and wouldst haue him giuen to the rest of the Faithfull by theÌ„ and theire Successors And the same teacheth saint Thomas 3. p. q. 72. art 7. Christ saith hee by his power of excelâ—encie gaue his Apostles the effect of this Sacrament without the Sacrament because they receiued the primities of the holy Ghost And the same say other Diuines Secondly it giueth habituall Confirmation giueth abundance of grace or iustifying grace and in that abundance and pleÌ„tie as it is said of the holy Fathers and Diuines to giue the Fulnes of the holy Ghost and not grace onely but also the. Seauen gifts of the holy Ghost For thus speake the Canons And the seauen gifts of the holy Ghost de Const D. 5. C. Nouissime The baptized is signed in the forehead that the seauenfold grace of the holy Ghost with all fullnes of Sanctitie knowledge and vertue may bee declared to come vppon man Saint Clement Epistola cit All must bee consigned of the Bishop that is receiue the seauen-fold grace of the holy Ghost Saint Ambrose l. 3. de Sacram. c. 2. These are the seauen vertues when thou art confirmed Saint Thomas 3. p. q. 72. ar 1 Confirmation is a Sacrament of the fulnes of grace Againe this Sacrament is giuen to obtaine the fulnes of the holy Ghost whose working is manifold according to that Sap. 7. And art 11. In this Sacrament the seauenfold grace of the holy Ghost with all fulnes of Sanctitie and knowledge and vertue cometh to man And Sotus in 4. d. 7. qu. vnica art 7. It is a point of Faith that this Giueth more grace then any Sacrament except the Eucharist Sacrament is instituted to giue the fullnes of the holy Ghost wherevppon it followeth with greate apparence that in this Sacrament is giuen a greater and more plentifull degree of grace then in Baptisme or in any other Sacrament except the Eucharist perhaps Priesthood This shevv the Canons vvhich saie that by this Sacrament wee bee made full Christians increase of grace is afforded and the seauenfold grace of the holy Ghost with all fulnes is giuen And this appeareth in the holy Apostles who Example of the Apostles though they had receiued the Sacraments of Baptisme of the Eucharist and of Orders yet were fearefull till they had receiued the grace of this holy Sacrament and thereby were endued with strength from aboue And as for the Sacrament of Baptisme the grace thereof seemeth to bee so farre exceeded by the grace of Confirmation as the strength of a Child is exceeded by the strength of a man For thus saith saint Thomas q. 72. cit This Sacrament is giuen to a certaine excellencie of a man aboue himselfe as the same beeing a perfect man excelleth himselfe beeing a Child And ib. art 11. For the greater effect this vnction is re-reserued to the Bishop The like hath Sotus loco cit art 1. Thirdly it not onely giueth Confirmation giueth a Sacramentall grace habituall or iustifying grace and the seauenfold gifts of the holy Ghost but also it giueth a speciall Sacramentall grace For as it is a speciall Sacrament so also it giueth a Sacramenrall grace which is a speciall assistance which God bindeth himselfe to afford to those who receiue any Sacrament for to effect that for which hee instituted that Sacrament And because the end for which God instituted this Sacrament of Confirmation is as is before said to become full and perfect Christians and couragiously to professe his faith hee doth bind himselfe peculiarly to assist to this end those that receiue this Sacrament This VVhat iâ— the Sacramentall grace of Confirmation teacheth Suarez to 4. d. 34. art 2. It giueth saith hee Sacramentall grace that is a speciall protection of the holy Ghost constantly to hold and professe a liuely Faith And seeing a liuely faith includeth both faith and Charitie or grace this Sacrament giueth a speciall protection of the holy Ghost constaÌ„tly to hold both Faith and Grace by which alone appeareth what greate good is gotten by hauing this Sacrament and what greate losse by wanting it The like hath saint Thomas q. 72. ar 5. In Confirmation saith hee a man receiueth power to doe those things that belong to a spirituall fight against the Enemies of the Faith And Pope Eugenius in Decreto Fidei By Confirmation wee receiue increase of Grace and are strengthened in Faith S. Petrus Damianus serm 1. de dedicat In baptisme the spirit is giuen for pardon here for fight there wee are cleansed from Sinne here wee are armed with vertues saint Melchiades Epist cit Before the desceÌ„t of the holy Ghost the Apostles vvere terrified euen to deniall but after his visitation they vvere armed vvith contempt of life euen vnto Martyrdome The same saith saint Gregorie of saint Peeter Lastly Confirmation remitteth Sinne in those who Confirmation remitteth Sinne. haue not culpable ignorance thereof For thus writeth saint Thomas q. 72. cit ar 6. If any man beeing in Sinne whereof hee hath no remembrance or else came not vvith perfect Contrition So that hee came not fainedly hee shall obtaine remission of Sinnes by the grace giuen in this Sacrament And the same Sotus in 4. d. 7. q. vn art 7. and others say who teach that Attrition thought to bee CoÌ„trition is sufficient to come to this Sacrament And for these so many and so greate effects of Confirmation saint Denis c. 2. Eccles Hierar saith Confirmation maketh men most Diuine Confirmation maketh men Diuine and c. 4. calleth Chrisme a Deifying Ointment And the Councell of Laodicea cap. 48. The ointment of Supercelestiall Chrisme and most holy Chrisme Chrisme a Deifying ointment And thus haue wee seene the effects of Confirmation Lett vs goe to the Prerogatiues thereof CHAPTER IX Of the Prerogatiues of the Sacrament of Confirmation THe first Prerogatiue of The name of the holy Ghost attributed to Confirmation the Sacrament of Confirmation whereof wee will speake is taken from the name wherewith ether it selfe or the effect thereof generally and vsually signified in the holy Scripture which is the very name of the holy Ghost the third person in the holy Trinitie For Christ our Sauiour speaking Act. 1. as is before related of the grace of this Sacrament which hee would powre downe vppon the Apostles in the day of PeÌ„tecost saith Ihon indeed baptized with water but you shall bee baptized with the holy Ghost after these few dayes And S. Luke Act. 2. relating the performaÌ„ce of this his promise saith There appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire and they vvere all replenished vvith the holy Ghost And C. 8. speaking of the Confirmation of the Samaritans by saint Peeter and saint Iohn hee saith Who vvhen they vvere come prayed for them that they might receiue the holy Ghost for hee vvas not yet come vppon any of them but they vvere onely baptized in the name of our Lord IESVS Then
did impose their hands vppon them and they receiued the holy Ghost In like manner saint Paul S. Pauls care of the same was carefull to enquire of Christians whether they had receiued the holy Ghost and when they answered that they had not hee imposed hands vppon them and the holy Ghost came vppon them Actorum 19. Both which places the holy Fathers and Diuines doe vnderstand of the Sacrament of Confirmation And hereby vvee see both the Custome and the greate care the holy Apostles had to confirme the Christians lett vs see the like of the holy Bishops theire Successors Saint Denis Schollar to the Apostles in his Booke de Ecclesiastica The same in S. Denis his time Hierarchia cap. 2. describing what was done to one in those times that was Christened saith And the Priests taking him that is Baptized deliuer him to his Godfather who brought him thither and togeather with him putt vppon him a garment beeseeming the puritie of one that is baptized and so attyred they leade him againe to the Bishop Hee signing the man with diuine designing ointment maketh him partaker of the most holy Communion For that perfecting ointment maketh him so perfected notable with the fragrant smell of sweete odour And Cap. 4. Euen to him who is consecrated with the holy misterie of regeneration the inunction of ointment giueth the comming of the holy Ghost Behold how they that were Christened were anointed with diuine ointment of the Bishop and thereby receiued the holy Ghost Tertullian also not long In Tertullian his time after the Apostles time writeth thus l. de Baptism Then going from the Lauer wee were anointed with a holy ointment according to the auncient discipline Whence Christ is called of Christ of Chrisme Chrisme which is ointment which gaue our Lord his name And l. de Resur c. 7. and l. 1. contra Mart. hee hath these wordes The flesh is anointed that the Soule may bee consecrated the flesh is signed that the Soule may bee fenced the flesh by imposition of hands is shadowed that the Soule by the Spirit may bee illuminated Loe how those that were Christened were also anointed with holy Chrisme and that according to auncient discipline and that theire flesh was anointed signed and shadowed by imposition of hands that theire Soule might bee fensed consecrated and illuminated by the Spirit S. Cyprian Epistola ad Iubaian In S. Cyprians time Therefore because the Samaritans had receiued a lawfull and ecclesiasticall Baptisme they were not to bee baptized againe but that onely which wanted was done by Peeter and Iohn that praier beeing made for them and hands imposed vppon them the holy Ghost might bee inuocated and poured vppon them which novv also is done vvith vs that vvho are baptized in the Church bee offerred to the Prelates of the Church and by our power and imposition of hands they may attaine the holy Ghost and bee signed with our Lordes marke In which wordes hee plainely saith that the Apostles confirmed the baptized Samaritans and that the Prelates of the Church in his time did the same The Councel of Eliberie which was held toward the At the end of the time of persecution end of the persecution of the Primatiue Church thus ordaineth Conc. 38. They that trauell by Sea a farre of if a Church bee not neere a Christiā may baptize a Catechumene in extremitie of sicknes but so as if hee recouer hee bring him to a Bishop that by imposition of hands hee may bee perfected Of the like lawe or decree make mētion S. Cornelius saint Hierome and others whose wordes shall bee related And thus wee see the Custome and care of the primatiue Church in her time of persecutiō vnder Heathen Emperors for confirming of those that were Christined Now lett vs see her like custome in time of Calme vnder Christian Emperors Saint Hierome who liued In S. Hieroms time soone after the foresaid time of persecution Dial. cōtra Lucifer writeth thus in the person of a Luciferian Art thou ignorant that this is the Custome of the Churches that hands bee after imposed vppon them that are baptized and so the holy Ghost bee inuocated Doest thou aske where it is written In the Acts of the Apostles And if Custome of all the world there were no authoritie of Scripture the consent of all the world to this part would bee as good as a precept And saint Hierome answereth in the person of a Catholicke Surely I doe not denie that this is the Custome of the Churches that the Bishop make a progresse into small townes for to impose hands vppon those that haue bene baptized by Priests and Deacons for the inuocation of the holy Ghost But what a matter is it that thou wilst abuse the Lawe of the Church Lawes of the Church for herefie Behold how by the Confession both of Catholicks and Hereticks it was in saint Hieroms time a Lawe and Custome of the Church and of all the world that the Bishop should confirme those who had bene baptized by Priests or Deacons and that this is that which weeread the Apostles to haue dō in their Acts. S. Prosper schollar to S. Austin S. Austins time in his 34. sent gathered out of S. Austin hath these wordes Christs name is from Chrisme that is from anointing For that end is euery Christian sanctified that hee may knowe hee is partaker not onely of Priestlie and Princelie dignitie but also is made a wrastler against the Diuill And the like wordes hath saint Austin Tra. 33. in Ioannem And. l. de Eccles dogmat 52. habetur de Cons d. 4. C. Si qui hee doth appoint that those that are cōuerted from Heresie Bee confirmed and strengthned by imposition of hands and Chrisme bee admitted to receiue the Eucharist S. Isidor who was Schollar to S. Gregorie the greate In S. Gregories time l. 2. de off c. 15. writeth thus And there was at that same time mysticall vnction onely in Kinges and Priests because Christ vvas figured vvhence euen the name is deriued But after that our Lord the eternall King and Priest vvas anointed of God his heauenly Father vvith mysticall ointment novv not onely Priests and Kinges but all the Church is All the Church consecrated vvith the ointment of Chrisme because it is a member of the eternall Priest and King Rabanus l. 1. de Instit Cler. c. 30. Last of all the holy Ghost is giuen of the Bishop by imposition of hands vnto the baptized that hee may bee strengthned by the holy Ghost to preach vnto others the same guifte Author de vnctione Chrismatis in Saint Cyprian Novv in the holy Church is holy Chrisme made vvith other ointments for to sanctifie the purchased people to bee partakers of the dignitie and name The fulnes of this grace is poured vppon all Catholicks that as Christ is All Catholicks called of Chrisme in that God hath anointed him with
they imposed theire hands vppon them and they receiued the holy Ghost And vvhen Simon Magus had seene that by the imposition of the hand of the Apostles the holy Ghost vvas giuen hee offâ—red them monie saying Giue â—e also this power that on whomsoeuer I impose my hands hee may receiue the holy Ghost Note 1. How often in so fewe â—ordes the SacrameÌ„t of CoÌ„â—â—rmation or the effect thereof is called the Holy Ghost 2. How euen they who had beene baptized are yet said not to haâ—e receiued the holy Ghost till they were confirmed And in like manner hee saith Actor 19. Hearing these thinges they wâ—re baptized in the name of the Lord IESVS and wheÌ„ Paul had imposed hands vppon them the holy Ghost came vppon them Now if it were a singular hâ—nour to Abraham and S. Peeter that God would giue them speciall names becaâ—se that did both declare Gods speciall fauour to them and the names did declare theire Excelâ—encie because God giuet not emptie names God doth not impose vaine or emptie names which signifie nothing as Abrâ—hams name doth signifie that hee was Pater multarum gentium and Peeters name that hee was The Roâ—ke of the Church what a Prerogatiue or honour thinke wee is it to this greate Sacrament that God would not onely giue it a peculiar name but also would appropriate his owne name vnto it at least in it's effect For this must needes argue both his speciall fauour towards this SacrameÌ„t and also a peculiar vertue in the Sacrament and Gods speciall assistance in working of it The second Prerogatine is Confirmâ—tion callâ—d the Sacrament of Chrisme taken from that name which the holy Fathers Greeke and Latin haue giuen to this Sacrament calling it the Sacrament of Chrisme For seeing as the same Fathers teach Christs owne name is deriued from Chrisme it must needes argue what greate account they made of this SacrameÌ„t in giuing to it that name of which Christs owne name is deriued So that the Sacrament of Confirmation hath at least in it's effect the name of the holy Ghost appropriated vnto it by the holy Scripture and also the fountaine and origen of Christs name appropriated to it by the holy Fathers which are as greate Prerogatiues for names as can bee The third Prerogatiue is taken from the promise of The grace of ConfirmatioÌ„ the greate promise of God the effect of this Sacrament which seemeth by Christs wordes Act. 1. to bee that greate wordes Act. 1. to bee that greate and speciall promise of his Father whereof hee had so often spoakeÌ„ to his Apostles For thus writeth saint Luke Hee commaunded them that they should not depart from Hierusalem but should expect the promise of the Father which you heard saith hee by my mouth For Ihon indeed baptized with water but you shall bee baptized with the holy Ghost after these fewe dayes Loe how hee calleth the grace of this Sacrament that greate promise of his Father which so often hee told them of And the like may bee gathered out of saint Peeters wordes Act. 2. And sure it is that that which God the Father so specially promised and which Christ so often spoake of is some speciall and singular matter The fourth Prerogatiue is Confirmation specially graced with miracles the greate and continuall miracle wherewith Allmightie God in the beginning of his Church vouchsafed especially to grace and authorize this Sacrament For when the grace of this Sacrament was bestowed vppon the Apostles act 2. Suddainely there vvas made a sound from heauen as of avehement wind comming and it filled the whole howse where they were sitting And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire and it sate vppon euery one of them and they vvere all replenished vvith the holy Ghost and they began to speake vvith diuers tongues as the holy Ghost gaue them to speake And Act. 19. When saint Paul had imposed hands vppon some the holy Ghost came vppon them and they spake vvith tongues and prophecied Loe with what greate miracles Allmightie God did in the beginning of the Church grace and commend to vs this greate SacrameÌ„t as that at the giuing thereof hee would giue the gifte of tongues and of prophecie the like gracing of other Sacraments wee find not in holy Scripture which perhaps vvas the cause vvhy that wretch SimoÌ„ Magus specially desired to buy the power to giue this Sacrament Neither did God onely in the beginning of his Church thus grace this Sacrament with miracles but also afterwardes For saint Optatus l. 2. telleth that when the Donatists cast out of a windowe a viall of holy Chrisme there wanted not the hand of an Angell to receiue it and by the power of God it rested vnbroken among the Stones Saint Bernard in vita Malachiae reporteth how saint Malchus cured a Lunaticke person by Confirmation and hee greately commendeth saint Malachie for renewing the most wholesome vse of Confirmation which had bene for some time intermitted in Ireland Saint Rembert also curied a blind man by Confirmation And the like did saint Faro as may bee seene in theire liues in Surius And as the Ecclesiasticall Histories record The Diuells mouth stopt where the confirmed are ver the Diuell could giue no answer in presence of confirmed Christians See Lactant. de ver Sap. cap. 27. Turon de Glor. Mar. l. 1. c. 41. Nazian Orat. 1. in Iul. Prudent in Apotheasi The fifte Prerogatiue is God appointeth his cheefe Officers for proper Ministers of Confirmation that the Holy Ghost as hee appropriated his owne name to this Sacrament so hee chose the Apostles and Bishops theire Successors whoÌ„e hee appointed for Gouernors of his Church for the proper Ministers of this Sacrament For whereas other Sacraments besides Orders can bee administred by inferior Priests this can bee administred onely by a Bishop where vppon in our English VVhy CoÌ„firmation called Bishoping language it is called Bishoping of the proper and peculiar Minister thereof For thus defineth the Councell of Florence Whereas a simple Priest may giue the other vnctions this none but a Bishop must giue because it is read of the Apostles alone whose place Bishops haue that they gaue the holy Ghost by imposition of hands The same is to bee seene De Consec d. 5. Com. de his Cap. Man and d. 4. Conc. Presbiteri Herevppon the holy Church saith in her prayer after Confirmation God who gauest the holy Ghost vnto the Apostles and wouldst haue him giuen to the rest of the Faithfull by them and theire Successors c. In which wordes the holy Church both saith that God would haue all Christians to bee confirmed and also that hee would haue them coÌ„firmed by the Apostles and Bishops theire Successors and doth insinuate as well that God commaundeth Christians to bee coÌ„firmed as that they should bee confirmed by Bishops And why God would haue Bishops to bee the proper and peculiar Ministers of this