we should be negligent and uneasy in the Discharge of this Duty which without very grievous Sin we cannot omit Vide de Consecr dist 1. in Decret Titul de Feriis Conc. Matisc 2. c. 1. 37. Tribur c. 35. Ignat. in Epist ad Philip. Leon. serm 3. de Quadrag August Serm. 251. de tempore And then the Curat may shew XXXVIII How good and profitable it is to observe this Commandment how great the Vertue of this Commandment is since those who truly observe it seem to be in the Presence of God and to speak freely with him For in making Prayers we both contemplate the Majesty of God and freely talk with him And in hearing the Preachers we receive the Voice of God which throw their Labor who preach of Divine Matters holily and devoutly reaches even to our Ears And then we adore Christ our Lord present in the Sacrifice of tile Altar and these are the good things which they enjoy especially who diligently obey this Commandment But those who altogether neglect this Law XXXIX How great a Sin to break this Commandment seeing that they obey not God and his Church and hear not his Commandments are Enemies both of God and of his Holy Laws which may be observ'd from hence because this Precept is of such a kind as may be observ'd without any pains For since God imposes no labor upon us which yet were it the hardest in the VVorld we ought to undergo for his sake but only commands us to be free and quiet on the Holy Days from wordly cares it is a sign of great rashness to refuse Obedience to this Commandment Hereof the Punishments which God has inflicted upon those that violated it Numb 1.15 ought to be for an Example to us as we may see from the Book of Numbers That therefore we may not run into Gods Displeasure Note it will be worth our while often to think upon this word Remember and to lay before our Eyes those mighty Profits and Advantages which as has been shew'd before may be had by the â—bservance of Holy Days And many other things belonging to the same purpose which a good and diligent Pastor can largely and fully discuss as Occasion shall require The Fourth COMMANDMENT of the DECALOGVE Honor thy Father and thy Mother that thou mayst live long upon the Land which the Lord thy God shall give thee SInce the highest Vertue and Dignity is in the former Commandments I. How this Commandment agrees with the former those which we now proceed upon because they are very necessary rightly claim the next place For those directly have Regard to God as their End but these teach us Charity towards our Neighbor altho at the long Run they lead to God himself that is to that ultimate End for the sake whereof we love our Neighbor Matt. 22.39 Mar. 12.31 wherefore Christ our Lord said that those two Commandments of loving God and our Neighbor are like one to the other Vide Aug. in Psal 32. Serm. 1. item lib. 3. de Doctr. Christ cap. 10. lib. 50. Hom. hom 38. D. Thom. 2.2 quaest 17. art 8. Now it can hardly be express'd how great Advantages this Point has II. The Love of God shines forth in the Love of our Parents 1 Joh. 6.20 since it both bears its own fruits and those large and excellent and is as it were a Sign whereby the Obedience and Duty of the First Commandment is apparent He that loves not his Brother says S. John whom he sees how can he love God whom he sees not After the same manner if we do not Reverence and Honor our Parents whom we ought to love 〈◊〉 to God seeing they are almost always in our Sight what Honor what Worship will we give to God the Supream and Best Parent who is above our Sight Whence it is plain that both Commandments agree among themselves Now the use of this Commandment is very large III How large this Commandment is For besides those that have begotten us there are many other besides whom we ought to Honor as Parents by reason either of their Power or Dignity or Profitableness or some other excellent Function or Office Besides it eases the Labor of Parents and Superiors For seeing their chief Care is that those whom they have in their Power live well and agreeably to the Divine Law this Care will be very easy if all Men understood that even by Gods Authority and Admonition the greatest Honor is to be given to Parents Which that we may do it is needful to know a kind of Difference between the Commandments of the First and those of the Second Table These things therefore are first to be explain'd by the Curat and first of all let him Teach That the Divine Laws of the Decalogue were cut in Two Tables In one of which as we are taught by the Holy Fathers those Three were contain'd which have already been explain'd but the rest were included in the other Table Vide Clem. Alexand. lib. 6. Strom. satis ante finem August in Exod. q. 71. Epist 119. cap. 11. D. Thom. 1.2 q. 100. art 4. And this Description was very fit for us IV. Mark this Reason that the very Order of the Commandments might distinguish the Reason of them For whatsoever in Sacred Scripture is commanded by the Divine Law it arises from one of these Two Kinds For in every Duty our Love either towards God or towards Man is seen Now the Three first Commandments teach our Love towards God But that which belongs to the Conjunction and Society of Men is contain'd in the other Seven Commandments Wherefore it was not without Reason that such a Distinction was made that 〈◊〉 Commandments 〈…〉 to the First and others to the Last Table For in the Three first Commandments V. The first Difference betwixt the Commandments of the first and second Table whereof has bin spoken God who is the Supreme Good is as it where the subject Matter which they handle but in the rest the good of our Neighbor In the First is propos'd our greatest Love in the rest our next Love the First respect their End the rest those things that are referr'd to the End Vide Aug. in Psal 32. Ser. 1. D. Thom. 22. q. 122. art 1 2. in opusc 7. c. p. de primo praecept Besides The second difference the Love of God depends thereupon For God is of himself and not for the sake of any other thing to be lov'd above all things but the Love of our Neighbor has its beginning from our Love of God and is to be directed to it as to a certain Rule For if we account our Parents Dear if we obey our Masters if we reverence our Betters we must do it specially for this Cause because God is their Procreator and would have them above others by whose Labor he rules and defends the rest Who
minister and steward 〈◊〉 25.23 and like a good and faithful servant may be found worthy to be preserr'd by his Lord over many things Nor ought he to think that men of one temper only are committed to his charge XVII The fifth Or that one certain Rule or prescrib'd Form is suitable and sufficient to teach and instruct all the faithful in Christian piety But whereas some are as it were 1 Pet. 2.2 infants new born others begin to grow to man-hood in Christ and some do grow in a manner to full age It is necessary to consider who they are that have need of milk who of more solid meat 1 Cor. 3.2 and so to provide for all such food of doctrin as may give spiritual increase Heb. 5.22 13. till we all come into the unity of the faith into the perfect man-hood of the knowledge of the Son of God into the measure of the stature of the fulness or age of Christ The Apostle yielded himself an example to be observ'd by all herein when he said Rom. 1.14 That he was debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians both to the wise and to the unwise to wit That those that are call'd to the ministery might know that they ought so to accommodate their doctrin to the capacity and reach of their hearers in delivering the mysteries of faith and rules of life that when they have fill'd the souls of them Heb. 5.14 who have their senses exercis'd with spiritual meat they suffer not in the mean time the little ones to perish with hunger who ask for bread and there is none to distribute it to them Nor ought it at all to discourage any ones endeavors in teaching XVIII The sixth because it is sometimes necessary for the hearers to be taught the rules of those things which are common and despicable altho frequently it is not without some difficulty that they are handl'd by those whose minds are taken up with and take a kind of pleasure in the contemplation of the more sublime and lofty matters For 1 Thess 8.8 if the wisdom of the eternal Father came down to the earth in the meanness of our flesh to teach us the rules of the heav'nly life who is there whom the love of Christ cannot constrain to become little among his brethren and as a nurse fostering her little infants so earnestly to desire and endeavour the salvation of his neighbour 1 Thess 2.8 That as the Apostle testifies of himself he wou'd not only deliver the Gospel to them but even his own life for them Now the Rule of all that doctrin which the faithful are to be taught XIX Whence the Christian doctrin is to be fetched is contain'd in the word of God and is divided into Scripture and Tradition The Pastors therefore shou'd night and day be meditating on these things Always remembering S. Pauls admonition which he wrote to Timothy which also all that have cure of souls shou'd reckon as belonging to themselves and this is the admonition 1 Tim 4.13 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Attend to reading exhortation and doctrin For all Scripture written by divine inspiration is profitable for doctrin for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of God might be perfect and ready to every good work But because the things deliver'd of God are many and divers XX. Whence is had the division of this Catechism that they cannot easily be comprehended in the mind and being comprehended cannot be kept in memory Therefore when there is offer'd an opportunity of teaching that the explaining of those things may be fit and easie our Ancestors have very wisely reduced the whole power and substance of the doctrin of salvation into these four heads viz. The Apostles Creed The Sacraments The Decalogue or ten Commandments And The Lords Prayer For all those things which are to be held by the discipline of Christian faith XXI The First part or which belong to the knowledge of God or to the Creation and Government of the world or to the Redemption of mankind or to the Rewards of the good or Punishment of the wicked are contain'd in the doctrin of the Creed But those things which are Signs and instruments XXII The Second part as it were for the obtaining of divine grace these the doctrin of the Seven Sacraments contains But those things which have reference to the Law XXIII The Third part 1 Tim. 1.5 the end whereof is Charity are set down in the Decalogue Lastly Whatsoever may be savingly wish'd XXIV The Fourth hop'd or pray'd for by any man is comprehended in the Lord's Prayer Whence it follows that these four which are as it were the common places of the holy Scriptures being explain'd there can be nothing wanting in a manner for the understanding of those things which are to be learn'd of a Christian It seem'd good therefore to admonish the parish Curates XXV The manner of dividing the Catechism into several Sundays that as often as it came in their way to interpret any place of the Gospel or any other place of holy Scripture they may know the meaning of that place whatsoever it be falls under one of these heads we have even now mention'd whither they may have recourse as to the fountain of all doctrin for explanation of it For example If the Gospel of the first Sunday in Advent be to be explain'd Luc. 21 25. There shall be signs in the sun and in the moon c. What is pertinent to the explanation thereof is handl'd under the article of the Creed He shall come to judge the quick and the dead which being thence taken the Pastor may with the same pains instruct the faithful people both in the Creed and in the Gospel Wherefore in all the parts of teaching and interpreting he will do well to hold to this practice of directing all things to those four chief points to which we thought fit to refer the whole power and doctrin of holy Scripture but yet to take that order in teaching as will be most proper both to the persons to be taught and to the season We following the authority of the Fathers XXVI Why it begins with the explication of the Creed who in bringing men to Christ our Lord and in instructing them in his discipline began at the doctrin of Faith have thought fit first to handle those things which belong to Faith But because in the word of God XXVII What Faith is the signification of Faith is manifold we here speak of that by vertue whereof we wholly assent to those things which are deliver'd by God Now that this Faith is necessary to the attaining everlasting salvation no one can justly doubt especially seeing it is written Heb. 11.6 Without Faith it is impossible to please God For whereas the end proposed to man for his happiness is far higher than for
and clearly than S. Austins Definition which all the School Doctors after him have follow'd D. Aug. lib. 10. de Civit. Dei c. 5. Ep. 2. A Sacrament says he is a sign of a Holy Thing Yet in the same sence it is said A Sacrament is a Visible Sing of an Invisible Grace instituted or appointed for our Justification Which Definition that it may be the better understood VI. The Definition of a Sacrament explain'd the Pastors shall explain the several Parts of it And first they must teach that all sensible things are of two kinds some are therefore invented that they may be Signs others are made choice of not to signifie any other thing but meerly for their own sakes Of this number may be reckon'd almost all things which are in nature But of the first sort are to be accounted the Names of things Writings Ensigns Images Trumpets and many other things of the like kind for if you take away from Words the vertue of Signifying then the Cause also why those words were made use of seems to be taken away These therefore are Signs properly so call'd For as S. Austin testifies That is a Sign Aug l. 2 de Doct. Christi c. 1. which besides the thing it offers to the Senses it causes also that by it we come to the knowledge of something else as by a Footstep which we see made upon the ground whereby we easily know that somebody whose Foot-step appears has pass'd there Which being so VII A Sacrament prov'd to be a Sign Aug de doct Christi l. 7. c. 9. Et Epist 23. de Catec rud c. 26. Tertul. de Resâ—â—rect carnis c 8. Greg. in â— Reg. l. 6. c. 8. post i. it it is plain that a Sacrament is of that kind of things which are us'd for signication's sake For by a kind of Resemblance and Likeness it declares to us that thing which God by his Power works in our Souls which Power cannot be perceiv'd by Sense For Baptism that what is taught may be better known by an example when we are outwardly wash'd with water with the Use of Certain and Solemn words signifies this to us That by the Power of the Holy Ghost all Pollution and Filthiness of Sin is wash'd away and our Souls enrich'd and adorn'd with that excellent Heavenly Gift of Righteousness And at the same time that very Washing of the Body as shall be said in its proper place works or causes that thing in the mind which it signifies But it is also clearly gather'd from Scripture that a Sacrament is to be reckon'd among Signs For the Apostle concerning Circumcision a Sacrament of the Old Law Gen. 17.10 which was given to Abraham Gen. 17.10 the Father of the Faithful in his Epistle to the Romans writes thus Rom. 4.11 And he took the Sign of Circumcision a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith And in another place when he affirms that we all who are baptiz'd in Jesus Christ Rom. 6.3 are baptiz'd in his Death We may know that Baptism has this signification to wit as the same Apostle says Rom. 6.4 That we are bury'd with him by Baptism into Death And this will be no small profit to the Faithful to understand that the Sacraments are Signs for by this means it will come to pass that they will more easily believe those things to be Sacred and Holy which are signifi'd and contain'd in and wrought by them And knowing the Holiness of them they will be the more mov'd to worship and reverence the Divine Bounty towards us It now follows VIII How many kinds of Signs there are l. 1. de doct Christ c. 1. Natural Aug. de doct Christ l. 2. c. 1. seq to explain these words Of a Holy Thing which is the other part of the Definition which to do well must be a little further repeated what S. Austin accurately and subtily has disputed concerning the truth of Signs For some Signs are call'd Natural which beget in our minds the knowledge of some other thing besides it self and this as was before shew'd is common to all Signs as Smoak whereby presently is understood that there is Fire And this Sign for this Cause is call'd Natural because Smoak does not in the Will signifie Fire but the Use of things causes that when any one sees Smoak only he presently in his mind and thought perceives that there is also the nature and vertue of Fire underneath which as yet lies hid Now there are some Signs Appointed by Men. Aug. ibid. c. 3. which are not by Nature made Signs but invented and appointed by men for that purpose as to talk with one another and to tell freely to each other the sense of their minds and to be able to undestand each others Opinions and Counsels But how various and manifold these are may be understood by this that some of them belong to the Sight others to the Hearing and the rest to the other Senses For when we Nod to any one and for example signifie any thing by removing a Flag it is plain that that signification belongs only to the Sight As the Sound of Trumpets Pipes and Viols which is made not only for Delight but sometimes also for a Sign belongs to the judgment of the Hearing by which Sense especially are words conceiv'd which have the greatest vertue to express the inward thoughts of our mind But besides these things which we have hitherto spoken of â—â—ven of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de doct 〈…〉 3. c. 9. and which are appointed by the Will and Consent of Men to be Signs there are others given of God of which yet that there is more than one kind all do agree For there are some Signs which are of God commended to men for this reason only Signiâ—ying onlâ— Exâ—d 12.15 to signifie or to admonish Of which kind were the Purificatoons of the Law the Show-bread and many other things which belong to the Ceremonies of the Mosaical Worship But God appointed others Both signifying and effecting Concil Trid. Sess de Sacr. which had not only the vertue of signifying but of working also and amongst this later kind of Signs it manifestly appears that the Sacraments of the New Law are to be reckon'd for they are Signs given of God not invented by Men which we verily believe to contain in them the efficacy of that Holy Thing which they signifie But as we have shew'd that there is a very great variety of Signs so also the Holy Thing is not to be thought to be of one manner only But as to the aforesaid Definition of a Sacrament IX What the Holy Thing is which a Sacrament signifies Divines shew that by the Name Holy Thing is signifi'd the Grace of God which makes us Holy and adorns us with the Habit of all Divine Vertues for to this Grace they have deservedly thought that the proper Name Holy Thing is
without all doubt we believe that the Fruit of his Passion is truly communicated to us only if on our part each of us will piously and religiously apply that Cure to himself And now follows a Fourth reason why the Institution of the Sacraments may seem necessary The Fouâ— h. to wit That they may be Notes and Characters whereby the Faithful might be kmown to each other Especially since D. Aug. l. â— 9 â—â—tra Faust c. 11. de â—era Reâ—â—g c. 17 Basil in Exhort ad Bapt. as S. Austin observes There can be no Society or Company of Men whether of the true or of a false Religion which can be as it were consolidated into one Body unless they be mutually joyn'd together by some hand of visible signs Both these do the Sacraments of the New Law perform which both distinguish Christians from Infidels and by that very Holy Bond knit the Faithful to one another It may further be shew'd The Fifth That there was an other very just cause of Instituting the Sacraments from these Words of the Apostle Rom. 10.10 With the Heart we believe to Righteousness but with the Mouth confession is made to Salvation For in the Sacraments we seem openly to profess and make declaration of our Faith before Men. Wherefore in coming to Baptism we openly testifie that we believe That by vertue of that Water wherewith we are wash'd in that Sacrament our Souls are Spiritually cleans'd And then the Sacraments have a great power not only to kindle and exercise Faith in our Souls but also to inflame us to that degree of Charity wherewith we ought to love one another when we remember that by communion of those Holy Mysteries we are ty'd together with the strictest Bond and made Members of one Body Lastly The Sixth and which in the exercise of Christian Piety ought to be esteem'd very much the Sacraments do tame and restrain the Pride of Man's Heart and make us become Humble while we are forc'd to submit our selves to sensible Elements that we may become obedient to God from whom we fell wickedly before now to serve the Elements of this World There are the things which seem chiefly necessary to be taught the Faithful concerning the Name Nature and Institution of a Sacrament Which after that the Pastors shall diligently have explain'd it will then be necessary to teach of what things the several Sacraments consist and what are the Parts thereof and lastly what Rites and Ceremonies are to be us'd in them First therefore it must be taught XIV Every Sacrament consists of Matter and Form That the sensible Thing which as was said before in the Definition belongs to a Sacrament is not only One tho we must believe the Sign to be One. For there are Two things of which every Sacrament is made of which the One has the reason of Matter and is cali'd the Element and the other has the vertue of Form and is commonly call'd The Word For thus we are taught by the Fathers Concerning which matter that testimony of S. Austin is sufficiently known and receiv'd of all S. Aug. in Joan. Tract 80. The Word is joyn'd to the Element and so the Sacrament is made By the name Sensible Thing therefore they understand both the Matter or Element as the Water in the Sacrament of Baptism the Chrism in that of Confirmation and the Oyl in that of Extream Vnction all which things fall under the Sense of Seeing and also the Words which are as the Form and belong to the Sense of Hearing Both these the Apostle plainly shews Eph. 5.26 Aug. de duct Chrst l. 2. â—3 when he says Christ lov'd the Church and gave himself for her that he might sanctifie her washing her with the laver of Water in the Word of Life In which place are express'd both the Matter and Form of that Sacrament But the Words were to be added to the Matter that the signification of the thing done might be made more plain and clear For it is plain that of all Signs Words have the greatest vertue and if They are wanting it must needs be very hard to know What is signifi'd and shew'd by the Matter of the Sacraments For as may be seen in Baptism since Water has no less the vertue of Refreshing than of Cleansing and may well be a Sign of both unless the words be added any one may easily conjecture either of these to be signifi'd in Baptism but no body will dare certainly to affirm any thing of it But then when the Words are added we straitway understand that it has the vertue and signification of Cleansing But herein it appears XV. The Sacraments of the New Law excel those of the Old That our Sacraments far excel the Sacraments of the Old Law that in administring those of the Law there was no Form observ'd that we know of whence it came to pass that they were uncertain and obscure But ours have such a certain prescribed Form of Words that if by chance it be not closely observ'd the vertue of the Sacrament is lost and for this reason they are most clear and leave no room to doubt These then are the Parts which belong to the Nature and Substance of a Sacrament and of which every Sacrament necessarily consists To the Sacraments are added certain Ceremonies XVI Every Sacrament is to be administred with certain Ceremonies and why which tho they may not be omitted without sin unless extream necessity force it yet if at any time they should be omitted since they reach not to the Nature of the thing we must believe that the true reason of the Sacrament is not at all lessen'd thereby And it has always very well bin observ'd even from the very infancy of the Church that the Sacraments were administred with certain solemn Ceremonies For First First it was very fit to give that Reverence and Worship to the Holy Mysteries of Religion that we might seem to handle Holy Things in a Holy manner Besides Secondly those Ceremonies do more clearly shew forth and put before our Eyes Thirdly as it were and make a deeper impression in our Hearts of the Holiness of those things which are done in the Sacrament And then they raise up the Minds of them who look upon and diligently observe them to the thought of the more sublime and lofty things and excite their Faith and Love towards them For which reason there should the more care and pains be taken that the Faithful may be made rightly to know and understand the Meaning of the Ceremonies which are us'd in each of the Sacraments Now it follows XVII Why the Number of Sacraments is to be explain'd That we teach the Number of the Sacraments the knowledg whereof brings this profit that the people may with so much the greater devotion bend all the powers of their Soul to praise and magnifie the singular goodness of God
S. Austin in his Disputations he wrote against the Donatists most clearly shews And if we require Testimonies of Scripture we may hear the very Apostle speaking in these Words I says he have planted and Apollo has water'd but God gave the Increase For neither is he that plants any thing nor he that waters But God that gives the increase Whence it may sufficiently be understood that as in planting of Trees the naughtiness of those that planted them is no hindrance to the Trees So there can no hurt light upon them by anothers fault who were planted in Christ by the Ministery of Bad Men. Wherefore as from S. John's Gospel our Holy Fathers have taught us Judas Iscariot baptiz'd many of whom nevertheless we read not that any were baptiz'd again so as S. Austin has excellently written Judas baptiz'd and yet after Judas none baptiz'd whom he baptiz'd John baptiz'd and yet after John's Baptism they were baptiz'd again because the Baptism given by Judas was Christs Baptism but the Baptism which John gave was his own And yet we rightly prefer not Judas before John but Christ's Baptism tho given by the hands of Judas before John's Baptism tho given by the hands of S. John himself Nor may the Pastors XXIV It is a great wickedness to administer the Sacraments with as evil Conscience Aug. in Joan. Tract 5. contra Cresc l 3. c. 6. D. Thom. p. 3. q. 93. art 4. or other Ministers of the Sacraments when they hear this think it enough taking no regard to the uprightness of their Manners and purity of their Consciences to take care only how rightly to minister the Sacraments for tho they ought to be very careful therein yet all those things which belong to that Function are not plac'd in this one thing But they ought always to remember That the Sacraments indeed never lose that Divine Vertue which is in them but yet that they bring eternal Death and ruine to those that minister them impurely For Holy things as once and again and oftentimes over and over we ought to admonish should be handled Holily Ps 49 16. Con Trid. ibid. Can. 6. and Religiously To the Sinner as the Prophet has it God has said Why dost thou declare my Righteousness and takest my Testament into thy Mouth whereas thou hatest Discipline Now if it be unlawful for a man polluted with sin to Treat only of Divine Matters How great wickedness must we needs judge him guilty of who being conscious to himself of many crimes is yet not afraid with his polluted mouth to make those Holy Mysteries or to take into his foul hands and handle and to reach them forth and minister them to others especially since it is written by S. Denys To the wicked the Symbols for so he calls the Sacraments it is not permitted so much as to touch them The Ministers of Holy things therefore S. Dyon de Eccles Hier. c. 1. are first of all to follow Holiness and come purely to minister the Sacraments and let them so exercise themselves in Piety that through the frequent handling and use of them by Gods help they may attain a greater plenty of Grace thereby And now these things being explain'd XXV The effects of the Sacraments it must be taught what the Effect of the Sacraments is for this seems likely to afford no small light to the Definition of the Sacraments before mention'd The principal of those Effects are reduc'd to Two And that Grace which of the Holy Doctors we have learn'd usually to call justifying XVI The first Justifying Grace common to all Eph. 25.26 deservedly takes the chief place for so the Apostle has most plainly taught when he said That Christ lov'd his Church and gave himself for her that he might sanctifie her cleansing her by the laver of water in the Word But by what means so great and admirable a thing is wrought by the Sacrament that as S. Austin says S. Aug. in Joan. Tract 80. The Water cleanses the Body and touches the Heart this verily connot be comprehended by human reason and understanding For it is certain that no sensible thing of its own nature is endu'd with such a Power as can penetrate to the Soul But by the Light of Faith we know that the Power of the Almighty God is in the Sacraments because they effect that which the natural things themselves by their own power cannot do Of this Efficacy of the Sacraments see Trid. Sess 7. Can. 6.7 8. De Sacram. Aug. Tract 26. in Joan. cont Faust c. 16. 17. in Psal 77. v. 15 16. Wherefore that there might never any distrust or doubt of this Effect XXVII The Receiving of Grace in the Sacraments why of old prov'd by Miracles arise in the minds of the Faithful When the Sacraments began to be administred it pleas'd the most merciful God by the evidence of Miracles to shew what the Sacraments inwardly effected that we might most constantly believe the same things to be always inwardly wrought tho they were far enough distant from our Senses Therefore to omit Aug l. quart Vet. Nov. Test q. 93. Mat. 3.16 Mar. 1.10 Luc. 3.22 that when our Savior was baptiz'd in Jordan the Heavens were open'd and the Holy Ghost appear'd in the shape of a Dove to admonish us that when at the Saving Font we are wash'd he pours his Grace into our Souls To pass by this I say for this belongs rather to the Signification of Baptism than to the Ministration of the Sacrament Do not we read that on the day of Pentecost when the Apostles receiv'd the Holy Ghost whereby they were thenceforth made more chearful and couragious to Preach the Truth of Faith and to undergo many hazards for the glory of Christ Act. 2.3 then a noise from Heaven being made all of the suddain as it were of a mighty rushing wind there appered cloven tongues like as of Fire Whence it is understood that in the Sacrament of Confirmation the same Spirit is given to us and the same strength bestow'd on us whereby we stoutly resist and encounter those irreconcileable Enemies to us to wit the Flesh the World and the Devil and these Miracles as oft as the Apostles minister'd those Sacraments in the infancy of the Church were for some time to be seen till the Faith being confirm'd and strengthen'd they began to cease From those things therefore which have bin shew'd concerning the former effect of the Sacraments XXVIII How great the Difference of the Sacraments of the Old and New Law is Aug. lib. 19. cont Fault c. 13. in Ps 83. Amb. lib. de Sacr. c. 4. Heb. 9.14 to wit Justifying Grace it plainly appears that there is in the Sacraments of the New Law a better and more excellent vertue than the Sacraments of the Old Law had which seeing they were weak and beggarly Elements did sanctifie the Polluted to the cleansing
Death is indeed signifi'd in the Sacrament of the Blood Wherefore fitly in this place rather than in the Consecration of the Body is the Passion of the Lord commemorated in these words Which shall be shed for the remission of Sins For the Blood being separately consecrated by it self with relation to the Passion of the Lord has greater force and power to lay before the eyes of all Mat. 26.28 Luc. 22.20 both the Death and kind of suffering But those words which are added For you and for many are taken severally from S. Matthew and S. Luke which notwithstanding Holy Church taught by the Spirit of God has join'd together but they belong to the fruit of the Passion and shew the profitableness thereof For if we look at the vertue of it it must be confess'd that our Savior shed his Blood for the salvation of all men But if we look at the fruit which men gather from thence we may easily understand that it comes not to all to advantage but only to some When therefore he said For you he signifi'd either them that were then present or those whom he had chosen out of the Jewish people such as were his Disciples except Judas with whom he spake But when he added For many he would have the rest that were elected either Jews or Gentiles to be understood Rightly therefore was it done that it was not said for all seeing that in this place the design of the discourse extends only to the fruits of the Passion which brought the Fruit of Salvation only to the Elect. And hither do belong those words of the Apostle Christ was once offer'd to take away the sins of many Heb. 9. and that which our Lord himself said in S. John I pray for them I pray not for the World Joh. 17.8 but for those whom thou hast given me because they are thine There are many other Mysteries wrapp'd up in these words of the Consecration which the Pastors by the daily meditation and study of Divine Matters and God assisting them may easily discover But now to return to the explication of those things which the Faithful must by no means be ignorant of And because the Apostle admonishes XXIV We must judge of the Eucharist by Faith not by Sense 1 Cor. 11.29 that they are guilty of a most heinous sin who difference not the Lords Body let the Pastors chiefly teach that the Mind and Reason is here to be call'd off from sense For if the Faithful perswade themselves that those things only are contain'd in this Sacrament which are perceiv'd by the senses they must needs be led into the greatest impiety when with their Eyes their Feeling their Smell their Taste perceiving nothing at all but the Species of Bread and Wine they will judge that there is only Bread and Wine in the Sacrament There must be care tak'n therefore that as much as may be the minds of the Faithful may be abstracted or withdrawn from the judgment of sense and stirr'd up to contemplate the immense Power and Vertue of God Now there are three wonderful and stupendious things XXV Three things done in the Eucharist by Consecration which in this Sacrament Holy Church without all doubt believes and confesses to be wrought by the words of Consecration The First is The First That the true Body of Christ that very same which was born of the Virgin and now sits in Heaven at the Right-hand of the Father is contain'd in this Sacrament See Dionys de Eccl. Hierarch c. 3. Ignat. Epist ad Smyr Just Apol. 2. Iren. lib. 4. c. 34. l. 5. c. 2. Trid. Sess 13. c. 1. de Euch. The Second is that no substance of the Elements remains in it The Second Altho nothing seems more strange and distant to the senses Cyp. de coena Domini Euseb Emiss hom 5. de Pasch Cyr. Hier. Catech. 1 3 4. Ambr. l. 4. de Sacra c. 4. Chrysost hom 83. in Matt. 60. ad Pop. Antioch The Third The Third which is easily gather'd from both the former tho the words of Consecration fully express it is that what is beheld by the Eyes or perceiv'd by the other Senses is in a wonderful and unspeakable manner without any subject matter And one may see indeed all the Accidents of Bread and Wine which yet are inherent in no substance but they consist of themselves because the Substance of the Bread and Wine is so chang'd into the Body and Blood of the Lord that the substance of the Bread and Wine altogether ceases But that the first may be first handl'd XXVI The true Body of Christ prov'd to be in the Eucharist Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.20 Luc. 22.19 Let the Pastors endeavor to shew how plain and clear the Words of our Savior are which shew the Truth of Christ's Body in the Sacrament for when he says This is my Body This is my Blood There is no one in his right mind can be ignorant what we are to understand Especially seeing the design of the discourse is concerning the human Nature which the Catholic Faith suffers none to doubt that Christ truly had As that very holy and learn'd Man Hilarius has written concerning the Truth of Christ's Flesh and Blood S. Hilar. l. 8. de Trinit super illa verba velut unum 1 Cor. 11.28 when according to the very profession of our Lord and our Faith his Flesh is truly our Food that there is no room left us to doubt thereof But there is another point to be open'd by the Pastors whence it may plainly be known that the true Body and Blood of the Lord is contain'd in the Eucharist For after that the Apostle had remember'd That the Bread and Wine was consecrated by our Lord and the Sacred Mysteries administer'd to his Apostles he subjoyns But let a Man prove himself and so let him eat of that Bread and Drink of that Chalice for he that eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks judgment to himself not differencing the Lords Body But if as Heretics say that nothing else were to be venerated in the Sacrament besides the memory and sign of Christ's Passion what need was there that the Faithful should be exhorted with such weighty words to prove themselves For by that weighty word Judgment the Apostle has declar'd that some horrid wickedness is committed by him who impurely taking the Lords Body which lies hid in the Eucharist does not difference it from other kinds of Meat Which also before in the same Epistle he more fully explain'd in these words 1 Cor. 11.26 The Chalice of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communication of the Blood of Christ and the Bread which we break is it not the participation of the Lords Body Which words verily shew the true substance of the Body and Blood of Christ our Lord. These places of Scripture therefore shall be explain'd by the Pastors
Sess 21. de coâ—â— sub uâ—raque specie can 1 2 3. For as has bin explain'd by the Council of Trent altho Christ at his last Supper instituted and deliver'd to the Apostles this most profound Sacrament in the Species of Bread and Wine Yet it does not follow from hence That this was made by our Lord and Savior to be a Law that the Sacred Mysteries should be administer'd to all the Faithful under both kinds For the same our Lord when he spake of this Sacrament frequently made mention but of One Species only Joh. 6.51 as when he says If any one shall eat of this Bread he shall live forever and the Bread which I will give is my Flesh for the Life of the World And He that eats this Bread shall live forever That the use of One species only is sufficient to a perfect Communion may be gather'd ex Tertul. lib. 2. ad Vxor Cypr. de Lapsis Orig. Hom. 13. in Exod. Basil Epist ad Caesar patr Aug. Epist. 86. Hier. in Apol. ad Pammach Chrysost hom 41. operis impers in Matth. It is evident that the Church was led by very many LXXI Why the use of both species is not permitted to the Lay people and indeed by very weighty Reasons not only to approve but also to establish by the Authority of a Decree this Custom of communicating chiefly under one species For first The first Reason great heed was to be taken lest the Blood of our Lord should be spilt on the Ground which thing seem'd not easie to be avoided if it should be administer'd in a great multitude of people Besides The second when the Sacred Eucharist ought to be in a Readiness for the Sick it was much to be fear'd lest if the species of Wine were to be kept somewhat longer it might grow sower Besides there are very many who can by no means indure the Tast The third nor so much indeed as the very smell of Wine Wherefore lest that which was given for spiritual Healths sake The fourth might hurt the Health of the Body it was very wisely establish'd by the Church that the Faithful should receive only the species of Bread And this may be added to the other Reasons The fifth that in very many Countries they have a very great scarceness of Wine nor can they procure it from elsewhere but with very great charges and very tedious and difficult travel And then The sixth which is most of all to the purpose the Heresie of them was to be rooted up who deny'd that whole Christ is in each species but asserted that the Body only without the Blood is contain'd in the species of Bread and that the Blood was contain'd under that of the Wine Now therefore that the Truth of Catholic Faith might the more evidently be put before our eyes the Communion of One Species i. e. of Bread was wisely brought in There are other Reasons also collected by them who treat of this Argument which if it shall seem needful the Curats may make use of And that nothing might be pass'd by LXXII The Minister of this Sacrament is only a Priest that seems to belong to the Doctrin of this Sacrament we are now to speak of the Minister altho' there can be no body in a manner ignorant hereof it must be taught therefore that the Power to make and to distribute this Sacrament to the Faithful is given only to the Priests Now that this Manner has always bin kept in the Church that the Faithful People receive the Sacraments from the Priests and that the Priests who consecrate communicate themselves the Holy Synod of Trent has explain'd and shew'd Sess 13. c. 10. that This custom has bin always religiously observ'd as being sprung from Apostolic Tradition Mat. 26.26 especially seeing that Christ our Lord has left us a clear Example hereof who both consecrated his own most Holy Body Mar. 14.22 and did reach it forth to his Disciples with his own Hands But that by all means the Dignity of so great a Sacrament might be consulted LXXIII Lay people prohibited to touch the Sacred Vessels and Linnen not only the Power of Administring it is given only to Priests the Church by Law has also forbid every one that is not consecrated to presume so much as to handle or to touch the Sacred Vessels Linnen and other Instruments that are necessary to the consecration thereof unless there be some very great necessity Whence both the Priests themselves and the rest of the Faithful may understand with how great Religion and Holiness they ought to be qualified that come to the Eucharist either to consecrate to administer or to take it Altho' as was before said of the other Sacraments they are no less truly administred by Evil men LXXIV The wickedness of the Minister diminishes not the Holiness of the Eucharist provided that those things which belong to the perfect reason or nature of them be duly observ'd the same thing avails in the Sacrament of the Eucharist for neither are we to believe that all these things are done by the merit of the Ministers but by the Vertue and Power of Christ the Lord These are the things which are to be explain'd concerning the Eucharist as it is a Sacrament Now what remains to be spoken must explain it as it is a Sacrifice LXXV Of the Eucharist as it is a Sacrifice that the Curats may understand what chiefly they are to teach the Faithful people upon Sundays and Holy-days concerning this Mystery according as Holy Synod has decreed For this Sacrament is not only a Treasure of heavenly riches Sess 22. princip which if we use well we may reconcile the Grace and Love of God towards us but there is in it also a kind of special Mean whereby we return him some thanks for his immense benefits bestow'd on us But this Victim or Sacrifice if it be rightly and legitimately offerd how grateful and acceptable it is to God is gather'd from hence If the Sacrifices of the Old Law whereof it is written Psal 39.7 Sacrifices and Oblations thou would'st not Psal 50.8 And again If thou would'st have Sacrifice I would give it thee accordingly but thou delightest not in burnt Offerings so pleas'd the Lord that God as the Scripture testifies Gen. 2. smelt a sweet savor i. e. were grateful and acceptable to him what may we hope for from this Sacrifice wherein he himself is sacrific'd and offer'd of whom that voice from Heaven was twice heard Mat. 3 17â— This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Let the Curats therefore diligently explain this Mystery that when the Faithful come together to Divine Service they may learn attentively and religiously to meditate on those things at which they are present And first let them teach LXXVI The Eucharist instituted for Two causes that the Eucharist
spoken concerning those things which somewhat displease which before pleas'd without any Consideration whether they be Good or Bad So all repent whose sorrow is according to the World 1 Cor. 7.10 and not according to God Such kind of Penance brings not Salvation but Death Another Penance is when any one for the sin he has committed The Second which yet before delighted him conceives Grief not for Gods but for his own sake The Third is The Third when not only for the sake of the sin committed we grieve with an inward sense of the Soul or shew some outward token also of that grief but are in that grief for God's sake only And indeed to all these kinds of Penitence the word Penance properly agrees For when we read in Holy Scripture that God did penance III. How God does Penance it is evident that that is done by translation For the Holy Scriptures use that kind of speech which is accommodated to the manners of Men when they declare that God had determin'd to alter any thing Gen. 6.6 which he may seem to do no otherwise than Men 1 Reg. 15.11 whom if they repent of any thing labor with their utmost endeavors to change or alter it Psal 105.45 It is thus written therefore Jer. 26.3 That it repented him that he made man And in another place that he had made Saul King But among these significations of Penance IV. The true Acceptation of Penance we ought to observe a great difference For the first is to be accounted vicious The second is a kind of Commotion and Affection of a disturb'd mind The third we say is both vertuous and also a Sacrament which signification is proper in this place And first we will treat of it as it is a Vertue V. Why we begin with Penance as it is a Vertue Not only because the Faithful ought to be instructed by the Pastors to every kind of Vertue but also because the actions of this Vertue do as it were afford matter wherein the Sacrament of Penance is imploy'd and unless it be rightly understood first what the Vertue of Penance is it must needs be that the Force of the Sacrament cannot be known Wherefore in the first place VI. Penance internal and external the Faithful are to be admonish'd and exhorted to labor with all earnestness and study for the inward Penance of the Soul without which that which is perform'd outwardly will profit them but very little Vide Amb. in serm de poenit citatur de poenit dist 3. c. poenitentia Aug. lib. de vera falsa poenit c. 8. habetur de poenit 3. c. 4. Greg. hom 34. in Evang. lib. 9. Regist. Epist. 39. But the inward Penance is this VII What internal Penance is When from our very Soul we turn to God and detest and hate the wickedness committed by us and also stedfastly purpose and resolve with our selves to amend the evil custom and naughty manners of our life not without Hope of obtaining Pardon of Gods Mercy Now after this there follows as the companion thereof Grief and Sorrow which is a Disturbance and Affliction and by many is call'd a Passion joyn'd with the Detestation of sin Wherefore according to many of the Holy Fathers the Definition of this kind of Penance is declar'd in the grief of the Soul But in him that does Penance VIII How Faith belongs to Penance it is necessary that Faith go before Penance For neither can any one turn himself to God that wants Faith whence it comes to pass that Faith can by no means be call'd a Part of Penance Vide Trid. Sess 14. de poenit c. 3. can 4. But that this inward Penance IX Penance is a Vertue as before was said belongs to Vertue many Rules or Precepts which have bin deliver'd concerning Penance plainly shew For the Law gives Rule concerning those things only which are begun with Vertue Besides no one can deny but that to grieve when how and so far as one ought belongs to Vertue but the Vertue of Penance performs this For sometimes it comes to pass that Men grieve less for their sins Prov. 2.4 than is meet as Solomon says There are some that rejoyce when they have done ill And again there are some that so give themselves over to grief and disorder of mind that they even altogether despair of their Salvation Such a one Cain perhaps may seem to be who said Gen. 4.13 My iniquity is greater than that I can obtain pardon for And such a one haply was Judas Matt. 3.27 who being led by Penance and hanging himself lost both Life and Soul That therefore we may keep a measure in sorrow we are holpen by the Vertue of Penance But the same may be gather'd from these things X. The Motives of the Vertue of Penance which he proposes to himself as his End who truly does Penance for his sins The First is The First That he purposes to abolish sin and to wipe away every fault and spot of the Soul The Second is The Second That he make satisfaction to God for the sins he has committed and that this is to be referr'd to Justice is evident For tho betwixt God and Men there can be no proper Measure of Justice since there is so great a distance betwixt them yet it is manifesf there may be some kind of Justice such as is betwixt a Father and his Children betwixt a Lord and his Servants The Third is The Third That a Man return into the Grace of God into whose displeasure and hatred he has run by reason of the Filthiness of sin Now all these things sufficiently declare that Penance has relation to Vertue But it must be taught also by what degrees we may ascend to this divine Vertue First XI Five Degrees of Penance The First Thren 3.1 The Second Heb. 11.6 therefore the Mercy of God prevents us and converts our Hearts to him Which when the Prophet Pray'd for he said Convert us O Lord and we shall be converted And then being enlighten'd with this Light we tend towards God in Soul by Faith For he that comes to God as the Apostle testifies must believe that He is and that he is a Rewarder of them that seek him Then follows the Motion of Fear The Third and the Bitterness of Punishment being propos'd the Soul is call'd back from sin and hither those words of Isayah seem to have regard Isa 26.17 As a Woman which has conceiv'd when she draws near to her travel grievously laments So are we fall'n in her Pains And then comes Hope of obtaining Mercy from God The Fourth wherewith being encourag'd we resolve to amend our Life and Manners Lastly The Fifth our Hearts are kindled with Charity whence that liberal Fear worthy honest and ingenuous Children arises And so fearing this one
it came so to pass also that Pardon of Sins should be deny'd but to a very few Wherefore it was needful that the most merciful Lord should â—rder the common Salvation of Mankind after an easier way which by his admirable Counsel he has done when he deliver'd to his Church the Keys of the Kindgom of Heaven For by the Doctrin of Catholic Faith XLVII Confession perfects Contrition All must believe and constantly affirm If any one be so affected in mind as to bewail his sins and also to sin no more for the future altho he be not affected with such a kind of sorrow as may be sufficient to get him Pardon Yet when he has rightly confess'd his sins to a Priest by Vertue of the Keys all his wickednesses and sins are remitted and forgiven him That worthily by the most Holy Men our Fathers was it celebrated That an Entrance into Heaven is open'd by the Keys of the Church Whereof it is not fit for any one to doubt since we read it decreed by the Council of Florence That the Effect of Penance is Absolution from Sins Amb. Serm. 1. de Quadrag citatur de Poenit. dist 1. c. ecce nunc August lib. 2. de adult conjug 59. Chrysost de sacerd lib. 3. in Decreto Eugenii IV. And we may further learn from hence XLVIII Confession a most sure way of amending manners how much advantage Confession brings because we find by experience that there is nothing so profitable for the amendment of manners to those whose custom of Life has bin corrupt as if they lay open to some Prudent and Faithful Friend who can help him with his pains and counsel all the secret Thoughts of his Heart his Actions and Words Wherefore according to the same Reason it must be thought very wholsom for those who are conscious of the guilt of Sin to open the Sicknesses and Wounds of their Souls to a Priest as to the Vicar of Christ our Lord who is under the most severe Law of perpetual silence For they presently find Remedies prepar'd for them D. Poenit. dist 6. c. Sacerdot which have such a heavenly Vertue of curing not only the present Sickness but also of disposing the Soul in such a manner that thenceforth it will not be easie for the future to fall into the like kind of Disease and Vice Nor is this advange of Confession to be pretermitted XLIX Confession exercises the Bad. which is very pertinent to the society and conjunction of Life For it is evident that if you take away Sacramental Confession from Christian Discipline all things will be full of hidden and horrid wickedness Which afterwards and many others also much more heinous Men deprav'd by the custom of Sin will not fear to commit openly For the modesty and shame of Confessing calls a Bridle as it were upon the desire and liberty of offending and restrains Dishonesty And now the advantages of Confession being laid open L. The Description of Sacramental Confession the Pastors must teach what the Nature and Vertue thereof is They therefore define it to be an Accusation of sins which belongs to a kind of Sacrament done to this End that by vertue of the Keys we may get Pardon And it is rightly call'd an Accusation LI. With what mind sins are to be declar'd in Confession because sins are not so to be commemorated as tho we boasted of our wickedness as they do who are glad when they have done mischief nor are they altogether to be told as if for divertisement or sport to some idle Hearers we were telling some matter that had bin done but they are so declar'd by a mind accusing it self as that we desire also to revenge them in our selves But we confess our sins to the End that we may get pardon LII We must confess to get Pardon Chrys 20. in Genes because this Judgment is far unlike those Courts which make inquisitions of Capital Causes where the Pain and Punishment of Confession is not made to be a Discharge of the Fault or a Pardon of the Offence In the same sense in a manner altho in other words the most holy Fathers seem'd to have defin'd Confession as when S. Austin says Aug. Serm. 4. de Verbis Domini Greg hom 40. in Evang Confession is that by which the Disease which lay hid is laid open by the Hope of Pardon And S. Gregory Confession is the Detestation of sins either of which because it is contain'd in the definition above mentioned may easily be referr'd to it And now LIII Confession instituted of Christ which is above all the Curats shall teach and without any doubtfulness deliver to Faithful that this Sacrament was instituted by Christ our Lord who did all things well and for the sake of our Salvation For after his Resurrection the Apostles being gather'd together into one place he breath'd upon them saying Joh. 20.22 Receive ye the Holy Ghost whose sins ye remit they are remitted to them and whose sins ye retain they are retained Vide Trid. Sess 14. de poenit c. 5. can 6. Aug. lib. hom 64. citatur de poenit dist 1. c. agite Orig. hom 1. in Ps 37. Chrysost de Sacerd. lib. 3. When therefore the Lord gave power to the Priests of Retaining and Remitting sins LIV. Confession to be made to the Priest it is plain that they were made Judges of the Matter And the Lord seem'd to signifie the same thing when he gave his Apostles that imployment to loose Lazarus Joh. 11. when he was rais'd from the Dead from those Bands wherewith he was bound For S. Austin explains that place thus Aug. de vera falsa poenit â—tia c 16. Serm. 8. de verb. Domini They says he the Priests can now profit more they can spare more those that confess to whom they forgive sin to wit the Lord by the Apostles deliver'd Lazarus whom he had rais'd from the Dead to his Disciples to be loos'd shewing that the Power of Loosing was now granted to his Church Whither also belongs that which he commanded those who on their journey were cleans'd of their Leprosie that they should shew themselves to the Priests and undergo their judgment Since therefore the Lord has given to the Priests a Power of Remitting and Retaining sins it is evident that they are appointed Judges of that Matter and because as the Holy Synod of Trent has wisely admonish'd Sess 14. c. 5. can 7. de Poenit. that a true judgment cannot be made concerning any thing and in appointing punishments of sins there can be no Measure of Justice held unless the Cause be truly known and searched into from hence it follows that by the Confession of Penitents all sins are severally to be laid open to the Priests That the Priests are Judges of sins S. Austin teaches lib. 20. de civit Dei c. 9. Hieron Epist 1.
ad Heliod Chrysost lib. 3. de Sacerd. Hom. 5. de verbis Isaiae Gregor Hom. 26. in Evang. Amb. lib. 2. de Cain c. 4. Trid. Sess 14. de Poenit. c. 5. Can. 7. The Pastors therefore shall teach these things which have bin decreed by the Holy Synod of Trent LV. The Confirmation of what was said before and always deliver'd by the Catholic Church For if we attentively read the most Holy Fathers we shall every where meet with most plain testimonies whereby it will be confirm'd that this Sacrament and the Law of Sacramental Confession which they call'd in Greek Exomologesis and Exagoreusis as receiv'd from the very Gospel was instituted by Christ our Lord. But if we desire Figures of the Old Testament also without doubt those various kinds of Sacrifices which were made by the Priests for the expiating of divers kinds of sins do seem to belong to the Confession of sins But because the Faithful are to be taught that Confession was instituted by our Lord and Savior LVI Ceremonies us'd at Confession It is fit that there should be also some Rites and solemn Ceremonies added by the Authority of the Church to admonish them which tho they belong not to the vertue of the Sacrament yet they put more plainly before mens Eyes the dignity thereof and dispose the Souls of them that Confess being already kindl'd with devotion the more easily to obtain the Grace of God For when with uncover'd Head cast down at the Priests feet with countenance down towards the Earth and hands stretch'd forth in a beseeching posture and giving other such like signs of Christian Humility which are not indeed necessary to the Reason or Vertue of the Sacrament we confess our sins from these things we may evidently understand both that there is a Heavenly Vertue in the Sacrament and also that the divine Mercy is to be sought and procur'd by us with the greatest study And now let no one think that Confession was indeed instituted of the Lord LVII The Necessity of Confession but yet so as tho he had not told us that the Use of it is necessary For let the Faithful be assur'd of this that he who is opprest by any Mortal Sin ought to be call'd back to Spiritual Life by the Sacrament of Confession Which thing indeed by a very fair Tradition from our Lord we see plainly signifi'd when he call'd the Power of administring this Sacrament the Key of the Kingdom of Heaven For as no one can go in to any place Mat. 16.19 without the help of him to whom are committed the Keys so we understand that no one is admitted into Heaven except the Doors are open'd them by the Priests to whose Trust the Lord has committed the Keys Otherwise there will plainly seem to be no Use at all of the Keys in the Church and in vain will he to whom the power of the Keys is given prohibit any one the entrance of Heaven if notwithstanding some other way to enter in there may be open'd Now this was excellently observ'd by S. Austin when he said Lib. 50. hom 49. Let no one say to himself I do Penance secretly before God God knows who pardons me what I do in my Heart Mat. 18. Is it therefore without reason said What ye loose on Earth shall be loos'd in Heaven Were the Keys therefore without cause given to the Church of God And to the same sense S. Ambrose in the Book he has left written concerning Penance where he would root up the Heresie of the Novatians Lib. 1. de Poenit. c. 12. who asserted that the Power of forgiving sins was reserv'd to the Lord alone And who says he reverence God more those that obey or those that resist his Commandments God has commanded us to obey his Ministers whom when we obey we give honor to God only But seeing it cannot be doubted LVIII At what Age we are bound to confess that the Law of Confession was made and establish'd by the Lord himself it remains that we see at what time of Age and Years men ought to obey it First therefore by the Canon of the Council of Lateran Lateran Concil c. 21. whose beginning is Omnis Vtriusque sexûs it is evident that no body is bound by the Law of Confession before that Age wherein he may have the Use of Reason Nor yet is that Age by any certain number of years defin'd But this seems to be held in general that Confession ought to be enjoyn'd to a Child from the time when he has the power of discerning betwixt Good and Evil and when his mind is capable of sorrow For when any one comes to that time of his Life when he can consider of his eternal Salvation then ought he to begin to confess his sins to a Priest when otherwise no one can hope for Salvation who is loaded with the Conscience of wickedness But at what time especially Confession ought to be made LIX At what time Confession must be made Holy Church has decreed in that Canon before mentioned For it commands all the Faithful to confess their sins at least once a year But if we consider what the Reason of our Salvation requires verily as often as the danger of Death hangs over us or that we set about any thing the doing whereof does not suit with a person polluted with sin as when we administer or receive the Sacraments so often Confession is not to be pretermitted And the same thing we ought strictly to observe when we fear or are likely to forget any sin we have done Neither can we confess sins which we remember not Neither can we get Pardon of God for those sins unless the Sacrament of Penance by Confession blot them out But because in Confession LX. Confession only to be intire many things are to be observ'd whereof some belong to the Nature of the Sacrament and others are not so necessary concerning these things it must be carefully treat'd For neither are there Books and Commentaries wanting from whence it is easie to fetch the Explication of these things But first of all let the Curats teach this that in Confession there must be care taken that it be intire and absolute For all Mortal sins must be reveal'd to a Priest LXI All Mortal sins altho hid must be confess'd For Venial Sins which do not pluck us away from the Grace of God altho rightly and profitably we confess them as the practice of devout men shews yet they may be pretermitted without Fault and may be expiated many other ways But deadly sins as was said before must be reckon'd up altho they were done never so secretly and undiscover'd and were of that sort which are forbid in the Two last Heads of the Decalogue For it often happens that they wound the Soul more than those which men are use to commit plainly and openly For so it has bin
proper to the Children of God to be so inflamed with Love and Devotion towards him that being spent with most bitter labors they either feel almost no inconvenience or else they bear all things with a most chearful Spirit But the Pastors shall teach CIV The works of Satisfaction are Prayer Fasting Alms. that every kind of satisfaction is to be referr'd to these three especially Prayer Fasting Alms which indeed answer to those three sorts of Goods of the Soul of the Body and those which are call'd outward Goods all which we have receiv'd of God But there can be nothing more fit and convenient to pluck up the very Roots of sin CV Three Remedies for the Three Sicknesses of the Soul For whereas every thing that is in the world is either the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes or the Pride of Life there is no one who sees not that to these three Causes of Sickness are very rightly oppos'd so many Medicins to wit Fasting to the First Alms to the Second and Prayer to the Third Moreover CVI. By Prayers we satisfie to God by Fasting to our selves by Alms to our neighbor if we consider those who are offended by our sins we shall easily understand why to these Three especially all satisfaction is referr'd Now these are God our Neighbor and our Selves wherefore we appease God by Prayer we satisfie our Neighbor by Alms and we chastise our selves by Fasting But because many and divers Afflictions and Calamities press us while we are in this Life CVII A good use of the Afflictions of this Life the Faithful are chiefly to be taught that they who with a patient mind endure whatsoever Labor and Inconvenience God sends upon them have gotten full Matter of Satisfaction and Merit But those who against their Will and resisting as much as they can are forc'd to bear this kind of punishment deprive themselves of all the Fruit of Satisfaction and bear only the Revenge and Punishment of God revenging their sins by his just judgment But herein the immense Goodness and Mercy of God is to be celebrated with the highest Praises and Thanksgivings CVIII One can satisfie for another who has granted this to Human Frailty that One can satisfie for another And this indeed is very proper to this Part of Penance But then as to Contrition and Confession CIX None can be Contrite or Confess for another as there is no one can Grieve or Confess sor another so those that are indu'd with divine Grace can pay in another mans name what is owing to God Wherefore it comes to pass that after a certain sort one may seem to bear anothers Burthen Nor is there any place left for any of the Faithful to doubt of This CX How it comes that one can satisfie for â—nother seeing that in the Apostles Creed we confess the Communion of Saints For since we all are born again to Christ being cleans'd by the same Baptism and are partakers of the same Sacraments but above all since we are strengthen'd with the Meat and Drink of the same Body and Blood of Christ our Lord This most evidently shews that we all are Members of the same Body As therefore neither the Foot performs its Office for its own Profit A similitude but for the profit of the Eyes also and again that the Eyes see is not to be limited to their own advantage only but for the common advantage of all the Members So among us the Offices of Satisfaction ought to be esteem'd common Nor yet is this true without an Exception CXI Medicinal Satisfaction cannot be fulfilled by another if we consider All the Advantages which are receiv'd hereby For the Works of Satisfaction are a kind of Medicin and Cure which is prescrib'd the Penitent for curing the corrupt Affections of his Mind Which kind of Fruit of Advantage it is evident that they altogether want who satisfie not for themselves These things therefore shall be largely and clearly explain'd concerning the Three Parts of Penance Contrition Confession and Satisfaction But this ought specially to be observ'd by the Priests CXII When Absolution is to be deny'd that having heard Confession before they absolve the Penitent from his sins they are to take diligent Care that if haply he has taken away any thing either of the Goods or of the Credit of his Neighbor let him make full recompence for the sin whereof he seems deservedly to be condemn'd For no one is to be absolv'd unless he first promises to restore every one his own But because there are many Note who tho they largely promise that they will sufficiently do their duty yet it is certain that they never perform their promise Such are by all means to be compell'd to make restitution And that of the Apostle is often to be inculcated That he who stole now steal no more Ephes 4.10 but rather let him labor working with his hands that which is Good that he may have wherewith to give to him that suffers need But in appointing the punishment of Satisfaction CXIII How great Satisfaction is to be impos'd the Priests will consider that nothing is to be appointed by them for their own pleasure but that all things are to be directed by Justice Prudence and Piety And that sins may seem to be measur'd CXIV The Old Canons of Penance to be propos'd and Penitents may the better know the weight of their sins it will be worth the while sometimes to signifie to them what punishments have bin appointed for certain Faults Note by the Prescription of antient Canons Note The Nature of the Fault therefore shall temper the measure of all Satisfaction But of all kinds of Satisfaction CXV What kindâ— of satisfaction especially is to be impos'd it will be most suitable to appoint Penitents to give themselves to Prayer upon certain determin'd days and that they make Prayers to God for all men and especially for them who are gon out of this Life to the Lord. And they must also be exhorted CXVI The Vertue of Voluntary Penance to be added to the vertue of Sacramental that they often take upon themselves freely of their own accord to repeat those services of Satisfaction which were appointed by the Priest And that they so order their manners that when all those things which belong to the Sacrament of Confession are diligently perform'd yet that they never intermit the studies of the Vertue of Penance But if sometimes also Public Penance is to be prescrib'd for Public Offence CXVII Public Satisfaction to be impos'd upon public Offenders altho' the Penitent may refuse and pray to be excus'd yet he is not easily to he heard But he must he perswaded that those things which are wholsom or saving both to himself and others he accept with a free and chearful mind These things concerning the Sacrament of Penance and the several
for two Reasons The one is If any one being imploy'd in an unjust matter kills a Man For example If any one with his Fist or Foot strike a Woman with Child The First whereupon follows an untimely Birth This happens indeed beyond the Design of the Striker yet he is not blameless because it was no means lawful for him to strike a Woman with Child The other is The Second If he carelesly and heedlesly kill any one not looking well about him For which cause also Sixthly if any one for defence of his own Safety using all the care he can kill another it appears plain enough that he is not guilty of this Law And these are the Slaughters we have now mention'd VIII What Killing is forbidden here which are not contain'd in this Commandment of the Law which being excepted all the rest are forbidden whether we consider the Slayer or the Person slain or the Means by which the Slaughter was done As to those that are the Slayers IX Who forbidden to kill there is none excepted neither Men of Wealth nor of Power neither Masters nor Parents but without all difference and distinction all are forbidden to kill If we consider those who are kill'd X. Who may not be kill'd this Law belongs to every one nor is there any one of so mean and base a Condition but he is defended by vertue of this Law Nor is it lawful for any one to kill himself XI None may kill himself seeing no one has so much the power of his own Life that at his own pleasure he may kill himself And therefore by the words of this Law it is not thus appointed Thou shalt not kill another but simply Thou shalt not kill But then if we respect the manifold ways of Murder XII Every way of killing forbidden there is none excepted For it is not only unlawful to take away any Mans Life either with his Hands or Sword or Knife or with a Stone or with a Staff or with a Halter or with Poison but it is utterly forbidden to be done either by Counsel Help or Assistance or by any other Means And here the great Dulness and Stupidity of the Jews appears Note in that they believ'd that they observ'd this Commandment if they restrain'd their Hands only from Murder But to a Christian XIII None may be angry at nor kill another who as Christ has interpreted it has learn'd that this Law is Spiritual and teaches us not only to have our Hands clean but our very Souls chaste and sincere that is not enough which the Jews thought sufficient to themselves For in the Gospel we are taught That it is not lawful so much as to be angry since our Lord says But I say to you Every one that is angry at his Brother shall be guilty of the Judgment but he that says to his Brother Racha shall be guilty of the Council but he that shall say Thou Fool shall be guilty of Hell-fire De ira vide Basil. hom 10 Chrysost hom 29. ad Pop. Antioch D. Thom. 2.2 q. 158. per totam From which words it is evident XIV This place of the Gospel explain'd That he is not free from Sin that is inwardly inrag'd at his Brother tho he contain his Anger shut up in his Mind but he that gives any Token of that Anger sins grievously but he sins yet much more grievously who is not afraid to handle his Brother hardly and to reproach him Vide Aug. de Serm. Dom. in Monte lib. 1. D. Thom. 2.2 q. 158. a. 3. And verily this is true XV. What Anger not forbidden if there be no cause of Anger For the Cause of Anger which is allow'd by God and his Laws is This When we are displeas'd at those who being under our Government and Power are guilty of a Fault for a Christians Anger ought to proceed not from Carnal Sense but from the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.17 seeing it is fit that we be the Temples of the Holy Ghost in which Jesus Christ may dwell There are XVI The perfect Observation of this Commandment besides many other things taught by our Lord which belong to the perfect following of this Law of which sort are these Not to resist Evil but if any one smite thee on thy right Cheek turn to him the other also and he that will go to Law with thee and take away thy Coat give him thy Cloak also and he that will compel thee to go a Mile go with him two Vide Aug Epist 5. ad Marcel de Serm. Domini in Monte lib. 2. c. 20. From what has been already said XVII How many offend against this Commandment we may observe how prone Men are to those Sins which are forbidden in this Commandment or how many may be found who tho they commit not Wickedness with their Hands yet do it in their Hearts And because there are Remedies for this Disease in the Sacred Scripture XVIII The Curat 's Duty it is the Curat 's Duty to teach them diligently to the Faithful And this is the Chief XIX How great a Crime it is to kill a Man That they understand how wicked a Sin the killing of a Man is And this may be seen from very many and very evident Testimonies of Holy Scripture for God in Holy Scripture so detests Murder that he says he will punish even the very Beasts for the killing of Men Gen. 9.6 and commands that Beast to be kill'd that hurts a Man Nor would he have Man abhor Blood for any other cause Note but that by all means he should restrain his Mind and his Hand from the Wickedness of killing a Man For Men-slayers are the worst Enemies of Mankind XX. Murderers injure God himself and consequently of Nature who as much as in them lies overthrow the universal Work of God when they destroy a Man for whose sake he testifies that he made all things whatsoever were created Yea and even in Genesis since it is forbidden to kill a Man because God created him after his own Image and Likeness he do's a notable Injury to God and seems as it were to lay violent hands upon him who removes his Image out of the way David having with Divine Cogitation of Mind meditated hereof XXI How prone Man is to Murder Psal 13.36 very grievously complain'd of Blood-thirsty Men in these words Their Feet are swift to shed Blood Nor did he simply say They kill but They shed Blood Which words he uttered for amplification of that Wickedness and to shew their exceeding Cruelty and to shew especially how headlong they are carried by the impulse of the Devil to that VVickedness he says Their Feet are swift But now the things which Christ our Lord in this Commandment requires us to observe XXII The end and scope of this Commandment Mat. 5.24 tend to this That we may
iniquities with a rod and our Sins with Scourges but his Mercy he takes not away from us Wherefore XXII What we are to do when God chast'ns us Job 18. the Faithful are to be admonish'd that in this kind of Chastisement they acknowledge Gods Fatherly Love and let them have that Saying of patient Job in their Memory and in their Mouth He wounds and he heals he smites and his hand will heal That they may take up that that Jeremy wrote under the Person of the Israelites Hier. 31.18 Thou didst chastise me and I am taught even as an heifer that was untam'd convert me and I shall be coverted because thou O Lord art my God And to follow Tobias's Example who when he felt the Fatherly Hand of God punishing him in that Affliction of Blindness cry'd out Tob. 11.17 I bless thee O Lord God of Israel because thou hast chastis'd me and thou hast sav'd me But here the Faithfull must be very careful XXIII We must not murmur in afflictions Luc. 21.18 lest when they are afflicted with any Trouble and griev'd with any Calamity they think that God knows it not for he says A hair of your head shall not perish Yea rather let them chear up themselves with that Comfort of the divine Oracle Apoc. 3.19 which we read in the Revelations Whom I love I rebuke and chasten Let them rest satisfied in that Exhortation of the Apostle to the Hebrews My Son neglect not the Chastning of the Lord Heb. 12.5 nor be thou weary while thou art reprov'd by him for whom the Lord loves he chastises and corrects every Son whom he receives but if ye are without Chastisment ye are Bastards and not Sons We have had Fathers of our flesh that instructed us and we reverenc'd them shall we not much rather obey the Father of Spirits and live Our XXIV Why of particular persons God is call'd Our Matth 23 8. When every one of us calls him Father and Our Father we are taught that it necessarily follows from the Gift and Right of the Divine Adoption that all the Faithful are Brethren and ought to love one another as Brethren For says he ye are all Brethren for there is one your Father who is in Heaven Wherefore the Apostles also in their Epistles call all the Faithful Brethren Whence also it is a necessary Consequence XXV How we are now Brethren of Christ and of one another that by the same Adoption of God not only all the Faithful are joyn'd together among themselves in the relation of Brotherhood but because the only begotten Son of God was Man they are call'd and are his Brethren For in the Epistle to the Hebrews the Apostle speaking of the Son of God Heb 2.11 wrote thus He is not asham'd to call them Brethren saying I will declare thy Name to my Brethren Which things so long before David foretold concerning Christ our Lord. Yea Psal 21. and Christ himself in the Gospel says to the Women Mattth 21.10.26.66 Go tell my Brethren to go into Galilee there they shall see me And it is manifest that this was then spoken of him XXVI Christ our Brother even in Heaven when being risen from the Dead he had gotten Immortality that none might think that this Fraternal Relation was dissolv'd by his Resurrection and Ascent into Heaven For Christs Resurrection was so far from destroying this Conjunction and Charity as we have bin taught that even from the very Seat of his Majesty and Glory Matth. 25.31 and even then when he shall judg all Men of all Ages the very least of all the Faithful shall be call'd by the Name of Brethren And how can it be XXVII We are Coheirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 Heb. 1.2 but that we must needs be Christs Brethren since we are call'd his Heirs for he is the first begott'n appointed Heir of all but we in the second place begotten joynt Heirs with him according to the measure of heavenly Gifts according to the Degree of Love whereby we yielded our selves the Servants and Fellow Laborers of the Holy Ghost Who being our Guide to Vertue and good Works Note we are carried on and inflam'd to enter valiantly into the Combate of Salvation being arm'd with his Grace which being wisely and constantly perform'd and the Course of this Life being run we receive of our Heavenly Father the just Reward of a Crown which is appointed for all that hold this same Course Heb. 6.10 For as the Apostle says God is not unjust to forget your Labor and Love But how we ought from our Heart to utter this word Our XXVIII God is to be call'd Ours from the Heart and why the Sentence of S. Chrysostom shews who says That God freely hears a Christian praying not only for himself but for another because Nature teaches every one to pray for himself but Grace teaches to pray for others Need compels Men to pray for themselves but brotherly Charity exhorts to pray for others To which he subjoyns That Prayer is more acceptable to God which brotherly Charity puts up Note than that which is made for necessity Chrysost hom 14. operâ—s imperfecti in Matth. Concerning this so weighty a matter of saving Prayer XXIX An Admonition of great moment the Curat ought to exhort all of every Age Condition and Rank that being mindful of this common Relation of Brotherhood they behave themselves courteously and brotherlike each to other and that they carry not themselves insolently to one another For tho in the Church of God there are divers Degrees of Offices Note yet that variety of Degrees and Offices does not take away the nearness of Brotherly Relations Even as in the Body of Man A Similitude the various Uses and different Offices of the Members does not cause this or that part of the Body to lose the Name and Office of a Member Consider him that is in Kingly Power XXX An equality among Christians is he not therefore if he be faithful Brother of all them that are within the Communion of the Christian Faith Yes Why so Because there is not one God of the Rich and another of the Poor not one God of Kings and another of those that are under the Power of Kings But there is one God and Father and Lord of all All therefore have the same Nobility of Spiritual Birth XXXI The Nobility of Christians is equal all have the same Dignity the same Lustre of Family seeing we are all born the Sons of God of the same Spirit by the same Sacrament of Faith and are all Co-heirs of the same Inheritance Nor have Wealthy and great Men one Christ for their God and the Poor and Beggarly another they are not initiated by other Sacraments nor do they look for another Inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven We are all Brethren and as the Apostle to the Ephesians says Ephes
he commands us to beg our Meat of him every Day Which Sentence has this necessary Reason XXXII The Lords Prayer to be said daily because we all want daily Bread therefore we must all daily use the Lords Prayer And thus much of the Bread which being receiv'd into our Mouth nourishes and sustains our Body which God of his admirable Bounty bestows upon all in common as well on the Faithful as Infidels as well on the Pious as Impious Matth. 5.46 Who causes his Sun to rise upon the Good and upon the Evil and rains upon the Just and on the Vnjust The other Bread XXXIII Fourthly we here pray for Spiritual Bread and which we also pray for in this place is Spiritual whereby all things are signified whatsoever are requir'd for the Safety and Salvation of the Spirit and Soul For as the meat wherewith the Body is nourished and sustaind is of many sorts so the Meat which preserves the Life of the Soul and Sprit is not of one kind only For the Word of God is the Food of the Soul First For Wisdom says Prov. 9.5 Come ye eat of my Bread and drink of my Wine which I have mingled for you Now when God takes away from Men the Use of this Word XXXIV When the Food of God's Word is taken away Amoâ— 8.11 which he uses to do when he is much provok'd by our Sins he is said to send a Famine upon Men For thus it is in Amos I will send a Famin upon the Earth not a Famin of Bread or a Thirst of Water but of hearing the Word of the Lord. Now as it is a certain Sign of Death approaching XXXV A singular Comparison when Men cannot take Food or having taken it cannot keep it so it is a very great Argument that their Salvation is in danger who either desire not God's Word or if they have it will not endure it and pour out that impious Cry against God Job 21.14 Depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy Ways In this Madness of Soul XXXVI The Despisers of Gods Word in this Blindness of Mind they are taken who disregarding those Catholic both Bishops and Priests that are put over them and cutting themselves off from the Holy Roman Church have given themselves over to be govern'd by Heretics that corrupt the Word of God But then XXXVII Christ the Bread of the Soul Joh. 6.15 Christ our Lord is the Bread of the Soul For he says of himself I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven It is past belief with how great Pleasure and Joy this Bread then fills devout Souls they are most afflicted with Earthly Troubles and Inconveniences That holy Quire of Apostles may serve us for an Example of whom it is thus recorded Act. 5.41 They went out from the presence of Council rejoycing The Books of the Lives of Holy Men are fill'd with Examples of this kind And of those inward Joys of Good Men God speaks thus Apoc. 2.17 To him that overcomes I will give the hidden Manna But especially this Bread is Christ our Lord XXXVIII Christ in the Eucharist is the Bread of the Soul which is substantially contain'd in the Sacrament of the Eucharist This unspeakable Pledge of his Love he gave us when he was about to return to his Father of which he said He that eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood dwells in me and I in him Take ye and eat This is my Body Job 6.65 Mat. 26.6 1 Cor. 11.64 And the Curat shall fetch those things which belong to the profit of the Faithful from that place where the Force and Vertue of this Sacrament is particularly explain'd Pag. 181. And here it is said XXXIX How Christ in the Eucharist is the Bread of the Soul Our Bread because it belongs to the Faithful i. e. to those who joyning Charity with Faith by the Sacrament of Penance wipe away the Spots of Sin who remembring themselves to be the Children of God take and worship this Divine Sacrament with the greatest Holiness and Veneration they are able Vide Tertul. lib. de Orat. Cypr. item de Orat. August alios locis citatis supra pag. 473. But why is it call'd Daily There is a twofold Reason XL. Why Christ is call'd our daily Bread Psal 54.25 The one is That in the Sacred Mysteries of the Christian Church it is offered to God daily and given to those that devoutly and holily desire it The other is That we ought daily to receive it or at least so to lead our Life as to be fit daily to take it and eat it Let those that think otherwise Note unless by reason of a long Interval they ought not to he fed with this saving Banquet of the Soul hear what S. Ambrose says If it be thy Daily Bread why dost thou take it but once a Year Lib. 5. Sap. c. 4. Vide etiam de Consec dist 2. But in this Petition the Faithful are specially to be exhorted XLI The Issue of this Petition to be left to God That when they have honestly and well advis'd and been industrious in getting the Necessaries of Life they leave the Success to God and refer their Desires to his Pleasure Psal 45.23 who will not always leave the Just in a tottering condition For either God will grant the things desired Note and so they shall have their Wish or else he will not grant them and that is a most certain Argument that what is desired is neither for their Salvation nor Advantage since God denies it to the Pious who takes greater care of their Welfare than themselves do Upon this Point the Curats may enlarge themselves in explaining those Reasons which are excellently collected by S. Austin in his Epistle to Proba The last thing in discoursing upon this Petition is this XLII Why God gives good things to Rich Men. That Rich Men well consider their Wealth and Plenty and that they receiv'd them from God and let them think with themselves that those good things are therefore heap'd upon them to distribute them to the Needy To which sense agree those things that are disputed by the Apostle in his first Epistile to Timothy 1 Tim. 6.17 whence the Curats may fetch Divine Precepts enow for the clearing this Point both profitably and savingly The FIFTH PETITION And forgive us our Debts as we alsso forgive our Debtors SInce there are so many things that signifie God's Infinit Power to be join'd with the like Infinit Wisdom and Goodness I. Christ's Passion a singular Token of his Love to us that whithersoever we turn our Eyes and thoughts we meet with the Tokens of his Immense Power and Goodness verily there is nothing that more evidently shews his most profound Love and admirable Charity towards us than that unspeakable Mystery of the Passion of Jesus Christ from whence sprang that
the greatest efficacy 136 The Sacraments of the New Law have a form of words prescrib'd without which there is no true Sacrament Ibid. The Ceremonies of the Sacraments cannot be omitted without sin 137 If the Ceremonies of the Sacrament should be omitted the nature of the Sacrament is not lessen'd Ibid. Why the Sacraments administred with solemn Ceremonies Ibid. The necessity of the Sacraments 138 The number of the Sacraments 137 The excellency of the Sacraments 139 The difference of the Sacraments among themselves Ibid. Christ the Author of the Sacraments Ibid. Why God would have the Sacraments administred by men 140 The Ministers of the Sacraments represent the person of Christ Ibid. The Sacraments confer justifying Grace 142 How dangerous it is to such Ministers as minister the Sacraments of the New Law with polluted consciences 141 The effects of the Sacraments Ibid. The excellencie of the Sacraments of the New Law compar'd with those of the Old 143 Three Sacraments imprint a Character Ibid. By the use of the Sacrament the Edifice of Christians is propp'd up 145 Wicked men may minister the Sacraments if they observe what belongs to the nature and truth of the Sacraments 140 The difference between a Sacrament and a Sacrifice 234 A Sacrifice is offer'd to God not to the Saints 235 The bloody and unbloody Sacrifice is one and the same 236 The Sacrifice offer'd on the Cross and that in the Mass is one and the same Ibid. The Communion of Saints how profitable and what it signifies 99 By Communion of all Christians are made one Body 100 The members of Christ's body tho dead do not cease to be his members Ibid. What things in the Church are common to Christians 101 God's Glory is not diminish'd by the worship of the Saints but increas'd 345 The Patronage of the Saints is not superfluous 346 Tho Christ be offer'd to us as our Mediator yet it does not follow but that we may have recourse to the favour of the Saints 347 It is not forbidden by God's Law to paint the Images of the Saints 348 Satan's Attempts See Devil The necesity of Satisfaction 274 Whence the name of Satisfaction 272 Satisfaction variously taken Ibid. c. What Satisfaction reconciles God to us 252 253 Christ's Satisfaction is for almost all sins 273 Canonical Satisfaction Ibid. Satisfaction taken of us Ibid. Satisfaction as a part of the Sacrament Ibid. Satisfaction defin'd 272 The virtue of Satisfaction 298 Our Satisfaction does not obscure Christ's Satisfaction but rather illustrates it Ibid. Painful and afflictive works undertaken in satisfaction 279 280 All kinds of satisfaction referr'd to 3 chief heads 279 True Satisfaction requires that he that satisfies be himself just 279 Inconveniences and labors sent of God have a virtue of satisfying if born with patience 280 One may satisfie for another Ib. Before a Penitent that has wrong'd his Neighbor in his Goods or Repute be absolved he ought to promise to make satisfaction 281 In appointing the punishment of satisfaction what is to be observed 282 The manner of satisfaction shou'd answer to the degree of the fault Ibid. The Penitent ought of his own accord often to repeat the works of satisfaction which the Priest appointed him Ib. The Seal of the Lord's Prayer 550. Some Sins irremissible how to be understood 248 The punishment of sin and sinners flows to us from Adam 29 VVe ought to confess our sins of thought 265 Two consequences of sin 277 God is so provok'd by our sins that he blesses not our labors 522 All are subject to sin 520 VVhat our acknowledgment of sin ought to be 521 The baseness of sin Ibid. The plague of sin 522 Tho the act of sin pass away yet the guilt of it remains 523 God's anger always follows sin Ibid. How necessary the sense of and grief for sin is 521 God is always ready to forgive the sins of Penitents 524 VVe cannot avoid sin without God's help 505 Swearing See Perjury T BEing tost with the waves of Temptation we must fly to the Port of Prayer 540 VVe must pray God that we be not led into Temptation 532 VVhat Temptation is 536 The many kinds of Temptations 533 God tempts and how 537 Men tempted for evil Ibid. VVhy the Devil is call'd the Tempter Ibid. VVhen we are led into Temptation ibid. He tempts that does not hinder Temptation 538 Man 's whole life a Temptation on Earth 539 Temptations to be patiently endur'd 540 VVhat we beg of God in Temptation 539. c. The Commandment about Theft is as a Protection whereby our outward goods are defended 413 This Commandment divided into two parts Ibid. VVhy the 7th Commandment makes mention of Theft and not of Robbery 414 VVhat is understood by the word Theft Ibid. God's great love shew'd to us in this Commandment about Theft 413. Theft which is an unjust possession and use of other mens things known by divers names 414 The will of stealing forbidden in this Command 415 How grievous a sin Theft is Ibid. The consequences of Theft manifest the greatness of the sin Ibid. Many kinds of Thefts 416 The various kinds of Thieves Ibid. God accepts no excuse for Theft 423 Theft not excusable Ibid. The excuses which men use to defend their Theft withal Ibid. c. The Thief dishonors God's Name 424 V THe Vice of the Tongue very extensive 326 Of the Vice of the Tongue come innumerable mischiefs ibid. Vnction See Extreme-Vnction W WAtching overcomes Temptations 541 The Wife to be subject to her Husband 328 The Wife must abide at home 328 The Duties of a Wife 327 c. Why Woman was taken out of the side of man Ibid. Why we pray God's Will be done 505 VVho especially ought to pray God's Will be done 503 VVho says thy Will be done what he ought to think 505 The Commandment of not bearing false Witness 426 The Command of not bearing false Witness restrains the Vice of the Tongue Ibid. In the Command against false Witness are containd two Precepts one commanding the other forbidding 427 What is forbidden in false Witness Ibid. A Judge cannot well reject sworn Witness Ibid. VVhat false Witness is 428 429 The mischiefs of false Witness 429 False Witness forbidden not only in Judgment but out of Judgment Ibid. How many ways a man's esteem is wounded by Lies 429 c. Witness-bearing is a confession of God's Praise 433 True Witness-bearing of very great use in human affairs Ibid. Witnesses to be very careful not to affirm for truth what they are not very sure of 434 The Word of God the Food of the Soul 517 The Word of the Pastors of the Church to be receiv'd as the VVord of God See the Preface Words of all signs have the greatest Virtue See Sacrament By the preaching of the Word and use of the Sacraments the Christian Building is firmly lay'd 145 Incarnation of the Word See Incarnation Z WHat Zeal to be attributed to God 354 FINIS
First Mover and if there be need of Witness in this Case we have Gabutin who in the Life of that Pope says thus He took care that the Sacred Catechism for the Curats Gabut in vita Pâ—i V. lib. 1. c. 2. wherein are contain'd the Chief Heads of Catholic Doctrin clearly explain'd by Men famous for Christian Eloquence and Learning should be made Latin and be publish'd every where first in Latin and then render'd into the Italian French German and Polonian Language Now since things as to the Roman Catechism are so what I pray are we to think Of what worth is it Of what Authority is it The General Council decreed it to be publish'd and distributed to certain chosen Fathers every part of the Matter of it to be treated upon and of all those Tracts by them made by the Pope's Command and S. Charles's Direction the Work and Business is finish'd and perfected by Men best skill'd in all kind of Learning whose Vertue Learning and Piety was well known to the Universal Church Can we therefore find any other Book next to the Canonical Scripture that we can hold more dear to us and which deserves to be more look'd into ARTICLE III. By whom this Catechism was approv'd BEfore this Catechism came forth into Light tho there had labor'd in it so Many and so Great Men tho it had been read again and again and compleated by the Care and Industry of S. Charles yet being offer'd to Pius V. of Holy Memory that at last he should establish it by his Supreme Authority that Supreme Bishop would not have it go forth from him before it should again be review'd by other Doctors that this Universal Book being publish'd with that Maturity and Prudence which was fit it might be universally receiv'd The Matter was committed to William Sirlet Cardinal as one whose Learning and Piety he very well knew and which the Pope could not but be acquainted with by those other Cardinals not a few that were lately Assistants with S. Charles That so Great Man by Command of Pope Pius V. took to him certain Divines chosen out of the rest who might sift and search narrowly into not only the Dogms or Doctrins of this Book but also the very Words which being finish'd with singular Industry and Sollicitude of that truly Admirable and Faithful Pastor the Pope approv'd it and coming forth at Rome intire that it might pass every where else pure and uncorrupt he commanded it to be printed by Manutius to be perfectly purg'd from all Mistakes and so to be publish'd It is worth the while to consider the Popes own Words and they are these Of our own Motion and Pastoral Duty desiring as earnestly as we can by the Assistance of Gods Grace to perform and injoyn those things which were decreed and provided by the Sacred Council of Trent we have appointed that a Catechism might be compos'd by chosen Divines in this fair City whereby the Faithful People of Christ may by the diligence of their Curats be taught concerning those things which they must know profess and observe which Book when by Gods Assistance it was perfected and to be brought forth into Light we took care to provide that it might be printed with all the Diligence and Faithfulness that could be In this fair City therefore we would first of all have it printed by the Diligence of our beloved Son Paul Manutius who is us'd here to print other Ecclesiastical Books Now because if it should be printed elswhere it might happen that a Book of such an Argument might be printed with less care and fidelity than is fit for this Reason c. Dated at Rome at S. Mark 7 of the Kalends of October in the first Year c. From hence it is plain how much the Pope made of this Book and with how great Care it was to be Printed and indeed as often as hereafter it is to be Printed the Bishops ought to take Care from the Example of so great a Pope that it be not fill'd with as many Faults as there are Lines in it First therefore Pope Pius V. not only by his own proper Motion approv'd this Catechism In Bull. â—ia p. 305. but moreover he commended it and commanded it to be us'd as often as any thing was to be done about Amendment of Manners or Reformation of Orders See his 102 Bull publish'd Anno 1580. for Reformation of the Cistercian Order Ibid. p. 307. as also his 105 Bull publish'd the same Year about reducing the Congregation of the Servants of the Blessed Mary to a better State as also his 106 publish'd the same Year also about the Amendment of the Missal The Second by whom this Sacred Work was approv'd was Gregory XIII Successor to Pius V. who in a certain Breve of the Year 1583 declares That by his Command and Approbation the Catechism was lately publish'd and this Pope accounted this Book so truly profitable that by his peculiar Mandate he commanded it to be translated into the Sclavonian Language as appears by the Council of Algar by and by to be cited and moreover as Possevine testifies this Catechism was to him as a certain Rule whereby he thought that the Canon Law it self may be reformed For which cause he perswaded Francis Gracian one of the Treasurers and Canon of S. Vincent to publish an Epitome of the Canon Law wherein he should pare away whatsoever had been abrogated either by the Popes or by the Council of Trent or by the Roman Catechism The Third that approv'd this our Catechism was St. Charles Borromaeus who not only in his before cited Epistles but also especially in this First Synod which he had at Millan Anno 1565. where he commanded all Clerks after that they should attain to their Tenth Year diligently to read this Catechism Fourthly the same Catechism was approv'd in the Synod of Beneventum Anno 1567. where it is injoyn'd to all both Curats and Preachers of Gods Word that for the Discharge of their Office they frequently have in their Hands that Catechism which was publish'd by the Pope's Command that they may be able to teach all things according to sound Doctrin and which the Chuch approves Fifthly it was approved in the Synod of Ravenna 1568. and there under the Title de Seminario c. 4. it wonderfully commends this Book which it calls the Catechism of the Council of Trent and commands those that are in Seminaries to have it always before them Sixthly it was again approv'd by St. Charles in the Synod of Millan Anno 1569. and there it is commanded the Curats that they frequently handle among themselves some Reading of the Roman Catechism Seventhly it was approv'd in the Synod of Meaux in Germany which was held Anno 1569. and thus decreed Constit 26. The Curats in those things which belong to their Ministry even as the Bishops when they are to administer the Sacraments to the People ought to
explain the Vertue and Vse of them in our vulgar German Tongue according to the Capacity of the Receivers according to what is contain'd in the Roman Catechism a Book truly very profitable and very necessary for these Times Eighthly it was approv'd again a Third Time by St. Charles in a Synod of Millan Anno 1571. wherein it is commanded that the Curats in the Administration of the Sacraments make use of the Doctrin of the Roman Catechism Ninthly it was approv'd in the Synod at Genua Anno 1574. Tit. de Fidei elementis à Parocho tradendis Tenthly it was approv'd a Fourth Time by St. Charles in a Synod at Millan Anno 1576. where among those Books which the Curat ought to exhibit to the Bishop at Visitation the Roman Catechism is appointed to be one Eleventhly it was approv'd also a Fifth Time by the same St. Charles in a Synod at Millan Anno 1579. where concerning the way of Examining it is commanded that enquiry be made concerning those that are to be Ordain'd Whether they have the Roman Catechism and hold the Doctrin thereof Twelfthly it was approv'd the same Year by the Clergy of all France in a Synod at Melun wherein many places but especially under those Four Titles of Baptism Eucharist Penance and Order this Catechism which there is acknowledged to be of the Council of Trent it is so commended to the Curats that by that Catholic Assembly of all the Clergy it is judged altogether necessary for them and to be preferr'd before all others for thus it is said there The Curats are bound to teach their Flocks according to the Prescription of the Catechism of the Council of Trent as purely and simply as may be And elsewhere For the due Performance of which matter to wit in exhorting the People using the common Places of the Roman Catechism and the Doctrin of the Council of Trent concerning all the Sacraments which for that end is studiously and accurately to be read by all Curats Moreover Let the Confessors as exactly as may be follow the Rules and Precepts of the Catechism of Trent in things of this sort and in exercising Works of Piety Thirteenthly it was approv'd in the Synod of Roan in Normandy Anno 1581. Where it was thus ordered Now that every Curat may discharge his Office let him have the Roman Catechism in Latin and French c. 10. Fourteenthly in the Synod of Bourdeaux Anno. 1583. where it is thus Let the Curats upon all Holy-days teach the People somewhat out of the Catechism of Trent which by our Authority we enjoyn them to have by them both in Latin and French c. Fifteenthly in the Synod of Tours Anno 1583. Tit. de professione Fidei tuendae curae Sixteenthly in the Synod of Rhemes 1583. Tit. de Curatis Seventeenthly in the Provincial Synod of Aqueia in France Anno 1585. Tit. de Parochis Where it is thus Now that every Curat may discharge his Office let him have the Roman Catechism both in Latin and French c. Eighteenthly in the Provincial Synod of Tholous Anno 1590. where it is thus We enjoyn the Curats that they have continually in their Hands the Catechism of the Council of Trent Tit. de Sacramentis Nineteenthly in the Synod of Avignion Anno 1594. Tit. de Officio Parochi Let them diligently use the Roman Catechism Twentiethly in the Synod of Aquileia Anno 1586. whereof before I omit very many Diocesan Synods in which this our Catechism was approved I omit also those Doctors of very great Note who assert That next to the Canonical Books there is nothing can be read with more Safety and Advantage than this Catechism Now these things Friendly Reader being premis'd who can endure the Boldness of them that despising this sacred Work as a childish Toy scorn to meddle with it and that for this only Reason because it is call'd a Catechism O miserably blind Souls But to make those Men blush all over for Shame I intreat them to hear Augustine Valerius Cardinal and Bishop of Verona a very dear Friend to St. Charles Borromaeus and the Glory of the Sacred Colledge in his First Book Ad Acolythos Veronense◠This Catechism was publish'd Three Year ago by Command of Pope Pius V. which we see to have been given of God for the Benefit of the Christian Common-wealth and for the restoring to us the ancient D scipline of the Church A Work so excellent if we regard the Gravity or Weight of the Sentences and the clearness of the Words or Expressions that Learned Men judg that there has nothing more excellent been publish'd for these many Ages past For all things are explain'd which belong to the Instructing of Souls and that in so good an Order and with so great Clearness and Majesty that our Holy Mother the Church taught by the Holy Ghost seems to teach all and Men to hold their Peace You that are somewhat aged read this Catechism Seven times over and more than seven times for thereby you will get great Advantage for if in History it be deliver'd that Demosthenes thorowly to commend Eloquence describ'd Thucidides Eight times and for that end committed to Memory all his Orations so full of Arguments how much fitter is it that you who are imploy'd in the Discipline of the Church and ought to refer all your Studies to Gods Glory and your own and others Salvation should diligently read yea and even to copy out Eight times over this most excellent Book dictated by the Holy Ghost written by the Decree of the Fathers that were present in the Council of Trent and publish'd by the Authority of Christ's Vicar ARTICLE IV. The Advantages and Vse of this Catechism THE Advantages of this Catechism of the Council of Trent are so many as the Necessities of the Church are if Heresie is to be prevented that the Devil sow it not and that it disturb not Catholics Let the Curats often explain this Catechism If Heresie by an unlucky and ominous Birth be already sprung up and is to be stifled let the Curats often explain this Catechism If Religion is to be preserv'd uncorrupt and sincere let the Curats often explain this Catechism If young Clerks either in Seminaries or privately are to be prepared for the undertaking of any Ecclesiastical Function let this Catechism be often read to them If any one be minded to administer the Sacraments devoutly as is fitting and to the Edification of his Neighbors let him have in his Hand this only Catechism Lastly if any Priest be minded to prepare himself to hear Confessions to make Sermons to direct Souls let them use this only Catechism For it is useful not in one respect only as may easily be observed from what was before noted I will here shew some of the more profitable The First way of using this Catechism is injoyn'd in almost all Synods both Provincial and Diocesan which were had after the Council of Trent to wit
Functions of the Priestly Order XLVIII Five Degrees in the Priestly Order Which Order tho it be but One yet it has different Degrees of Dignity and Power The first is of those who are simply call'd Priests The first of Priests whose Functions have hitherto been declar'd The Second is of Bishops who are plac'd over of their several Bishoprics The second of Bishops to govern not only the other Ministers of the Church but the Faithful People also and with the utmost vigilance and care to take regard of their Salvation Wherefore in Sacred Scripture they are often call'd The Shepherds of the Sheep Whose Duty and Office Paul describes as we read in the Acts of the Apostles Act. 20.29 in that Sermon he made to the Ephesians And also a kind of Divine Rule of that Ministery of a Bishop has bin deliver'd by Peter the Prince of Apostles According to which 1 Pet. 5.2 if the Bishops would study to square their actions it cannot be doubted but that the Pastors will both be and be accounted good Now the same persons are call'd both Bishops and Pontifices or High Priests taking that name from the Ethnics who were us'd to call the chief of their Priests Pontifices or High Priests The Third Degree is of Archbishops The third of Archbishops who preside over many Bishops and these are also call'd Metropolitans because they are Prelates of those Cities which are accounted as it were the Mothers of that Province wherefore they have a higher place and larger Power than Bishops altho in their Ordination they differ in nothing from Bishops In the Fourth Degree are plac'd Patriarchs The Fourth of Patriarchs i. e. the First and Highest Fathers In old time besides the Supreme Bishop of Rome there were in the whole Church only Four Patriarchs nor yet were they all alike in Dignity For the Patriarch of Constantinople altho this Honor was last of all given to him yet for the Majesty of the Empire he obtain'd the higher place The next is the Patriarch of Alexandria whose Church Mark the Evangelist by order of the Prince of Apostles sounded The third is the Patriarch of Antioch where Peter first had his See The last is the Patriarch of Jerusalem which Church S. James the Brother of our Lord built Above all these the Catholic Church has always had a Veneration for the Roman Chief Bishop or Pope The Fifth of Supream Bishop or Pope whom in the Council of Ephesus Cyril Archbishop of Alexandria calls the Father and Patriarch of the whole World For since he sits in the Chair of Peter the Prince of Apostles wherein it is manifest that he sat to the end of his life she acknowledges in him the Supreme degree of Dignity and fulness of Jurisdiction not as given by any Synodical or Human Constitutions but of God Wherefore he being Father and Governor of all the Faithful and of the Bishops also and other Prelates with what Office or Power soever they be endu'd presides over the Universal Church as Peters Successor and the true and lawful Vicar of Christ our Lord. Of the Primacy of the Pope see Anatol. Epist 3. citat dist 22. c. sacro sancta Greg. lib. 7. Epist 64 65. Nicol. Pap. Epist ad Mediolanens citatur dist 22. c. omnes Vide etiam ead dist c. Constantin Conc. Chalced. in Epist ad Leonem From these things therefore the Pastors shall teach XLIX What is to be taught concerning Order both what are the principal Offices and Functions of Ecclesiastical Orders and Degrees and who is the Minister of this Sacrament For it is evident that this Administration belongs to a Bishop L. The Minister of this Sacrament is the Bishop which is easie to prove both from the Authority of the Sacred Scriptures and most certain Tradition the Testimony of the Fathers the Decrees of Councils and the Usage and Practice of Holy Church But tho it be permitted to some Abbots to administer the Lesser but not Sacred Orders yet there is no one doubts that this Office is properly the Bishop's to whom only of all the rest and besides him to no body else it is lawful to receive into the other Orders which are call'd the Greater and Sacred For only the Bishop and he alone ordains Subdeacons and Priests but the Bishops by the Tradition of the Apostles which has always bin preserv'd in the Church are consecrated by Three Bishops It now follows to explain LI. Get care to be us'd in receiving anâ— to Priesthood who are fit for this Sacrament and especially for the Priestly Order and what things are chiefly requir'd in them From hence it will not be hard to determin what ought to be observ'd in the giving of other Orders according to the Office and Dignity of each of them Now that there is very great caution to be us'd in this Sacrament is thus gather'd because the other Sacraments give Grace to the Sanctification and Use of them by whom they are receiv'd But those that are admitted into Sacred Order are therefore partakers of Heavenly Grace that by their Ministery they may help forward the Salvation of the Church and consequently of all Men. Whence we understand it comes to pass that upon certain appointed days only when according to the most antient practice of the Catholic Church solemn Fastings are appointed Ordinations are perform'd to wit that the Faithful People with Devout and Holy Prayers might beseech of God that the Ministers of such kind of sacred things might be render'd more fit to exercise so great a Power as they ought to do and to the profit of the Church First therefore integrity of Manners is very much commendable in him that is to be made a Priest LII Integrity of Life necessary in making a Priest not only because if being conscious to himself of any mortal sin he procure or but even suffer himself to be receiv'd into Sacred Order he intangles himself in a new and a most extream wickedness But also because he ought to shew himself a Light and a Guide of Vertue and Innocence to others For this cause what the Apostle commanded Titus and Timothy Tit. 1. 1 Tim. 3. is to be declar'd to the Pastors and also it is to be taught That the Deformities of the Body which in the Old-Law by the commandment of the Lord excluded any from the Ministery of the Altar in the Evangelical Law is specially to be apply'd to the deformity of Mind Wherefore we consider that that Holy Custom is preserv'd in the Church that they who are to be ordain'd endeavor diligently first to purge their Consciences by the Sacrament of Penance Furthermore LIII Knowledg also necessary to a Priest there is requir'd in a Priest not that knowledg only which belongs to the Use and Ministring of the Sacraments but he ought also to be so furnish'd with the knowledg of Sacred Scripture
that he might be able to teach the Mysteries of Christian Faith and the Precepts of the Divine Law to the People and stir up the Faithful to Vertue and Piety and reclaim them from Vice For there are Two Functions of a Priest Whereof the One is that he rightly make and administer the Sacraments The other that he instruct the people committed to his charge in those matters and things which are necessary to Salvation For Malachy testifies Mal. 2.7 The Priests Lips preserve knowledg and they require the Law from his Mouth Because he is the Angel of the Lord of Hosts As therefore in one of these tho he be qualifi'd bu◠with small learning he may perform what he ought to do Yet the other requires no small but rather an exquisite stock of Learning altho the highest pitch of the Knowledg of hidden matters is not equally requir'd in all Priests but that which is sufficient for every one for the discharge of his own proper Office and Ministery Now this Sacrament is not to be given to Boys Furious or Mad-men LIV. Boys Furious and Mad-men not to be ordain'd because they want the Use of Reason altho if it were administer'd even to them also it ought certainly to be believ'd that the Character of this Sacrament is imprinted upon their Souls But what Year of Age is to be look'd for Not of ripe Age. for these several Orders it is easie to know from the Decrees of the Sacred Council of Trent Servants also are to be excepted Servants for neither ought he to be dedicated to Divine Worship who is not at his own dispose but in the Power of another And Men of Blood and Manslayers Man-slayers because by Ecclesiastical Law they are repell'd and are irregular Also Bastards Bastards and all those who were not begotten in lawful Wedlock For the same Law teaches that those that are dedicated to Sacred things should have nothing in them which might seem worthily contemptible or despicable to others Lastly Deform'd in Body they ought not to be admitted who are Creeples or deform'd with any notable Uncomeliness of Body For that Deformity and Debility must needs both cause offence and also hinder the Administration of the Sacraments And now these things being expounded LV. The effects of the Sacrament of Order The First it remains that the Pastors teach what the effects of this Sacrament are And it is manifest that tho the Sacrament of Order as before was said belongs chiefly to the profit and beauty of the Church yet the Grace of Sanctification is wrought also in the Soul of him who is initiated into Order Because he is render'd fit and qualifi'd for the due discharge of his Duty and for the administring of the Sacraments even as by the Grace of Baptism every one is made fit to receive the other Sacraments And it is evident that another Grace also is given in this Sacrament The Second to wit a special Power which is referr'd to the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist in the Priest indeed full and perfect as being he alone that can consecrat the Body and Blood of our Lord But in other Ministers of inferior Orders greater or less according as every one by his Ministery comes more or less to the Sacraments of the Altar And this also is call'd a spiritual Character The Character because they that are tinctur'd with Sacred Order are by a certain inward Mark impress'd upon the Soul distinguish'd from the rest of the Faithful and wholly bound to Divine Worship to which the Apostle seems to have had respect when he said to Timothy Neglect not the Grace which is in thee 1 Tim. 4. which was given thee through Prophecy with the Imposition of the Hands of the Presbytery And elsewhere 1 Tim. 7. I admonish thee that thou stir up the Grace of God which is in thee by the Imposition of my Hands This is sufficient to have bin spoken concerning the Sacrament of Order For we undertook to deliver to the Pastors only the more weighty heads of Matters that they might furnish them with arguments to teach and instruct the Faithful in Christian Piety Of the SACRAMENT of MATRIMONY BEcause the Pastors ought to propose to Christians a bless'd and perfect Life I. The Vertue of Continency to be desir'd of all 1 Cor. 7 7. it were much to be wish'd for them also what the Apostle wrote to the Corinthians that himself desir'd in these words I will that all Men be even as I my self To wit that All would follow the Vertue of Continence For there can nothing in this life fall out more happy to the Faithful than that the Mind being distracted with none of the cares of the World being quiet and restrain'd from every Lust of the Flesh may take rest and satisfaction only in the study of Piety and the Thoughts of heavenly things But because II. The Holiness of Matrimony diligently to be taught Joh. 2.2 as the same Apostle testifies every one has his own proper gift from God one after one sort and another after another sort and Matrimony is adorn'd with many and divine Blessings so that is is truly and properly reckon'd among the other Sacraments of the Catholic Church and the Lord himself honour'd the celebration of Marriage with his own presence it sufficiently appears that the Doctrin thereof is to be taught especially since we may observe that both S. Paul and the Prince of Apostles also have exactly left in writing in many places not only those things which belong to the Dignity but also to the Duties of Matrimony For being inspir'd with the Spirit of God they very well knew how great and how many advantages might come to the Christian Society if the Faithful rightly understood the Holiness of Matrimony and kept it inviolable And on the contrary That being not well understood or neglected that very many and very great Calamities and Hurts are brought upon the Church First therefore the Nature and Vertue of Matrimony is to be explain'd III. What is chiefly to be explained concerning Matrimony For since Vice often bears the Resemblance of Goodness heed must be taken lest the Faithful being deceiv'd with a false shew of Matrimony pollute their Soul with Filthiness and hurtful Lusts For declaring whereof some may begin with the signification of Matrimony Matrimony is therefore so call'd IV. The various names of Matrimony because the Woman desires to be married chiefly that she might become a Mother Matrem Or else because to conceive to bring forth and to bring up is the part of a Mother Matrix It is also call'd Wedlock Conjuginm à conjungendo a joyning together Wedlock because a lawful Woman is bound with her Husband as it were in one Yoak Besides it is call'd Marriage Nuptiae because as S. Ambrose says Marriage for Modesties sake Maids cover'd or veil'd themselves