse and riote if euer at any time now most of all doe make an occasion to the fleshe as the (e) Gal. 5 13 2. Pet. 2 19. Apostle speaketh vnder pretence thereof they serue their filthy pleasures whatsoeuer in a manner they haue a fancie vnto though it concerne euen the alteration of the decrees of Religion they thinke it lawfull for them to doe Aug. ep 118 cap. 1. 5. But froÌ„ this prophane noueltie and rashnesse the Apostolicall and Ecclesiasticall Doctrines decrees do call away defend terrifie vs bridling mans licentiousnesse teaching vs to vse Christian liberty in a coÌ„uenient sort to wit so that (f) 1. Pet. 1 18. Ro. 6 18.22 Gal. 3 13. 4 31. Ro. 8 2. being made free by Christ froÌ„ the yoke of sinne bondage of the olde lawe we may willingly of our (g) Psa 53 8. Col. 3 23. Luc. 1 71. 2. Cor. 3 17 Ro. 6 22. 1. Cor. 9 19. 1. Pet. 1 22. 2 20. Luc. 21 19. Mat. 4 1.7 16 14. owne accorde performe Christian dutie we may serue God in holinesse and iustice we may followe the holy Ghost as our guide in the lawe of Charitie being the seruauntes of iustice the sonnes of obedience the practisers of humilitie the keepers of patience and louers of penance and of the Crosse You saith the (h) Gaâ—l 5 1â— Apostle are called into libertie only make not this libertie an occasioÌ„ to the flesh but by charitie of spirite serue one another To the nourishing maintenaÌ„ce of which charitie of spirite in the dutifulnesse of an holy seruitude both all honest thinges are profitable and the deuoute obseruation of the Tradition of the Church is vndoubtedlye most auaileable The last vse and commoditye is that we may truly discerne betwene the lawfull and bastarde children of the Church or betwene Catholikes and Heretikes For (i) Vincen. Liren the first doe simply stay them selues in the doctrine of the Church whether the same be deliuered vnto them in writing as in the Bible or approued by the TraditioÌ„ of the Fathers For they doe followe the worde of God Doe (k) Pro. 22 28. Eccli 8 11. Deut. 32 7. Hier. c 16. not goe beyond the auncient boundes which thy Fathers haue set But the other which are Heretickes doe swarue from this simplicitie of faith from the approued sentence of our reuerende mother the Church of the holy Fathers and they trust to much either vnto them selues or to those that haue reuolted from the Church insomuch as euen being warned they doe not come backe amend their error And therfore of them hath Saint PAVL so seuerely decreed when he saith A man (l) Tit. 3 10. that is an Hereticke after the first and second admonition auoide knowing that he that is such a one is subuerted And to conclude with (m) ad Pompeium S. CYPRIAN whosoeuer hath reuolted from the vnitie of the Church he must needes be founde in the company of Heretickes 18 What finally is the summe of all the premises THose thinges that from the beginninge hetherto haue bene handled touchinge the summe of Christian doctrine doe tend to this end that the true wisdome of a Christian man might be described and set before vs which is comprehended in these three (a) Aug. l. 2. tetr c. 63. vertues (b) 1. Cor. 13 13. 2. Tim. 2 22 faith hope charitie By faith the soule doth (c) Heb. 11.1 firmlie consent vnto Gods truth and relie vpon the same By hope
mer. c. 19. li. 4. contr Donat cap. 24. God-fathers hee made in the holy Lauer. Therefore let euery Christian consider that of the childe of Wrathe and slaue of Satan hee there was made the Sonne (d) Ro. 8 1.14 Gal. 4 5. of God and a member and coheire of Christ a liuelie (e) 1. Cor. 6 19. Temple of the holy-Ghost Thou enteredst into the sanctuary of regeneration saith (f) Amb. de initiā myst ca. 2. Chrys hom 21. ad pop Antioc Aug li. 4. de symb ad Cat. cap. 1. S. AMBROSE call to minde what thou werte demaunded Recognize what aunswer thou diddest make Thou hast renounced the diuell and his workes the worlde with all her luxuriousnesse pleasures (g) Amb. l. 1. de Sacram. c. 2. Cyr. Hieros catech mystag 1. Bee mindfull of thy speache and neuer let the processe of thy obligation depart out of thy remembrance And it is an excellent speache of S. PAVL exhorting all those that are Baptised (h) Ro. 6 3. Gal. 3 27. Aug. de fide operibus cap. 26. Are you ignorant that all we which are Baptised in Christ Iesus in his death we are baptised For wee are buried together with him by Baptisme into death that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father so we also may walke in the newenesse of life OF THE SACRAMENTE OF CONFIRMATION 1 Which is the other Sacrmente next vnto Baptisme COnfirmation which is a Sacrament of the new Law as sacred holy saith (a) Lib. 2. cōtra lit Petil. c. 104. Concil Eliber ca. 38 Aurel. c. 3. Lac. c. 48. Melden c. 6. Flor. Const ses 15. Trid. ses 7. Bern. in vita Malach. episc Petrus Damiā ser 1 dededicat eccles Isid de eccles offic li. 2. c. 25. 26. Raban de inst cler l. 1. c. 30. S. AVGVSTINE as Baptisme it selfe which is ministred vnto the Baptised with the impositiō of the hands of a Bishop the annointing with holy Chrisme 2 What warrant haue we to vse this Sacrament IT hath the testimonie of diuine Scripture according to the vniforme sentence and interpretation of the Fathers and the (a) Cyp. l. 1. ep 12. Aug. lib. 5. cont Dona. cap. 19. 20. item tract 6. in ep Ioan. Church For hereunto belongeth that which (b) Act. 8 17. 19 5. Cypr. ad Iubaian S. LVKE the Euāgelist not once writeth of the Apostles that laide their hands vpō the Baptised vsing this visible signe ordained by God himselfe because a newe and more plentifull grace of the holy-Ghost was giuē to those which were new borne in Christ And therfore whē the Apostles laid hands vpon them they receiued as S. LVKE recordeth of those (c) Ibidem Baptised the holie Ghost to witte with a certaine encrease and aboundance of spirituall grace But at this time whereas the Bishoppes doe beare the roome and possesse the place of the Apostles God doth not defraud his Church of this so holesome a grace but by the same Bishoppes (d) Hier. cōt Lucif cap. 4. in this Sacrament woorketh effectually so that as (e) serm de vnctione Chrismatis testifieth S. CYPRIAN The verity is ioined with the signe and the spirite is present in the Sacrament And hereunto doth appertaine that Canon of the Church of olde set downe (f) Vrban Pont. et Martyr qui. anno 227. vixit in ep ad omnes Christianos All the faithfull ought to receiue the holy-Ghost after Baptisme by the imposition of handes from a Bishoppe that they may bee founde perfite Christians because when the holy-Ghost is infused the faithfull heart is dilated to prudence and constancie 3 What things are necessary for the perfection of this Sacrament THree thinges are speciallie required thereunto the proper matter of the Sacrament the due forme of wordes and a conuenient Minister The matter is compound of Oile and (a) Conc. Braccar c. 4. Cypr. de vnction Chris Greg. in 1. c Cant. Fab Con Flo. Baulme which being consecrated by a Bishoppe hath nowe of olde obtained the name of holye (b) Cypr. vt supra l. 1. ep 12. Bas de spir sā c. 27. Fab qui vixit anno 241. ep 2. Chrisme and in this Sacrament is after a solemn manner laid vpon the forehead The prescripte forme of wordes is this (c) Con Flo. 2. Cor. 1 21. Ephes 1 13. I doe signe thee with the signe of the Crosse and confirme thee with the Chrisme of saluation In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost The Minister of this Sacramente is a Bishop only that the example forme Tradition of the (d) Act. 8 14 Clem ep 4. Vrbā Melc Damasc ep 4. Leo. epi. 88. ad episc Ger. Gall. Conc. Wor. Flor. Tri. Apostles may be kept Of which thing we haue receiued a decree set down of olde in this maner (e) Eus Pon. Mart. ep ad Episcop Tusc Cāpan Innoc. c. 1 ep 1. ad Decent c. 3. The Sacrament of imposition of hands is to be had in great reuerence which cannot be done by any other but by the high Priests neither is it reade or knowen to haue beene donne by any other in the Apostles time but by the (f) Act 8 14. 19 6. Apostles themselues 4 And why are the Baptised annointed with holy Chrisme BEcause that by the instincte of the holy-Ghost Bas de spir san cap. 27. the Apostles haue so deliuered vnto vs as (a) Epi. 4. ad Iulium Iulian. S. CLEMENT and (b) De eccle hier c. 4. 2 S. DENIS the disciples of S. PETER and S. PAVL doe proue and they deliuered that doubtlesse concerning the hallowing of Chrisme which they had receiued of our Lord himselfe as is thereof a graue witnes (c) In ep ad Orientales Episc FABIANVS who was both a Martyr of Christ and high Bishop of the Church Also there is extant of this matter such a precept of a most holie (d) Synod Laod. can 48. Corn. ad Fab. Antioc apud Euseb l. 6. hist c. 35. Theodor. de haer Fabul in Nouat Synode The Baptised after Baptisme must receiue the most holy Chrism and be made partakers of the kingdome of heauen Sainte CYPRIAN alleadgeth (e) l. 1. ep 1◠de vncti Chrismat Cyril l. 9. in Leuit Cyril Hier. catech 3. myst this reason that a Christian hauing once receiued Chrisme to witte Vnction or Annointing may be the annointed of God and haue in him the grace of Christ and continually maintaine holinesse And this visible Ointmēt wherwith the Church doth annoint the Baptised as (f) l. 15. de Trinit ca. 26. Pacianus Barcilonen de Baptis et ep 1 ad sympron S. AVGVSTINE teacheth doth signifie the gifte of inuisible grace wherewith the holy Ghost doth with his internal Vnction replenishe and confirme Christ principally who tooke his
but also to couer his faultes with more reformed actions that sinne may not bee imputed vnto him And againe in another place For a great (f) Ad Virg. laps ca. 8. lib. 1. de paenit cap. 2. wound a deepe long medicine is necessarie Great wickednesse must of necessity haue great Satisfactiō Finally so saith S. GREGORY It is to be (g) Hom. 34. in Euan. vide Emis ad mon. ho. 5. 10. Theod. in epit diuinor decret ca. de paenit l. 4 haeret fab de Audianis seriously thought considered that he which knoweth himselfe to haue committed things vnlawefull must endeuour to abstaine from some things that are lawefull that thereby he may make Satisfaction vnto his Creatour 9 Is there any place for Satisfaction after Death FOr the explication of this point wee must consider the diuerse estates of them that die For some of them do keepe the grace of God and innocency of life euen to their end Vnto whom appertaineth that saying of (a) In orat Manassis MANASSES That Vnto iust persons and those which haue not sinned as ABRAHAM ISAAC and IACOB Penance was not ordained Others haue sinned indeed fallen from the grace of God which once they receiued but they haue purged in this life the filthe of their sinnes with the woorthy workes of Penance as (b) 2. Reg. 12 13. Psal 6 7. DAVID (c) Esa 38 15 EZECHIAS (d) Mat. 26 57. S. PETER (e) Luc. 7 37 S. MARY MAGDALEN Bothe these kindes haue no neede of Satisfaction after death but are altogether free from all bonde thereof But far more in number are those of a middle sorte and yet not verie euil as (f) Ench. ca. 11◠Beda in cap. 11. Pro. S. AVGVSTINE sheweth who haue not performed perfite Penance for their sinnes in their life time and therefore are to be saued (g) 1. Cor. 3 15. So doth Saint Augustine expoūd this place in Psal 37. l. 21. de ciuit c. 26. de fide oper cap. 16. in Psal 80. So doth also Origen ho. 12. 13. in Hier. 25. in Num. 6. in Exod. Amb. in 1. Cor. 3. ser 20. in Psal 118. Hieron in cap. 4. Amos. in fine vlt. libri in Esa lib. 2. in Iouin cap. 1◠Also Saint Gregory li 4. Dial. cap. 39. Beda in 3. cap. Luc. by fire that whatsoeuer was wanting of conuenient Satisfaction in this life may be paide vnto Gods Iustice in another For there (h) Apoc. 21 27. Psal 14 1. 23 3. shal not enter any polluted thing into that Cittie Therefore that we may aunswer to the question proposed such kind of persons departed must abide some Satisfaction yea that most painfull after their death Which yet neuerthelesse (i) Aug. vt supra li 21. ciu c. 24. ho. 16. ex 50. ser 41. de sāctis Greg. 4. Dial. cap. 39 Ber. de obitu Humb. Damasc in orat de def Conc. Flor. Trid. ses 6. can 30. ses 25. part 1 God of his great mercie is wonte to release by the deuout intercession of those that are aliue that so they which are depated being holpen in the Church by the Suffrages of their brethren and members may bee lightned of their sinnes of the terrible paines due vnto the same And hereunto belongeth that which the authority of holy Scripture deliuereth It (k) 2. Mach. 12 43. 1. Reg 31 13 Bedā ib. 2. Reg 1 12. 3 31 Tob. 4 18. Eccli 7 37. 17 18. 38 14. Hier. 16 6. 2. Tim. 1 17 1. Io. 5 16. is a holy and holesome cogitation to pray for the dead that they may bee loosened from their sinnes Whereupon IVDAS the Machabee was commended for that beeing mooued with a singular religious zeale he did with great care and sumptuosenesse procure that not only praiers but also (l) Ibidem sacrifice should be offered for the sinnes of the souls departed In this Doctrine doe agree the Reuerende (m) Conc. 4. Cart. ca. 79. 95. Tolet. 11. cap. 31. Bra. 1. c 34. Flor. Trid ses 25. ses 22. cap. 2. can 3. Councels and Fathers which haue deliuered the true Doctrine of the Church Of whō to alleadg one in steede of many him a witnesse most worthie of credite (n) Li. de cura mor. ca. 1. S. AVGVSTINE writeth thus In the bookes of the Machabees we reade Sacrifice to haue been offered for the dead But although it were no where extant in the olde Scriptures yet is the authority of the Vniuersall Church not small whose practise in this behalfe is most euident where in the praiers of the Priests which are made vnto our Lorde at his Altar the commendation also of those that are departed hath a peculiar place And againe It is to be thought saith hee that there shall bee no Purgatorie (o) Lib. 21. ciu ca. 16. vide Mat. 12 32. Which place is expounded of remission of sinnes in the other world by praiers of the Church By S. Aug. l. 21. ciu c. 24. l. 6. in Iul. c. 5. Greg. l. 4 Dial. ca. 39. Beda in c. 3. Mar. Bern. hom 66. in Cant. Pet. Clun in ep cōt Pet. Bru. Raban lib. 2 de inst cler cap. 44. vide etiam Mat. 5 26 Which place also is expoūded of Purgatorie By Tert. l. deanima cap. 17. Cypr. lib. 4. ep 2. Orig. ho. 35. in Luc. in ep ad Ro. Emis ho. 5. de Epiph. Amb. in Luc. 12. Hier. in Mat. 5. Bern. ser de obitu Humbert vide Mal. 3 3. Phil. 2 10. Apoc. 5 3.13 paines after that last and terrible iudgement And what can bee more plainelye spoken than those wordes It is not to bee doubted but that by the praiers of the (p) Aug. de verb. Apo. ser 32. cap. 1. 2. vide Isid lib. 1. de offic cap. 18. Raban lib. 2. de instit Cler. cap. 44. holy Church and by the most holesome Sacrifice by Almes which are bestowed for their soules those which are departed be holpen that our Lord may deal more mercifully with them than their sinnes haue deserued For this hath beene deliuered by the Fathers and the vniuersall Church obserueth that for those which are departed in the Communion of the Body and Bloode of Christ when their memory is made at the Sacrifice in the due place Praiers also are powred out vnto God it is expressely mentioned that the Sacrifice is offered for them And whē for the helping of them works of mercy are exercised who may doubt but that they are auaileable vnto them for whom praiers are not in vaine offered It is not at al to be doubted but these things doe profite the dead yet such only who liued so before death that these thinges might be profitable to them after death Thus writeth Saint AVGVSTINE aboue 1200. yeeres agone to omitte many also
be punished Thus much of the first breeders of this heresie IHON WICLEFFE and IHON HVSSE the first of the which that you may the better knowe him therefore departed from the Church in the which he had bene a Priest Tho. Wald. l. 2. doct c. 60. onely because he had the repulse from a Bishopricke As for MARTIN LVTHER it is well knowen what giftes of the holy Ghost he had who had not the gift to obserue that chastitie which hee had Vowed and to keepe himselfe from a sacrilegiouse and incestuouse life That we may thinke that in him as a first ADAM of this new creation all the ministeriall posteritie for the most parte hath bene infected But it will not be amisse farre from our purpose of Indulgences Luthers fall quarell against Indulgence This office is nowe taken away by the CouÌ„cel of Trent Io Coch. in the actes of Luther an 1517. In anno 1519. In epist ad Argentin to let the Reader vnderstande thus much that forthwith after his strange vocation to his newe kind of licentiouse life the first quarell that he pretended was against Indulgences and that not vpon zeale and conscience but onlie for ambition and enuie that the office of preaching Pardons and publishing the POPES Bulles was from the order of S. AVGVSTINE in which hee had many yeeres liued a Moncke translated to the order of Dominican Friers Whereupon in his first disputation at Lipsia he gaue a cleare testimony of the spirit by which he was called wheÌ„ he cried out This matter neither was begonne for God neither shall be ended for God And that you may the better perceiue his ghostly zeale he saith that if the Scriptures had not beene most cleare against him in the matter of the Blessed Sacramente hee would for to haue done the POPE a displeasure long before haue denied the Reall-Presence which notwithstanding he neuer durst That we may say nothing of his singular profiting in his Masters schole Lib de Missa angular when hee saide that he had beene taught of the Diuell that MASSE was naught and therefore that he had abolished it Against this man and his predecessours if wee shoulde alleadge the Councell of Trent The Councel of Trent sess 25. wherein all the Learning and Holinesse of the wholle world conspired togither Vndoubtedly vnto him who in respecte of himselfe contemneth a thousand AVGVSTINES and as many CYPRIANS In his boke against K. Hary and thought King HENRY the 8. one of the most famous Princes of the worlde with all his fellowe Princes not to be worthy to vnlatche his shooe we may well thinke what it would auaile Much a like woulde it proue if we shoulde bring him the generall Councell of Constance The Councell of Constance where beeing so manie Schismatickes about the true POPE woonder it is that they should agree in this pointe as in all other pointes of Religion if the trueth had not preuailed But what will they say of other generall Councelles before euer Hell had opened mouth against this most certaine verity The generall Councel of Vienna The Councell of Vienna Clem. de reliqu vener SS cap. vnico de poenit remis cap. 2. did acknowledge the power of giuing Indulgences For in that Councell by CLEMENT the fifth were graunted Pardons in the Feast of CORPVS CHRISTI daie And order taken against the abuses of some which vnlawfully preached Indulgences And in the generall Councell holden at Lions The Councel of Lions cap. 1. de poenit remis in sexto vnder INNOCENTIVS the fourth we haue admonition giuen to Bishoppes not to exceede in graunting Indulgences And before that the great Lateran Councell The LateraÌ„ Councell anno 1198. vnder INNOCENTIVS the thirde limiteth the Cap. 2. de poenit remiss ca. cum ex eo Indulgences of Bishoppes The same also taketh away Cap. 60. de exces Praelat cap. Accedentib the abuse by which Abbates had woonte to graunt Indulgences We haue also in the same Cap. 3. de Haeret. c. excommun mention of Indulgences vsed to be graunted to those which went to the recouery of the Holy-land As we haue at the De paenit remis same time an aunswere in a question of Indulgence by HONORIVS the thirde as also of ALEXANDER the thirde before all these Where these Councells POPES speake of them not as of a newe diuise but as of a thing generally vsed in the Church BONIFACIVS C. Nostro C. quod auteÌ„ Pardons were not newely practised fiue hundred yeeres agoe also the eight in his Extrauagant wherein he proclaimeth the Iubiley saith that by faithfull relation of auncients there were many remissions and Indulgences graunted in the Apostles Churches at ROME Neither was the Iubiley first instituted by him but See the glosse of Io. Monach. who liued in his time as an vsuall thing euery hundred yeere practised And Iacobus Cardinalis in libro de centessimo a writer of that age maketh mention of an olde man who that yere came to ROME reported that his Father was at ROME for the same cause the hundred yeere before An. 1300. The beginning of Iubiley is vnknowen and had commaunded him if he liued so long to go thither the next Iubiley So that we knowe no certaine beginning of the Iubiley But that it was by this POPE Anno. 1300. ordained to be euery 100. yeere And by CLEMENT Anno. 1350. the 6. euery 50. Afterward by decree of SIXTVS the 4. Anno. 1475. brought vnto euery 25. yeere Where it now remaineth To this wee adde the auncient practise of the stations in ROME that is the visiting of certaine particular Churches in the Lent Aduent Imber daies and other times also in which stations from very auncient times vsed as from the time of Saint GREGORIE at the least as appeareth in his Sacramentary great Pardons haue beene graunted to those which visit with deuotioÌ„ the aforesaid Churches Nowe if fiue generall Councells and so manie auncient Doctors without any contradiction with such general consent and ioifull approbation of all Christendome grounded vpon the expresse autoritie of Gods owne worde iurisdiction graunted to the Church and practise of Antiquitie bee not sufficient to conuince any vnderstanding there is nothing sufficient to performe the same 9 The same verity is prooued by reason necessarily deduced out of Scriptures And the treasure of Indulgences is declared BVt we wil moreouer by necessary consequence deduce this wholle matter out of holy Scriptures whereby we shall giue a farther light to our whâ—ll discourse But first I suppose these things following as most true yet briefely touching also the grounds thereof 1 We may being in grace satisfie for Temporall punishmeÌ„t First that a man Iustified by Gods grace and hauinge a Temporall debte of punishmente remaining may iustly and equally Dan. 4.24 Pro. 16 6. Luc. 3 8. 2 Cor 7 10. See pag. 209 satisfie vnto Gods Iustice for the same The Diuines distinguish a double kinde of iustice
yet he which professeth himselfe a Catholicke by sending his child or permitting his childe to be sent to such thinges as are indispensably forbidden by God himselfe doth vnnaturally depriue his innocent sonne of that which he coulde not giue him But true it is which our Sauiour saide Luc 16 8. that wiser are the children of this worlde in their generation than the children of lighte But thou deare Brother when thou fallest into any such preuarication thinke assuredly that thy light is beecome darkenes And that in darkenes thou shalte so long remaine vntill thou take away the bushell with thou hast sette before others eies and permit the light to shine to all those of whom thou hast charge But to the intent that thou maiest not onely performe this duety which is necessarily vpon paine of vtter darkenes required of thee but also like vnto a childe of lighte seeke that which is perfect and according to the nature of light liberally endeuour to communicate vnto al meÌ„ that which thou hast thy selfe of God receiued I haue set downe in the margen of this booke all those places of holy Fathers and Scriptures which are in the Lattin to the intent that thou either being assaulted by any aduersary or thy selfe seeking to reschew out of miserable captiuitie any soule maiest haue authorities to alleage for whatsoeuer thou shalt say Of the places of scripture for the most parte I haue quoted the very verse that sodainely thou maiest find that wherin consisteth the force of the proofe Finally I haue added certaine little Kindled sizes to lighten some secrete corners which might otherwise annoy thee All which God graunt that it may to his glory both maintaine and increase the light of thy hart and bring forth in many obscure mindes such brightnes of true beliefe that wee all may worthely walke by the same conforming our liues thereunto That so being made worthy vnto the parte of the loue of the Saints Col. 1 13. in the light we may by him which hath deliuered vs from the power of darkenes be translated at the length into the euerlasting Kingdome of the sonne of his loue where we shall not onely neede neither sunne nor moone but we shal receiue that perfecte light of the Lambe by whome onely as we haue bene redeemed so must we also be glorified The Printer to the Reader VVHereas there is promised thee about the latter end of the booke a Treatise of seruice and scripture in the vulgar tongue know thou that by reason of the continuall warres in this Countrey and the manifolde difficulties which all those that liue here-about doe feele I haue bene constrained to finish this worke without ful accomplishment of my promise and purpose But thou in the meane time enioy this my present which I make thee if I shall perceiue that this my labour is grateful vnto thee then shalt thou in the next edition receiue a perfect recompence for this my defaulte I haue also set down a Catalogue of the Fathers and Doctours which are in this Booke alleaged that thou maiest see how auncient defendours we haue of the Catholike truth which in deede neither could be Catholicke if it had not antiquitie with it neither can want antiquitie if it be Catholicke So that in my iudgement two principall thinges thou shalt finde in this Booke of themselues sufficient to confirme thy owne Faith and to confound the negatiue Religion of al aduersaries The first is the very naked sincere truth very plainly expresly set downe The second is the multitude of witnesses of her sinceritie For the innocency of truth is such that it presently coÌ„mendeth it selfe vnto the beholder and discouereth all malicious slaunders which when they growe vnto most intollerable impudency cannot yet abide the force and maiesty of so vnspotted testimonies against which there cannot be taken any exception This whereas I my selfe haue founde in the perusing of this worke I could not but imparte vnto thee my minde and iudgemente Fare-well A CATALOGVE OF FATHERS AND COVNcelles which are cited in this Booke according to the diuerse ages in which they liued THE Holy BIBLE * The first age beginning from the Birth of CHRIST The APOSTLES and their Canons Philo Iudaeus S. Martialis S. Dionysius Areopagit Episc Mart. S. Clemens Pont. Mart. S. Ignatius Episc Mart. S. Anacletus Pont. Mar. Iosephus Iudaeus * The Second Age Anno. Dom. 100. S. Euaristus Pont. Mart. S. Alexand. Pont. Mart. S. Sixtus 1. Pont. Mart. S. Telesph Pont. Mart. S. Higinus Pont. Mart. S. Iustinus Philosophus Mart. S. Soter Pont. Mart. S. Irenaeus Episc Mart. Clemens Alexandrinus * The Thirde Age Anno. Dom. 200. Tertullianus S. Calixtus Pont. Mart. Origenes S. Vrbanus Pont. Mart. S. Hippolit Episc Mart. S. Fabianus Pont. Mart. S Cornel Pont. Mart. S. Cyprian Episc Mart. S. Foelix 1. Pont. Mart. S. Caius Pont. Mart. * The Fourth Age Anno. Dom. 300. S. Marcell Pont. Mart. S. Euseb Pont. Mart. Concilium Ancyranum S. Melchia Pont. Mart. Concilium Neocaesatiense Reticius AugustoduneÌ„sis Lactantius Firmianus S. Siluester Pontifex The I. generall Councell of Nice Eusebius Caesatiensis Conc. RomanuÌ„ sub Siluest Concilium Elibertinum ConciliuÌ„ Arelatense 1. 2 Concilium Gangrense Concilium Carthaginense S. Marcus Pontifex S. Athanasius Episc S. Iulius 1. Pontifex Eusebius Emisenus Episc S. Hilarius Episc Concilium Antiochenum S. Liberius Pont. S. Felix 2. Mart. Ioannes Climachus Concilium Laodicenum Iouinianus Imperator S. Damasus Pont. The II. generall Councell of Constantinople Concilium Valentinum Optaâ—us Mileuitanus S. Pacianus Episc S. Cyrillus Hierosol Episc S. Ambrosius Episc Prudentius S. Didymus Alexandrinus S. Basilius Magnus Episc S Gregor Nazian Episc S Epiphanius Episc S. Siricius Pont. S. Essraem S Amphilochius Episc S. Gregor Nyssenus Episc S. Io. Chrysostomus Episc Ruffinus S. Hieronymus Theoph. AlexaÌ„drin Episc Chromat Aquiliens Episc Concilium Carthag 2. 3. 4. 5. Concilium Toletanum 1. Isychius * The Fifthe Age Anno. Dom. 400. S. Augustinus Episc S. Innocentius Pont. Concilum Mileuitanum S. Paulinus Episc Seuerus Sulpitius Honorius Theodosius Imperatores S. Sozimus Pont. Postidonius Episc Concilium Telense Maximus Episc Ioannes Cassianus Socrates Sozomenus Cyrillus Alexandr Episc Theodoretus Episc The III. general Councell of Ephesus Vincentius Lirinensis Concilium Agathense S. Leo Magnus Pont. Victor Africanus Episc Conc. Ara ca nuÌ„ 1. 2. Concilium Vasense 1. 2 Valentinianus Martianus Imperatores The IIII. general CouÌ„cell of Chalcedon S. Prosper Episc Concilium Turonense 1. S. Hilarius Pont. S. Petrus Chrysol Episc S. Gelasius 1. Pont. S. Fulgentius Episc Concilium Epaunense * The sixth Age Anno. Dom. 500. Concilium Aurelianense 1 Iustinianus Imperator Cassiodorus The V. generall Councell of Constantinople Concilium Aurelianense 3 Concilium Turonense 2. Andreas Hierosol Episc Cretensis Euagrius Epiphanensis S. Greg. magnus Pont. S. Greg. Turonensis Episc *
will can keepe (l) Act 20 29. Eze 33 6. 2. Tim. 2 23.25 4 2. Tit. 1 9.10.11 off the wolues defende the sheepe roote out the cockle confirme sound doctrine least otherwise the simple be seduced by the words writinges examples of deceiptful wicked persons (m) 2. Pet. 2 1. 3 3. Ro. 16 17. Iud 17.4 10 Mat. 7.15 from the kingly rode-way of truth but rather that all not only knowing the truth but practising the same may growe and goe forwarde in him that is the heade Christ our Lorde as the same Apostle S. PAVL (n) Ephes 4 15. hath also spoken 13 By what meanes may we obtaine these so singuler commodities BY this no doubt if we be not to highlye (a) Ro. 12 3. but soberly wise alwaies carefull to (b) Eph. 4 3. Io. 10 2. 21 17. keepe the vnitie of spirite in the bande of peace that so wee maye shewe our selues the humble and obedient sheepe of Christ Of which sheepe certes it is the propertie (c) Io. 10 2. Tit. 3 1. Heb. 13 17. Mat. 10 20. to flie the wolues and not to followe Aliens but their owne Pastours (d Bern. de praecep disp c. 12. to submit thēselues to thē as to the ordinarie Prefectes of our Lords folde and in them to heare the (e) Io. 15 26 et 14 17. et 16 13. spirite of truth That spirite it is which vouchsafeth euen by euill (f) Mat. 23 2. Phil. 1 15. Io. 11 51. Mat. 18.17 Deut. 17 12 Prelates to teach feed and preserue our Lords flocke and which by them commendeth vnto vs the precepts both of God our Father and the Church our Mother in thess wordes (g) Pro. 1 8. see Epiphan haer 75. Heare my sonne the discipline of thy father and doe not let goe the lawe of thy mother And againe the same doth inculcate Keepe saith (h) Pro. 6 20 he my sonne the preceptes of thy father and doe not let goe the lawe of thy mother 14 Which are the precepts of the Church THere are fiue principall necessarie doubtlesse to be knowne and obserued of euery Christian 1 (a) Conc. Lugdun apud Iuonē p. 4. c. 14. 2. Matiscon c. 1. Mogunt c. 36. et 37. Tribur c. 35. Ignat. ad Philip. The appointed holy daies of the Church doe thou celebrate 2 (b) Conc. Agath c. 47. et 21. Tribur c. 35. 1. Aurel ca. 28. The holy office of the Masse vpon holy daies doe thou heare with reuerence 3 (c) Canon Apost 68. Gangren c. 19. Ignat. ad Phil. Mog c. 34. et 35. Salegunst c. 1. et 2. Ber. in vig. S. Andreae See the places cited in the treatis of good works in the 4. question The Fastes on certaine daies and times appointed doe thou obserue For example as the Lent imber daies and the nexte daies before certaine solempne feastes which our forefathers haue (d) Tert. l. 2. ad Vxo c. 4. et in apolog cap. 2. called vigils or euens bicause they did vse at such times all night to watch in the Churches 4 (e) Sinod Lateran can 21. Triden sess 14. c. 8. Thy Sinnes to thy proper Priest doe thou euery yeere confesse 5 (f) Lateran Trident. sess 13. can 9. The holy Eucharist at the least once in the yeere and that about the feast of Easter doe thou receaue 15 What profite doth the obseruation of these precepts bring THese and other the like customes precepts of the Church so manie ages receiued and with great consent practise of deuoute Christians confirmed and very agreable to pietie and reason doe bring with them very notable and excellent commodities For they are holsome exercises of faith humilitie and Christian obedience they doe aduance honest (a) Phil. 4 8. 1. Cor. 14 26.40 discipline and concorde among the people they are goodly signes badges of Religion finally they giue markes and tokens of our inwarde pietie by which we oughte iointly to shine with the good and to shew our light to the euill for (b) Mat. 5 17. Ro. 15 2. Phil. 2 ◠14 their edification Breifly they doe helpe vs to this that we may exactly obserue that rule of the Apostle Let all thinges (c) 1. Cor. 14 40. be done honestly and according to order among you 16 Wherein is the authoritie of the Church necessarie vnto vs FIrst of all surely in this that we may certainlie (a) Gal. 2 2. 1. Tolc c. 25. Aug. ser 129 de tēp li. 13. contra Faust c. 4. 5. et l. 28. c. 2 4. discerne the true and canonicall Scripture from that which is counterfet and apocryphall Whereupon Saint HIEROME doth testifie we receiue saith he the (b) in sym ad Damasu et Aug. ser 19. 1. de tē Conc. Laod c. 59. Conc. 3. Carth. c. 47. Conc. Trid. sess 4. olde and new Testament in that number of bookes which the authority of the holy Catholike Church doth deliuer And (c) Cont. ep Fund c. 5. Saint AVGVSTINE I truely would not beleeue the Gospell excepte the authoritie of the Catholike Church did moue me thereunto It is also necessarie that we may be assured of the (d) Esa 59 21. Aug. l. 1. c. 33. cont Cresco et de vnit Eccle. c. 22. Trid. ses 4. Vin. Lir. contr nouatores true sense and apte interpretatiō of the Scripture least that otherwise we neuer make an end of doubting and disputing about the sense of the wordes For all Heretickes as the same holy Saint (e) lib. 1. de Trinit c. 3. Hillar l. 2. ad Constanti Vinc. Lir. hath written doe labour to defend their false and deceiptfull opinions by the holy Scriptures and yet the Scriptures doe not consist in reading but in vnderstanding as witnesseth (f) Cont. Lucif c. 9. in c. 1. ad Gal. Hilar. l. 2. de Trin. Saint HIEROME Thirdly that in the waightier questions (g) Deut. 17.8 and controuersies of faith that may fall out there may be some (h Act. 15 2 Iudge by whose authoritie matters may be moderated For as that is most true that (i) haer 61. cont Apostolicos EPIPHANIVS teacheth against Heresies that all thinges can not be had out of the Scriptures so doth (k) l. 11. con Faust c. 2 l. 7. c n. Donat c. 53. et in Ps 57. Saint AVGVSTINE most rightlye affirme that the authoritie of the Catholike Church is of speciall waighte and value for our faith and assurance in a doubtful case Neither can the holy Ghost be wanting to the Church to leade her as Christ hath (l) Io. 14 16. 16 13. promised into all trueth Againe that for the diuersitie of persons places and times canons (m) Can. Ap. 38. et Synod 1. Nic. c. 5. Lateran Can. 6. may be ordained perfite discipline preserued and iudgementes pronounced For to the Church
the Aspe shutting their eares against the sweete melodie of the sounde doctrine of the Church they seeme to say Departe thou (f) Iob. 21 14. from vs and we will not haue the knowledge of thy waies which is nothing else then as S. PAVL speketh According (g) Ro. 2 4. to their hardnes and impenitent harte to heape to themselues wrath in the day of wrath and of the reuelation of the iust iudgement of God For as SALOMON also teacheth To a man (h) Pro. 29 1. Bern. ser 42. in Cant. that with a hard necke contemneth him that correcteth him a soddaine distruction shall come vpon him and healthe shall not follow him 8 When is a sinne of impenitency committed Aug. de verb Do. ser 21. cap. 12. 13. ep 50. ad Bonif. Gelas in tomo de anarhematis vinculo VVHen a man without anie end or measure of his sins which truely hee shoulde washe away by holesome Penance resolueth moreouer that neuer hee will doe any Penance at al. Of this kind of persons who are such desperate and pittifull sinners and so will remaine both their life their death is most (a) Psal 33 22. abominable for asmuch as if not in wordes yet in deed they seeme to say (b) Esa 28 15. 3 8.9 Psal 51 3.7 Pro. 2 14. We haue entered into league with death and with hell wee haue made a pact And of these also may that saying bee vnderstoode which S. IOHN auoucheth There (c) 1. Io. 5 16 Aug. de corr gra c. 12. 1. retract cap. 19. is a sinne to death for that I say not that anie man aske Thus much concerning the sins against the holy-Ghost which are doubtlesse most grieuous which Almighty God either neuer or verie hardly doth pardon For which cause we ought often to garde our selues to confirme others against the same that we may obserue that saying * Ephes 4 30. Cōtristate not (d) 1. Thess 5 19. extinguishe not the spirite of God This (e) Ps 94 8. day if you heare his voice harden not your hearts Let (f) Heb. 3 13. none of you be obdurate with the fallacie of sinne For (g) Eccli 3 7.27 an harde heart shall bee in euill case at the last Nowe therefore let vs come to those sins which are also not a little hainous and are wonte to be called sinnes that cry vnto Heauen OF SINNES THAT CRY VNTO HEAVEN 1 What sinnes are those that are saide to crie vnto Heauen THose Aug. in En. c 30. l. ann in Iob. c. 30. l. 1. locutionis de Genes quaest 5. super Exod. Greg. 3. par past adm 32. in 2. Psal poenit which notably aboue others are knowne to haue a manifest and exceeding wickednesse doe singularly purchase to those which cōmit thē Gods indignation vengeance Of this sort there are four nūbred in holy scripture to wit wilful (a) Gē 4 10. Murder (b) Gē 18 20 Sodomie (c) Ex. 22 23 Oppression of the Poore defrauding (d) Deut. 24 15. Iac. 5 4. the Laboring mans hiere 2 Howe doth the Scripture teach that wilfull murther is reuenged IN most grieuous manner doubtlesse Vide Conc. Ancyr c. 22. Conc. Epaun ca. 31. Tribur c. 54 sequ as Almighty God sheweth in these wordes wherein hee rebuketh CAIN the first man-flear (a) Gē 4 10. Amb. l. 2. de Cain Abel cap. 9. What hast thou done saith he the voice of the bloude of thy brother crieth to me from the earth Now therfore shalt thou be cursed vpon earth And in another place Gods owne voice doth testifie (b) Gen. 9 6. Ex. 21 12.14 Leuit. 24 17 Num. 35.16.20 Deut. 19 11 1. Io. 3 15. Whosoeuer shall shed mans blood his blood shall be shed also For to the image of God was man made The kingly Psalmist singeth Men (c) Ps 54 24. of blood shall not liue halfe their daies For this is a very heinous wickednesse he doth a most horrible iniurie to his neighbour that bereueth him of his life without lawfull (d) Aug. l. 22 contr Faust cap. 70. auctoritie For which cause Christ himselfe saith also (e) Mat. 26 52. Apoc. 13 10. All that take the sword shall perish with the sworde 3 And what is extant in holy scripture touching the sinne of Sodome and the punishments thereof THe men of Sodome saith the scripture (a) Gen. 13 13. were very naught and sinners before God too too much This horrible and abominable sin (b) 2. Pet. 2 6. S. PETER S. PAVL (c) Rom. 1 24. 1. Tim. 1 10 Ephes 5 5. Iudic. 19 22 20 46. doe reproue yea nature her selfe doth abhorre and the scripture also doth declare the greatnesse of so foule a wickednes in these words The crie (d) Gen. 18 20. of the Sodomites and the Gomorians is multiplied and their sinne is aggrauated too too much For which cause the Angels doe speake thus vnto the iust man LOTH who did greatly abhorre from the outragious filthines (e) 2. Pet. 2 6 of the Sodomites (f) Gē 19 13 We will destroy this place because the cry of them hath increased before our Lorde who hath sent vs to destroy them Therefore our Lorde (g) Ibid. Sap. 10 6. Deut. 29 23 Iudae ver 7. Gen. 13 10. vide Greg. li. 14. mor. c. 10 Aug. l. 16. de ciu cap. 30. Tert. in apo aduers gentes ca. 40. in Sod ca. 4. rained downe vpon Sodome Gomorrha brimstone and fire from our Lorde out of heauen and ouerthrewe those Cities and all the Countrie about Neither doth the scripture leaue vntouched the causes which moued the Sodomites and may also moue others to this so greeuous a sinne For thus we read in EZECHIEL (h) Ezec. 16 49. Behold this was the iniquitie of Sodome thy sister Pride fulnes of bread and aboundance and the idlenesse of her her daughters and they did not stretch their hand to the needy poore And of this vice which can neuer be sufficiently detested are they guiltie who doe not feare to breake the lawe of God yea the lawe of nature written in Leuiticus which is this (i) Leuit. 18 22. Deut. 27 21 vide Chrys ho. 4. in ep ad Rom. Tert. in l. de pudicit c. 4. Aug. lib. 3. conf cap. 8. ep 109. Cum masculo non commiscearis coitu foemineo quia abominatio est Cum omni pecore non coibis nec maculaberis cumeo Which sin if it be committed we are admonished (l) Leuit. 20 13.15 Exo. 22 19. Ioel. 3 3. in the same place that the very earth is polluted with such horrible abominable lustes that Gods wrath is very much prouoked against the people and (k) L. Cum vir nubit C. ad legē Iul. de adult that the crime is