reason that in the primitiue Church for euery mortall sinne men vvere vvonte to doe penance many yeares and that novv deuotion and charity is vvaxen so cold that one man vvill sometimes coÌ„mitt tvveÌ„ty or forty mortall sinnes in one yeare and by that accompte de serue aÌ„ 100. sometimes a 1000. yeares of penaunce excepte penances vveare shortened and pardons enlarged in this fraylty of man it vvould be harde to giue God and the Church satisfaction M. Truly so it is and more is the pitty but hereby vve see hovv iustly vvee call the Church our mother and the Pope our father seeinge they deale so gently vvith vs. But lett vs goe forvvard vvith the Creede and tell me the meaninge of the sixt Article D. The sixt article is He ascended in to heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie VVhich ascensioÌ„ beinge full fortie dayes after his Resurrection doth so assure vs of the verity of all the mysteryes of his lyfe and passion as there can be no further doubt of them and this as the conclusion of the reste doth manifestly assure vs of the greate glorie and majestie vvhich novv he retaineth in heauen M. And vvhat meaneth it to say that Christ after his ascension sitteth on the right hand of God the father hath God the father any right hand D. No sir for he is a spirite and hath no bodie but vvhen vve say he sitteth on the right hand the meaninge is that Christ in that be is God hath the same glorie honor povver vvith his father not inferior nor superior but equall and in that he is man God the father hath giuen him more glorie honor and povver then to all the Angels and saintes in heauen M. Let vs come to the seauenth article vvhich is From thence he shall come to iudge the quicke the dead Doe you Knovve hovv this iudgment shal be D. Yea Sir for it shal be as saint Paule sayeth in greate terrour and majestye in the Voice and trumpet of an Angell at vvhat tyme the vvhole vvorld shal be destroyed vvhith fire as it vvas vvith vvater in the deluge vvhich day no man shall Knovv hovv neare or farre it is of the dead shall rise and those that are then liuinge shall presently die and sodainly rise againe to the ende they may haue their due to death At vvhich tyme shal cease dayes and nightes mariadge and merchandise and all these other things vvhich vve novv see vsed in this vvorlde M. To vvhat purpose then shall those be iudged vvhich haue alreadie in the hovvre of their death receiued their final sentence and verdicte D. For diuers causes and first because the bodie vvith the soule shall haue his iudgment of paine and glorie euerlastinge vvhich before it had not Secondly for the glorie of Christes saintes vvhich as they vveare in this vvorld persecuted and euell intreated so there they shal be in the sight of the vvhole vvorld by God glorified Thirdly for the glorie of Christe because hauing been vnjustly coÌ„demned of many neither Knovvne not honoured as vvas conuenient so is it good reason that there should come a day vvherin the vvhole vvorld eyther by loue or force should both Knovve him and honour him as their Kinge lord and soueraigne Fourthelie for the confusion of the proude enemies of God Lastly for the glorie of God him selfe against all Atheistes and incredulous persons vvho measuringe Gods prouideÌ„ce by their ovvne carnall desires because they see often tymes the just to be afflicted and the vvicked to lyue in prosperitie thinke that God doth not vvell gouerne this vvorld But then they shall see that all this hath been by Gods highe vvisedome and goodnesse vvherby he shall there as justly condemne the vvicked for their sinnes as he doth here in this lyfe revvarde their slender good vvorkes vvith temporall coÌ„modities As contraryvvise his servantes in this lyfe be punished for small offences to enriche them in the nexte for their good vvorkes vvhith an infinite treasure of glorie M. VVhat is comprised in the eyght article I beleeue in the holy ghoaste D. That the holy ghoast the thirde person of the holie Trinitye is the same God of aequall povver vvhith the father and the sonne the other tvvo persons of the blessed Trinitye And he is called the holy ghoast or spirite because all other spirites vvhether of men or Angels though neuer so holy haue of him receaued all their sanctification to vvhose goodnes are also attributed all other giftes and graces of God vvhich are reparted in the vvhole Catholique Churche M. VVhat meaneth it that the holy ghoast is painted in the forme of a doue and some times in the forme of fier and clouen tongues D. Not because the holy ghoast hath any corporall forme or shape of him selfe but to represente vnto vs in the doue the holy simplicitie puritie and zeale of those soules vvhich he replenisheth And in the fiery tongues is signified the comminge dovvne of the holy ghoast ten dayes after Christes Ascension vpon his Apostles and disciples vvhome he then filled vvhith all Kinde of Knovvledge vvhich is signified by the light of that fier vvith charitie vvhich is signified by the burninge flames of the same and thirdly vvith eloquence vvhich is signified by the fierie tongues all vvhich vvere necessarie for the publishing and propagation of his gospell M. Novv then declare vnto me the ninth article I beleeue the holy Catholique Church the communion of saintes Hovv doe you beleeue the holy Catholique Church and hovv shall vve be able to distinguishe it froÌ„ all other synagogues and heretical congregations D. I beleeue the Catholique Church as our deare louinge mother vvhich therfore vvill neuer deceive vs and credite her as Christes true spouse vvhich therfore can not erre for the vvhich also saint Paule calleth her the piller and firmament or foundatioÌ„ of truth and to vvhome our Sauiour ascendinge in to heauen promised the holy ghoast to remaine vvith her and to instruct and teache her all truth M. And vvhat signes can you giue me vvhearby I may Knovve vvhich is the Catholique Church D. Those vvhich this holy Creede and the Creede of the counsell of Nice doth put vvhich are infallible and sufficient M. VVhich are those D. These foure Vnam Sanctam The signes of the â—â—â—e Church Catholicam Apostolicom That is to say in English One Holy Catholique and Apostolick To the vvhich vve may adde the fifte Romanam That is the Romaine M. VVhy may not the hereticKes say the same of theyr Church also D. No for they first are not one The first signe One See Vinc. â—yrinens Tertull. Epiphan Philastr Augus Cypr. contra haereses Ephe. 4. versi 5. because they are deuided into many sects and some are Lutherans some Caluinists some Puritans some Protestantes others of the familie of loue and so forth and as Bozius de sig Eccl. recordeth in these fevve yeares since Martin Luther fled
so that vvhichsoeuer of these three fayle the mariage or matrimonye vvere not validous or effectuall M. 1. Corinth 7. And vvhich is better to marye or to be a Virgen D. Sainte Paule hath allreadye resolued this quaestion sayenge that he vvhich ioyneth him selfe in mariage doth vvell but he vvhich doth not vvith intente to keepe his virginitie doth better and the reason is because allthoughe matrimonie be a Sacramente and represente the inseparable vnion of CHRISTE and his Churche vvhich is the cause that there is no povvre vppon earthe to dispense or gyue leaue for those that are once lavvfullye vnited to chaunge for an other be it man Math. 13. Ambros libr. 1. de virg be it vvoman yeat in effecte matrimonye is but a humayne thinge but virginitye is a thinge Angelicall Matrimonie is accordinge to nature but virginitye is aboue nature and not only virginitye but vvidovvhoad it selfe is better then matrimonye as diuers of the holye fathers affirme expoundinge that parable of oure Sauiour of the good seed Cypr. de babitu virg Hieron lib. 1. coÌ„t IouiniaÌ„ Augu de seruaÌ„d virg c. 44. vvhich fructified some thirtie vvhich they applye to mariage some threescore vvhich they referre to vvidovves and some a hundreth vvhich they accommodate to virginitie M. And vvhich of these Sacramentes is the principall D. The Reall presence Vide Ignat. ad Smyrnens Theodor. Dialogo 3. Areopag lib. de Eccles Hierarch c. de Euch. Iustin Apolog. 2. Irenae lib 4 c. 32. Origen hom 9. in Leuit Athan. â—rat de fide ex Theodor. Dia logo 2. Euseb Emyss hom de corpore D. Basil in regulis breu 171. Epiph in Anchorat Theophil Alex. l. 2. de pasch Ambr. l. 4. de sacram c. 5. Hieron q. 2. ad HedibiaÌ„ Aug. in ps 33 98. Bern. serm de Caenae D. Chrysost ho. 83. in Mat. Hilari l. 8. de Trini Tertul. l. 4. coÌ„tr Marcion Damas l. 4. de fide Orthodoxa c. 14 Conc. Nicen. EphesinuÌ„ Trident cit Goinge to Haereticall Churches Sir the blessed Sacrament of Euchariste or Communion because in it vve do not onely receaue the grace of God as in other Sacramentes but allso the true body of Christe him selfe beinge really present true God and maÌ„ vnder the visible forme of bread transubstantiated into his body vvho is the fountayne of all grace and goodnes M. VVhat ought a Catholique man to doe to be deuoute vnto this blessed Sacrament D. Three thinges first to visite the same euery day once in the morninge and once at night before he goe to bed secondly to receaue it often vvith reuerence beinge first confessed and coÌ„minge fastinge vnto it Thirdly to accompanye it allvvayes vvhen it goeth abroad M. VVhat difference is there betvvene our communion and that of the heretikes D. Very great as can be for ours beinge a Sacramente theyres is none at all nor gyueth any grace nor hath any goodnes in in it beinge a naked elemente of this vvorld and nothinge but bread and vvine onely and vvhosoeuer honoureth the same coÌ„mitteth ydolatry and sinneth deadly to receaue it M. God forbid then that any Catholique should communicate vvith them in any such a false and fayned Sacramente and do you thinke it is lavvfull to goe to theire Churches vvith them D. In no case for Sainte Paule teacheth vs that there is no communication of light and darknes of the table of God and the table of the diuell nor of Christ and Belial For vvhat els are they re Sacramentes but the calues of Samaria and they re Churches but the altares of diuision and they re ministers but the priestes of Hieroboam meere lay and saeculare persons and by saeculare povvre erected againste the vnion trueth and honoure of true Solomons temple CHRISTES Catholique Churche and doctrine and I pray you vvhat proportion or comparison is theire betvvixte the dignitie of the honourable order and vnction of Melchisedech and the letters patentes of Queen Elzabeth to make a Bishoppe M. VVhy Haeretiques Christes enemies doe you make them to deny Christ allso D. In vvordes they confesse him but in effect they vtterly deny him and his kingdome M. Hovv so D. Because his kingdome is the Churche partly in heauen triumphante partly in earth militante partly vnder the earth patience from vvhence they take avvay Limbus Patrum Limbus Puerorum and Purgatory and so leaue him nothinge but hell vppon earth they corrupte and dismember his holy Scripture they pull dovvne his Ymages Altares and Churches they abhorre and abolish the signe of the Crosse like as diuells doe they deny his spouse the Church and mother of truth they take avvay her Sacramentes they hate Goddes chiefe Vicare and lieutenaunt generall vppon earth and call him Antichrist they despise all her Doctoures and auncient fathers they bannish all good vvorkes of penaunce and perfection all orders of Religion and Christes holy bodie and bloode in the holy sacrifice of the Masse they blaspheme and throvv out of they re Churches In heauen they blaspheme his saintes and refuse to praye vnto them or to his blessed mother they rejecte the helpe of his Aungels and as much as in them lyeth they take avvay all reliques and venerable memories of his honourable seruantes I pray you vvhat haue they lefte him or vvhat remaynes next but to deny him or his father as many of them doe daylye more and more degeneratinge into atheisme the more is the pitie M. Truly so it is and you haue reason therfore to auoyde all communication vvith them in thinges belonginge to Gods seruice euen as for bodylie health you vvoulde fly the plague for there is the chayre of spirituall pestilence But tell me vvhat els remayneth to be fayde of the Christian doctrine D. There remayne to rehearse the vvorkes of mercy corporall VVorkes of Mercy and spirituall M. VVhich be they D. The vvorkes of mercy corporall are seuen First Mat. 25. Tob 12. to feed the hungry 2. To gyue drinke to the thirsty 3. To cloath the naked 4. To visite the sicke and imprisoned 5. To lodge pilgrimes 6. To redeeme captiues 7. To burie the dead M. And vvhat are the spirituall D. First To geue good counsell in doubtfull cases 2. To teach the ignorant 3. To comfort the sorovvfull 4. To correct or directe those that erre 5. To pardon injuries 6. To haue patience vvith our neyghbours fraylty or imperfections 7. To pray for the liuinge and dead M. Haue you learned any cause vvhich may excuse a man from obligation of these vvorckes of mercye D. Three causes I haue hearde doe excuse the first for vvante of abilitie as he vvhich lacketh knovvledge can not gyue counsell and Lazarus coulde not gyue almes but take them onely God so disposinge that the riche procure to saue they re soules by the vvay of mercye and the poore by the vvay of patience the second is vvhen there is no importante or notable necessitye for vvee
are not bound absolutely to succoure but those that haue no meanes to helpe them selues nor other that vvill doe yt for them allbeit the trueth is that the true mercyfull minde neuer expecteth such vrgente necessitye but is readye to helpe all and at all tymes The thirde is vvhen a person is in a state of higher perfection then that he is bounde to attende to these obligations of actiue lyfe as are Heremites or Anchoretes and contemplatiue persons vvhich notvvithstandinge vvith they re prayers may supplye they re temporall vvante or inability for this is all so one and not of the leaste of the spirituall vvorckes of mercye M. Rehearse allso the vertues giftes and beatitudes D. Theologicall Vertues There are three Theologicall Vertues faith hope and charitye M. I pray you tell me seinge you are come so farre if you remember the particulares of these Theologicall Vertues and vvhy they are so called D. They are called Theologicall vvhich as I haue been taught is a greeke vvord because they especially depende of God and haue him for they re particular objecte And the first vvhich is Faithe Faithe hath this propretie and office to illuminate the vnderstandinge and eleuate the same to beleeue firmelie all that vvhich God by the meanes of his Church Catholique doth reueale vnto vs allbeit the thinge it selfe be othervvise harde and aboue nature or naturall reason as for example that a Virgen shoulde beare a childe vvithout detrimente of her virginitye and the cause heereof or râ—ther the grounde is because faith is founded in the infallible trueth of God vvhich is impossible to be false M. And vvhat thinges must vve necessarily beleeue vvith this vertue D. Principally and distinctelye the Articles of the Creede or at leaste those vvhich the Church doth solemnize throughe the yeare as CHRISTES Incarnation Natiuitye Passion Resurrection Ascension the comminge of the holy ghoaste and the B. Trinitye Secondly all that euer shal be declared vnto vs as true by holy Church and thirdly in vvorcke to shevv vve are Christians vvhen vve are bounde therevnto as for exaÌ„ple vvithout necessitie only for the Churches precepte to abstayne from fleshe on fastinge dayes the like vvhich haeretiques vvill not M. Hope And vvhat is hope or vvhat is the office thereof D. It is a supernaturall vertue vvhere vvith vve hope in God and the propre office therof is to lifte vppe our vvill to the hope of aeternall faelicitie to the vvhich vve can not aspire by humayne forces and it is founded in the infinite goodnes or bountie of God vvhich he hath manifested vnto vs in his sonne JESVS our Sauiour by vvhom he hath adopted vs as his coheyres to the kingdome of heauen if vve beinge holpen vvith his grace doe vvorcke accordingelie M. Charitie And vvhat is Charitie D. It is a supernaturall vertue vvhich exalteth oure soules to the true loue of God aboue all thinges not only as he is author of nature but allso as giuer of grace and glorie vvhich are both supernaturall and vvithall it extendeth it selfe to loue all other creatures vvhich ought to be loued for Gods sake as especially our neyghboure vvhich is created as our selfe is to Gods ymage vvhich vertue is therefore of Saint Paule called the greatest of these three 1. Corint 13. because vvhosoeuer hath it cannot be daÌ„ned D. Thom. 22. q. 25. ar 3. excepte he firste loose his charitie and vvho hath it not can no vvay be saued allbeit he hath faith and all other giftes and vertues M. I am glad to heare you speake solike a Deuine lette vs see if you be as cunninge in the Cardinall Vertues and first vvhat hovv many be they D. Cardinall Vertues They are foure and are so called because they are the chief of all morall and humayne vertues prudence vvhich gouerneth the vnderstandinge justice vvhich ruleth the vvill temperance vvhich guydeth the sensuall or concupiscible portion fortitude or provvesse vvhich moderateth the irascible parte of the soule M. Prudence You haue spoken like a cunninge Philosopher tell me then vvhat is the propre office of Prudence D. To shevv in euerie action or designemente of ours the due ende and purporte vvith the meanes conuenient to obtayne the same vvith conuenient circumstances thereto belonginge and therefore is vvorthilie called the queene and maistresse of the other vertues like vnto the eye in mans bodye or salte to oure meate or the sunne in this vvorlde The contraries of this vertue are imprudence vvhich others call temeritie rashnes or inconsideration and crafte or suttletie vvhose qualitie is to seeke out the ende and means thervnto but referreth all to his ovvne priuate commoditie and interest vvhich in truth is the greatest follye of all because it leeseth the chiefest good of all vvhich is God to gayne a little vvorldelye coÌ„tentment M. Then vvhat is justice Iustice and her propre office D. Iustice is a vertue vvhich gyueth vnto euerie one his ovvne and so her duetye is to make aequalitie in all humaine affayres and contractes vvhich is the foundation of peace and concorde for if euerie man vvould be contented vvith his ovvne good there vvould be no vvarre nor discorde and this vertue hath allso tvvo contraries injustice vvhich taketh more then is due and inuadeth other mens goods and rigoure or excesse of justice vvhich is vvhen a man seeketh for the extremitie in all thinges M. Fortitude VVhat is Fortitude or valiauÌ„ce and her duetie D. It is a vertue vvherby vve are made prompte and readie to ouercome all difficulties in a good and juste cause euen death it selfe vvhen it is for Gods glorie and to performe our dueties as appeareth in valiaunte souldioures Catholique martyrs the vices opposite heervnto are tymorousnes or feare and audaciousnes or foolehardinesse M. Temperaunce To conclude then tell me vvhat is temperance and vvhat is her especiall office and duetie D. It is a vertue vvhich bridleth all sensuall delightes and maketh that a man doe vse them vvith such measure and moderation as reason coÌ„maundeth The coÌ„trarie vices are intemperance and insensibilitie or sencelesnes vvhich is the first vvhen excesse is committed in eatinge or drinkinge the seconde vvhen a man refuseth that necessarie and alovvable pleasure vvhich naturally is founde in eatinge yeat fevv in this later offende such is our frayltie M. And the gyftes of the holie ghoast vvhich are they Gyftes of the holie Ghoaste D. The gyftes of the holie ghoaste are seauen sapience or vvisedome vnderstandinge counsell fortitude knovvledge pietie and feare of God M. To vvhat effecte are these gyftes or vvherein doe they helpe vs D. Effectes of these giftes They helpe vs to attayne the perfection of Christian lyfe and make as it vvere a ladder to heauen beginninge from the laste vvhich is allso the lovvest to vvit the feare of God may serue for the firste steppe the seconde is pietie or godlines because of Gods feare it