example of Temperance fasted with great facilitie and cheerefulnesse when it is needfull and hee fasteth perfectly expecting the conuenient houre and eating meates appoynted and once only but he that hath not this vertue or contrariwise is a glutton it seemeth a death to him to fast and if perhaps hee fast he can not well expect the due houre of dinner and after at night in place of a drinking as the custome is he will make so large a collation as wanteth little of a supper S How manie vertues be there M The vertues are very manie but the more principall to which all the rest are reduced are seuen to wit the three Theological Faith Hope Charitie foure Cardinall Prudence Iustice Fortitude Temperance according to this number there are seuen giftes of the Holie Ghost and the Euangelical Beatitudes which guide vs to the perfection of Christian life There be also seuen workes of mercie corporall seuen spirituall Of all which I will geue you a briefe instruction Chap. II. Of the Theologicall Vertues S VVHat is faith M Faith is the first of the Theological vertues that is of those vertues which haue immediat relation to God And the proper office of faith is to illuminate and eleuate the vnderstanding to beleue firmely all that God by his Church reueileth vnto vs although it bee otherwise heard and aboue naturall reason S What is the cause that wee must beleeue matters of faith so firmly M The cause is for that faith doth relie vpon infallible veritie for so much as all that faith proposeth vnto vs is reueiled from God God is veritie it self Wherefore it is impossible that which God sayeth should be false And so when faith proposeth anie thing vnto vs which appeareth contrarie to reason as for example that a virgin should bring forth a child it is necessarie to consider that humaine reason is feeble may easely be deceiued but God can not be deceiued nor deceiue vs. S What is necessarie to be beleued by this vertue of faith M It is necessarie to beleue distinctly al the Articles of the Crede which before I haue declared And specially those Articles whereof Feasts are kept euerie yeare in holie Church as the Incarnation of our Lord the Natiuitie the Passion the Resurrection the Ascension the comming of the Holie Ghost the most Holie Trinitie Moreouer wee must be readie to beleeue al that shal be declared vnto vs by holie Church And finally in all out ward behauiour to shunne and auoide those things which haue anie shew of infidelitie as to carrie the habit of a Turke or of the Iewes the eating of flesh on daies forbidden as Heretikes do and such like For that it is necessarie to confesse the true faith not only in hart with mouth but also with exterior deeds to shew our selues to dislike of all Sects that are contrary to holie Church S What is hope M Hope is the second Theological vertue so called because it also hath immediat relation to God For as by faith we beleue in God so by hope we trust or hope in God S What is the office of Hope M It is to eleuate our mind to hope for eternall felicitie And because this is so heigh a benefit that it was not possible to reach thereto by humaine abilitie therfore God geueth vs this supernaturall vertue that by it we may trust to attaine to so great a good S Whereupon is this hope grounded and whereupon doth it relie M It is grounded and doth relie vpon the infinite goodnesse mercie of God whereof wee haue most certaine signes seeing hee hath giuen vs his owne Sonne and by his meanes adopted vs for his children and promised vs the inheritance of the kingdome of Heauen if we doe works cōformable to the dignity receiued hath also giuen vs grace sufficient help to do such works S What is Charitie M It is the third Theologicall vertue hauing immediat relation to God by this vertue our soule is eleuated to loue God aboue all things Not only as Creator Author of al our natural good but also as the g◅ of grace and of glorie which are supernaturall S I would know whether charitie be also extended vnto creatures M Charity is properly extended vnto all men and to all things which God hath made But with this difference that God is to bee loued for himselfe he being infinitly good it is further extended to all other things which are to be loued for the loue of God And in particular our neighbour our parents or frends are not onely to be vnderstood but also euerie man though he would be our enemie because euerie man is the Image of God and for the same is to be loued S Is Charitie a great vertue M It is the greatest of all others it is so great that whosoeuer hath it can not lose his saluation if he first lose not charitie And he that hath it not can by no meanes be saued though he had al the other vertues and gifts of God Of the cardinall vertues S VVHAT is Prudence M It is the firste of the foure Cardinal vertues which haue this name because they be principal vertues and as fountaines of all the other moral and humaine vertues For that Prudence gouerneth the vnderstanding Iustice gouerneth the wil. Fortitude gouerneth the irascible power And Temporance gouerneth the appetite of concupiscence S What is the office of Prudence M It is to shew the due end of euerie action the conuenient meanes and all the circumstances to wit the time the place the manner such like that the worke may be wei done in all points perfectly And therfore it is called the mystris of other vertues and is as salt to meats and as the sunne in the world S Which be the vices contrarie to Prudence M Vertue consisteth in the middest and hath alwayes two contrarie vices which are in the extreames One vice contrarie to Prudence is Imprudence that is inconsideration and rashnes and it is in those that do not consider what they haue to do so either they looke not to the true end or they vse not the true meanes The other vice is subtiltie or carnal pollicie and it is in those that with great diligence think of the end of the meanes but they direct al things to their priuat commoditie for the gaining of some worldlie benefit And therfore they endeuour subtilly to deceiue their neighbour to bring to passe their busines to their owne purpose But in the end it will appeare that such are most impudent losing the most soueraigne good for the loue of things of no impotence S What is Iustice and what is the office therof M Iustice is a vertue which geueth euery one that is his own and so the office thereof is to make things iust to put equalitie in humaine contracts which is the foundation of quietnes of peace For if
are now liuing but also those which haue ben from the beginning and shal be vntil the end of the world And therefore it is not only called one but also Catholike that is to say vniuersal because it is extended to all places and to all times S For what reason is the Church called one onlie if it conteine so great a multitude of men M It is called one onelie because it hath one onlie head which is Christ and his one Vicar in earth the Bishop of Rome and againe because it liueth by one and the same spirit and hath one and the same law As a kingdome is called one because it hath one onlie king and the same lawes though in that kingdome there be manie prouinces manie more Cities or townes S Wherefore is it saide that this Church is holie seeing there are manie wicked men in it M It is called holie for three reasons first because the head there of which is Christ is most holie like as one that hath a fayre faice is said to be a faire man though he haue some crooked finger or some blot on his breast or shoulders Secondly because all faithfull people are holy by faith and profession for they haue one moste true and diuine faith and make profession of the holie Sacraments and of a most iuste law which doth not command any thing but that which is good and forbiddeth nothing but that which is euill Thirdly because there are alwaies in the Church some assuredly good not onely by faith and profession but by vertues and maners also Whereas among Iewes Turkes Heretiks and such like people who are out of the Church none at all can truely be good S What signifyeth the Communion of Saints M It signifyeth that the body of the holie Church is in such sort vnited that of the good of one member all the rest doe participate whereby how many soeuer there bee in farre countries though we do not knowe them yet their Masses diuine offices other prayers and good workes helpe vs also And this Communion is not onely heere vpon earth but our Masses prayers and other good workes helpe those that be in Purgatorie And the prayers of such as are in heauen helpe vs the soules also in Purgatorie S If this be so it needeth not to pray for any in particular nor to procure Masse to be said for this or for that soule in Purgatorie seeing all good is common M It is not so Because Masse praiers and other good workes though they be in some sort cōmon vnto al yet they help more such as they are done for in particular then others S What shall wee say of such as are excommunicated do they also participate of the good workes of the faithfull or no M For this they are called excommunicated because they haue not the communion of the Saints for they are like bowes cut from the tree or like members separated from the bodie which do not enjoy the good humors that are spread amongst the other bowes and vnited members And by this you may gather what account is to be made of excommunication seeing he cannot haue God for his Father that hath not the Church for his Mother S Are then the excommunicated out of the Church as the Iewes and other Infidels be M So it is but there is this difference that the Iewes and Turkes are out of the Church because they neuer entred in being neuer baptised the Heretikes which are baptised and haue lost their faith are out because they are gone foorth and fled away of themselues and therefore the Church enforceth them by diuers punishments to returne vnto the Holy faith As when a sheepe flyeth from the fold the shepheard forceth him with his stafe to returne But other excommunicated which haue baptisme and faith and did enter in and not goe out of themselues are driuen out by force As when the shepheard driueth foorth an infected sheepe and leaueth the same a pray for the Wolfe Yet true it is that the Church driueth not out the excommunicated to the end they should euer remaine out but to the end they should repent of their disobedience and demaund to returne being humbled and so bee receiued againe into the bosome of their mother and to the communion of Saints Of the tenth article S VVHat is signified by the remission of sins which is the tenth article M This is the first of those three principal benefites which are found in the Church For which it is needful to know that al men are borne sinners and enimies to God and after increasing they passe from euil to worse vntil by the grace of God their sinnes be remitted and so become his friends and children This grace which is so great is not found other where thē in the holie church In which are the holie Sacramēts namely Baptisme Penance which as heauenlie medicins curemen of al spiritual diseases which are sinnes S I pray you declare vnto me a little better how great this benifite is of remission of sinnes M In the world is not found a greater euil then sinne is not onely for that al euills in this life and in the life to come do spring from it but also for that sinne is the cause that man becommeth an enemie to God And what can be said worse then to be enimie vnto him who can do al that he wil and none can resist him who can defend him with whom God is angrie And contrariwise in this life a greater good can not be found then to be in grace for who can hurt him whom God defendeth al things being in the hands of God Briefly you know that amongst corporal thinges life is most esteemed because it is the foundation of al other good things and death is most abhorred because it is contrarie vnto life So then seeing sin is the spiritual death of the soule and the remission of sin is the life of the same soule you may easely consider how great a benefit is receiued in the church seeing in it only is the remission of sins Of the eleuenth article S VVHAT meaneth the resurrection of the flesh which is the eleuenth article M This is the second principal benefite of the Holy Church to wit that in the last daye all those whose sins shall be remitted shal returne to life S And others which are out of the Church or haue not remission of their sinnes shall not they returne also to life againe M Touching naturall life all shall returne to liue as the good so the bad but because the resurrection of the bad shall be for their perpetuall torment not for any good to thē therefore that life of theirs is called rather a death then a true life so the true resurrection to wit vnto life worthy to be desired shall not be of any but of the good which shall be found without sinne S I would know if the same bodies which wee now haue shall
exercised in the vertues of meekenesse and of patience considering the examples of holie men and of Christ himselfe who by supporting and suffering haue triumphed more gloriouslie then worldly men do by endeuoring to be reuenged of their enemies S What is Sloath what sinnes produceth it what is the remedie against it M Sloath is called in Greeke Acidia signifyeth tediousnes loathsomnes and griefe to doe well And it is a mortal sinne when one giueth taketh loathsomnes to do well is displeased for that he is bound to obserue the cōmandements of God and to walke in the way of vertue The sinnes which he produceth are light esteeming the commaundements easelie yeelding him selfe to vices desperation of wel-doing hatred and dislike of such as would draw or force a sinner to leaue sinne and to take a good way The remedie is neuer to be idle to read good bookes to consider the great reward which God promiseth to those that are diligent and obseruing his commandements and the eternall and intollerable punishments which is prouided for the negligent Cap. XX. Of the sinnes against the Holie Ghost VVHat how many be the sinnes against the Holie Ghost M They are sixe to wit despaire of our saluation presumption to bee saued without merits to impugne the knowen truth enuie at an other mans grace obstinacie in sinne and finall impenitence S Wherefore are they called sinnes against the Holie Ghost M Because they are committed vpon meere malice and speacially the third which is of all other properly a sinne against the Holie Ghost that is when a man knoweth the truth and yet will obstinatly hold and proue that it is not true To sin of malice is said to be against the Holie Ghost because goodnes is attributed to the Holie Ghost which is contrarie to malice like as to sinne of ignorance is said to be against the Son of God to whome wisdome is atributed and sinning of frailtie is said to be against the Father to whom power is attributed S What haue these sinnes proper M They haue this that they are not pardoned in this world nor in the other as our Lord admonisheth vs in the Gospel Which yet is thus vnderstood that they are hard to be pardoned because seldom hardly those that fal into these sinnes come to true repentance like as when wee say a disease is incurable we will not for all that say it can not be cured by anie meanes but that it is seldome cured or that ordinarily it is not cured Chap. XXI Of sinnes that crie vnto Heauen S HOw manie are they what bee the sinnes which crie vnto Heauen M They are four to wit wilful murder carnall sinnes against nature oppression of the poore and chiefly of orphans and widowes and to defraud workmen of their wages S Wherefore is it said that they crie to Heauen M Because the iniustice of these sinnes is so maniefest that it can not be couered or hidden by anie means Chap. XXII Of The foure last things S I Would haue some general document to flie sinne M The wise man saith Remember thou the last things and thou wilt neuer sinne The last things are foure Death the Generall Iudgement Hell and Heauen S Wherfore are these foure things called the last M Because death is the end of life and the last thing which is to happen in this world Finall iudgement is the last of all the iudgments that are to be geuen and therfore there is no appealing from it Hell is the last euil that melefactours are to haue and they are to remaine therin for euer without possibilitie euer to change Heauen is the last good which the good are to haue they are neuer to lose it S I would haue some considerations to exercise my self in these last things for that remembring my self often of them I should neuer sinne as the wise man saith whom you alleaged M Concerning death you may consider these four points First that death is most certaine and none can escape it The second that the houre of death is vncertaine and manie die when they least thinke of it The third that in death all the designments of this life do end and then the vanitie of the world appeareth The fourth that at their death euerie one repenteth the euill he hath done and the omission of good which he might haue done therfore it is great folie to do that wherof we are sure to repent vs. Touching Iugement you may consider these points First that the iudgement shal be geuen of a most important matter to wit of the chiefest good or the greatest euil Secondly it shal be geuen by the highest Iudge who knoweth all things and whom none can resist Thirdly it shall bee geuen in the presence of the whole world where none can hide themselues Fourthly there wil be no hope to flie the sentene or the execution of Gods Iustice Concerning Hell consider that it is large long high and deepe Large for that it conteyneth all the paines that can bee imagined Long for that they are eternall High for that they are all most bitter in the highest degree Depe because they are all absolute paynes without mixture of anie sort of consolation Concerning Heauen consider in like maner that it is large for that it conteyneth all the goodnes that can be imagined and more also then we can imagine or desire It is long because all those Beatitudes are eternal It is high because they are most high and noble It is deepe because they are pure good without any mixture of euill And here you may adde that the commodities of this life haue no one of these conditions for that they are few short little and alwaies mixed with vexations and troubles of mind And likewise the euils of this world are few short litle and alwaies tempered with some consolation Wherupon you are to conclude that all those haue truly lost their wittes that for loue of the commodities of this life or for feare of present tribulations lose the happines or fall into the euils of the world to come FINIS A Table of the Chapters and principall contents of this booke VVHat Christian Doctrine is and what are the principall partes thereof pag. 1 The declaration of the vsuall blessing with the signe of the Crosse 5 The declaration of the Creede 13 And first of the first Article 20 Of the second 20 Of the third 24 Of the fourth 29 Of the fifth 40 Of the sixt 43 Of the seauenth 44 Of the eight 53 Of the ninth 57 Of the tenth 68 Of the eleuenth 64 Of the twelfth 71 The declaration of our Lords prayer 77 The declaration of the Aue Maria. 105 The declaration of the ten command 111 And first of the first commandement 117 Of the second 130 Of the third 145 Of the fourth 148 Of the fifth 152 Of the sixt 156 Of the seuenth 159 Of the eight 147 Of the ninth 253 Of the tenth 168 Declaratiō of the precepts of the church 201 Declaration of Euangelical counsell 276 Declaration of the Sacramēts of the church 279 Of the Sacrament of Baptisme 215 Of the Sacrament of Confirmation 293 Of the Sacrament of the Eucharist 294 Of the Sacrament of Penance 241 Of the Sacrament of Extreme Vnctiō 217 Of the Sacrament of Order 220 Of the Sacrament of Matrimonie 220 Of vertues in generall 258 Of the Theologicall vertues 231 Of the cardinall vertues 221 Of the seauen gifts of the Holy Ghost 237 Of the eight Beatitudes 240 Of the seauen works of mercy corporall spirituall 253 A declaration of vices sins in general 284 Of mortall and venall sinne 254 Of Original sinne 259 Of the seuen capital sinne 296 Of the sinnes against the Holie Ghost 243 Of sinnes that crie to heauen 270 Of the foure last things 312 FINIS * Likewise beginning the day at mid-night our Sauiour rising as he did after mid-night rose the third day * Counting the day to end at Sunne-setting Or if you count to midnight there was more of Fridaye and some part of Sunday * Fridaye is also Fasting daye where custome so bindeth as it doth in England