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A22701 Saint Augustine his enchiridion to Laurence, or, The chiefe and principall heads of all Christian religion a most profitable booke to all those which desire to haue a most compendious briefe of Augustines doctrine, out of Augustine himselfe, when he was old, being repurged, by the old manuscript, of many faults and vnusuall wordes, wherewith it formerly flowed. Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo. 1607 (1607) STC 921.5; ESTC S1512 82,205 310

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shall possesse and inioy them for euer But where wee say Giue vs this day our dayly bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and leade vs not into temption but deliuer vs from euill who doth not see that al these things respect the wants and necessities of this present life In that euerlasting life therefore in which wee hope to liue for euer the sanctisication of Gods name his kingdome and the fulfilling of his will shal remaine euerlastingly in great perfection in our spirit and in our bodies But the bread which we aske is therefore called dayly bread because in the state of this life it is necessarie being a supply of the want either of soule or body whether wee vnderstand thereby either carnall or spirituall food or both Heere is vse of that remission of sinnes which we desire Because heere those sinnes bee committed the remission whereof wee pray for Heere are those temptations which allure and drawe vs vnto sinne To conclude Here is that euill from which we desire to be deliuered But there that is to say in heauen and the state of the other life there is none of these things CHAP. Cxvi That the Euangelistes Mathewe and Luke doe differ in setting downe the petitions of the Lords Prayer LVke the Euangelist comprehendeth in the Lords prayer not seauen but fiue petitions and yet doth not hee farre from Mathewe but by expressing thē more briefly put vs in mind how those seauen are to bee vnderstood For the name of God is hallowed in spirit But his kingdome shall come when the flesh shall rise againe Luke therefore shewing that the third petition is in some sort a repetition by omitting it makes vs the better to vnderstand it Thē doth hee adde the other three concerning dayly bread the remission of sinnes the auoyding of temptation But wheras hee addeth in the first place But deliuer vs from euill this Euangelist hath it not That therby we might vnderstand that it pertaineth to that which formerly was expressed concerning temptation For therefore it is hee sayth But deliuer vs and not And deliuer vs Thereby shewing vs that they are but one petition For he saith Let not this be that wee bee led into temptation but deliuer That euerle one may knowe he is deliuered from euill in that he is not led into temptation OF CHRIST CHAP. Cxvli That true Charitie is an effect of true faith and hope and that there is not true faith but that that doth worke by loue NOw for Charitie which the Apostle pronounceth to be greater then these two that is faith and hope by how much the greater it is in any man by so much hee is the better in whome it is For when wee aske whether a man bee good or not Wee aske not what hee beleeues or hopes for but what hee loueth For hee that loues aright doubtlesse beleeues and hopes aright But hee which loues not beleeues in vaine though the thinges bee true hee doth beleeue and hopes in vaine though the things hee hope for pertaine to true felicitie vnlesse he beleeue and hope for this also That God at his humble suite both can and will giue vnto him the affection of loue For although no man can hope without loue yet it may and doth sometimes fal out that a man loues not that without which hee cannot attaine the thing hee hopeth for As if a man hope for eternall life and yet neither hath nor loueth righteousnesse without which no man attaineth eternall life This is that faith of Christ which the Apostle commendes which works by loue and what it findes defectiue in loue it asketh that it may receiue and seeketh that it may finde and knocketh that it may bee opened vnto it For faith obtaineth what the lawe commandeth For without the gift of God That is without the holy Ghost by which the loue of God is shed abroade in our hearts the lawe may require obedience but worketh no obedience but rather maketh a man a more greenous transgressor because it taketh from him the excuse of ignorance For there doubtlesse carnall concupiscēce swayeth all where the loue of God hath no place CHAP. Cxvlii That as of the whole Church so of euerie faithfull man there are fower ages and degrees by which they goe forwarde and growe to perfection WHen as a man liueth and abideth in palpable darknesse of ignorance following those things the flesh most desireth reason making no re 〈…〉 This is the first 〈◊〉 of the condition of a man Afterwardes when by the lawe hee getteth the knowledge of sinne it the spirit of God assist him not endeuouring to liue according to the Lawe hee is ouercommen of sinne sinneth wittingly becomes the seruant of sinne for of whom soeuer a man is ouercommen his seruant hee is the knowledge of the commandement being an occasion that sin worketh in man all manner of concupiscence the transgression of the law now knowen being added to the heap of former sins and so is that fulfilled which is written the lawe entred that sin might abound this is the second estate or condition of man But if GOD looke so gratiously vpon man that hee helpe him to performe those things he requireth and man beginne to bee ledde by the spirite of God his desires and endeuours against the flesh are strengthened with the strength of loue So that although as yet there be in man that resists in his best endeuours the whole infirmitie of sinne being not healed yet the iust doth liue by faith and liues righteously in that hee yeeldeth not to euill concupiscence the loue of righteousnes preuailing in him This is the third estate of man In which causes if with happy continuance hee goe forward the last part remaineth the complement whereof shall bee after this life first in the happie rest of the soule or spirit and afterwards in the resurrection of the body Of these ●ower different estates the first was before the Lawe The second vnder the Lawe The thirde vnder grace The fourth in full and perfect peace So was the estate of GODS people ordered in the seuerall diuersities of times accordingly as it pleased him which disposeth all thinges in measure number and weight For the people of God was first before the Law Secondly vnder the Lawe which was giuen by Moyses Thirdly vnder Grace which was reuealed by the first comming of the Mediatour which grace notwithstanding was not wanting before to them vpon whom God wold bestowe it although it were vailed and hid in obscurities according to the dispensation of time For there was none of the righteous in olde time that could obtaine saluation without the faith of Christ And vnlesse hee had beene knowen of them they could not haue prophecied vnto vs of him sometimes more plainely sometimes more obscurely as they did OF BAPTISME CHAP. Cxix That Baptisme doth profit vs in which soeuer of these former ages or degrees wee be
to eschue all his deadly eleceipts except God be his guide protectour The difficultie whereof is profitable to this ende lest any man presume too much of himselfe or one man depend too much vpon another but that euerie one should repose his hope and helpe in God Which to do none of the godly certainely make any doubt but that it is our better course by much CHAP. 61. That the Church militant vpon the earth consisteth of the faithfull liuing in this world which also is redeemed by Christes blood and vnder his protection THis part of the Church therfore consisting of the Angels and powers of God shall then as it is be knowen vnto vs when wee are vnited thereunto in the laten day to dwell together in eternall felicitie Wherfore this Church which is farre distant from that by reason of her peregrmation vpon earth is the better knowen vnto vs in that wee be in the same and because also it consisteth of mortall Creatures which wee are And this Church is freed from al sinne by the blood of the Mediator who was without sinne and therefore she vseth this confident speach If God bee with vs who can bee against vs Which God spared not his onely sonne but gaue him for vs generally For Christ suffered not for Angels Howbeit whatsoeuer freedome and deliuerie from destruction mankinde receiued by his death is therefore auaileable for Angels also because hee is likewise after a sort reconciled vnto them after those differences whereof sinne was the cause between men and holy Angels as also for that the number that was impaired by the fall of the Angels was repaired by the redemption of mankind TOVCHING OVR Reconciliation and Peace with the holy Angells CHAP. 62. That all things bee restored by the blood and death of Christ and that thereby the blessed Angels and faithfull amongst men be reconciled IN like manner the holy Angels doe knowe being taught by God through the eternall contemplation of whose truth they are made happie what an infinite supply the sanctitie of that Citie exspecteth from mankinde Whereupon the Apostle saith All things are repaired in Christ which were decayed either in heauen or in earth For as touching the ruine in heauenly things all was made whole againe by Christ in as much as whatsoeuer member was wāting in heauen by the fall of the Angels was restored out of the inhabitants vpon earth And on the other side they which liue vpon the earth are restored to integritie whereas mortall creatures predestinate to eternall saluation be renewed hauing put off their auncient corruption And so by that sole sacrifice wherein the Mediator was offered vp whereof the manifold sacrifices vsed in the old lawe were but figures there was an attonement made betweene celestiall and terrestiall earthly and heauenly things or creatures Because as the same Apostle saith In him it pleased the fulnesse of the Trinitie to dwell and through him to reconcile all things to himselfe by his bloodshed vniting whatsoeuer either in heauen or vpon earth in the bond of peace CHAP. 63. That peace is the fruit of this reconciliation which peace with God is alwayes aboue our vnderstanding and that also which we haue with the good Angels is a thing whereof wee are not capable in this life although in that to come wee shall vnderstand the same THis peace passeth as it is written all vnderstanding neither can it be knowen of vs vntill wee come where it is For peace is alwayes in that place ioyntly amongst all intellectuall Creatures as also with the Creator therof Which peace passeth as is said all vnderstanding particularly ours not theirs which alwayes see the face of the Father For wee mortall Creatures notwithstanding we haue all the vnderstanding that man can haue yet do we know but in parte our sight in this world being obscurely by a glasse But when wee shall bee associates to the Angels of God Then euen as they shall we also behould those things face to face and beare as charitable an affection towards them as they do to vs because we shall loue them as much as they do vs. And so shall their loue towards vs be made knowne vnto vs because ours shall bee such and as great towards them Neither shall it then passe our vnderstanding But the peace or loue of God which is in heauen towards thē shall without all doubt exceede both theirs and our vnderstanding For by God the reasonable Creature which is blessed is made happie and not God by the Creature Which being so it followeth vpon that which hath beene said that that saying The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding is taken in the better sense when in that hee saith all no not the vnderstanding of the holy Angells may bee exempted but onely Gods For his owne peace or loue passeth not his owne vnderstanding TOVCHING REMISsion of sinnes and Iustification CHAP. 64. That remission of sinnes is necessarie to all the godly because although many of them liue without fault in action yet not without sinne NOw when as our sinnes be pardoned then be the holy Angels reconciled vnto vs and at peace with vs. Therfore after memorie made of the Church forgiuenesse of sinnes followeth the same as it is set downe in the order of the Creede For vpon this foundation standeth the Church which is vpō earth By this also that is not lost which was lost and found againe For set a-part the gift of Baptisme which was bestowed to redeeme originall sinne whereby that which was vitious in our first birth might bee taken away by our second birth or regeneration freeing vs also from al offences cōmitted in thought word or deede which it meeteth with This great indulgencie therefore I say excepted from whence mans renouation hath his beginning and by which indulgencie●al guiltinesse or imputation of sinne as well originall as actuall is satisfied yet the rest of mans life after such time as hee hath vse or reason howsoeuer it excell in fruitfulnesse of good workes cannot run on his course in this world without remission of sinnes because the children of GOD so long as theyliue in the flesh haue conflict with death And albeit it is truely said of them that as many as be led by the spirit of God be the sonnes of God yet are they so prouoked by the spirit of God and as the children of God learne to become his as that also chiefly through the burthen of the bodie being corrupted euen by the weakenesse of their owne spirit and as they are the children of men are they imperfect in themselues sinnefull by reason of certaine humane motions wherin there is a difference as hath beene sufficiently said thereof For it followeth not that because euerie crime is a sinne therefore euery sinne should be a crime Wherfore we say that the life of godly men in this world wherein they liue may bee found to bee without crime but if we should say
such sort bee renewed in the resurrection thereof as that those things which perish with the bodie and bee turned into these and these shapes and formes of other thinges although they doe returne to the bodie againe from whence they fell should of necessitie turne vnto the same parts and members of the bodie againe where they were placed at the first Otherwise in case that which often powling had cut away should bee restored to the haires of the head againe and that also to the nayles of our fingers which often cutting had taken away the excessiue and vncomely imperfection that wold follow thereof doth breede an impossibilitie of restitution in all those that enter into the consideration thereof and therefore beleeue not in the resurrection at al. But euē as in any image made of any soluble matter if it bee melted or beaten to powder or else wrought into one lumpe or masse if that a workman would make the same again of the substance and matter thus resolued Is it materall for the perfection thereof which part of the substance thus resolued should bee vsed againe in the making of any part or member of the same image so as the same being made a-newe doe resume the whole substance of that wherof it was at the first composed In like sort God being the workemaster of man after a maruailous and vnspeakeable manner shall of that whole consistence whereof our flesh was originally made repaire the same againe with wonderfull and vnspeakeable speede Neither is it material to perfection in the new making thereof whether the haires that were before become haires againe or the nailes returne to be nailes againe or whatsoeuer thereof did perish bee changed into flesh or vsed to bee other parts of the body so as the chiefe workmaster in that newe worke do foresee that nothing bee made vndecently therein CHAP. 90. Touching the stature the similitude or dissimilitude of forme which shall bee in the bodies of the godly that shall rise NEither doth it followe that there should bee difference in the stature of euery particular person that riseth againe because they differed when they liued or that they which were spare and leane should be reuiued in the same leanenesse nor they which were fat in the same fatnesse But if this be a matter of secrecie and counsaile in the creatour that as touching the forme of euerie man the propertie and knowen similitude of euerie one should bee retained but yet all alike in the participation of the rest of the bodies felicities then doth it follow that there shall bee a measure obserued in the ordering of this matter in euery one whereof he was made so as neither any part therof do perish and be lost and if there be any thing wanting in any man it may bee supplyed by him who of nothing was able to make al things that he wold Now then if in the bodies of them that shall rise at the later day there shall bee a reasonable difference and inequalitie such as is in voyces making perfect harmonie that shall be effected to euery one out of the matter and substance of his own body making man equall to the companie of Angels and yet bringing nothing with it that may be vnfitting to the view of those heauenly creatures For there shal be nothing there that is vnseemely but whatsoeuer shall bee hereafter shall be comely because it shall not be at all if it be not decent CHAP. 91. That the bodies of the Elect and godly shall rise againe in their bodily substance but not with their former faults and deformities THe bodies therefore of the godly shall rise againe without any fault or deformity of bodie as also without any corruption burthen of flesh or difficultie Of which sort their facilitie in rising shall be aunswerable to their felicitie after their resurrection For which cause they bee called spirituall albeit no doubt they shall become bodies and not spirits But euen as now in this life the bodie is said to bee naturall being not withstanding yet a body and not a soule Euen so at that time the body shal bee spirituall howbeit a body and not a spirit Yet as touching that corruption which in our life time doth oppresse the soule as also concerning the sinnes wherewith our flesh fighteth against the spirit at that time it shall not become flesh but a body because they shal be reputed for celestiall bodies By reason whereof it is said that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdome of God And therefore as it were interpreting his owne saying hee affirmeth Neither shall corruption enioy incorruption That which before hee called flesh blood he afterwards called corruption And that which formerly he called the kingdome of God he afterwards called incorruption Now as touching that which concerneth the substance that same also shall bee flesh at that time For which reason the body of Iesus Christ after his resurrection is called flesh Therupon doth the Apostle say The body is put into the ground in naturall substance but it shall shall rise a spirituall bodie because of the great agreement and concord which shall be between the flesh and the spirit the spirit hauing a vitall power ouer the flesh which then shall not rebell and that without the help of any manner of supportation in so much as nothing pertaining to our owne bodies shal resistive but as outwardly we shal finde none so inwardly we shall haue no enemies of our selues CHAP. 92. Of what sort or forme the bodies of the damned shal be in the resurrection WHosoeuer verily being of that masse of perdition which the first man made and are not redeemed by the onely mediatour of God and man shal generally also rise in the later day euery man in his own flesh howbeit to bee punished with the diuell and his Angels Now whether they shall rise againe with the faults and deformities of their former bodies whosoeuer of that number were misshapen or deformed in their limmes to what purpose should wee spend our labour to informe our selues therein Neither indeede ought the vncertaine forme or feature of those persons to wearie vs whose damnation shall bee certaine and euerlasting Neither let it trouble vs to thinke how in them the bodie shall bee incorruptible if it bee subject to anguish or else how it may be corruptible if it cannot die For it is noe true life but there where it liueth in all felicitie and happinesse nor no true inccorruption but there where the health is impeached with no manner of griefe Nowe therefore in that place where the person that is forlorne and vnhappie is not suffered to dye as I maye saye there Death it selfe doth not dye and where perpetuall paine doth not kill but doth afflict corruption it self hath no ende or determination This in the holy scripture is called the second death CHAP. 93. Which sort of the damned shall receiue the easiest punishment after the resurrection NEither