the feast before the vigil that is they feast before they fast the present and the next life are as it were two dayes wherof one is the vigil the other the feast the present time is after the similitude of a vigil the time of rest to come after death is as a festiuall solemnity good Christians wisely consider this Wherfore in this present life as in a vigil they suffer many tribulations exercising often watching in hungre and thirst and often fasting in cold and nakednes but when the festiuall tyme of the next life is come they doe then feast for euer and are clothed in white robs of glory but the wicked which inuert the order that the supream prouidence hath appointed feasting in the vigil that is in the tyme of this life wheras they should haue prayed fasted watched put on sackcloath and suffered tribulation in punishment of their sins when the festiuall day shall come they will be spoiled of their rich garments depriued of their pleasures and cast into vtter darknes of hell to keep an euerlasting fast in torments Yet in regard the soul of man is a nobler part then the body the best abstinence is in order to it wherfore S. Paul 1. Coloss 4 declareth that it is the will of God our sanctification that is the command of God who hath not called vs vnto vncleanes but to holynes of life that we abstaine from fornication and S. Peter 1. Pet. 20. in the person of God beseecheth and exhorteth that we will abstaine from fleshly lustes which fight against the soul and indeed to fast from and without sin * Cor sapiens inzelligibile abstinebit à peccatis is the true fast vnto saluation for he that fasteth with the guilt of a mortall offence offereth the body to God * Rom. 12. obsecro vos per misericordiā Dei vt exhibeatis corpora vestra hostiam vinentem nō mortuam as a dead carkeise only that wanteth the spirit of life but he that fasteth both from and without sin giueth the body a liuing sacrisice holy and acceptable vnto God Hereby appeareth the manifest blindnes of many carnall and sensuall men which say that they cannot abstaine from the pleasures of this life that t' is impossible to fast from vnclean affections that t' is not in the power of any whosoeuer to stop the course of the law of wantonnes written in the flesh to the mastring of fleshly lustes carnall loue when it engrosseth all power to it selfe and beareth rule maketh men foolishly mad for euen then the most carnall man can fast from meates which he thinkes will prejudice the body but not from sin though he know it will * Aug. omn◠seminarium voluptatis venenū puta ' id est voluptas est animae mortifera poyson the soul likewise shame can refrain him from the exercise of his fleshly lustes in the sight of a temporall Prince (a) S. Hierom compareth abstinence to a wine-press in as much as it purgeth out of our souls the aboundant humours of sin and indeed abstinence is able to driue away the deuil for according to S. Ambrose as fasting spitle is poyson to a serpent so abstiinence is to the deuil And some kind of deuils cannot be cast out but by prayer and fasting Mat. 17. howeuer he is not ashamed to commit fornication in the presence of God who is the Prince of Princes But the spirituall man that is wise and vnderstanding will abstaine from sin Eccle. 30. CHAR. XXVIJ OF FORTITVDE THE CONTENTS Fortitude taken in the proper sense inclineth neither to the right nor left hand that is attempteth nothing of danger out of vashnes and escheweth nothing of difficulty out of pusillanimity many enterprises begin happely which end vnhappely the gift of perseuerance only is able to crown the vertue of fortitude FOrtitude taken in the proper sense is strength whereby a iust man is enabled to ouercome the works of the flesh which are adultery fornication vncleanes wantonnes emmulations contentions seditions heresies euuy murder drunkennes glutony and such like Gal. 5. (a) S. Ambrose and S. Gregory ascribe true fortitude to such only as bear rule ouer their passions feight against all vices and endure persecution for Iustice sake cheerfully fortitude is the conquerer of all vices and the defender of all vertues in as much as it quencheth the heat of fleshly lustes extinguisheth the fire of vnclean delights refraineth the inbrdinat pleasures of this life moderateth the sweetnes of prosperity sweeteneth the bitternes of aduersity (b) S. Hierom. com in Esa counteth those which turn to the right rash and those which incline to the left hand faint hearted and S. Austin Epis ad Hierom teacheth that such as haue the vertue of fortitude neither attempte rashly nor feare vnaduisedly declineth neither to the right or left hand that is attempteth nothing of danger out of rashnes and flyeth nothing of difficulty out of feare loueth persecution for iustice vnto obtaining a crown of reward for merit but as fortitude is the armour of all vertues so all vertues respectiuely are the support of fortitude for example as fortitude is the sheild that defendeth faith (c) According to S. Austin faith is the ground of all good things and the root of all other vertues so faith is the root that bringeth forth fortitude for God giues fortitude to those who with a prefect heart beleiue in him 20. parae 16. as fortitude is the preseruer of hope so hope is the renewer of fortitude for they that hope in our lord shall renue their strength Esa 40. as fortitude rendreth * Cantico 8. fortis est vt mors dilectio charity as strong as death Can. 8. so charity giueth fortitude power (d) The Apostle 1. Cor. 13. denyeth that there is any meritorious work without charity and indeed Charitas est principium meriti and according to S. Austin if a man hath charity he can do what pleaseth him for nothing of wickednes can proceed from the root of charity for the meriting of life 1. Colos 13. yet there is but one vertue that crowneth fortitude which is perseuerance for he only that continueth strong in the exercise of good works to the end shall be saued Perseuerance is the coat of Ioseph reaching down to the feet the preistly garment coming down to the ancles the rump of the peace offering due to God the heel of good works that protecteth against the bite of serpents Augus ser 8. ad fratres in Erenio tom 10. no man that striueth for a prize is crowned except he striueth as he ought to doe perseuering to the end a good begining without a good ending hath nothing of profit Saul when he began to raign was humble and innocent as a child of one year 1. Reg. 13. Saul falling of from humility and innocency lost his kingdom together with his life if Salomon had perseuered in godlines he had
portransibit gladius she endured grieuous afflictions and painefull sorrows S. Iohn Baptist who exceeded in sanctity all others of his sex by Christ's owne testimony did practice extream penance and the calamities that holy Iob suffered were greater then his sin 's required as himself witnesseth in the sixt Chapter of his book saying Oh that my sins were weighed wherby I haue desernad wrath and my miseries together in the ballance as the sand of the sea this would appeare heauier in like manner it may be turly said of the passions endured by other blessed Saint's wherfore since the supream prouidence doth reward euery good work beyond what it deserueth vndoubtedly he hath assigned reward 's suitable thereto that is both in order to merit and satisfaction according to that of S. Luke cap. 21. There shall not an hair of your heads perish Wherby Christ promiseth a recompence to each good work how litle soeuer it be But if the works of blessed Saint's as meritorious only and not as satisfactory should receiue reward many baires of their head 's would perish that is many of their good works as they are satisfactory should not be recompenced which is contrary to Christ's promise Sithence the coÌ„dition of satisfaction is such that it is applyable by him that satisfyes for others distinct from himselfe as appears by S. Paul that wished to be Anathema for his bretheren and by Moses that beseeched God to blot him out of the book of life for the conseruation of the Israëlites it is conformable to reason and diuine iustice which hath a reward for euery good work that the aboundant and exceeding satisfactions of blessed Saints that remaine vprecompenced be laid vp in the Treasury of the Church vnto the remission of temporall paine due to sin which is the reward that good works as satisfaction specially challenge and vndoubtedly * 2. Cor. 12. Ego autem libentissimè impendam super impendam ego ipse pro aniâ—â—bus vestris Et S. Timoth. 2. omnia sustineo propter electos the saints themselues now departed in as much as they were inuested with the grace of charity when they did exercise their voluntary satisfactions and endured their violent passions had at least a virtuall intention to assist and profit therby the rest of the faithfull the law of charity requiring that * Vnum inquit Paulus corpus in Christo sumus Et Gal. 6. alter alterius onera portate all members of the holy catholick Church concurre mutually to the perfecting of the whole body one bearing anothers burthen and one satisfying for an other applying a meer price for temporall paine due to sinne * In Bulla Pij 5. damnatur propositio Michaelis Baij diceÌ„tis per passiones sanctorum coÌ„municatas Jndulgentijs non propriè redimi debita which is the consistency of Communio Sanctorum that christians profess in the Nicene Creed and the Apostle practiced saying Now reioyce I in my suffering's for you and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christs in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church Neither hence ought any man to infer the saint's to be our Redeemers because their satisfactions for others in order to remission of temporall punishment's if Christ's satisfactions were to be laid aside would signifie nothing being founded therin (g) Though the blood of Christ be sufficient enough to olenst a soul from both the guilt and the pain of sin neuertheless it does not procure that deliuerance vnless it be applyed by the Churches Sacraments or by acts of faith and contrition and indeed euen sectaries assert a necessity of saith and contrition vnto remission of sinnes In consequence wherof wheras Christ is said Hebra 10. with one oblation to haue consummated foreuer them that are sanctifyed it is meant as to sufficiency being that one oblation without the application thereof doth not sanctify indeed and effectually and he alone is properly our Redeemer in and by whose proper merit 's through the effusion of his blood was purchased our redemption vnto forgiueness of sinnes Collos 1. And that was Christ only One mediator of God and man and as no man ought to be said his own Redeemer according to the form of proper speech for as much as through good works of painfull satisfaction he payeth a ransome for temporall punishment's corresponding to his sins or for as much as he exerciseth an act of perfect contrition whereby his sin 's are remitted so the blessed saint's ought not to be called the Redeemers of such as receiue remission of temporall paines due to sinn's through the application of their satisfactions Neither hereby are Christ's satisfaction 's preiudiced For as the prayer that one belieuer on earth maketh for another doth nothing at all diminish the dignity of Christ's dayly praying for vs at the right hand of his diuine Father * Rom. 8. quotidie interpellat pro nobis Rom. S. since the efficacy of it is founded in the merit 's of his death and passion so the satisfactions of the blessed saint's applyed for the remission of paine due to sin doe dot lessen the infinite valour of Christ's satisfactions being they receiue from them all their worthiness and efficacy And doubtless Christ's own will was to haue it so to the end that his faithfull on earth might exercise reciprocall works of charity towards one an other and exhibit honour to such as he had translated to his kingdom of eternall blessedness being the honour done to a seruant doth redound to his lord and Master Power to dispence this spirituall Treasure of Indulgences or pardons is committed to the Catholick Church as appeareth euidently by Christ's own word's Mat. 16. saying And I will giue vnto thee the key 's of the kingdome of Heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt binde vpon earth shall be bound also in Heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt * Quoad verba Christi quodcuÌ„que solueris nomine solutionis non intelligitur sola absolutio iudiciaria sed etiam omnis dispeÌ„satio imo omnis fauor gratia ex vi illius potestatis facta proinde Indulgentia concessa pro extensa ad defunctum à summo Pontifice eius enim solius est dare Indulgentias per defunctis infallibiliter prodest defuncto per modum suffragij id est pro modum auxilij adiutorij Ecclesiastici eidem defuncto applicata si caetera sint paria puta si Jndulgentia fiat ex rationabili causa sique defunctus existat in gratia c. his suppositis Indulgentia applicata defuncto alicui semper est valida rata apud Deum luxta tamen Caâ—etanum Henricum Indulgentia non babes infallibilem effectuâ— respectu animae defuncti sed liberum est Deo eam acceptare vel non acceptare loose an earth shall be loosed also in Heauen wherby Christ promiseth to S. Peter and his successors in Church-gouernment authority and power for the remouing of all
deadly schism caused by themselues that departed from and not by Catholicks that abided in her In euery ciuill state such as dissobey not such as obey authority such as abrogate not such as conserue the ancient lawes and ordinances such as reject not such as keep the setled customes therof bear the infimous brand to all posterity of being the men that rent and diuided the common wealth but Protestants haue dissobeyed not obeyed abrogated not preserued reiected not obserued the authority lawes and Customes of the Roman Church hauing by their own power only vnder a specious colour of reformation introduced nouell doctrines lawes and rites contrary to the vsage and practice therof wherfore they of necessity bear the guilt of deadly schism and not Catholicks that haue altered nothing Besides Protestants went out of the Roman Church without cause for at the time of their departure the Roman Church retained all requisits necessary vnto saluation for then was there no Christian Church vpon earth Seperated from her so that when the Protestants reformation begun the Roman Church or none was the true Church of God in consequence of which their departure was without cause * Aug. l. 3. de baptis con Donat. c. 2. in fine ait si Ecclesia Romanae sit verae Dei Ecclesia in qua salus haberi potest non habent Donatista sua pracisionis aliquam defonsionem sed exeundo communionem Ecclesiae relinquâ—â—do in quae poteraÌ„t saluari irrucrunt in sacrilegium schismatis For whosoeuer goeth out from a Church wherin he might attaine to saluation goes out without cause and commits sacriledge of damnable schism as the great Doctour S. Austin teacheth in his third book of baptism against the Donatists Moreouer this asserted truth appeares euidently by the foundamentall doctrines of Protestant Religion which are as opposite to the faith of the Roman Church as the ends of a Diameter are ouerwhart and cross For example Protestants commonly teach that good works proceeding from diuine grace can neither iustify nor merit saluation these being prerogatiues of faith only in regard wherof it beares the name of iustifying faith but all ancient and modern Pastors and Doctours of the Roman Church assert that good workes exercised in and by diuine grace doe bring vnto iustification of life and that they are in order to merit causes of euerlasting saluation as wicked workes in order to demerit are causes of perpetuall damnation Protestants commonly teach that the sacrifice of Mass wherin Catholick Priests offer the body and blood of Christ for the liuing and dead is a blasphemous tale and a daÌ„gerous deuise Protestants coÌ„monly teach that confirmation Penance Order Extream-vnction and Matrimony want requisits necessary to an Euangelicall Sacrament Protestants commonly teach that the doctrines of Purgatory Indulgences religious veneration of holy Reliks pertaining vnto and inuocation of Saints are idle fancies and trifles crept into the Church without warrantable authority of scripture testimony Protestants commonly teach sundry other doctrines as foundamentall requisits to their religion clean contrary to the faith of the Roman Church as is manifestly demonstrated in the Characters concerning the outward Sacrifice of Masse Confirmation Penance Order Extrem-vnction Matrimony Purgatory Indulgences and Adoration From the premises is inferred that the Protestant Reformation cannot borrow of the Roman Church visible existence together with continuall succession of Pastors vnto perpetuating that Church in foundamentall Articles of faith vnto excusing from schism Howeuer it cannot be denyed but that Protestants can shew clearly that the whole body of doctrines foundamentall to Protestanism hath been asserted by sundry learned men that liu'd in sundry ages respectiuely long before their reformation began namly Simon Magus taught that faith alone was an expedient sufficient vnto saluation as witnesseth S. Irenaeus and rejected good works as vnnecessary therto as doth attest Clemens Romanus Manichaeus despised the Sacrifice of Masse spoiling Christs Church of all outward sacrifice as witnesses S. Austin Nouatus impugned the Sacraments of Confirmation Eucharist Extrem-vnction and Matrimony as S. Cyprian affirmeth Vigilantius detested the inuocation of Saints and the veneration of their Reliques and likewise single life of Priests as S. Hierom relateth Iulian the Apostat had in detestation the cross of Christ and demolished his statue as Eusebius writeth Aerius condemned prayers and sacrifices offered for the souls departed as S. Austin and S. Epiphanius auerre But that which is exacted of the Protestants is to shew from the first age for 1500. yeares a setled company of Christians and the place country town or village where they liued that taught and preached the whole body of their foundamentall doctrines it is not enough to produce the example of such as at different tymes and in different places agreed with them in two or three of their Articles for that is not sufficient vnto constituting a society of true belieuers because so Turkes and Iewes might be lifted for Protestants these agreeing with them as to sundry Articles namely they deny the Popes supremacy transubstantiation inuocation of Saints and the sacrifice of the Masse Again the fore named sectaries themselues were destitute of visible existence and perpetuall succession and consequently could not deriue either of both vnto the Protestant Church Besides Simon Magus Manichaeus Nouatus Vigilantius c. bear the infamous brand of being condemned Hereticks before the ProtestaÌ„ts reformation begun Howeuer some Protestants there be that endeuour to proue their visible existeÌ„ce in a long line of succession from the Albigenses but vnaduisedly first because this seed of sectaries knowes not to deriue the Genealogy of their own Religion down from the Apostles which is the question in debate wherin satisfaction is expected secondly the Albigenses are condemned Hereticks that taught doctrine impious and blasphemous for example they asserted a good and an euill God denyed originall sin reiected baptism and impugned the resurrection of bodyes By the premises plainly appeareth that Mark Antony de Dominis Bishop of Spalatto his distinction between foundamentall and not foundamentall Articles of faith carrieth nothing of weight with it t' is like a specious building that wantes a good foundation to support it And truly it is as impossible an enterprise to proue the visible existence and perpetuall succession of Protestant Pastours from the Roman Church as it is for Caluinists to shew that the true Church of God laid hid for sundry ages inuisible without perishing which is impossible also for the markes of a liu'd Church are professing of faith preaching of the diuine word instructing of the illiterate and administring of the Sacraments which functions can noe more be executed in a Church that is inuisible then in a Church that is perished FINIS Laus Deo eiusque Matri Sanctissimae omnibus Sanctis Omnia Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae subiecta sunt
prouidence permitteth them is good for God suffereth them to be that the approu'd as gold in the fire tryed may be manifested and discouered from the holow hearted members of the Church The supream prouidence suffereth them to be that the carnall thereby may be stird vp to seek and the spirituall to clear the truth the supream prouidence tolerateth them to the end that many may be raised out of their sleep to see the day of God and be glad therof S. Aug. c. 8. de verae religione the supream prouidence suffereth them to be choosing rather to draw good out of euill then to permit no euill at all But woe to such as through their fault commit the euill that God suffereth to be CHAR. XV. OF CHRISTIAN HOPE THE CONTENTS Good works supported by diuine promises haue a good claim to the glory of Heauen which is the consistency of Christian hope God by promising maketh himselfe mans debter the assurance that man hath that God cannot faile of his promise doth not render him sure of the thing promised till he shall performe the condition of the promise made which is full perseuerance in the exercise of good works whereof no man can be certain the death of Christ brought forth Hope of life CHristian Hope is a certaine * S. August vocat Christianā spem certam exspectationem gloriae futurae expectation of future glory supported by diuine promises and perseuerance in good works the condition of the promises proceeding from diuine grace through the merits of Christ And as God cannot faile of his promise who is * 2. Thessal 3. fidelis autem Deus est faithfull in all he promiseth or falsify his word who is the eternall truth so works done a right cannot be frustrated of the reward promised being * Bona opera quae procedunt ex gratia sunt quasi pignora arahae regni caelestis pledges of full assurance which render God their (a) According to Tertull. l. depenit a good worke makes God mans debter likewise S. Austin ser 31. de verbis Domini Saith that God vnder his hand-writing hath giuen us an engagement of his promises debter not because God owes any thing that is not his own who is lord of all things and good works themselues are his (b) According to S. Austin in Enchir. c. 107. good works are the gifts of God and God by crowning our works crownes but his own gifts and indeed euery good worke conducing to heauenly blessednes proceedes from druine grace which is Gods free liberall gift gifts deriued from his grace that make them good but because the reward that his goodnes gratis and frankly promises justice performes * Hebrae 6. non enim iniustus Deus vt obliuiscatur operis vestri dilectionis quā ostendistis in nomine ipsius qui ministrastis sāctis ministratis for God is not vnjust to forget the worke and labour of loue shewn towards his name Holy Ioh hauing this full assurance of diuine promises shut vp in the cabinet of his heart was not a more illustrious king sitting in his Regall Throne then he was glorious lying on his dunghill where he rejoyced and gloried in the assurance of promised glory through Christ his Redeemer though he (c) Though I vvere saith holy Iob c. 9. perfect neuerthess my soul is ignorant therof and Salomon Prouerb 20. Who can say my heart is clean I am clean from sin and the Apostle 1. Cor. 4. durst nost pronounce him selfe iustifyed albeit his conscience was not guilty of euill Again S. Austin l. 1. de ciuit c. 12. teacheth that though we can be certain of the reward of perseuerance neuertheless we cannot besure of perseuerance it selfe since no man can know certainly without a speciall reuclatiō that he shall cōtinue in the exercise of good works till the end of his life was not sure of saluation nor yet or his own iustification Hence euidently appeares the eminency of diuine Hope aboue any human expectation for this is like dust that is blown away with the wind or like the smoake that is dispersed here and there with a tempest to the confusion of him that placeth his trust in the arme of flesh but diuine Hope doth not make ashamed it is the ancre of the soul and holds it firme and stedfast in the greatest storme of tribulation and affliction And as the ancre of a ship doth not fix in water but in the firm earth below (d) The Apostle Hebr. 6. assures us that Christian Hope entereth into those parts which are within the vail that is Sanctum Sanctorum which is an allegory taken from the ancient Tabernacle or Temple of the Iews the inward part whereof was called Sanctum Sanctorum which the interposition of a vail seperated from that part where the people assembled together This inward part was a type of the diuine Tabernacle and represented euerlasting blessednes wherasthe other part was a figure only of enjoyments proper to the present life so Christian Hope doth not stay at the porch or entry of the vaile of the Tabernacle which misteriously represents the floating waters of transitory and visible enjoyments but passeth into the inward parts therof which is Sanctum Sanctorum the holiest place mysteriously shewing the throne of the inuisible God whether is entred the fore-runner for all true beleiues IESUS-CHRIST the author of diuine Hope Christ came into the world as a great Phisician to heal the infirmities of man and he made of his own blood * Aug. sanguis medici factus est medicamentum phraenetici the phisick that healed him wherby he begot him vnto a full assurance of Hope so that it would be impossibile that he should hate him as to perdition for whom he hath shed his blood as to saluation Thus Christs death was made the Hope of life which his resurrection confirm'd Christ rising did perfect what dying he had merited and gloriously risen he entred into the inward parts of the vaile that is of his heauenly kingdom making way for all such (e) The Apostle Rom. 2. ascribes iustification to the doers not to the hearers of the law whereby is euident that not faith alone but the keeping of Gods commandements is of necessity required vnto obtaining heauenly blessednes as shall obserue his commandements to follow and to receiue the reward of eternall life that his death hath merited CHAR. XVJ. OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY TOWARD GOD THE CONTENTS God will not be lou'd for a reward that is not himselfe in the exhibition of loue God exacteth all the loue of God and the loue of the world are iuconsistent together whosoeuer loueth God a right keepeth his commandements where there is deadly transgression there is nothing of iustification as water extinguisbeth fire so each mortall sin driueth away charity out of the soul CHarity towards God is a supernaturall loue wherewith the soul being inuested loues God
our call or election vnto grace comes not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9. being frank and Gratic bestowed on euery man come to the vse of reason so that it doth not depend of him that willeth nor of him that runneth * Rom. non est volentis neque curreÌ„tis sed miserentis Dei id est Dei vocatio seu electio ad primaÌ„gratiam neque est ex merito bonae voluntatis quod importat velle nec ex merito boni operis quod importat currere sed ex solo libero beneplacito Dei miserentis ideo gratia nominatur quia gratis datur ait Aug. but of God only that sheweth mercy Rom. 9. who if so he had pleased might haue left all mankind in the lump of perdition (c) S. Austin l. 1. ad simplicia q. 2. expresly teacheth that man iustification goes before his election to glory in the fore science of God from whence he infer's that God ordaines none to glory without a fore knowledge of his good works for he makes a difference between Gods will or purpose as to iustification and his will and purpose as vnto election in order to glory saying that Gods purpose to iustifie does not suppose in us works deseruing of iustification wherefore the holy Scriptures and ancient Fathers call eternall glory a prize a iust crown a salary a reward because it supposeth good works and indeed eternall life properly beares the name of a reward and is only called grace in regard it is procured by good works which proceed from diuine grace neuertheless God doth not predestinat or elect any one to the glory of Heauen whose meritorious works proceeding from his grace he hath not a prescience or fore knowledge of * Aug. l.de gra lib. arb Paulus inquit post meritae bona consecutus est gloriam qui post mala merita consecutus est graetiam Act. enim 9. dicitur Saulus adhuc spirans caedis minarum in discipulos Christi Deus nobis inimicis confert gratiam ex meritis Christi Rom. 5. S. Paul in the mids of many ill meritts breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of Christ receiued diuine grace euen to iustification of life Gratis Yet he did not obtaine his incorruptible crown but after many good merits he had mist of eternall blessednes if he had not both willed well and run well in the sweet odour of that grace which he got through mercy without his own willing or his own running (d) According to holy Scriptures and ancient Fathers the present life is a course wherein the faithfull run that is endeauour by their good works to make their calling and election sure This present life is a race wherin only good runners obtaine the prize namely euerlasting blessednes which God giues only to those who perseuer running in sanctity of life and works of mercy to the end of the race that is to the hour of death for such only are the good runners in the race of predestination Brethren saith the Apostle Labour the rather that * 2. Pet. 1. Quapropter Fratres magis satagite vt per bona opera certaÌ„ vestram vocationem electionem faciatis sanè qui habet in sua potestate causam efficientem habet effectnm torrespondentem talt causae atqui efficax motiuum quo Deus deputat efficaciter homines ad gloriam aeternam consistit in bonis operibus factis ex gratia in statu gratiae in perseuerantia vtriusque vsque ad finem vitae inclusiuè hat sunt in potestate cuiuseunque adulti ergo efficax electio ad gloriam by good workes you may make sure your vocation and election whence plainly appears that Gods eternall election or predestination to life euerlasting is in order to our free will and good works In consequence of which t' is manifest weaknes and a clear sign that such are reprobate and will perish which say if we be predestinate doe what we will we shall be sau'd nay the Apostie biddeth vs if we Hope to be in the number of the predestinate for know we cannot without a speciall reuelation doe well that is exercise good works that thereby our predestination to glory may be assured and indeed as God doth distribute his glory as to execution in reserence to the deserts of those to whom he distributeth it so as to predestination he prepares it vpon the same score for God doth not distribute the prepared reward otherwise then he hath prepared it to be distributed whereby is euidenced that since God giues the inheritance of Heauen in respect of good works proceeding from his mercifull grace he doth predestinat also to the enjoyment thereof vpon the same scoare and consequently (e) S. Austin ser 1. de Verbis Domini c. 1. setteth down a double election for example one in order to grace the other in order to glory and teacheth that the first election which is to grace goes before and the other which is to glory followes in the diuine fore knowledge of good works God giues grace Graâ—is without any respect to our meritts but he giues glory according to our works Saul saith S. Austin l. de gra lib. arb c. 6. after many good works obtained glory who after many euill works obtained grace And S. Ambrose l. 1. de fide c. 2. obserues that the Apostle Rom. S. saith that those which God knew afore were predestinated for he did not predestinat before he knew but foresaw the works of such as he predestinated to rewards good works precede predestination in Gods prescience or fore knowledg those being the motiues vnto this Now ill runners in the race of predestination of the first class or ranck are Infidells who haue and do contemn still the mercifull helpes which God furnishes to make them run euen vnto saluation for he giues vnto these beside exteriour (f) S. Austin l. 10. confess c. 6. affirmes that though Heauen and earth and all things contained in each of both speak vnto us to loue God neuertheless they speak in vain outwardly if God shall not speak inwardly The diuinè goodnes bringeth no man to repentance without the working of some inward occult inspiration and infusion of grace The letter of the law saith S. Austin l. de spi lit c. 4. 5. 33. 34. that reacheth against sin rather hardneth and killeth the soul if the quickning spirit which is inward grace be wanting interiour grace to loue him and to keep his commandements which are the law of nature so firmly written in their heartes * Aug. lex tua Domine insita est in cordibus nostris quam nulia delet vel delebit iniquitas that no iniquity doth or can blot it out wherfore for as much as they willfully neglect these bountifull remedies * Aug infideles inquit magno bono se
transgressors of it according to S. Hieroms interpretation l. 1. cap. 7. con Pelagia And that the sacred text set down speaketh of deadly sinns appear's euidently by the subsequent words for example the Apostle addeth He that said thon shalt not commit adultery said also thou shalt not kill which are deadly sinns and if thou dost none adultery but shalt kill thou art made a transgressour of the law Again no man is counted worthy eternall life and eternall death at once no man is God friend through charity and his enemy through deadly sin at the same time but euery morrall sin rendreth a man liable to euerlasting death Rom. 6. stipendia peccati mors The wages of sin is death contrarywise charity bringeth forth life and heauenly blessednes Ioan. 14. he that loueth me shall be loued of my Father and I will â—â—ue him and wilt shew my selfe to him in consequence of which as life and death so charity and mortall sin are inconsistent together neither matters it that diuine faith and diuine hope can abide in a soul desiled with deadly sin forthese two supernaturall vertues taken precisely import nothing of that vnion and friendship which is between the Creatour and the creature that being the proper product of charity neither matters it that a naturall habit is not lost by one sole contrary act though some learned Philosophers assert otherwise for there is nothing of parity between an habit naturally produced and an habit supernaturally infused vnto continuing and conseruing a naturall habit is not required that the acts that produced it continue also to the conseruing of it a man may for some tyme haue the enjoyment of a naturall habit without exercising any act at all but the conseruation of habituall charity necessarily depends of Gods speciall influence which is obstructed through deadly sin that rendereth a soul vnworthy of it CHAR. XXXIIJ OF ENVY THE CONTENTS An enuious man hath pleasure in euill and heauines in good things through enuy a man is made worse then deuills the daughter of enuy is detraction the property wherof is to report amiss and to aggrauate wicked aspersions the mouth of a detractour is a sepulcher of corruption who soeuer harkneth willingly to a detractour cooperateth to his sin ENuy is a killing plague man that God created without corruption the deuil through enuy brought to destruction * Sap. 2. inuidia diaboli mors introiuit in mundum death came into the world together with this infection and indeed men through enuy resemble deuills for as these wicked spirits so enuious men haue pleasure in euill and heauines in good things * Aug. inuidia est dolor alienae felicitatis inuidus de bono dolot de malo gaudet the prosperity that is not their own afflictes and the affliction of other men rejoyces them they be like the syrenes of the sea that lye hid in a calme mourning and exalt themselues in a storme singing while distressed mariners strugle with the raging waues vnto sauing their lifes they noe more endure the light of good works then owles the brightnes of the sun they haue in extream detestation such as exceed them in authority godlines dignity or wealth because they cannot equall them neither do they loue their inferiors lest they may come to be their equalls likwise they despise their equalls euen vpon the scoare of equallity The sonns of Iacob through enuy sould their brother Ioseph lest he might come to bear rule ouer them Gen. 39. Cain through enuy murdered his brother Abel Gen. 4. because he saw that God had a greater kindnes for him in regard his vertue and vprightnes had rendred him more amiable in the sight of his Creator king Saul though he coueted victories ouer his enimyes neuertheless he laid wait for Dauids blood vnto taking away his life because the glory of the batles won was ascribed * 1. Reg. percussit Saul mille Dauid decem millia Mihi dederunt mille aiebat Saul Dauid vero decem millia to the conduct and courage of Dauid wherby is plainly euidenced that enuy râ—ndreth man * S. Chrys hom 4. in Mat. inuidia reddit homines peiores diabolis NaÌ„ diabolus non vult nocere diabolâ— worse then deuils for deuils do not hurt deuils but men through enuy prejudice men which as to kind and nature are alike the enuious man sharpeneth his tongue as a serpent and adders poison is vnder his lips that is wicked detraction the innate property wherof is to report euill of others in their absence which is an impiety forebidden Leuit. 19. thou shalt not curse the deafe that is thou shalt not detract from the absent that cannotheare what is objected against him Again the naturall property of detraction is to augment or aggraâ—at euil reportes and to trauell after the hearing therof as a woman that is about to bring forth a child which is a wickednes forbidden Eccles 19. If shou hast heard a word against they neighbour let it dye with the furthermore the innate property of detraction is to darken the luster of good works though neuer so clear and manifest to extenuate their greatnes or steal away the right pertaining thereto wherby plainly appeares that a detractour is an abomination to God and the worst * S. Ambrâ— asserit tolerabiliores esse fures queÌ„ vespes alia bona nostra diripiuÌ„t quam fures qui famam nostram lacerant seed of theifes for example other robbers spoile and carrie away temporall goods onely namely gold siluer and garments wheras a detracter taketh away spirituall enjoyments that is our good name which is to be chosen aboue great riches Prouerb 22. and he that detracteth is * Bâ—siliuâ— coÌ„parat detractatorem muscae quae sanam carnem percutit vlceri incidit ibi figit rostruÌ„ like a fly that makes a would in whole flesh where none was afore sitteth on and fixeth its nib in it for a detracter striues to wound such as for innocency and purity of life shine without reproofe He is like a butchers dog that lyes wait for blood and hath his lips alwaies bloody for nothing of cleanes is in the mouth of a detracter whose throat is an open sepulcher of corruption he is like a spider that turneth sweet sauours into poison conuerting good into euill he is like a swine that entering into a garden where in one quarter are beds of sweet flowers and in another part therof dunghills hasteneth from the odoriferous plants to the stinking durt which is his pleasure for a detractour passeth ouer the flowry beds of vertues and hasteneth to dunghills that is to the sinns of other men wherin is the consistency of his delight in sum he is like * Eccles 10. qui famam alterius occultè laedit similis est serpeÌ„ti mordeâ—ti in sidentâ—o a serpent that windeth and turneth about craftely carrieth fair before and stingeth behind secretly for a detractour speakes
tempus Iudex vice Christi cogitatur Because due obedience is not exhibited to Christ's Vicar and the Chaire by our lords voice founded on S. Peter As in the old law schisms so in the new law heresies spring vp The Childrē of Israël fell into schisms when they fell away from their due Obedience to the Chaire of Moyses and Christians fall into heresies as oft as they rise against the Chaire of S. Peter coyning or following vnauthorised nouelties whereby Christian souls are misled into most desperate precipices of errours in regard whereof I haue been mou'd to write a Theology conform to the ancient Cycli and weights of the holy Churches sanctuary that is to set forth a whole body of Christian doctrine built vpon Scriptures Traditions Councils and Fathers which deserue to be prefer'd before Schollars of new Notions that is Christian people ought to adhere conforme their conciences to and rely their eternity rather on those then these which is the Counsell that the great S. Austin guies in his 2. Booke against Julian the Pelagian Bishop who had brocht new opinions to the preiudice of souls exhorting all Christians to regard rather the learning of the holy Fathers which flourished in the precedent ages and the constant and vniuersall practice of the Catholicke Church then the prophane nouelties vented and spred by the Pelagians Saying Hos antiquos Patres oportet vt Christiani populi vestris prophanis nouitatibus anteponant eisque potius quam vobis eligant adherere My lord herein lies the sole intent of these conceptions which I present you with and vnder your authority aduenture into publick view vnto aduantaging such as are piously sober d Secundum S. Aug. l. 14. de Trinit c. 1. munns Theologiae est pijs opitulari veritatem contra impios defendere and to defend the truth against such as are impiously wanton This is the ayme of my Theologicall discourses and the height of my desires is but this that they may be receiu'd into your Lordships protection which is ground warrantable enough to gaine them credit in regard of the high measure of knowledge which is extraordinary in you beseeming a well studied diuine as appears by your own writings which together with your other gifts of nature and grace renders you admired by all that know your Lordship aright Besides that which alone might embolden me to address these endeauors vnto your Lordship is your eminent nobility The best blood that is in any English subiect run's in your Lordships veins as euidence your paternall and maternall descents from the most renown'd and ancient Houses of Pembrock Northumberland and Derby Again your sundry noble allyances The lord Talbot that was Heire of Shrewsbury maryed your only Daughter a Lady of great vertue and Vere vidua A widow indeed hauing for aboue these 20. yeares continued in her widow hood notwithstanding her Ladyships youth person birth and great doury which made her the ambition of many noble Suitours Moreouer your Lordships onely and most hopefull son marryed to the most accomplished in honour obligingness sweetnes and piety the lady Elizabeth Daughter to Edward Lord Marquess of Worcester which brings forth also an alliance with the most illustrious House of Norfolke Arundell and Surrey Since I am fallen vpon your eminent Nobility has not your owne Lady much added thereto if your House were without an ample series of renowned progenitors might not your posterity haue a glorious Rise from her Ladyship whose eminent vertues haue rendered her memory blessed Nobilitas sola est atque vnica virtus Besides has not that gallant Person the lord Crauen her Ladyships Brother added something of greatnes to your posterity whose braue and gallant actiōs performed a broad in foraine parts haue gain'd much honour to his Country Moreouer the rising of that family is honorable the supream prouidence haueing brought it to the height of Eminence which it now happely enioyes as the same prouidence e Aug. l. 5. de Ciuit. Dei cap. 15. profitetur Deum terrenam gloriam excellentissimi Imperij cōcessisse bonis artibus Romanorum id est vt ipsemet interpretatur virtutibus quibus ad tantam gloriam nitebantur extended the Empyre of the ancient Romans in regard of Morall vertues which were eminent in your ladies Father and Mother the Raisers of it for as much as their zeale to the law of nature that is to do Iustice giuing to euery one what is euery on 's own and to shew mercy vnto the distressed feeding the hungry and cloathing the naked rendered them admired of such as knew them and according to holy Scriptures God exalted the Midwiues of the Hebrew women and made them houses Exod. 1. For their complyance to the law of nature in preseruing of innocent Babes which the Tyrant of Fgypt had commanded them to kill and since I am fallen vpon Gods merveilous rewarding of morall good works in confirmation of this truth I might produce conuincing examples in our own Country where very many in these times through a supream prouidence are aduanc'd to honours dignities and eminent offices that is God hath built them new Houses of nobility or encreased the glory of the old for preseruing loyalty to their king which is the law of nature written in their hearts they feared God and honoured his annoynted against the commandement of the Tyrant of England and therefore are exalted and truly vpon this score the supream prouidence hath built his Grace the Duke of Albermarle a more glorious House thē any subiect in the Christian world this day enioys in as much as through a happy managing of his loyalty he carries the name not onely of Paterpatriae but likewise of Pater Caesaris hauing preseru'd both Caesar and his Countries In consequence of the premises his Maties Catholick subjects that with the effusion of their blood and loss of their Estates haue cherefully performed that duty of nature in order to loyalty may hope that a speciall prouidence in good time will make for them Houses of Ease which shall be the daily prayer of MY LORD YOVR HONORS Most humble and most obedient Seruant GEO. LEYBVRN PREFACE TO THE COVNTRY-MISSIONARY SR Although these holy Characters so named because they describe and set forth the holy Mysteries of Christian Religion containe Theology but compendiously dressed vp neuertheless vvant noe Requisits either essentiall or necessary thereto being built on the foundation of holy Scriptures Traditions Councils and Fathers vvherin lies the consistency of true Theology vvhich as the pillar of fire led the Israëlits by night in their vvay to the land of promise so in as much as it carries the lights of the best Antiquity shevvs Christians their vvay thorovv the darke Mysteries of Christian faith as by night vnto an heauenly Inheritance prefigured in the land of promise that is God hath instituted this diuine science to direct Gouernours of souls in the pursuance of their pastorall function vvhich
this Iesus in reuerence and reference not to the materiall elements or sound of the name it selfe but to the son of the Virgin Mary God and man which kind of Religious honour was neuer exhibited to the name of Iesus Naue or Iesus the son of Iosedech and the best antiquity counted the said Custom of bowing at the name of Iesus a distinctiue mark to the distinguishing of Christians from Iewes who hearing the name Iesus spoken did no more bow their stiffe neckes and proud heades then they did hearing the names Pharach or Satan * S. Hieron l. 3. Commentar ait suo tempore Christianos hac nota à Iudais cognitos fuisse quod hi nunquam genuflectereÌ„t audito nomine Iesu Besides the ancient Christians were piously accustomed to weare about their necks the name of this Iesus formed in Agnus Deies and Crosses which they counted as Religious table books to preserue the memory (g) According to S. Austin there is no such soueraign medicin against sin as is a reflexion on the grieuous sufferings which Christ God and man endured for our sake and who is writeth S. Bernard so voluptuous as will not abstain so ambitious that will not repent or so full of wrath that will not grieue when he takes into his serious consideration the passion and death of Christ of their God crucifyed dead and buried knowing well that if they would not carry the name of the diuine son in tables of their hearts they should not find their own names put down in the table book of the diuine Father which is the book of life since none can come to the Father but by the son and the merits of his passion Wherby is plain that to a good Christian the name of Iesus the Son of the Virgin Mary * Bonauoâ—tura in vitaâ— S. Francisci scribit eum solitum fuissa labia sua lambere diâ legerot nomeÌ„ Iesu S. Bernardus ser 13. in Cant. Iesus inquit mel in ore in aure melos in corde IubiluÌ„ is hony in the mouth melody in the care and gladnes in the heart Further more the very name of Iesus (h) Lactantius l. 4 c. 24. affirmes that many men were deliuered from deuils through the name of Iesus and the sign of the crosse that represents his passion and death The same is asserted by S. Justin the Martyr in his dialogue with Tryphon this name Iesus saith he forceth deuils to flie Again the name of Iesus according to Origen heales wounds cures diseases deliuers from death and expells deuils hath produced marueillous effects ouercame temptations expelled deuils and cured all manner of infirmities in reference to him whose proper name it is to witt the son of the Virgin Mary who is also the son of God CHAR. VIJ. OF THE NAME OF CHRIST THE CONTENTS The exposition of the word Christ his Priest hood wherby he was constituted Chief Gouernour of souls vnto bringing them to the knowledge of truth and to healing the wounds also which sin had inflicted in the Cure wherof Christ performed the seuen works of mercy CHrist is a second name properly belonging to the son of the Virgin Mary so named because he was anointed by the holy Ghost in respect of (a) Psal 44. thy God hath anointed thee vvith the oile of gladness aboue thy fellovvs Christ was anointed in regard of his hypostaticall vnion in consequence of which he was both peculiarly and incomparably anointed and endued with abilities and graces aboue all other kings and Priests the hypostaticall union of his diuine and human nature in one diuine person so that at once and in a most eminent degree he was both king and Priest and endued with guifts and abilities effectually necessary for the performance of each charge (b) The Royall Prophet Psal 49. assertes Christs rule and dominion ouer the whole world As king his inheritance was the whole world and the plenitude of all things therin contained though while he liued on the earth he did not exercise Regall power As Priest he was chief Gouernour of soules being maried to the Church in mercy and compassion * Oseae 2. Spensabo te mihi in aeternum for euer and this spirituall gouernment he executed in two kindes of waies As to the first (c) S. Iohn the Euangelist cap. 1. attesteth Christ to be the true light that enlighteneth euery man that cometh into the world from whence S. Austin l. 1. de Gen. Con. Manich. c. 3. inters that euery man may keep the Commandements if he will himselfe because saith he that light Christ lightneth all men that come into the world and indeed as S. Anselm teaches no man wanteth the light of grace because God doth not giue it but because man will not accept it being as S. Austin often inculcates left to the free will of each one to consent vnto or dissent from diuine grace which beginneth euery good work and if not hindred through the resistance of our flexible nature effectually perfects the work it beginneth he was a generall light offering on his part to enlighten euery one in darknes of ignorance and sin insomuch that such as are not enlightened it is because they * Ioa. 3. lux venit in mundum dilexeruns homines magis tenebras qua lucem loue darknes more then light like vnto certaine Ethiopians who haue so great an abhorrence from the clear beames of the sun that at the rising therof they retire into woods or dens to eschew the brightnes of it such are * S. Ansel homo noÌ„ habet gratiam non quia hanc noÌ„ dat Deus sed quia hanc noÌ„ accipit homo sinners which through willfull blindnes of errour doe * Job 24. ipsi eraÌ„t lumini rebelles declinaueruÌ„t oculos suos ne viderent solem rebell against the light of diuine grace shutting the eyes of their vnderstanding that it may not shine vpon them And as wood wherin is much water doth hardly take fire the form of water mainly resisting the introducing of the form of fire so such loue not the light of grace as are delighted with darknes of sin darknes being an enemy to light When Christ the son of the Virgin Mary was born the generall light of the world he offered his enlightning grace as the rising sun its shining beams to all though the celestiall quiers of Angells did communicate the glad tydings of this light vnto the shepherdes of Bethlem the place of his birth and diuinely sung glory to God in the highest heauens for sending it yet they did not proclaime peace as to the reconciling earth and heauen together but only to men Bonae voluntatis * Luc. 2. in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis of good will plainly shewing therby that the reconciliation of man vnto God should depend of the free will of each one prepared by the said light of grace * Aug.
for as seruants present vnto their lords a cup of drink so persecutours reach vnto those they persecute a chalice of affliction wherby they serue and help them to a purchase of heauenly blessednes A goldsmith serueth a king when he maketh for him a crown of Royalty persecutours serue good Christians when they afflict them in as much as they deuise and forme for them crowns of eternity and with ihe hammer of persecution fit them to their heads Wherfore though persecutours lorde it while they inflict torments neuertheless they are indeed but the seruants of the tormented and only aboue them as chaff is aboue the good grain not because they are more worthy but in regard they be more light and when the time of winowing with the fan of diuine justice shall come God will make clean his floore and gather his good grain into his garner but will burn vp the chaff with vnquencheable fire Mat. 30. Wherfore persecutours of justmen * Aug. in psal 53. florent inquit iniusti persecutores felicitatesaeculi pereunt in virtute Dei Non enim quomodo florent pereunt florent enim ad tempus pereunt in eternum florent falsis honis pereunt veris tormentis doe not perish as they florish they florish for a short time and perish for euer Furthermore good Christians vnder the blak rod of tribulation in as much as they suffer for God and doc not desert him in their sufferings God doth not desert them he is with them in their trouble and deliuereth and glorifieth them God went down * Sap. 10. descendit eiâ— illo Joseph in foueam in vinculis non deroliquit eâ—m with Ioseph into the dungeon and left him not in the bands he couereth them vnder his wings and secureth them * Ps 90 scapulis suit obumbrabit tibi sub pennis cius sperabis .... cu ipso sum in tribulatione eripiaÌ„ eum glorificabo cum vnder his Feathers he is their sheild buckler and fortress he is near to all that call vpon him in truth Psal 104. He was not farre * Ion. 2. orauit Ionas ad Dominum Deum suum de ventre piscis c. from Ionas whom he mercifully heard euen praying out of the fishes belly while the waues of the sea compassed him about he foresook not Daniel in his den of affliction for Daniel prayed vnto him * Dan. 6. Deus meus misit Angelum suum conciuâ—â— ora leabum c. and he sent his Angell to shut the lyons mouthes that they might not hurt him his Angell likewise descended with Azarias and his fellowes into the hot fiery furnace quenched the flames of the fire and made the midds of the furnace as a wind of dew blowing * Misit Angelum suum eruit seruos suos qui crediderunt in eum and the fire had no power ouer their bodyes for not an hair of their head was burnt Daniel 3. The wind of dew blowing in the mids of the furnace denotat's the spirit of God giuing comfort in the midds of tribulation as that wind did so mitigate and temper the hot fire of the furnace that it had no power ouer the bodies of the three Innocent children so doth the spirit of God mitigate and sweeten the afflictions which innocent Christians suffer for his sake that they may not be swallowed vp with ouermuch heauines Wherfore such as are vnder the black rod of persecution haue no cause to fear or apprehend prejudice therby hauing God ready to defend them and his spirit to comfort them which is all sweet and sends influences of diuine sweetnes to their hearts that stirs them vp to praise bless and glorify him with Azarias and his fellows in the midds of their affliction and to pray with S. Paul Blessed be God the Father of our lord Iesus-Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort which comforteth us in all our tribulations 2. Cor. 10. CHAR. XIJ. OF CHRISTIAN FAITH THE CONTENTS Christian faith is a gift of God conuinceth the truth of things that are not seen and bringeth into captivity all vnderstanding to the obedience of Christ through faith poor fishermen subdued kings and Emperors vnto embracing Christian Religion deuils belieue and tremble yet haue nothing of diuine faith being they want obedience the greatest praise of a faithfull Christian is to confess with his toungue outwardly what he belieueth with his heart inwardly faith without good works proceeding from diuine grace through the merits of Christ is a body without life faith alone cannot iustify no man through faith is certain that his sinns are forgiuen him CHristian faith is the substance of things hoped for As substance giues existence to the thing which it is the substance of so Christian faith causeth the existence of the thing hoped for representing it as present that during this life is absent with greater certainty then if the hand toucht or the eye saw it It is (a) According to the Apostle Hebr. 13. faith is the substance of things hoped for the argument of things which are not feen but S. Austin l. 2. de pec merit remis cap. 30. defining diuine faith in room of argument vseth conuiction saying faith is the substance of things hoped and the conuiction of things which are not seen that is faith as a strong argument conuinceth the truth of things vnseen the conuiction of things not seen that is to say neither by sense conceiued nor by reason comprehended * Ephes 2. Dei enim donuÌ„ est nempe fides It is the diuine gift that brings into * 2. Cor. 10. in captiuitatem redigentes omnem intelictum in obsequium Christi captiuity all vnderstanding to the obedience of Christ in a firme assent to supernaturall truth supernaturally reueiled and propounded by the authority of the Catholick Church to be beleiued This captiuity is a supernaturall motion laid on the will which it inclineth effectually and vseth nothing of violence it proceeds * 1. Pet. 2. qui de tenebris vocauit eos in admirabile lumen suum from the marueilous light of saith that enlightens the mind among the dark mists of errour As the carbuncle hath a singuiar prerogatiue of brightnes beyond all other precious stones which is to shine in darknes and chase away night so faith hath a speciall excellency of light aboue all other vertues which is to dissipate the darknes (b) Vnless God had been the author of Christian faith and assisted the Apostles poor fishermen that preach'd it the conuersion of so many kings Emperors and other illustrious Princes to the faith of Christ had been impossible for abstracting from diuine assistance it had not been as to reason consonant that so great Monarchs might euer haue been perswaded to despice wordly pleasures riches and honours vnto embracing of humility pouerty and the ignominious Cross of Christ for a reward of happines
they saw not This sole motiue carrieth evident credibility and weight enough to perswade a rationall prudent man to embrace Christian faith Wherfore Picus Mirandula Epis 5. writeth thus T is an extream madnes not to belieue the gospell the truth vvherof blood of Martyrs proclames Apostolicall voices eccho forth vvonders and miracles proue reason confirmes mute elements speak deuills confess but t is a greater madnes adheth he if a Christian that doubts not of the truth of the gospell neuertheless shall liue as if he did question the truth thereof of infidelity Examples of this captiuity were the learned Pagan Philosophers namely S. Denys of Areopagus Aristides Iustin Magistrat's Princes Kings and Emperours of all nations who illuminated with the admirable splendour of faith through the preaching of poor fishermen forsooke their sacrilegious worship of many Gods to imbrace the religion of one crucifyed Christ that seemed to most Gentiles foolishnes and to most Iews the stumbling stone of offence and rock of scandall hauing respect only to a reward of an enduring happines vnseen Obedience an effect of the afore said captiuity and a necessary requisite to faith is an humble submission of the will to diuine truth which distinguisheth it from all human perswasion for an assent to naturall verities apprehended either by sense demonstration or experience requires nothing of obedience in consequence of which though deuills (c) S. lames cap. 2. saith that deuils belieue and tremble that is they beleiue vnwillingly forc'd there to by clear evidence of the miracles of Christ in consequence of which their faith is not diuine supernaturally infused The deuils were affraid in regard they were conuinc'd that Christ was the son of God who must come to judge both men and Angels wherefore deuils stand in awe of Christ and his office of judge is an vnexpressable terrour vnto them belieue neuertheless they haue not the vertue of diuine faith because they want the vertue of (d) Aug. do verbis Domini c. 9. saith that the faith of wicked men that want the vertue of obedience comes near to the faith of deuils and truly the saith of our witsectaries in these daies is extream like vnto the faith of deuils because they will not belieue the mysteries of Christian Religion in obedience to authority but in clear evidence of naturall reason obedience Examples of this obedience were millions of Christians Primitiue and modern who in obedience to Christ endured mockings scoffings imprisonments wheeles kniues swords and all manner of torments stedfast and valiant in maintaining the faith of Christ and what they * Rom. 10. corde creditur ad iustitiam ore fit confessio ad salutem beleiued with their hearts they confessed with their mouths with their hearts they beleiued to justice and with their tongues made confession to saluation in which consists the cheif praise of Christian faith It is not enough that a Christian Catholick hath faith within himselfe * Mat. 10. qui confitebitur me coram hominibus confitebor ego eū corā Patrè meo qui in coelis est vnless he express it outwardly if he will haue Christ to confess him before his heauenly Father he ought to confess Christ be fore men Nothing is more gratfull to Christ then an open confession of ones faith Saint Peters confession of Christs diuinity * S. Hilar. fides Petri de diuinitate Christi habet claues Regni caelorum got the keys of Heauen and that joyn'd to a full expression of loue to Christ merited the cheif place among the twelue Apostles But faith wanting charity is a lamp without oyle a candle without flame and a body without life faith in the absence of charity is * Jacob. 2. fides sine operibus mortua est dead hauing neither nourishment to burn or flame to enlighten or life to liue and as the body doth act by the influence of life so faith doth work by the support of charity (e) S. Bernard ser 38. teacheth that the want of merits is a pernicious pouerty and biddeth us take care to haue merits and know when we haue them that they are giuen us and indeed the Council of Trent sess 6. can 32. has defined that the good works of a just man be the gifts of God and the merits of the same just man for as much as they proceede from him by diuine grace and the merits of Iesus-Christ and other good works proceeding from diuine grace grounded in the merits of Christ which are not only signs or testimonies of faith's presence but they doe increase * Iacob 2. en operibus fides cōsummata est and perfect it in the work of iustification of which faith is the foundation only Wherby is plainly euidenced that the sole essentiall requisit to sanctifying justice is not faith * 1. Cor. 13. nunc autem manet Fides Spes Charitas tria haec maior autem horum est charitas Igitur cum charitas sit maior fide non debet dici quod sola fides iustificet saluet alone called by the name of speciall faith and counted a certain evident cognition infallibly assuring the beleiuer that his sins are forgiuen him in particular and that he is made an adopted child of God through Christ Neither is such a faith the substance of things hoped for which is the definition or description of Christian faith deliuered by the Apostle for hope that is seen is not hope nor a thing (f) Hieron l. 2. con Iouin writeth thus T vvere great injustice in God if the should punish sins that is vvicked vvorks and haue no regard to or revvard for good vvorks peculiarly assured is a thing hopd for Besides when S. Peter bid Simon Magus who after his baptism had retained wickednes in his heart to repent he did not assure him that his sins should be forgiuen him saying only vnto him Repent of this thy wickednes and pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiuen thee And S. Paul while he preached to others although he did not apprehend in himselfe any guilt of mortall wickednes yet he durst not pronounce himselfe justifyed being afraid of damnation he feared lest while he preached to others himselfe should become a reprobate * Aug. ser 19. de verbis Apostoliait Paulus suo timore nos terruit quid enim faciet agnus vbi aries tremuit But what shall the lamb doe when the Ram is afraid (g) Chrysostome in Comment super 10. Epis 1. ad Cor. writeth thus Let him that thinks he standeth take heed lest he fall for if Paul the Apostle saith he the strongest of all men vvas affraid vve haue greater reason to fear if S. Paul the most sted fast and valiant in the faith of Christ did tremble and fear in the working of his saluation what shall other Christians doe which be far inferior to him CHAR. XIIJ. OF A VVIT-BELIEVER THE CONTENTS
only for the goodnes sanctity and perfection essentiall vnto him And God is not loued aright when he is loued for * Aug. in psa 52. Deus non propterea se amari vult quia dat aliquid praeter se sed quia dat se a reward besides himselfe who is the * Gen. 17. ego ait Deus Abrahamo protector tuus sum merces tua magna nimis great reward of right loue also the soul that loues God aright loues him with all its faculties strength and thought * Aug. medita 35. immensus es Domine ideò sine mēsura debes amari Et rursum totū amorem à te exigit Deus qui te tetum fecit for in the exhibition of loue God requires of man it all who made him all As a chast woman that loues her husband loues no other man besides him for to loue so where not at all or less to loue him then she ought so a chast soul that loues God its spouse loues no other reward besides him for that were not to haue at all or less affection for him who will not be loued for any reward that is not himselfe and indeed a riuer diuided into two riuolets or branches the more water it giues to one the less it bestowes on the other Furthermore as a woman doth not loue her husband that loues him for his mony goods and estate so a Christian soul doth not loue God that loues him for worldly enjoyments Aright louer of God does not stoope his loue to any creature but mount's vp and sixes it in the Creatour onely that is renounces all leagues of loue and friendship with the world And truly the. (a) According to S. Chrysostom hom 42. in Mat. a man if he loues God does not loue the world for if he loues the world he loues not God with all his heart a gain in an other place S. Chrysostom saith that whosoeuer will loue God of necessity must hate riches and whosoeuer will loue riches of necessity must hate God The loue of God and the loue of the world as contradictories are inconsistent together to loue God is to hate the world and to loue the world is to hate God * Iac. 4. amicitia huius mundi inimica est Dei. whosoeuer will be a friend of the world maketh himselfe the enemy of God As the same eyes of the body cannot behold the heauen and the earth together so the same eyes of the soul cannot look on God and the world at once this cannot flie vp on high when the wings of its affections are glewed to earthly delights God and the world are two contrary Masters and command contrary wise God command's man to abandon all terrene things for him and his faith and he will giue him eternall life the world saies to man denie or dissemble thy faith and Religion and I will bestow on thee riches and honours bring thee out of trouble and misery and make thee liue in peace and plenly at thine own house with they wife children and family The obseruation of Gods commands is the proofe and evidence of Christi an charity for whosoeuer loueth God * Joan. 14. si diligitis me mādata mea seruate Et cap. 10. haec inquit est charitas Dei vt mādata eius custodiamus quo modo dicit Aug. dlligis eum cuius odisti praeceptum quis est qui dicat diligo Imperatorē sed odi leges eius keepeth his commandements and doth those things which are pleasing in his sight and good works proceeding from the root of charity are without guilt of sin and consequently gratefull sacrifices vnto God * Io. Deus charitas est qui manet in charitate in Deo manet who is charity it selfe and in whom a Christian soul abideth whiles it abideth in charity * Quod charitas de fasto deperdatur totaliter quolibet peccato mortali est assertio fide certa ex Tridentino sess 6. cap. 15. can 27. read the character of luxury vvherein this Catholick doctrine is clearely prou'd and it is as impossible for charity to remaine with mortall sin as fire to burn in water for as water extinguisheth fire so each mortall sin driueth away charitv Lucifer was depriued of charity by the sin of pride Adam by the sin of disobedience king Dauid by the sinns of adultery and homicide and S. Peter lost his charity by denying of Christ though not * Iuxta antiquos Patres S. Petrus peccauit ex timore non ex infidelitate charitatem amisit non fidem his faith he sinning through feare only And albeit that some naturall works may be (b) S. Austin ser 52. de tempore c. 2. besides diuine supernaturall acknowledges human naturall charity and expresly affirmes that such meer morall affection if no euil circunstance interuene is laudable lawfull and honest in consequence of which he teacheth that pagans Jewes and other vnbelieuers may loue one another namely pagan husbands may loue their wifes and parents their children with a loue that is no deadly sin although it be not grounded on Christian faith wherby t is plain that S. Austin did not think as the new Teachers of these daies impose vpon him that euery morall action done by a pagan or Iew is a mortall sin because of the want of Christian faith neither matt'ers it that t is said Rom. 14. Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sin Fot the Apostle meaneth only as appeares by the same chapter that whatsoeuer worke a man does against faith or contrary to conscience is a sin ant doubtles it is not meant thereby that an infidel sinneth in honouring his parents giuing of almes fighting for his Country tilling his ground and in all other morall good works where vnto an insidel is bound by the law of nature good morally without both diuine charity and diuine faith for if liberum arbitrium free will could produce no good morall action at all without Gods speciall helpe by necessary consequeuce it would follow that it were wholy extinct for example he who could perceiue nothing of any coulour without a speciall concurrence and assistance of God would be counted wholy blind that is it would be thought that his sight or faculty of seeing were totally extinct Howeuer meer works of nature inuested with morall goodnes onely haue but withered leaues wanting reall fruits such as tend * Aug. l. 4. con Julia nullum bonū beatificum sine charitate hoc inquit amore opus est vt sit bonum beatificum to the glory of Heauen which is the centre of Christian charity CHAR. XVIJ. OF CHARITY TOWARDS OVR NEIGBOUR THE CONTENTS The loue of God bringeth forth loue towards our neigbour whosoeuer loueth God as he ought loueth his neigbour also euery man is euery mans neigbour those come the nearest to God in imitation which loue their enemyes without dissimulation the highest praise
lib. arb c. 2. vt primus parens inquit meliores gigneret quam ipse esset non erat aequitatis sed ex conuersione ad Deum vt vinceret quisque suppliciū quod origo eius ex auersione meruerat adiuuari oportebat it had been against reason and equity that Adam should beget children better then he had made himself by his fall so it were against Gods mercy to continue them in the calamities vnto which they were begot these being no defects of theirs personally By necessary consequence is euident Gods clemency and bountifullnes in laying his commandements vpon man (b) The Council of Trent sess 6. defines that God commands nothing that is impossible but by commanding warneth us to doe what we can and to ask of him what we cannot doe and so God assistes us to do what of our selues we cannot and S. Austin l. de gra lib. arb c. 16. teacheth that therefore God commandeth what we cannot do of our selues without his grace to the end we may know thereby what we ought to demand of him So that O lord giue requisits to do thy commandements and command vvhat thou vvilt was a prayer often vsed by S. Austin By commanding he admonisheth him as to free will to doe what he can of himself as to grace to aske of him what himself cannot doe and God most bountifully and sweetly doth operate in mans asking and cooperate in his doing graciously * S. Tho. 1. 2. q. 106. a. 2. ad 2. lex noua inquit iram non operatur quia quantum est ex se dat sufficiens auxilium ad non peccandum Et paulo antz si quis ait post acceptam gratiam noui Testamenti peccauerit eum maiore poena dignum esse tanquam maioribus beneficijs ingratum auxilio sibi dato non vtentem furnishing euery one with requisits for the execution of all things commanded furthermore God promiseth a reward of eternall life to such as shall faithfully execute his commands as it wee extorting from them the seruice and duty which the law of nature obligeth and the expectation of promised blessednes encourageth vnto so that the diuine lawes and ordinances are sweet and easy God only requiring from each man come to the vsing of reason what lyeth in his power or will fortifyed by grace to performe It is the denil that asketh of man hard things for example to hate God blaspheme his holy name decline his diuine worship dissobey parents wrong out neighbour detract from him wound his honour and reputation which are things very hard being contrary to the light of naturall reason but God requireth only to loue and serue him and our neighbour for him in which consists the fullnes of all his commandements and very easy being conforme to the dictates of naturall reason Whereby followeth that whensoeuer the deuills request is granted and Gods denyed it is not because Gods request is hard but because mans heart is hardened in obstinacy and pertinacy against the clear light of naturall reason and supernaturall inspitations Since the first age of Christianity for about 1500. Yeares till Luther and Caluins time no example of any author can be produced for hauing impugned a possible obseruation of diuine lawes and ordinances all writers vnanimously affirming * Aug. ser de tempore ait nec impessibile potuit Deus aliquid imper are qui iustus est nec damnaturus est hominem pro eo quod non potuit vitare quia pius est Vnde l. 1. retrac c. 10. ait omnes homines posse si velint implere precepta Dei sed praeparari voluntatem à Domino qui operando incipit cooperaendo perficit vt docet Aug. multis in locis quod misericordia Dei nos in omnibus praeueniat consentire autem vel dissentire propriae voluntatis est that as God who is good doth not dam any man for an offence he cannot auoide so being iust he doth not command things impossible and indeed to impute to God an impossibility in his commands is (c) S. Hieron Epis ad Damas writeth thus We detest the blasphemy of those vvich teach that things impossible are commanded or that all men cannot keep the commandements and S. Basil in Regul c. monach c. 33. affirm's that God who is both iust and mercifull would neuer command us any thing vnless he gaue power to doe it blasphemy and sacriledg deuesting God of his iustice besides it giues the lie to the holy Ghost who saith that the Priest Zacharia◠and his wife Elizabeth were both iust before God and walked in all the commandements and iustifications of our lord without reproof CHAR. XX. OF PREDESTINATION OR ELECTION TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN THE CONTENTS Grace doth not proceed first from merits it is giuen Gratis and from thence is named Grace election or Predestination to diuine Grace comes not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Gods election or Predestination of man to the kingdom of Heauen supposeth fore knowledg of Good works through Grace Graetis giuen the glory of Heauen is a prize a just crown a reward ordain'd for those which employe faithfully their Talents of Grace which mercy bestow'd S. Paul found mercy after many euill works yet he had neuer found the kingdom of Heauen but for his many good works PRedestination or election to the kingdom of Heauen is a firme purpose or decree of Gods electiue will vnto glorifying such as shall depart out of this life in due conformity to his diuine laws and ordinantes although God as the vniuersall bountifull benefactor (a) The Prophet Isaias cap. 5. setting foorth generall mercy in the person of God faith What could I haue done any more to my vinegard that I haue not done vnto it vvhether haue I looked that it should bring forth grapes and it bringeth forth vvild grapes Where by the vinegard the barren people of Israël by the grapes good by wild grapes euill works are figuratiuely meant God signifying thereby that on his part he had furnisht the people of Israël with all requisits necessary to the exercising of good works who neuertheless on their parts brought forth euill works only and in the 62. chap. of the same Isaias God complaines of the Israelits saying I haue spread out myne hands all the day vnto a rebellious people that vvalketh ina vvay vvhich is not good after their ovvn imaginations doth furnish each reasonable creature with sufficient expedients to see his own infirmity to confess his imbecillity and to know to seek profitablely what vnprofitablely he knowes not namely a diuine cure for his miseries and this act of bountifullnes is properly named grace grace (b) The Apostle Rom. 11. affirmes that grace were not grace if procured by our works and indeed as S. Austin teacheth grace comes not of our merits but is giuen gratis and therefore is called grace so that
priuant quod non credunt Euangelio experturi scilicet in supplicijs eius potestatem cuius misericordiam in donis cōtempserunt they depriue themselues of a great good or benefit and shall sind in punishments the power of him whose mercy in gifts they haue contemned Ill runners of the second Class are wicked Christians who willfully deuesting themselues of sanctifying grace receiued in or after baptism become seruants to sin which doth so * Psal 37. sicut onus graue grauatae sunt super me scilicet iniquitates meae Prouerb 5. iniquitates suae capiunt impiū funibus peccatorum cōstringitur ouerburden and with cords bind them that as Asses ouerloaden they cannot goe or fleas tyed in chaines they cannot leap so they cannot run * Haebr 12. Adulteri fornicatores c. nō possidebunt regnum Dei such are voluptuous luxurious wanton drunken and all vnjust Christians who will neuer obtaine the inheritance of Heauen not because they cannot (g) Oecumenius in cap. 2 1. ad Timoth. saith that-seeing it is the will of God to bring all men to the knowledge of his trueth why is not his will done he answereth that therefore it is not done because all men will not doe his will and God forceth or necessitateth no man to doe his will but because they will not take of their loads and deliuer themselues out of their cords (h) The Apostle Rom. 2. saith Dost not knovv O sinner that the bountifullnes of God leadeth thee to repentance but thou after thine hard and impenitent heart heapest vp as a treasure vnta thy selfe vvrath against the day of vvrath and of the reuelation of the just judgment of God where by the diuine bountifullnes is meant diuine grace which the sinfull Iews through their hardnes of heart resisted which is in their power to do through teares of true repentance whereto the diuine bountifullnes leadeth euery sinner By help of teares occasioned through diuine grace holy Dauid S. Peter and S. Paul and S. Mary Magdelen cast of the heauy loades and troublesom fetters which sin had caused and thereby restored to their liberty run happily vnto obtaining the prize which is eternall glory In the great day (i) According to the holy Euangelist S. Mathew cap. 25. Christ shall say in the day of generall Judgment Come yee blessed of my Father possess the inheritance of the kingdom prepared for you from the fundation of the vvorld c. from this sacred text euidently appeares that the kingdom of Heauen is ordain'd for such as shall do good works of mercy namely giuing meat to the hungred drink to the thirsted cloathing to the naked c. in consequence of which God electeth those to glory whose good works he had foreseen of generall accounts when the great king of Heauen and earth shall distribute rewards * Mat. 16. tunc reddet vnicuique secundum opera eius according to the works of each one the good runners will be put on his right hand and among the sheep intituled the blessed of his Father for hauing giuen meat to the hungry drink to the thirsty clothes to the naked assistance to the sick and almes to the imprisoned which are the works of mercy contrary wise the ill runners wanting such merits and that through their own fault will be put on the left hand of the king among the goates and condemned to the euerlasting fire of hell and * Aug. non est indignū Deo dicere ijs ite in ignem eternū qui misericordiam eius contempserunt it is not an action vnworthy a king infinitly iust to say to such as haue contemned his mercy Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the deuill and his Angells CHAR. XXJ. OF REPROBATION THE CONTENTS There is no positiue Act in the diuine will to reprobate that is to exclude any one from the kingdom of Heauen and to adjudge to euerlasting pains of hell without a foreknowledge of euil works God deserteth noe man before himselfe be deserted nor does he refuse to giue euen his plenteous grace that leadeth effectually vnto iustification of life if his call thereto be not rejected REprobation is a definitiue or absolute sentence of Gods iustice vnto excluding from his glory and punishing with euerlasting fire such as shall depart out of this life in mortall sin committed * Definita est reprobatio in ordine ad adultos by an act of their own will This double paine one of separation from God called Poena damni the other of sensible torment named Poena sensus is expressed in the sentence it selfe Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the deuill and his Angells Matt. 25. Where departure doth import separation from God and euerlasting fire sensible punishment but Gods knowledg of himselfe as iust reuenger doth not precede his foreknowledg of man as vniust offender for though God can deliuer without merits Gratis whom soeuer he pleaseth out of the lump of perdition that is out of originall and actuall sinns because he is infinitly good yet he doth not condemne any vnto euerlasting pains for noe fault because he is infinitly iust whereby is plainly euident that there (a) According to the Euaugelist S. Matthew c. 23. God on his part would Gather his children together as the henne gathereth her chickins vnder her vvings and they vvill not that is God on his part is vnvvilling to depart from them though on their parts they vvill depart from him Isai 54. is noe positiue act in his diuine will to exclude from Heauen and adiudg to Hell without preuision of ill works proceeding from human free will besides it would contradict Gods generall condition will so often inculcated in holy scripture to saue all reasonable creatures which obserue his lawes and ordinances if he had an absolute priuate will to damne some without respect to transgression of the same lawes and ordinances again that proceeding might argue in God either forgetfullnes of his generall will or mutability in changing or illusion in inculcating it which to conceiue of God were both blasphemy and sacraledg for thereby he would be deuested of his goodnes and be also beleiued to necessitate man to ill leauing him without free will or to work as birds build their nests in the summer by naturall instinct and consequently to extinguish in him his own image and likenes Liberum arbitrium free will being an essentiall part thereof Neither can God be said according to truth and equity to harden any man whom pertiacy and obstinacy through perseuerance in wickedness hath not hardened before that is (b) According to S. Austin l. de nat gra c. 26. God neuer deserts any man that desertes not him first To desert or forsake God is to resist and cast away the inward helps of his mercy namely holy illuminations and inspirations which lead to iustification of life God doth
not desert before himselfe be deserted and that is to say God doth not refuse his (c) Mat. 7. If ye that aere euil can giue to your children good gifts hovv much more shall your Father that is in Heauen giue good things to them vvhich aske him This sacred text evidently shew's Gods willingnes to furnish all expedients necessary for the sauing of euery soul if asked aright and indeed by good things are meant all spirituall meet helps of diuine grace plenteous measure of grace that brings effectually vnto iustification of life if man doth not refuse Gods call vnto it neither doth God cease * Apoco 3. ecce sto ad ostium pulso Et Luc. 11. pulsate aperietur vobis to call though man neuer comply with or consent to Gods calling and as the whole aire is said to be darkened in the absence of the sun notwithstanding that stars remaine in the firmament which furnish an inferior light so man is said to be hardened through obstinate * Aug. l. 1. ad Simplicianum Noluit Esau non cucurrit sed si voluisset cucurrisset Dei adiutorio peruenisset qui velle currere vocando prâ—staret nisi vocatione contempta reprebus fieret resisting of the diuine mercy although he doth not want sufficient grace to call him to Gods plenteous grace who obstructs the way of correction to none and giues power of doing well euen to euery one though hardened against him (d) According to S. Austin l. 3. de lib. arb c. 19. euery man hath power to know to seek profitably what vnprofitably he know's not l. de cor gra c. 17. teacheth expresly that in the day of generall judgment it may be answered to a damned soul that shall plead want of perseuerance in grace that he might haue perseuered if he would himselfe and therefore in an other place ascribes the hardnes of Pharaohs heart to his own fault being he resisted Gods mercifull grace whereby he might haue cast from him his transgressions Likewise S. Austins Disciple S. Prosper in his answere to Vincentius questions auerres that God depriu's no man of power to do well nor obstructs his way vnto correction Pharao as well as Nabuchodonosor might haue obtained plenteous grace of true repentance vnto iustification of life if he had not contemned gods call vnto it it was in his mercifully called as well as in the others power to embrace the diuine call vnto amendement Gods plenteous grace (e) In order to the royall dinner mentioned Mat. 22. S. Austin l. 38. quaes 68. expresseth his sentiment thus To that supper vvhich our lord saith vvas prepared neither all those vvhich vvere inuited vvould goe neither those vvhich vvent could haue gone vnless they had been called in consequence of which saith this greatest Doctor of grace neither these that vvent ought to ascribe their going to themselues nor those vvhich refused to goe ought to impute their not going to any other then themselues since it vvas in their ovvn povver to goe being they vvere inuited is like the plentifull nuptiall dinner prepared by the king mentioned in the Gospell at the mariage of his son of which many of his subjects made themselues vnworthy because being bidden they did not only refuse to goe but also sharply treated those that bid them Pharao was like these vnworthy bidden guests for he did not only contemn Gods call to plenteous grace of repentance but also made light of the callers and therefore God made him an example of his iust wrath multiplving his miracles and wonders in the land of Egypt euen to the desolation of him and his kingdom Hereby may be illustrated what is inserted in the said Gospell to witt Many called few chosen God calleth as he is a mercifull bountifull benefactor and is said to call many because he calleth all for his calling is an act of his first will which is (f) According to S. Chrysostome hom in ep ad Eph. Gods first will is that euen those which haue sinned against him may not perish but his second will is to let the wicked perish For this subsequent or secundary will of God is called the will of his iustice because as to this will rewardsare decreed sutable to the merits of each one God rendereth the enjoyments of Heauen for good and inflicteth the punishments of hell for euil works his will of mercy to saue all hauing made none vnto damnation but God chooseth to his glory as he is a iust rewarder And this his choosing is an act of his second will which is the will of his iustice to reward euery one according to his works and he is said to choose few because in respect of the many ill works which God finds deseruing damnation (g) S. Chrysostome hom 30. in act Apos teacheth that Gods preordination to glory supposeth his fore knowledge of good works in regard whereof he preordaineth and predâ—stinateth to glory effectually in consequence whereof the sole way to obtaine eternall blessednes is to abstaine from sin and perseuer in good works he finds few good works to choose worthy glorification CHAR. XXIJ. OF CHRISTS CHARITY TO MAN THE CONTENTS Christ came into the world to destroy sin and death and accordingly offered the Cup of his passion for as many as were liable thereto that is for the deliuerance of all men the elect and reprobat the whole world joynt and seperat except the Virgin Mary had sinned and perished in Adam Christs murderers had no reason to dispaire being Christ euen for them offered his prayer CHrists charity to man is the Cup of his passion made (a) According to the Apostle 2. Cor. 13. Christ was crucifyed as infirm that is according to the infirmity of human nature which he had assum'd in regard where of S. Prosper nameth Christs charity towards mankind the Cup of his passion made of human infirmity which is conform to Christs own words set down in S. Matthews Gospel Can ye drink the Cup that I shall drink of And the 26. Chap. of the same Gospel If it be possible let this Cup pass avvay from me Where is meant by the Cup Christs passion of human infirmity and diuine vertue vnto saluation to euery one that shall drink of it As Christ purposely came into the world * Timoth. 2. Christus Dei hominum mediator mediator of God and men excepting none from his mediation so he purposely offered the Cup of his passion for all excluding none from drinking thereof which is to say that * S. Leo. ser de natiuit Domini Dominus inquit noster peccati mortisque destructor sicut nulluÌ„ a reatu liberum reperijt ita liberandis omnibus venit being come to destroy sin and death and finding none free from the guilt of either he made himselfe the Generall Redeemer of all for their deliuerance out of both himselfe became the full propitiation for
will free himselfe of his bondage at his pleasure As a ship that hath lost her helme cannot sail whether and as her self would but is caryed whether and as the wind will euen so a sinner that is depriued of the helme of grace cannot doe the good things which he should but the euill which he should not and as ship of it self can descend but not ascend so a man by the power of his own free will can fali into But cannot rise from sin The works of nature (c) God said by the mouth of his Prophet Ose cap. 13. Perdition is thine O Israel onely in me is thine help whereby is clearly euidenced that the euils which happen come of our own procurement in regard of the sinnes we commit which do not proceed from God who cannot be the author of euil as it is an euil worke though according to the Prophet Amos cap. 3. he is cause of punishment due to sin which is called malum poena But God punisheth in order to amendement in this life and Iustice after death so that those which amend their life need not feare the diuine iustice after death can cast him down but the works of grace only can raise him vp again that he is a seruant of sin and freed of iustice is his own free act but that he is freed of sin and a seruant vnto iustice is the work of grace through IESUS-CHRIST and indeed if the works of nature were sufficient enough to raise vp a sinner vnto iustification of life Christ had dyed * Ga. 2. so per legem iustitia ergo Christus gratis mortuus vnde Aug. infert contra Pelagi Si per naturaÌ„ tustitia ergo Christus graits moriuus ergo scandalum crucis euacuatum est without cause Furthermore besides this bondage there be sundry other euil things which the deuil hath made of sin for he that sinneth speakes * Jsa 5. va vobis qui dicitis maluÌ„ bonum bonum malum ponentes tenebras lumeÌ„ lumen tenebras poneÌ„tes amarum in dulce dulce in amaruÌ„ good of euill and euil of good puts darknes for light and light for darknes puts bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter goes far from the springs of liue waters and dyes in the waters of vnclean delights that is to say a sinner preferreth wickednes to godlines ignorance to knowledg vice to vertue and death to life for as much as he forsaketh God his creator without whom nothing can be lightened sweetened sanctified quickened know therefore says the holy Prophet Ieremy cap. 2. and Behold ô sinner that it is an euil thing and bitter that thou hast for saken God thy lord which is an infinit treasure of good things The deuil makes a couenant with euery man that sinneth which is like the league * 1. Reg. 11 Naas interpretatur serpens significat diabolum of Naas the Amonite 1. Reg. 11. on condition that he may thrust out his right eye that is his obedience to God and his loue to spirituall things which is a very ill agreement in regard it spoileth him of knowledg grace and glory a chess player by one negligent remouall or touch of his men a miss often times loseth the whole game and the whol gaine too euen so one sin destroyeth much good Eccles 9. for euen When a iust man turneth away from his iustice and committeth iniquity all his iustice that be bath done shall not be remembered but in his transgression that he hath committed and in his sin that be bath sinned in them shall be dye Ezech. 8. That is when a sinner does not cast away from him his wickednes wherby he hath taken the couenant of the deuil and turne to God with a new heart and a new spirit but die in the bitternes of his soul he shall lose all the fruit of his good works together with the glory of Heauen Neither are these all the euill things that the deuill hath made of sin for the burdens which he layes on the shoulders of him that sinneth mortally are most beauy and grieuous and albeit that for the present they seem sweet and light yet afterwards they press him down as he that in water drawes a log of wood feels not the full waight therof till he come to land so the burden of a sinner is not felt in the waters of fleshly delights and the pleasures of this life but when he shall goe out of them that is when he shall depart out of the world he will find the (d) S Iohn Apoca. 8. faith that the waters destroy many that is worldly delights which after death are made bitter water in which he delighted as bitter as wormwood and the load that sin laid on his neck so heauy that it will suppress him suddenly for as lightening descends from Heauen in the turne of an eye so a sinner will fall down into hell in * Job 21. in puncto descendune ad inferos Ex Luc. 10. videbam Satanam sicut fulgur de calo cadentem a trice which is the place of diuine execution in punishment of transgressions As earthly kings haue faire lodgings for the entertaining of the good people and dark prisons for the punishing of malefactours so the king of glory that is exalted aboue all Princes of the earth hath goodly pallaces for delighting such as do well which is Heauen and dungeons of vtter darknes for tormenting of those that doe euill which is hell where the wicked experience in bitter suffering the power of him whose mercy in bountifull gifts they haue despiced as he that walketh in iustice and shutteth his eyes from seeing euill shall dwell on high with God in full enjoyment of all good things so he that deuiateth from the waies of godlines and delighteth in the pathe of iniquity when the number of his life is cut of (e) The Prophet Isaias cap. 33. expressing the punishments which the wicked endure after their death speaketh to sinners thus Who among yee can endure to dvvell vvith the deuouring fire vvho among yee vvith euerlasting burnings Wherfore S. Gregory saith that the death of the wicked is an euerlasting death shall dwell below with the deuil in deuouring fire and euerlasting burnings which is a death without dying and sorrow without ending for death there is alwayes * S. Gregorâ—â—it miseris â—â—ors sine â—â—â—rte begining and sorrow neuer ending in reguard the deuouring fire is for euer burning and no deliuerance from hell which is a laborynth in the mids of the earth though easely entred into yet affordes no guid or thread to direct out againe and the windings and turnings therof minister nothing of pleasure for brimstone is scattered in euery walke * Job 14. vndique terrebunt eum formidines and trouble anguish feares together with dispaire and horrible confusion be on euery side hope of blessednes being rooted out of this dwelling yet
though there is no regress out of this labyrinth full of all miseries howeuer not euen the wickedest man is necessitated to enter into it for God desireth not the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue Ezech. 33. and when the wicked casteth from him all his transgressions that he hath committed he shall furely liue and shall not dye Ezech. 18. (f) According to S. Prosper 1. sent ex S. Aug. there is no diuine vengeance if human vengeance goe afore that is God will not aueng himselfe of us if we will do vengeance on our selueÌ„â— by fasting praying c. God ceaseth from his iust vengeance when man turneth to humble repentance if we would judge our selues we should not be judged Cor. 11. that is we should not be tormented in hell if on earth we would examine our selues acknowledg to God our infirmities punish our transgressions in the Sacrament of Pennance master fleshly lusts and abstain from the pleasures of this life vnto the exercise wherof conduceth much an often reflexion on the greiuous torments and euerlasting afflictions which the damned endure a serious thought of hell encourageth vs to fight valiantly against the deuâ—l considering that if we be ouercome of him he will lead vs captiue thither and no ransom shall be accepted for our deliuerance out of his tyranny Often serious thougts of hell unable vs to subdue the Iusts of the flesh and despise the pleasures of this world seeing that if these raign and bear rule we must of necessity giue our members as weapons of iniquity vnto sin that brings death for they be the deuils in truments whereby wickednes is committed vnto the killing of our souls in consequence of which it is manifest madnes to take a sword and fall vpon it as Saul and his armour-bearer did that is to run wilfully after vn clean delights which are the deuils swords that destroy as many souls as fall vpon them if a child of one year will refraine from the milke which it delighteth in when at weaning time vnsauoured bitternes is applied to the breasts of the nurce much rather a man come to the age of discretion ought to abstaine from wanton pleasures considering they shall make him dye in the bitternes of his soul vnto euerlasting damnation And who in reason can tast a thing * 6 NuÌ„quid potest aliquis gustare quod gustatum affert mortem which tasted bringes eternall death Moreouer often serious thoughts of Heauen strenghen vs mainly against sin for as much as nothing of vncleanes be it coueted in the heart vttered with the mouth or exercised by outward works can haue admittance there But as sin is the deuils sword that sendes souls into hell so is it Gods sword that gards the way to the tree of life Gen. 30. And suffers no sinner to enter into Heauen Wherfore if the wickedest man that breatheth vpon the earth will take Heauen into his serious consideration he must of necessity abhorre and cast away his wickednes which obstructs the passage thither that is depriues him of the Summum bonum * Aug. quid per multa vagaris ô homuncis quaerendâ— anima tuae corpori hic ama summuÌ„ bonum which is the fountain of all good things for Heauen is a glorious Citty a secure dwelling and a country that * Iudic. 18. tradit nobis locum coelaÌ„ in quo nullius rei est penuria aboundeth in all delights in Heauen the iust shall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the son of God Rom. 8. in Heauen the iust shall shine as the sun Mat. 13 in Heauen the iust shall be in the hand of God and no torment shall touch them Sap. 3. in Heauen the iust shall haue fullnes of joy Psal 16. and lack nothing they shall be cloathed with robes of immortallity they shall hunger no more Liue bread that descended from Heauen shall be their meat neither shall they thirst any more the water that springeth vp vnto life euerlasting shall be their drinke they shall endure no tormenting heates the wings of the almighty shall couer them They shall suffer no cold the sun of iustice shall warme them they shall desire no sleepe the bright rayes of the diuine majesty shall expell darknes from their rest the things which eye hath not seen neither eare heard neither come into mans heart God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Cor. 20. The sins which driue away thoughts of Heauen are seauen especially named capitall vices in regard they be the heads of all others for example Pride Auarice Luxury Enuy Gluttony Anger slothfullnes or wearines in the exercise of good works CHAR. XXIX OF PRIDE THE CONTENTS Pride the first sin that came into the world Lucifer and the confederat Angels pust vp with the brightnes and excellency of their own nature became proud whereby they fell from sanctifying grace which they had receiu'd in their creation the Angelicall pride was an inordinate desire of dominion ouer all other creatures and of independence in gouernement euen of their Creator God resisteth the proud and exalteth the humble PRide is an inordinat loue * Definitur superbia inordinatus amor propriae excellentiae of selfe excellency which is the * Eccles 10. dnitium omnis pecence est superbiae vnde Chrysost tolle inquit hoc vitium vt nom velint homines hominibus praestare sine labore catera vitia resecantur Origen of all euill affections For the proud man turneth his heart from God and disdaineth to be * Luc. 18. dixit superbus Pharisaeus noÌ„ sum sicut cateri homines ergo inquit S. Bernardus sicut cateri damones counted as other men wherefore he is indeed as other Angells which puft vp with pride because of their eminency and inordinately carryed away with the greatnes * Ezech. 28. eleuatum est cortuum in decore tuo of their brightnes coueted equallity with their maker as to similitude (a) S. Cyprian 1. de ieiunio tenta Christi Ascribes the cause of the deuils ruine vnto an ambitious desire of dominion and S. Austin l. 14. de ciuit c. 11. speaketh thus in order to the faln Angels That proud Angel and therefore enuious for enuy is not properly the cause of pride but pride is the cause of enuy by the same pride turning from God to himselfe and ambitiously seeking rather to haue subjects then to be subject fell dovvn from Heauen he inordinatly coueted rule ouer all other creatures and doubtles the Angels that sell neuer went about to equall God as to diuine perfection knowing by the light of nature the impossibility of such an enterprize in order to dominion affecting as it were with tyrannicall arrogancy rule and authority ouer all things created by him and independence in gouernment euen of him their lord and therefore God gaue them vp
wherefore t is manifest iniustice to exacte or contracte for lucre aboue the capitall stock that is lent and herein precisely lies the consistency of mutuum loane Besides t is vnlawfull to exacte interest of fruit from a thing that is vnfruitfull and wholy barren of it selfe but for example * Nummi noÌ„ pariunt alios nummos nec frumentum in arca vel iam consumptum parit aliud frumentum money cannot bring forth money being in it selfe fruitless Agam the selling of time is a transgressing of the diuine and naturall law that haue made tyme sun and aire common to all alike but such as in vertue of lending precisely namely money bread wine oyle which consume away with vsing for dayes weekes moneths yeares receiue or exacte interest aboue the principall stock sell tyme for since a thousand crowns exceed not the valeu of a thouland crowns to exact lucre or interest precisely in regard of the loan thereof for a moneth or a yeare is to exacte an encrease of riches for the tyme of the same loan which implies selling of tyme neither matters it though the party that lendes say that he does not exacte interest in respect of tyme loan or vsing of the thing lent but in vertue of the gain which the party that borroweth reaps thereby it matters not I say because t is vnlawfull to exacte an encrease of riches from any thing that is not ones own but he that lendes money can haue no iust claim to the lucre that comes of lending and vsing it because the loane transfers the dominion and vse of the money to the party that borrowes wherefore the gain pertaines in equity to him who has the property and vse of the thing of which the gain comes whereby appears clearly the difference that is between a thing lent taken in the proper sense afore mentioned and a thing let or set to hire * Conductor de proprietate rei locatae quaestionem referre non potest c. de pignore actione l. credito Proinde contractus locati conducti per quem vsus alicuius rei puta domus praedij equi quae vsu non consnmitur pretio concediturlicitus est item contractus deposite per quem sola custodia rei alteri coÌ„mittitur vèrum quando res quae in numero mensura pondere consistunt deponuntur facta potestate depositario vt eis vtatur tunc incipiunt esse mutua simul ac deposrtarius incipit eis vti qui sic deponit facta expressa vel tacita aut intentione principali vt aliquid lucri inde ei redeat committit peccatum vsurae quia qui sic deponit in effectu mutuat sperare principaliter lucrum ex re mutuata est vsura Item licitus est contractus commodati per quem conceditur vsus alicuius rei quae vsu non consumitur vt gratuita commodatie equi libri rursum licitus est contractus pignoris per quem debitor aliquid creditori in cautionem pignorat huiusmodi enim contractus non transferunt dominium sicut emptio venditio permutatio donatio mutuum for the dominion of what is let or set to hire it not transfered from him that letteth or setteth to hire so that the Hirer has noe good claim to the property of the thing hired and therefore t is lawfull for him that letteth or setteth to hire to exact or reciue lucre for the thing let or set to hire in regard of the vse of it being the dominion and property thereof belonges to him but for as much as the dominion of things lent which consum in vsing is transferd from the lender to the debtour t is impious and execrable to exacte or receiue encrease of riches vpon that scoare being the profit is due to him that can chalenge the property of the thing that yeeelds it wherefore the hazard or danger of losing a thing let or set to hire concernes him that letteth or setteth to hire and not the hirer soe that if a thing hired perish without any fault of the hirer the loss is his that letteth or setteth to hire but if a thing lent onely for example money bread wyne oyle perish by accident t is the debtours loss to whom the dominion thereof was transferd The premises clearly euidence the * Aug. cur miser homo faeneraris homini fanerare Deo centuplum accipies vitam aeterna possidebis wretched condition of an vsurer his life is cursed of God for he sels what is not his own to encrease his riches by vniust dealings and since such as did gather wood vpon the saboth day were stoned num 15. what shall become of an vsurer that gathers lucre on euery day selling all the dayes of the yeare for the encreasing of riches * Vsurarius omni die omni felto facit suos operarios nuÌ„mos operari Besides in his deadly sin he inuolues as many as he employes in his wicked practices and Notaries especially that compose vsurarious contracts for thereby they contract the guilt of perjury * Notarij quaÌ„do creaÌ„tur iurant sâ— non facturos instrumenta vsuraria Deinde perjurus testificari non potest quantumcunque poenitentiam egit cap. extra testibus which depriues them of power in the future either of making publick instruments or bearing legall witnes CHAR. XXXII OF LVXVRY THE CONTENTS Euill effects come of carnall lusts whores and whore keepers both are abomination to God the lawes of Christian commonwealths that tolerate whores to the eschewing of greater inconueniences are not vnjust to permit is not to commit a sin to doe wickednes that good may come of it is euil euery mortall sin expelleth charity out of the soul the daughters of lot retained nothing of charity in their outward sin LVxury is an inordinate coueting of carnall pleasures which are the works of the flesh namely adultery fornication vncleanes wantonnes * Iob. 31. ignis est vsque ad perditionem deuorans Luxury is a sire which deuoureth to destruction for as much as it * Hierom in cap. 4. Osea fornicatio voluptas peruertit sensum animam debilitat de rationabili homine brutum efficit animal Et S. Greg. l. mor. idem docetâ— dulle the sense weakenes the vnderstanding spoiles the memory darkenes the sight makes the body loath some to the sight ill fauoured pale ill sauoured stinking hastens old age and rootes out of the soul the young plantes of diuine grace * Isa 41. halitus eius â—diaboli prunas concupiscentiae ardere facit This sire is kindled by the deuil who is the author of carnall lusts and as a smith when he cannot temper a piece of yron to his mind putes it in the sire blowes the coales till it b red hot then workes it according to his own will and pleasure so the deuil when he cannot lead a soul into wickednes blowes the coales in the fire of luxury
* Clemens Alex. anima inquit por saginam degenerat in corpus change the soul into the nature of a body and the whole man into the similitude of the Image of beasts Tigers of mighty strengh and courage when their bellies are filled become so cowardly that a company of Curres shall frighten and chase them away in like manner immoderateating and drinking conuert manly courage into effeminatnes besides as the rauenous animal named Gulo created doubtless to the shame of all gluttons after it hath fed so plenteously of a carrion that more cannot be cram'd down hasteneth to some narrow passage between two trees and there presseth its belly vnto making more room which done forthwith returnes to the same carryon and falles on afresh so a glutton after he hath discharged his stomach which immoderat eating or drinking had ouercharged afore hasteneth to the table again for a fresh charge which was the dayly practice of Vitellius the Emperour as Tranquillus writeth in consequence of the premises gluttony is an enimy to nature a shame to mankind a fawning deuil a pleasant poyson a sweet sin a cruell thiefe that spoileth the body * Prouerb 21. qui diligit epulas in egestate erit qui amat vinum pinguia non ditabitur of temporall goods depriueth the soul of euerlasting treasures and carrieth both of them * Psal 77. adhuc escae eorum erant in ore ipsorum ira Dei descendit super eos to hell CHAR. XXXVJ OF SLOTHFVLNES THE CONTENTS A slothfull man is the vnprofitable seruant that buryeth his masters talent in the earth making no aduantage therby a man that is not employed in good works cannot profit himselfe euery tree that bringeth forth nothing of good fruit shall be hewen down and cast into the fire SLothfulnes is a faint remisnes in the exercise of good works corporall and spirituall The slothfull man is the vnprofitable seruant that buryed his Masters money in the earth making nothing of aduantage therby Mat. 25. he hideth the treasure of diuine grace in his bosome and refuseth to employe it euen vnto helping himself if he would put it to encrease though he were naked he might be cloathed though poor he might be made rich and though he were blind he might procure eye-salue that might giue him clear sight Through heauines and want of courage he neglecteth the worke of his diuine master to his own disaduantage that is he refuseth to worke with the treasure of diuine grace that leadeth to blessednes he hath an abhorrence of painfull labour wherfore as * Prouerb 24. per agrum hominis pigrì transiui ecce totum repleuerant vritcae operuerant supersiciem eius spinae a feild that lies idle vnlaboured and vnsowen bringeth forth thornes netles and other vnprofitable herbes so the feild of his soul in as much as it is not exercised in good workes engendereth euill weeds of wicked vices and indeed his sole delight is to liue at ease without working * Prouerb 6. sicut ostium vertitur in caxdine suo ita piger in lectulo suo he cleaueth to the bolster of his bed as a doore to the hinges and turneth therin alike while he entertaineth his thoughts with delight he coueteth earthly and celestiall treasures but will not worke for the gitting of either His louing Master standes at his doore and knockes Apoc. 3. yet he will not rise to let him in he is afraid lest a lyon stand without laying waite for his blood Prouerb 22. That is he inuentes idle excuses to the excusing of his idlenes vnwilling to worke in the pursuance of his duty he thinketh to liue by desiring * Prouerb 21. desideria occidunt pigrum tota die concupiscit desiderat and his desires kill him The spider all day weaues a web to catch a fly the cat all night watches to surprise a mouse the pismire laboures all summer to prouide meat against winter in sum all liu'd beasts take paines respectiuely in order to the end wherto the supream prouidence hath ordained them notwithstanding man more vnreasonable then beasts with out reason through sluthfullnes neglecteth to worke for the obtaining the inheritance of Heauen which is the noble end of his creation the delight he hath in the dream of his vaine desires as cords bind and as heauy fetters load him and fille his heart with wickednes aboundance of idlenes causeth the execrable abominations into which the Sodomite fell Ezech. 16. Sampson while he was employed in assaulting the Philistians escaped their snares but as soon as idlenes carryed him into an inordinate affection towards a wicked woman God departed from him and suffered him to come into the hands of the same Philistians who bound him with fetters and put out his eyes Iud. 16. nor Salomon was defiled with luxury and Idolotry as long as he was busyed in building of the Temple a vessell when t is filled with wine is not capable to containe more a man full * Aug. non facile capitur tentatione qui bono vacat desiderio of godly employments giues no place to the deuil whose entertainment is among such onely as exempt themselues from the exercise of good works among such as liue at * S. Bernard est otiosus inquit tanquam mollis calcitra in qua diabolâ—s quiescit libenter ease and delight in sloghfull idlenes and among those which are vnprofitable seruants that put not their Masters excellent tallent to encrease and such will be cast into vtter darknes for euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewen down and put into the fire Mat. CHAR. XXXVIJ OF A MISSIONARY PRIEST THE CONTENTS The honorable end of Priestly mission and what is requir'd of a Missionary Priest in the pursuance of his charge AMissionary Priest is the holy minister of Christ according to the order of Melchisedech the faithfull seruant rightly ordained approued and sent to worke in the vineyard of his lord the dispenser of the Euangelicall word (a) Malach. 2. The Priests lippes shall preserue knovvledg and they shall seek the lavv at his mouth for he is the Angel of the lord of Hostes the mouth of God by which God speakes to his people and declares his ordinances and since God is * 1. Io. 3. Deus charitas est charity the speeches and deeds of a Missionary Priest ought to come from him as the sanctuary of charity vnto saluation to euery sinner that will be conuerted to God whose charity is to saue and the honorable end of his mission is the zeal of soules which God created after his own Image in respect wherof amongst all diuine things (b) According to S. Gregory l. 1. in Ezech. hom 12. ther 's no sacrifice more agreeable to God then 2 holy zeal to saue souls which beare the Image of the blessed Trinity again according to S. Denys l. de caeles Hier. to cooperate with
God in the conuersion of sinners of all diuine things is the diuinest the diuinest as also amongst all facrifices the gratfullest to the diuine Majesty consisting in a dayly exercise of good works spirituall and corporall charitablely employed for the saluation of sinners The Panther by a naturall quality breathes forth a pleasant perfume the swetnes wherof allures beasts of the wood to his sanctuary and then he kills them the Priest is the Panther sinners the wild beasts the delicious odour of charity the sweet perfume that enticeth sinners to the Priests tribunall the sinkiller and the property of a Priest is with S. Peter * Act. 10. surge Petre occide to kill vncleane beasts As charity in a missionary is the loadstone that drawes sinners to saluation so the want therof is the Remora that keepes them from it nor can a golden tongue draw when the heart is made of yron Christ the cheif missionary Priest sent by his diuine Father to be Teacher and gouernour of souls first begun to doe well himselfe as to the law of charity and afterward to teach well as to the way of saluation Nothing better teaches others to liue well then the well ordered life of the Teacher who is the guid of others laudable deeds are more effectuall then fair speeches * Aug. super Ioan doctrina per malos est palmes in sepe Botrus inter spinas cautè aliquis colligit vuas inter spinas ne dum quaerit fructum laceret manum duÌ„ audit bona diceÌ„tem imitetur mala facientem good sayings coming from a Teacher that does ill are like a goodly bunch of grapes in a hedg of thornes whoeuer will attempt gathering them shall hazard the pricking of his fingers and tearing his hands so the hearer of a Teacher that speakes well and does ill runs a hazard of imitating euill doings while he heares good sayings A Priest does ill when he seekes praise and glory in order to himselfe or lookes more to * 1. Pet. 5. pascite qui in vobis est gregem Dei .... neque turpis lucri gratia sed voluntariè indignum est Sacerdote sacram functioneÌ„ suam quaestui habere worldly aduantages then his spirituall function preferring his own gain before the gaining of souls and while by holy sayings and good doings he might render himself capable (c) According to the Apostle 1. Timoth. 5. Priests which rule well ought to be had in double honour Which is meant of such specially as instruct the vnlearned in the mystcries of Christian Religion of double honour and judg of all others he contracts an incapacity of enjoying either and makes himself * S. Chrys ad id Mat. 13. super cathedram Moysis Si bene vixeris omnium Judex eris si malè vixeris bene docueris Iudex eris tui solius quia malè viuendo docès Deum quomodo te debet condemnare Porrò vt ait S. Bernardus misera Sacerdotum coÌ„uersatio fit misera dominicae plebis subuersio hinc illae in Ieremia lachrymae quia stultè egerunt pastores Dominum non qüaesiuerunt omnis grex meus dispersus est judg of himself only teaching God how to condemn him of vnfaithfullnes in the pursuance of his charge Hereby plainly appeares that the charitable zeal to worke in the vineyard of our lord that is to deliuer souls out of errour and sin is the compass by which a missionary Priest ought to steer the whole course of his life in consequence wherof he ought not to run after vaine sportes and worldly pleasures which haue nothing of relation to the end of his mission and which indeed prejudice the sacred dignity of his function neither euery thing though indifferent in it selfe and wherof the exercise is laudable as to a secularperson (d) According to the Apostle 1. Cor. 6. euen things which in themselues are lawfull be not at all times and to all persons expedient or profitable and indeed clamarous hunting in order to Priests was alwaise prohibited though it be an exercise in it selfe lawfull is lawfull to him For example the Churches ordinances * Semper fuit prohibita clericis venatio quae fit in saltibus syluis cum strepitu clamore forbid Priests to practice clamarous hunting after hares does bucks stags which is an honest recreation in order to lay-people but in Priests t is a great scandall to cry and hollow among the trees of forests and woods after dogs * Ioel. 2. plâ—rabunt Sacerdotes ministri Dei inter vestibulum altare dicent parce Domine parce populo tuo whose office is to weep between the porch and the altar and say Spare o lord spare thy people and giue not their inheritage into reproach that the lusts of the flesh should rule ouer them yet in as much as Priests exercise charitable works powre forth prayers and teares for the conuersion of sinners they be hunters too not of clean but of vnclean beasts namely sins they be spirituall hunters of souls vnto iustification of life in the vineyard of our lord the king of hunters and neuer any huntsman made such marueilous leaps in hunting beasts vnto destruction as the son of God made in hunting souls vnto saluation our lord the son of God to saue souls leapt from Heauen into the wombe of a Virgin from the Virginall wombe like a yong Hart came skipping into the world and leaped by the mountaines and by the little hills of Iudaea working miracles by word and example teaching all men euery where the way of God truly Afterwards he leapt into Mount-caluary where lift vp from the earth and put on the tree of the Cross gaue himselfe a full propitiation for the sinns of all men from his Cross he leapt into the sepulcher wherin his body remained for three dayes whilst his soul (e) Catholick faith teacheth that before the Incarnation of the son of God there were receptacles of good souls in the lower parts of the earth which the Prophet Zachary c. 6. names a lake vvithout vvater that is without water springing vp vnto euerlasting life according to the interpretation of Theodoret. S. Cyprian and other ancient Fathers yet S. Peter 1. Epis c. 3. calleth the same receptacles a prison where the good souls vnto which Christ at his descending into hell as to his soul preach'd were detained as prisoners And Christ preach'd according to S. Damascene l. 3. de fide ortho c. 9. as Angels speak one to an other by mutuall communication of thoughts Again Christ Luc. 16. stileth the said receptacles the bosom of Abram and all antiquity nameth them Limbus or Purgatory and truly the ancient Fathers Irenae l. 4. c. 19. Nazan Ora. ad pasch S. Ambros de mysterio paschatis attest that Christs descending into the lower parts of the earth releas'd many souls which he found in the bosom of Abram wherby appears that there was
where God would not be adored by sacrifice this being confined to the Temple at Ierusalem Wherby followeth euidently that such as worship or adore God otherwise then he will himself be worshipped or adored doe not worship or adore him in verity or Truth Sithence God will be adored in one sole Church founded on the merits of Christ all Schismaticks and Hereticks that abandon the communion and vnity therof doe not adore God in verity vnto saluation howeuer they may flatter themselues with their mountaine of Garizim that is with their own fancied worship founded on the mountaine of pride wherfore to such worshippers may be said both according to reason and equity you adore what you know not for saluation is of one Church and such only doe pray worship and adore * Aug. in psal 130. ipse inquit in spiritu veritate orat qui in pace Ecclesiae orat in spirit and truth which pray worship and adore in peace and coÌ„munion of one catholick and apostolick Church wherunto is tyed and coÌ„fined the sacrifice worship and seruice of the new law vnto iustification of life Again though sundry Church-ceremonies be neither commanded nor mentioned (g) The Council of Trent sess 21. c. 2. declares that God hath left power vnto the Church to ordaine and institute what she shall think expedient and conducing to the reuerence of the Sacraments and the aduantages of such as receiue them wherfore Church-gouernours are called dispensers of the mysteries of God 1. Cor. 4. in the holy scriptures farther then vnto an implicite faith neuertheless they are not to be condemned for many things appertaining vnto diuine worship doe not of necessity require an express ordinance Noah built an Altar to God on which he offered a sacrifice of euery clean beast all eit he had no * Noe non iussus altare construxit vt notat S. Ambrosius warrantable authority by speciall precept Abel in like manner vnbidden offered sacrifice that was * Respexit Deus ad Abel munera eius acceptable to the diuine Majesty According to the dictates of nature God is to be worshipped Priesthood to be instituted Hosts to be immolated ministers to be deputed for exhibition of diuine scruice and speciall ornaments are to be ordained and appointed as holy signes to distinguish them from the rest of the people moreouer works of speciall commande euen executed aright are not so pleasing in the sight of God as works * Vulgare apud Theologos est dictum Deus imperat minora de maioribus dat consilium counselled only if they be done according to the rule of a discreet zeale A good work that is done in and for as much as God doth counsell the doing therof is more laudable and noble then a commanded worke because of a greater alacrity and promptitude that is required to the performance of a good work vnbidden Christ * Hierom. l. 1. con Iouia ait Christum plus amare Virgines quia sponte tribuunt quod jis non fuit imperatum bears a more speciall affection to Virgins that doe consecrate vnto him their virginity without a speciall command and indeed it is a more noble action in a man to giue an almes which he is not obliged vnto then to giue it vpon the score of an obligation Furthermore Church-ceremonies ought not to be counted * Augus Epis 40. quaes 3. dicit non esse câ—nsenduÌ„ superstitiosum omne quod christiani cum infidelibus quomodocunque habent communâ— superstitious though Pagans and other Infidells doe vse the same or the like vnto superstition for according to that argument christians should condemne vowed chastity because the Pagans had their vestall Virgins that did binde themselues by vow to a single chast life Christians should pull down Churches because Pagans built Churches christians should abolish sacrifice because Pagans offered sacrifice christians should despise all manner of prayers because Pagans vsed prayers christians should not reuerence honour and worship one true God because Pagans reuerenced honoured and worshipped many false Gods To conclude christians should not weare breeches because the Turks which be Infidells weare breeches howeuer truly according to Tertullian it is an * Pudeat inquit Tertullianus insulsos christianos quod ab Ethinicis IdoloruÌ„ suorum solemni pompa religioso gestu officio superentur exceeding great shame vnto Christians to vse less solemn pompe less ceremony and less reuerence in the seruice of the true God then is vsed by the Heathens in the worship of Idols CHAR. VI. OF BAPTISM THE CONTENTS Baptism is the sole door that openeth a passage into the Church of God The kingdom of Heauen is for euer shut against the vnbaptized that is no man can come to the clear sight of God that is not washt sacramentally afore with naturall water vnder an express invocation of the blessed Trinity de facto or in desire The sanctity of holy faithfull parents cannot render their children that dye without Baptism Heirs of Heauen coheirs and brothers of Christ Through diuine mercy those which dye without Baptism and haue nothing of any other guilt are not punisht with sensible pain after their death they are banisht the court of Heauen onely S. Austins opinion as to this point cleard Baptism ministred aright imprinteth an indelible character or marke in the soul of the baptised Anabaptism confuted Ceremonies pertaining to sacramentall baptism set down and explicated BAptism is a Sacrament of new birth or regeneration vnto iustification of life through the washing of (a) Sensible naturall water is the proper remote matter of necessity requisit to the Sacrament of baptism and accordingly the Council of Lateran haith defin'd it out of the third Chapter of S. Iohn Except that a man be born again of vvater c. and from thence is named a Sacrament of regeneration which is conform to the doctrine deliuered by the Apostle ad Tit c. 3. where he calleth baptism the vvashing of a nevv birth and indeed washing is the immediate and water the remote matter onely so that neither yee hail or snow vnless they be made fluid and thereby proper to wash are a sufficient matter of baptism naturall water vnder an expresse invocation of (b) The true form of sacramentall baptism is I baptise thee in the name of the Father son and holy Ghost which is cut out of Christs own words Mat. 28. Where is required a distinct inuocation of all the three diuine persons Wherefore Pelagius the Pope dis 4. can multi de consecra reiectes baptism administred in the name of Christ only And S. Cyprian Epis 73. ad Jubaia affirmes that the Apostles neuer baptised de facto in the sole name of Christ howeuer he grant's that S. Peter and the other Apostles named Iesus-Christ in the conferring of baptism together with the other diuine persons For example saying J baptise thee in the name of the Father and Jesus-Christ his son
of sacramentall confession to purge out the leauen therof wherby he is cured For as a wounded body cannot be healed while the arrow that gaue the wound continues therin so neither a wounded soul can be cured whiles sin remaines that wounded it Wherfore as an impostume that breaks not outwardly causeth corporall death so sin's that stay within the soul * S. Aug qui inconfessus lates inconfessus condemnaberis vnconfessed cause eternall death Wherby euidently appears the greatness of the hazard that sinners run which (g) S. Cyprian l. de lapsis writeth thus Let euery man confess his sinnes while he is aliue while his confession may be accepted while his satisfaction and remission giuen by a Priest is gratefull in the sight of God defer confession of their sins till great sickness sieze on them and such be like vnto malefactors that confesse their wickednes at the gallowes when they can sin no more being depriued of further opportunity to sinne so that their sins do rather leaue them then they their sins Besides this kinde of slow-negligent penitents seldome confesse vnto iustification of life retaining for the most part an affection to their former transgressious in consequence of which they die in their wickednesse for loue to and remission of sin are inconsistent together Furthermore as a man that is afflicted with many grieuous wounds cannot performe any hard work so a penitent oppressed with many deadly sins togegether with violent sickness cannot * Psalm 14. dereliquit me virtus mea stand against the difficult assaultes of the deuill CHAR. XIIJ. OF SATISFACTION THE CONTENTS The integrity of sacramentall penance requireth sacramentall satisfaction the propriety wherof is to discharge the debt of temporall punishments which euen after the pardoning of sin as to the guilt thereof oft remaines behind vnsatisfyed satisfaction hath nothing of weight with it vnlesse the penitent that satisfyes be in state of grace God scourgeth euery son whom he receiueth neither holy scriptures nor ancient Fathers exhorte sinners to turne to God with inward penance only outward penance is required namely fasting praying Almes deeds and other painfull afflictions outward penance doth not preiudice the satisfaction of Christ from the merits whereof proceed's whatsoeuer it hath as conducing to heauenly blessedness SAtisfaction is a painfull and laborious exercise of some one or more outward good works namely fasting praying or giuing of Almes c. which a Penitent (a) Satisfaction consistes in the exercise of painfull works appointed and enjoyned by a Ghostly-Father in manner of commande and indeed if such works were required by way of counsell onely the Penitent might choose whether he would receiue the whole entire Sacrament of Penance or not being satisfaction pertaines to the integrity fhereof by command of his Ghostly-father * Satisfactio debet esse actus voluntarius nam qui inuitus poenanae sustinct dicitur potius satispati quam satisfacere voluntarily embraceth for the remitting of temporall paine due to his sins as offences against God together with full purpose to sin no more The prime propriety of satisfaction is to discharge the debt of temporall punishment which after pardon of sin in order to it 's mortall malice and eternall paine if the sin be mortall often times (b) The Council of Trent fess 6. cap. 14. declar's that satisfaction is one part of sacramentall penance enjoyn'd to the remitting of temporall paine which according to holy scriptures is not all waies taken away wholy together with the guilt of sin and the Council of Trent fess 14. cap. 8. expresly teacheth and cap. 12. defineth Sub Anathemate that often tymes God remitteth the guilt of sin vvithout foregiuing the temporall pain due thereto and vponthis catholick assertion is grounded christian faith in order to Indulgences and Purgatory the fire whereof purgeth away temporall pains due to sinnes afore remitted remaines behind vnpaid Although a penitent sinner by a perfect act of contrition or reall receiuing of the Sacrament of Penance finde grace again in the sight of his Creatour Neuertheless he is not alwaise deliuered from temporall afflictions For example God as soon as he saw Dauid's contrition and detestation of the adultery which he had committed with Bersebe and the Murther that the had exercised on Vrias her husband remitted the guilt of those sins and receiued him into fauour again yet notwithstanding his happy reconciliation he was left to endure many temporall calamities euen in order to the offences pardoned afore For afterward God raised euill against him in a great measure The child that was borne vnto him died the sword neuer departed from his own house sundry of his seed were violently slain and his people rebelled against him In like manner although Moyses and Aaron long before their death 's got remission of the guilt of their incredulity contracted * Num. 20. Moyses Aaron Deo contradicebant non loquentes ad Petram in conspectu filiorum Israel quod tamen Deus praeceperat illis at the waters of contradiction Num. 20. belieuing not God to sanctify them in the presence of the children of Israël (c) According to S. Anstin l. 16. con Faus Manich. c. 16. Moses and Aarons sin of incredulity was remitted them long afore their death yet in punishment of that very fault committed afore they were not suffered to conduct his people into the land of promise which was the thing they passionately coueted Again (d) S. Chrysostom hom 80. ad popul Antich discoursing vpon those words Math. 12. The men of Niniue did penance at the preaching of Ionas writes thus Euery where sack-cloath euery where Ashes euery where Teares and the king of Niniue himselfe left his Throne laid aside his Royall Robes put on a hair shirt and powdered his head with ashes whereby the Town was deliuered from destruction the people of Nineue at the preaching of Ionas the Prophet belieued in God Ionas 3. and turned vnto him in tribulation of soul wherby doubtless they procured pardon of their transgressions in order to the guilt therof Neuertheless they voluntarily afterward exercised works of satisfaction for they proclaimed a fast of three dayes put on sack cloath euen from the greatest to the least of them and turned from their euill wayes in bitternesse of sorrow Besid's S. Iohn Baptist Mat. 3. after he had seuerly reproached the Iewes to whom he preached saluation for their grieuous sinnes and exhorted them to penance he inferred vpon it thus do therfore fruits * S. Hierâ—â— nymus in 2. Joells per fructus dignos poenitentiae intellig in ieiunium orationes eleemosynas id ganus alia worthy penance thereby distinguishing penance that is to say inward contrition and detestation of sins comitted from outward good works thence proceeding as obserueth S. Gregory hom 20. in Euangelia And indeed a sinner that is really penitent detesteth and abhorreth his sinnes and turneth to the
exercise of good works opposite therto namely fasting praying Alms deeds c. S. Iohn did not require of the sinfull Iewes inward detestation of their transgressions only but exacted likewise the exercise of painfull works outwardly as to compensation or satisfaction thereof wherefore as fruit's do suppose the Tree that produceth them so good work 's which be fruites of penance suppose sinnes pardoned afore through penance taken in the sense mentioned in consequence whereof they suppose somthing of temporall paine due therunto otherwise they ought not to be called fruit's worthy of penance since after the remission of sinn's in order to the guilt thereof nothing remaineth that requireth fruit's worthy of penance if temporall pain be laid aside for the malice of sin which is it's mortall guilt cannot be taken away in part to wit partly by contrition and partly by painfull works outwardly exercised being indiuisible and without parts so that to exclude temporall punishments as due to sins remitted afore is to ascribe nothing to outward works of satisfaction in reference to penance which is contrary to the word 's vttered by S. Iohn Do fruites worthy of penance And hereby is required besid's meer works of penance proportion between the works and the sin 's committed as plainly shew's the word worthy * S. Grego hom 20. non debet inquit esse par fructus boni operis eius qui minus eius qui amplius peccauit For example one that sinneth little is liable to less satisfaction then another that sinneth much Caeteris paribus and although sacramentall satisfaction be proper only to the new law established by Christ yet taken in the generall sense in order to temporall paine that remain's after the guilt of sin is blotted out was in all times a necessary requisite for the obtaining eternall life as doe clearly euidence the scripture-testimonies sett down Howeuer no satisfaction is worthy vnless the Penitent that satisfyes be in the state of grace and therby incorporated into Christ for satisfaction is made worthy only through the merits of his death and passion the application wherof is an effect of his supernaturall friendship which is not between him and a sinner continuing in the state of mortall sin in consequence of which outward works worthy penance do suppose sanctifying grace in him that worketh worthily vnto remission of temporall paine Furthermore this catholick doctrine is euen agreable to the dictates of naturall reason for as much as amongst men it is not enough that he who wound 's the honour of his neigh hour conceiue inward griefe of that offence only but he ought also to exercise an outward action to the restoring of the honour taken away which hath something of satisfaction in order to the party offended and something of pain in order to him that offendeth so (e) According to S. Leo. ser 7. de Epiph. Domini No man is so clens'd from sin as that neither iustice can findein him what to condemne nor mercy what to pardon it is expedient for him that is a penitent besids an act of inward detestation of his sins to endure something to the satisfying of God as to the dishonour done him therby and as by sinning he hath vsed ill the creatures of God taking inordinate delight therin so he ought to suffer from creatures something of affliction to the repairing of the injury that God suffereth on that score the diuine iustice exacting that satisfaction of penitent sinners whom he chasteneth after their admittance into his fauour God scourgeth euery son Hebrae 12. whom be receiueth for his better correction and amendment Again since euery sin how great and malicious soeuer is remitted as to the guilt therof by (f) Contrition necessary to iustification requires not any certain degree of intensness or certain endurance of tyme for contrition how remiss soeuer it be and how litle soeuer it endures is either formally and indeed an act of perfect charity or importes as much in consequence of which the least measure or degree of true contrition that includes the loue of God aboue all things is inconsistent with deadly-sin euery contrition how litle-soeuer contained within the bound of true contrition and since most sin's haue an * Haecinaequalitatis ratio deprōpta est ex Concil Trid. quod sic ait qui non peccarunt per ignorantiā quique semel a peccari daemonis seruitute liberati accepto Spiritus sancti dono sciētes Templum Dei violare Spiritum sanctum cōtristare non formidarūt minori venia indulgentia digni sunt vnequiall and different malice one being greater then an other reason requires in conformity to diuine equity and iustice that a sinner who through lesser contrition is reconciled to God and becom's Heire of blessedness doth so receiue remission of sins that neuertheless he suffer withall something of affliction to compense the remissnes of his contrition In respect of this painfull satisfaction endured after the remission of the guilt of sins the Sacrament of penance is called by holy Father 's a Laborious baptism whereby it is distinguished from the Sacrament of baptism which washeth away at once both the pain and guilt of sinns as often as it is worthily receiued and the reason of difference in order to their effects respectiuely beside the will of God that hath invested these two Sacrament's with an vnequall power of working is because such as after the receiuing of sanctifying grace through baptism whereby they be deliuered out of the seruitude of sin and the diuell doe knowingly and by a voluntary act of their own will sinne again pollute the Temple of God which is their soul and grieue the Holy Ghost as far as lyeth in their reach deserue less pardon and indulgence in consequence whereof the application of Christ's merits made in the Sacrament of penance ought to be less perfect in order to remission then the application of the same merits made in the Sacrament of haptism yet it would not be less as to perfection if meer contrition or the meer Sacrament of penance should at all tymes procure full remission in order to the guilt eternall and temporall paine of sins committed after baptism (g) S. Chrysos hom 5. in Epis ad Hebrae makes this difference between the wicked that receiue from God in this life riches dignities c. and the good which endure miseries and afflictions to wit God so carries himself toward 's the wicked that albeit he let 's them haue full enjoyment of worldly fortunes neuertheless will punish them in the next life But during the present life God is wont to punish the good that deliuer'd thereby from the vncleaness of sin they may depart out of the world without reproach Wherefore the Sacrament of penance doth not so remit sins but that in remitting the eternall pain corresponding to the malice of them it changeth eternall into temporall paine that remaines behinde as a iust
wherof is the spirituall treasure laid vp in the Churches spirituall Treasurie and by her supream Pastour dispensed The end for which God ordained the mistery of the Incarnation was not to remit sin only but the pain of it also wherfore Christ did not giue the great price of his suffering's for sin alone but likewise for the paine corresponding thereunto in consequence of which t' is necessary that (b) According to the definition of Pope Leo the tenth that condemned Luther the Church of God possesses a spirituall Treasure of Indulgences consisting of the aboundant satisfactions of Christ and the blessed Saincts and this catholick assertion is set down in the Councils of Constance ses 8. and of Trent ses 21. c. 9. where Indulgence are named Celestiall Treasure likewise this latter Council declares that Christ hath giuen to his Church Indulgences and power to grant them when the price or satisfaction is abundant and exceedeth the greatness of the debt contracted something of it remaine vnexhausted and vnapplyed but the satisfaction of Christ was so aboundant that in respect of the infinite dignity thereof it was sufficient enough to redeeme the sins of all men joynt and seperate if it had been applyed * 1. Cor. 5. Christus mortuus pro omnibus 1. Jo. 2. ipse Christus est propitiatio pro peccatis nostris c. for Christ died for all 1. Cor. 5. and was a full propitiation for our sins and not for our sins only but also for the sins of the whole world 1. Io. 2. Wherfore something of Christ's satisfaction still remain's to shew in Ages to come the exceeding riches of his suffering's which are the spirituall Treasure reserued in the Treasury of his holy spouse the Church to the benefit of her and her children and truly the aboundant goods that a louing Husband purchaseth he leaues to the vse of his wife and children in consequence whereof Christ bath left all his aboundant and vndisposed riches of his aboundant satisfaction to the Church * Legatione pro Christo fungimur inquit Apostolus Paulus and the dispensation thereof to the supream Minister for him on earth Although all Christ's sufferings considered as merits precisely * Luc. 4. Nonne bac oportuit ChristuÌ„ pati sic intrare in regnum suum Et Philip. 2. humiliauit semetipsum vsque ad merteÌ„ mortem autem Crucis propter quod Deus exaltauit illum deâ—it ill◠〈◊〉 quod est super â—mne nomen were rewarded in the glory of his body (c) According to the holy scripture Philip. 2. Christ humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto death euen the death of the cross wherfore God exalted him and gaue him a name aboue euery name and the exaltation of his holy name neuertheless they did not receiue a full reward therby for as concerning the body's glory of necessity it doth accompany the blessedness of the soul which by naturall consequence is deriued into it if no hindrance interuene wherfore since Christ did not merit the glory of his soul that had full enjoyment of the beatificall vision in the first moment of it's assumption the glory of his body cannot be the reward of his merits neither could the exaltation of his name exhaust all his merit's since one action of Christ alone was sufficient to deserue both the exaltation and the glory of his body wherby is plainly euident that many meritorious actions exercised by Christ are laid vp in the spirituall Treasury of the Church Howeuer though it were granted that the glory of Christ's body and the exaltation of his name did equall all his actions joynt and seperate considered as meritorious to a full reward yet it cannot be said shat his satisfactory actions are exhausted therby For satisfaction is only ordained to remit temporall paine due vnto sin which was inconsistent with Christ's impeccability and sithence all the sins of the world were not sufficient enough to exhaust his satisfactions they containing an intrinsecall infinity of worth and dignity for as much as they were the products (d) The infinit prize of Christ satisfaction proceeded from the infinite dignity of his diuine person that was intrinsecally annex'd vnto it for as S. Thomas teacheth actiones sunt suppositorum But if there were an infinite vnworthines or deformity in the sinnes of all men ioynt and seperat t is extrinsicall onely because it comes meerly of the object which is extrinsicall namely God whom a sinner offendes in consequence whereof the infinite valour or worthiness of Christ's satisfaction far exceeds the vnworthiness of sin taken in it's whole possible latitude of his diuine person doubtlesse some part of these satisfactions doe remain still in the Churches Treasury to be dispensed for the benefit of the faithfull vnto remission of temporall paines due to their sins which was the sole end and motiue of all his actions considered as satisfactory because it is proper to satisfaction only to remit temporall punishment's due to sins Neither is it inconuenient that one and the same action exercised by Christ should haue somthing of merit and somthing of satisfaction for by his bitter passion he merited the exaltation of his name and the glory of his body Luk 24. Philip 2. yet other scripture-testimonies plainly declare that he suffered for us and satisfyed for our sins 2. Cor. 4 and indeed euident experience sheweth different effects to proceede from one and the same indiuiduall cause for doubtless he that charitably prayeth for his enemies by one and the same prayer may obtaine somthing of aduantage in order to them and something of reward in order to himselfe as appeareth by the promises which God hath made to such as loue their enemies and wheras the sufferings of the blessed Saints (e) A good worke is counted meritorious for as much as it proceed's from a man inuested with sanctifying grace which is the ground of merit howeuer a meritorious work is satisfactory also when it is perform'd with pain and labour had something of merit and something of satisfaction for they were meritorious in as much as they proceeded from them through sanctifying grace which is the root and prime cause of good merits and in as much as the exercise therof was laborious and painefnll they were satisfactory it followeth clearly that though God hath rewarded them with blessedness * Deus praemiat vltra dignitatem euen beyond what they did merit and consequently all their merits are fully exhausted yet because remission of temporall pain due to sin is the reward of satisfaction painfull suffering as satisfactory had no full reward in the persons of sundry blessed Saint's and therfore remained vnrewarded and vnexhausted in order to them For (f) The Council of Trent defineth that the Virgin Mary neuer committed mortall or veniall sin example the Mother of God had not the least guilt of sinne yet * Et tuam ipsius inquit S. Lucas
impediment's inconsistent with the enioyment of heauenly blessedness wherfore since not sinn's alone but pain 's due thereunto obstruct the passage to the kingdome of Heauen according to Christ's own preaching Mat. 5. Verily 1 say vnto thee thou shalt not come out thence till thou hast paid the vtmost farthing it is euident that the power of the Church doth not only extend vnto the remitting of sinn's but likewise to the releasing of temporell punishment's due thereunto this catholick Truth is clearly euidenced by S. Paules proceeding with the incestuous Corinthian whom he had commanded afore to be deliuered vp to Satan as to destruction of the flesh that his spirit might be saued 1. Cor. 5. For when the Apostle heard that the incestuous adulterer had exercised great penance for his sin least he should be swallowed vp with ouer much sorow at the earnest request of the Corinthians he for gaue the rest or surplus of the pain he had inflicted on him writing to them thus Whom ye forgiue any thing I forgiue also for if I forgiue any thing to whom I forgiue it for your sakes forgiue I it in the person of Christ 2. Cor. 2. by these words plainly appeares that the Apostle forgaue something and since what he forgaue could not be sin in order to the guilt therof for by the Epistle it is clear that the adulterer had exercised great contrition in consequence of which he had receiued remission of his grieuous offence as to it's malice or guilt It followeth of necessity that the thing forgiuen was part of the temporall punishment which the greatness of the sin had deserued and indeed in order to that alone the Corinthians presented their request Hereby further appeares the authority wherwith Church-gouernours are inuested for the remission of temporall pain 's remaining after sin's are forgiuen which is the power of granting Indulgences proper to the Vicars of Christ in whose room they exercise it And the word 's sett down beare euidently this sense viêªt videlicet In the person of Christ As the Apostle did deliuer vnto Satan the adulterer in the name and by the power of our lord IESVS CHRIST 1. Cor. 5. so 2. Cor. 2. * In 1. Cor. 5. Patianus Epis contra NouatianuÌ„ Vide inquit Apostoli Jndulgentiam proprias etiam sententias temperantis he did moderate his sentence by remitting part of his temporall affliction * S. Ambros l. 1. de poeniten c. 6. agens con Nouatianos ait ex eo quod Apostolus dicit se condonare in persona Christi ipsuÌ„ vendicasse ius à Domino acceptum non indebitum vsurpasse challenging to that effect authority receiued of Christ whose person he represented in the dispensation of that pardon or Indulgence Neither is this doctrine infirmed at all because of the Apostles request directed to the rest of the Corinthians wherby he hearing of the said adulterers exceeding griefe for his sin exhorteth them to pardon and comfort him saying It is sufficient vnto the same man that he was rebuked of many so that now contrary wise ye ought rather to forgiue and comfort him lest exceeding heauiness should swallow him vp Cor. 2. For though it was not said to all the faithfull of the Church ioynt and seperate Whatsoeuer ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heauen But to the Apostles and their successours in Priestly function such only being Christ's ministers and Vicegerents to whom the power of loosing is coÌ„mitted properly as to the iuridicall exercise of it (b) A belieuiug Christian that hath nothing of iurisdiction can by way of request or prayer obtaine for an other remission of the pain due to his sin for example a man that is bound to suffer pain or punishment may notwithstanding transfer and apply the prize of that satisfaction to the aduantage of his freind for as the Apostle saith Charitas patiens est Charity is patient wherfore a charitable man is inclinable to suffer affliction vnto profiting his Neighbour whereof the Apostle Collos 1. giues euidence euough saying Novv rejoyce I in my sufferings for you and to fulfill those things that vvant of the passions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake vvhich is the Church though Christs Passions were wanting in nothing as to sufficiency for he was made vnto vs iustice sanctification and redemption 1. Cor. 1. that is according to the same Apostle 1. Cor. 6. he was made the Author giuer and meritorious cause of our iustice sanctity and redemption neuertheless as to efficacy there was something wanting viz. the application of Christs merits which is made by the Sacraments of the Church vnto remitting both the guilt and pain of sin and by our own afflictions charitable offered in order to our Neighbour vnto remitting of temporall punishment due to sin remitted afore But no man can satisfye for the sin of an other as to the guilt therof for he diuine Iustice will remit no man his sin that shall not be sorry for and dereste it himselfe according to the holy scripture Luc. 13. Except yee do penance that is except ye haue in ward sorrow and detestation of your sinnes yee shall all perish Besides neither the guilt of a mortall sin nor eternall pain due thereto is forgiuen and taken away without the infusion of sanctifying grace according to the Council of Trent sess 6. c. 7. nay veniall sin according to the common opinion of Catholick Doctours is not purged out of a soul vnless grace be infused into it howeuer neither of both is remitted to those which are come to full yeares of discretion without an act of detestation and sorrow Wherfore when the Popes Bull 's whereby Indulgences are granted mention remission of sinnes they mean remission of the temporall pains due vnto them And indeed the Popes declare in their Bull 's that they grant their Indulgences to such as are contrite and truly penitent Again accordiug to holy scriptures sin is taken sometymes for the paine due thereto namely Machabae 2. neuertheless all the faithfull together with their Pastours forgiue and loose by consent desire (i) The Apostle 2. Cor. 8. in saying Let your aboundance supply their vvant that also their aboundance may supply your vvant gaue hopes to the Corinthians whom he exhorted to furnish Titus and Luke with corporall necessary's that the spirituall aboundance of the same Titus and Luke might supply and enrich their spirituall want through their good work 's prayers and corporall satisfactions And truly this sacred Text shew's euidently that not only worldly goods as Almes may be rewarded through spirtuall riches namely prayers and other holy works but that the Saincts or godly persons may as well applye their aboundant satisfactions vnto supplying the spirtuall want's of others as those which abound with worldly riches may supply with their superfluities the corporall necessities of their Neighbours commiseration outward ward good works and holy prayers offered to God
signifies remission or fulnes of rest Iubilie which word Church-gouernours haue translated from the Hebrews to signifie full remission For in the times of the ancient Hebrews euery fifty yeare was named the yeare of Iubilie and holy vnto them for as much as each man did returne to his possession Gratis seruants were deliuered out of bondage and all inhabitants left their land vnlaboured enjoying full rest After the like manner in vertue of a christian Iubilie those temporall aduantages are supplyed by spirituall benefits namely rest from worldly delights employments and also deliuerance out of sin both in order to it's guilt and temporall pain corresponding therto for though the Iuâ—ilie it self be a releasing only of temporall paine yet through (o) According to the Popes intention the benefit of a Iubily cannot be obtain'd except confession of our sinnes goe afore and truly confession is required as a worke enjoynd and communion also according to the common opinion of catholick writers confession and contrition which ought to accompany it euen the guilt of sin is remitted in so much that a sinner which confesseth and detesteth his wickedness in compliance to the Iubily returneth to his possession of sanctifying grace lost afore The vsage of christian Iubilies was anciently practised though Pope Boniface the eight of that name about the year after Christ's Incarnation 1300. by an express written ordinance did institute that they should be celebrated in euery hundred yeare as appeareth by * In Extra de poenit remiss quae condita Juit anno 1630. iuxta Nauar notab 7. dicitur Antiquorum babet fida relatio quod accedentibus ad bonorabilem Basilicam principis Apostolorum in vrbe concessae fuerint magnae remissiones Indulgentiae peccatorum the Extra Antiquorum de poenitentijs remissionibus neuertheless they lay claim to a higher antiquity as doth plainly euidence the same extrauagant made in the yeare 1300. Wherefore it is an extream weakness in such as assert Iubilies to be new inuentions yet the Popes that succeeded in Church-gouernment afterward altered the institution of Boniface Clement the sixth reduced Iubilies to euery fifty yeare Vrban the second to euery thirty three yeare in memory honour and reuerence of the yeares Christ liued on earth again Paul the second and Sixtus the fourth contracted them to euery twenty fiue years and so they haue continued euer since CHAR. XV. OF PVRGATORY THE CONTENTS The soul 's of belieuing christians that remoue out of their bodyes in the state of grace and be not fully clensed from the dregs of sin endure punishment's in the lower part 's of the earth till they become fit for the enjoyment of their heauenly heritage which is inconsistent with vncleanes though some soul 's as soon as they depart out of their earthly Tabernacleâ— receiue the reward of faith and good works yet others are sent to prison Purgatory whence there is no deliuerance till the last sardin be paid God oft forgiues sin as to the mortall guilt thereof without remitting the veniall defects or temporall pains such soul 's onely goe to Purgatory as are liable to veniall fault 's or temporall satisfactions from which there is deliuerance before the generall Resurrection through the sacrifices suffrages fastings alms-deeds which the faithfull aliue offer to God to that intent and purpose The fire that by diuine dispensation tormentes good soul's in Purgatory is not imaginary or metaphoricall but true reall and corporall fire PVrgatory is a receptacle of soul 's deuested of their bodies which stand in need of the holy Churches suffrages and sacrifices for their deliuerance out of satisfactory pain 's due to the sinnes they committed when they were inuested with their bodyes Besides the receptacle of blessed souls which is the * CoeluÌ„ empyrcum est locus beatorum aterna vita fruentium highest Heauen (a) S. Austin in Psal 85. and Epis 99. calleth the receptacle of damned souls the Hell of Hell and according to the common opinion of diuin's Purgatory is not situated far from thence towards the Center of the earth Wherefore the holy Church sing's in the office of the Dead Deliuer o lord the souls of the faithfull departed from the pains of Hell that is from the pains of Purgatory So that S. Austin Epis 99. ad Euod expound's the scripture Act. 2. vvhom God rais'd vp loosing the sorrovves of Hell of Christ's discent into Hell that is into the lower parts of the earth which doubtless were not the Receptacle of damned souls whereby appears that the Hell of the damned was not the sole Receptacle of souls remou'd out of their bodyes and indeed holy scripture giues euidence enough of this catholick truth for Ecclesiasticus c. 24. personating Christ saith thus J vvill penetrate all the lovver part 's of the earth and vvill beholde all that sleepe and vvill enlighten all that hope in our lord From whence is plainly infer'd a Receptacle vnder earth different from the Hell of the damned in which soul's hope not in but blaspheme onr lord As to Christ's descending into the lower parts of the earth it is an article of christian faith and so euident a truth that S. Austin Epis 99. ad Euod expresly saith Who but an Jnfidel vvill deny that Christ descended into Hell and with intent according to the ancient Fathers to deliuer the Patriarchs and iust men which were detain'd there as Prisoners till his death and Resurrection and the receptacle of damned soul's which is the lowest Hell There is a third receptacle vnder earth of souls suffering vnto blessednes called Purgatory because the fire therof which is an instrument of the diuine Iustice purgeth out the leauen of veniall sinnes and weareth away temporall pains which euen iust men sometimes die liable vnto Though small faults and gentle debt's doe not vndoe the knott of reciprocall friendship that is once tyed between God and a sinner in vertue of perfect contrition or attrition with the helpe of sacramentall penance neuertheless they obstruct his passage to the kingdom of Heauen till they be fully compensed and satisfied for either in this life through voluntary act 's of sorrow and corporall afflictions or in the next through purgatiue fire wherby is meant Purgatory which is the (b) By the prison mention'd Mat. 4. the ancient Fathers vnderstand Purgatory for example S. Cyprian Epis 52. ad Antonia teacheth that some soul 's suddenly after their remouing out of their bodyes receiue the reward of faith and good works and a crown from our lord but others are sent to prison from which is no deliuerance till the last farthing be paid prison out of which there is no deliuerance till the vtmost farthing be paid Math. 5. for eternall life hath nothing of imperfection and consequently is inconsistent with all sort's of defects Wherefore since the soul 's euen of iust men after the quitting of their bodyes sometymes be lyable to satisfactory punishments
(c) S. Austin l. de bono coningij cap. 6. names mortall sin deadly crime and Epis 89. and in sundry other places he calleth offences which are not deadly and therfore commonly nam'd veniall sinnes litle fault 's of which the Apostle S. Iames cap. 2. in many things vve sinne all And S. Mathew cap. 6. foregiue us our treipasses c. and of veniall sinnes the Mileuitan synode interpretes these scriptures so that the iustest man that liues is liable to veniall sinnes and veniall defects and therefore counted imperfect they continue depriued of blessedness till all imperfection be purged away As a Iudg doth not punish all offences with death and as one man after that he is reconciled to another that hath iniured him demandeth some satisfaction for the iniury done for Dauid though he pardoned Absolon his offence Yet he did not suffer him * Reg. 14. Dauid condonauit filio suo Absoloni peccatum sic tamen ci placatus addit reuertatur in domum suam faciem meam non videat to abide in his sight or in his house so God though he doth not punish all sinnes with eternall death some hauing nothin g of mortall malice and though he receiueth a grieuous sinner into grace that casteth away all his mortall transgressions and turneth vnto him with a new heart neuertheless he doth not admit him to his glorious presence till he hath made full satisfaction as to the reparation of he injury done him wherby it is clear that God neither in this life nor in the next * Prouerb 23. Tu virga percuties eum animam eius de inferno liberabis Item Tob. 13. Tu flagellas saluas deducis ad inferos reducis chasteneth sinners that haue turned away from their iniquity as his enemies to destroy them but as his children to make them fit and proper for the enjoyment of their heauenly inheritance This catholick truth all antiquity acknowledgeth Councils define the approued vniuersall practice of christian Churches teacheth and authority of scriptures warranteth The second booke of the Machabees prayseth the noble Iudas (d) Judas Machabae us piously conceiu'd all or at least many of his souldiers to haue dyed godly that is in the state of grace and though they might haue coueted and detain'd some part of the siluer and gold that was on the Idols contrary to the commandement of God Deut. 7. Neuertheless we ought not to infer from thence that the same souldiers did not repent of that sin before their death or that by doing so they committed a deadly sin being they might want sufficient instruction and recogni zance in order to that law Howeuer t' is certain that Iudas Machabaeus appointed a sacrifice to be offer'd for those only which dyed godly As to the books of the Machabies S. Austin l. 18. de ciuit cap. 3. attests that though they be not contained in the Iew 's Canon or Catalogue neuertheless the catholick Church counteth them for canonicall Besides the third Council of Carthage whereof S. Austin was a member placeth he Machabies in the number of diuine scriptures who iudged that it was a holy and good thought to pray for the dead that they might be deliuered from sin and therfore sent three thousand drachmes to Iesusalem for the offering of a sin-sacrifice in regard of his souldiers that were ssaine in the holy warr belieuing that there was great fauour laid vp for those that died godly that is in the state of grace and since this action of religious piety cannot be meant in order to blessed soul's these hauing ful enioyment of blessedness nor in order to damned souls these being sentenced to eternall fire it is plainly euident that the meaning thereof is in reference to good souls which are neither in Heauen nor in Hell but in a third place suffering vnto heauenly blessedness this doctrine the Apostle teacheth * Ex scriptura 1. Cor. 3. Patres Latini in Conlio Florent PurgatariuÌ„ dari definiunt Et quod ibi Apostolus intelligat igneÌ„ PurgatoriuÌ„ testantur Orig hom 25. in Exod. Jtem Aug. in Enchyrd c. 68. l. 21. de ciuit c. 2. 26. 1. Cor. 3. where he affirmeth that after this life some souls are saued by fire saying If any man's work 's burne be shall suffer preiudice but he shall be saued himselfe yet so as it were by fire In which scripture he distinguisheth two kind's of work 's that a catholick christian constituted in the state of grace exerciseth whereof some are meritorious and in as much as they containe nothing of vncleaness or imperfection the Apostle compareth them vnto gold siluer and precious stones which can receiue no detriment through fire therby signifying that such souls as build on the foundation that is Christ and his grace works of gold siluer and pretious stones which is to say pure and holy actions without mixture of vncleaness (e) According to holy scripture fire shall trye all works yet not so as that all works and all the workers shall haue their tryall in burning flam's but because fire that is ordain'd to purge out of our works the dregs of corruption is said to trye works which haue nothing of vncleanes because the fire does not touch them in regard of their purenes Which is s. Ambroses explication in Psal 118. and after the same manner wild beasts are said to haue tryed many martyrs though they touch'd not their sacred bodyes will suffer no preiudice by fire in the day of particular or vniuersall Iudgment but there be other workes built vpon Christ as the foundation which include small defects and imperfections to wit veniall sinnes only which the Apostle nameth Wood bay or stubble that do consume in the fire wherfore such soul 's as be charged with this kinde of vncleane works doe suffer detriment in the day of particular Iudgment remaining afflicted by fire till all vncleaness be purged away and this to be the true meaning of the Apostle his own words explicated aright do clearly euidence For first that by gold siluer and pretious stones be vnderstood good work 's pure without thout staine orthodox writers vnanimously grant Secondly that by wood hay or stuble are meant veniall sinnes it is manifest enough because the Apostle expresly doth assert that the works signified by those word 's are to be burnt by the fire and neuertheless such as haue exercised them are to be saued which cannot be vnderstood of mortall offences the guilt wherof vndoubtedly damneth euery one that dyeth charged with it neither can the said word 's carry the sense of works that haue nothing of vncleaness because fire cannot preiudice those they being as gold siluer and pretious stones vncâ—mbustible wherefore of necessity wood hay or stuble doe signifie small faults which being once purged out by fire the soul that committed them is saued that is to say translated to eternall life and indeed since the Apostle
what the vniuersall Church practiseth constant and vniuersall practice that agreeth with so warrantable and euident testimonies as are set down Howeuer he produces but weake and incoÌ„sequent proof's for the establishing of his nouell doctrine for example from these words Maccab. For if he had not hoped that they which were slaine would rise again it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead he doth infer that the soul 's in Purgatory are not freed of their sufferings till the generall Resurrection and this inference he proueth only saying For if soul 's were released out of their pains through the prayers of the liuing before the Resurrection it would be extreame profit able to pray for the dead though no Resurrection should follow But where is the connection between the Scripture-Text and Mr. Whites inference shall it follow that good soul's must be imprisoned till the generall Resurrection because the noble and godly Iudas according to the profession of his Religion did belieue in the immortality of soul's and the Resurrection of their bodyes and indeed the true meaning of this scripture afore alledged according to all Orthodox writers is this viêªt videlicet if Iudas Maccabaeus had belieued soul 's to be mortall and to die with their bodyes which consequently should neuer rise again it had been superfluous and vain to pray for them and therfore religiously thinking of the Resurrection and fearing that the souls of his souldiers that were slaine in battell might be punished in the next life in respect of some sinnes they had committed vpon earth he commanded that prayers and sacrifice should be offered for their deliuerance from sin that is to say from temporall punishment due to their sinnes whence doubtlesse no wise and indicious man can infer the imprisonment of soul 's in Purgatory till the generall Resurrection which would neuer haue happened if souls had been mortall and died together with their bodies After the same manner he abuseth the new Testament Let the new iustrument saith he keepe time and harmony with the old let S. Paul be heard preaching to the same effect 1. Cor. 15. what shall they doe which are (n) by baptism for he dead the Apostle may mean water of tribulation and persecution wherewith primitiue Christians seem'd as it were baptised again may vnderstand voluntary afflictions for example praying fasting giuing of Almes c. which the liuing offer to God for the comfort and benefit of the dead moreouer the Apostle may mean the baptising of such as defer'd their baptism till the hower of death which Custome was vsuall in the primitiue Church and the Apostles sense is then if souls be mortall and in consequence therof no resurrection of the dead those which are baptised dying that is at the hower of their death reapo nothing of aduantage by their baptism baptised for the dead if the dead doe not rise at all From this holy text he inferreth that no benefit is obtained by baptism for the dead before the Resurrection not by so doing can soul 's till then be released But in earnest this is a pitifull deduction like vnto this God is in Heauen therfore Mr. Thomas White is at Roterdam for indeed there is nothing of connection between the antecedent and consequence and Mr. Whit's inference for it does not follow that soul's obtain nothing of profit before the Resurrection because S. Paul saith What shall they doe which are baptised for the dead meaning thereby to what purpose shall Christians pray fast giue Almes or suffer tribulation for Christ's sake if the dead rise not again Besides if Mr. Whit's inference were warrantable and vnquestionable the Apostle himself is not as yet in a capacity to obtaine that eminent benefit of being deliuered before the Resurrection For in the same Chapter he addeth to the word 's set down Why are we Apostles in icopardy euery hower if the dead rise not at all what aduantageth it me to haue prayed fasted endnred great persecution if the dead be not raised vp let us eat and drink for to morrow wee shall die that is if there be no Resurrection after death why doe wee giue our selues to any thing el's saue to eating and drinking Wherfore S. Paul himself according to Mr. White is but in the way to his blessed crowne for if his soul were already translated into Heauen his sufferings would haue aduantaged euen though no Resurrection should follow But it seemeth a strange thing that Mr. White should presume to gather from the words set downe that good souls shall not be released of the paines which they sufferin Purgatory before the generall Resurrection the said words not carrying the least sound that way for they neither speake of pain 's in order to the next life nor of releasing souls out of Purgatory and indeed the Apostles sole intent in the Chapter alledged is to proue the Resurrection of the dead and to that purpose brings sundry argument's The first whereof is that Christ our head is raised vp and therfore we his members shall rise again in regard of the fast connection that is between the head and the members thereof And what Mr. White alledgeth for the imprisonment of souls to the day of Iudgment is a secondary argument which S. Paul vseth only as a confirmation of his first argument to demonstrate the Resurrection of bodyes signifying therby that he himselfe together with the rest of the Apostles and primitiue Christians of those day 's had suffered in vain afflictions and tribulations if sou'ls had been mortall and consequently neuer to rise again for t' is clear by the very forme of the Apostles speech that he supposed the false opinion that teacheth souls to be mortall whence of necessity would follow that there should be no Resurrection at all and truly if the Apostle had not made that supposall he would haue concluded nothing for supposing souls to be immortall good works of this life would haue much aduantaged him for the obtaining of Heauenly blessedness though no Resurrection at all had followed And the same supposall is made by the holy writer of the Macchabies signisying therby if the dead were not to rise again it would follow that soul 's were mortall in consequence of which all prayers offered for them would be in vain where is obseruable that the Iewish sectaryes to wit Sadducies held that the soul 's were mortall and consequently denied the Resurrection of Bodies other Iewes which belieued aright professed immortality together with the Resurrection there being in each soul an innate desire to resume the body wherof it was the true form once and as to reason it is most consonant that God who createth nothing in vain will not frustrate that desire hence it was that the ancient Iew 's spoak of the immortality of souls and the Resurrection of bodyes alike and our Sauiour Christ Math. 22. to proue to the Sadducies the Resurrection of bodies infer's it from the
faith The Apostle that if our earthly house of this habitation be destroyed vve haue a building giuen of God ... eternall in heauen From this sacred Text S. Anselme infers that good souls as soon as they are deuested of their bodyes haue full enjoyment of heauenly blessednes and according to Saint Austin l. 2. de ciuit cap. 15. martyrs as soon as they be deliuered from their earthly tabernacles reigne in Heauen with Christ And Christ himselfe according to the Apostle Ephes 4. led captiuity captiue in the day of his glorious ascention that is then the iust souls that were detained as captiues in the lower parts of the earth namely lymbus called Abrahams bosom were translated into Heauen And S. Hierom Epis de obitu letae Novv she for a smal labour hath the enioyment of eternall blessedness as the earthly house of their habitation is destroyed are translated into an other building giuen of God their Creator that is an house not made with hands but eternall in Heauen and as now euery creature is a dark glass whereby God is seen in part so in the next life * Verbum diuinum propter repraesentandi perfectionē vocatur speculum fine macula God himselfe is a clear glass wherin creatures see him fully as he is that is perfectly if nothing of sin interuene to obstruct their passage to Heauen Now saith the Apostle * 2. Cor. 5. mūc videmus per speculum in anigmate sed tūc videbimus facie ad faciem Aug. in illud Aposto Philip. 1. sic scribit inde incipit requies quae non interrumpitur resurrectione sed clarificatur quae nunt fide retinetur wee see through a glass darkely but then shall wee see face to face (b) 2. Cor. 5. the Apostle teacheth that while we are in the body we are absent from our lord for we walk by faith and not by sight Wherefore he coueteth to remoue out of the body and dwell with Christ in consequence of which good souls enioy the clear vision of God before the generall resurrection for otherwise the Apostles earnest desire to remoue out of his body and dwell with Christ had been vain and impertinent since he might not enioy thereby blessednes which consists in the clear vision of God before the generall resurrection besids according to S. Aus l. 14. de Trinit cap. 2. to be present and dwell with Christ includs sight and excludes faith 2. Cor. 5. which words plainly shew that then * begineth the eternall when the transitory life endeth in consequence of which pure souls without offence after they be deliuered from their earthly tabernacles do not expect the generall resurrection to put them in possession of the clear vision of God and truly the desire of S. Paul expressed Philip. 1. and Ephes 5. to be remoued out of the body and to be present with Christ had been very vnprofitable and impertinent if the clear sight of God wherein consisteth the souls blessedness were to be differred for soe long a series of yeares and it matters not that to be present with Christ doth not include of necessity a clear sight of his diuinity for it appeareth by the words of the Text that the Apostle desired a full clear sight of Christ vnto blessedness in regard he speaketh of that presence with him which excludeth faith saying We know while wee are at home in the body that we are absent from Christ for we walke by faith and not by sight signifying thereby that when we are remoued out of the body we walke by sight and not by faith but it is the clear sight of God that abolisheth faith according to the doctrine of all ancient Fathers besids 't is in reason conuincing that Christ hath not appointed prisons to keepe the Saints of the new Testament out of Heauen hauing in his ascention trāslated thither the Saints of the old Testament which were detained afore as prisoners in the lowest parts of the earth Again God is far more inclined to reward the iust then to punish the wicked for his mercyes * Psal 144. miserationes eius super omnia opera eius exceed all his other works but his diuine Iustice (c) According to the Councill of Florence God punisheth wicked souls with eternall sensible paines as soon as they remoue out of their bodys inflicteth eternall sensible paine vpon wicked men sudainly after their remouall out of their bodyes wherefore doubtless iust men doe quickly after their death receiue their blessed rewards nothing of offence interuening to obstruct their passage to Heauen moreouer God is more iust in giuing labourers their hire then any man whosoeuer but a iust man doth not suffer the workemans hire to abide with him till morning Leuit. 19. Wherefore Since eternall blessedness that consisteth in the clear vision of God is the hire of good labourers in the diuine vineyard (d) According to the Councill of Florence in the decree of Eugenius and of Treat sess 25. in decret de inuocatione sanct the souls of the faithfull that remoue out of their bodyes cleansed from all sin and vncleanes see immediately the essence of God And S. Gregorie Nyss ora funebri in pulcheriam writeth thus The plant pulcheria is pluckt from vs but transplanted in paradice she is translated out of one kingdom into an other She hath put of her purple robe and put on the clothing of Heauens kingdom And all the ancient Fathers assert this Catholick truth namly S. Austin trac 128. in Ioan. S. Cyp. li. de exhort ad martyres cap. vltimo payment of it is made quickly after the finishing of their worke that is suddenly after their death wherewith endeth all meritorious working but there be two kinds of blessedness the one complete and full in order to both body and soul the other which is the principall and essentiall blessedness is not perfect as to the whole man but in respect of the soul only Now when the holy scriptures declare that blessedness or reward for good works is to be giuen after the generall resurrection they mean only of the consummation thereof which is full blessedness named the double stole of felicity in order to both body and soul and indeed Christ in the generall iudgment as appeareth by the 25. Chapter of S. Mathew will say after the same manner to the blessed Come ye blessed of my Father take the inheritance of the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world as he will say to the damned depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the deuill and his Angels but Christ by this latter saying meaneth that after sentence of vniuersall iudgment is pronounced the damned whose souls were punished afore shall suffer euerlasting torments of fire in order both to the body and soul for the cōsummating of their misery wherefore by the other saying addressed to the blessed is meant that in the generall resurrection those
carefully heauenly Angels endeauour to bring mortalls vnto eternall blessedness being they reioyce in the repentance of a sinner Wherefore Orig. hom 1. in Ezech. prayeth his Angel to receiue him conuerted from his former errour reioyce at the conuersion of a sinner Luc. 15. Besids according to the common vsage of the primatiue Church one beleeuing christian bargained with an other that he who went first to Heauen should pray for him that abided on earth Let vs saith S. Cyprian Epis 57. pray mutually one for an other and whether of vs two shall through the diuine mercy be first called for let his loue continue and his prayers not cease for his brethren and sisters in the world In like manner S. Hierome spoke to Heliodorus Epis 1. cap. 2. saying that when he is once in Heauen he will pray for him that exhorted and encouraged him to embrace a monasticall state of life Moreouer in the law of nature Abraham made intercession to an Angel for his sons Ioseph Ephraim and Manasse Gen. 48. the Angel which hath deliuered me from all euill bless these children And albeit it cannot be proued that in any time during the old Testament the people of God prayed directly to the holy Patriarkes and Prophets after their decease in regard then the Saints departed were not translated into Heauen and inuested with whiâ—e cloathes of glory their habitation being vnder the earth as in a prison 1. Petri 2. neuertheless they made intercession to God humbly asking of him mercy and grace through the merits of the said Patriarches and Prophets * Psal 131. memeÌ„to Domini Dauid omnis mansuetudinis eius propter Dauid seruum tuuÌ„ non auertas faciem Christi tui Salomon asked of God meet helpe in regard of his Father Dauids great merits * Exod. recordare Domine Abraham Isaac Jacob scruoruÌ„ tuum and Moyses in respect of the good workes of Abraham Isack and Israel the faithfull seruants of God Likewise the ancient Iews made intercession to God through the prayers of their progenitors departed And the holy Prophet Ieremy (k) Baruch cap. 3. prayeth thus O lord omnipotent God of Jsra Heare the prayer of the dead of Israel and though some sectaries count Baruch as apocryphall neuertheless the ancient Fathers and Councills haue ranked that book with diuine scripture both vnder the name of Ieremy Baruchs vncle and vnder the inscription of Baruch which is more proper Again the Councill of Laodicea in the last canon mentioneth Baruchs lamentations and Ieremyes Epistles Moreouer the Councils of Florence and Trent haue defined this catholick truth after his death praid much for the people of Israel 2. Mach. 75. Neither doth the Prophet Isaias preiudice this catholike truth saying cap. 63. Abraham knew vs not and Israel was ignorant of vs for he meant only that Abraham and Iacob did not acknowledge the Iews of those days for their children because of their greiuous sinns and iniquities as the ancient Fathers interpret that scripture Nor Ecclesiastes when hee saith the dead know noe more and haue reward noe more For his meaning is not to take all vnderstanding and knowledge from soules remoued out of their bodyes but to inculcate vnto vs that it is impossible after our departure out of this world to merit a reward the time of this life being a necessarie requisite there to according to Christs own testimony Io. 9. the night cometh when noe man can worke But now the ingagement mentioned in the character of Purgatory calleth for an answere vnto the Digbean White that hath studied diuinity 40. yeares who as to the contents of this character mainly resisteth the constant (l) Mr. White in the third account of the midle state of souls boldly asserts that though to pray for the blessed be against the common practice of the Church neuertheless he is not of so vveake a stomack as not to digest that morsell so that he maks not only the Church liable to errour as to manners and doctrines vniuersally receiued approued and practiced which is a manifest heresy but himselfe the Churches Reformer and vniuersall practice of the Catholick Church agreeing with so large and euident testimony of scriptures Councills and Fathers as are set down for example in the third accompt of his midle state of souls to proue that the ancient practice of the Church was to pray for the dead euen after their souls were beatified He alledged the 2. Epis and 1. cap. to Timothie where the Apostle thus prays for Onesiphorus Our lord grant him Onesiphorus to find mercy from our lord in that day by which words this knowing Master that hath studyed 40. years to build a Theology on Digbean peripateticks will of necessity proue that S. Paul prayed that Onefiphorus might find mercy after he was beatified Shall I deny saith he the Apostle prayed that Onesiphorus might find mercy euen after his soule was beatified the Text on all sides confessed for bids me what then will our aduersaries say this was not to pray for the blessed common sense permit's them not S. Paul did it But doubtless no knowing man in Theology or ecclesiasticall historie that is vnpartiall dare say for his credits sake that Mr. White doth clearly proue against the whole practice of the Church that the faithfull on earth must pray for the blessed because the Apostle prayed for Onesiphorus saying Our lord grant vnto him that he may find mercy of our lord in illo die in that day for Onesiphorus was not dead when S. Paul prayed that he might find mercy of our lord in illo die In consequence of which Mr. Whites inference from the words alledged carries no weight with it at all being grounded vpon a very false supposall Howeuer the good prayer of the Apostle was not in vain for according to the martyrologes both Latine and Greek Onesiphorus was honored afterward with a crown of martyrdom in Hellespont in consequence wherof doubtless he found mercy of our lord in that day that is in the day of particular iudgment after his death for it is the constant Tenet of the Catholick Church * Apoc. 14. Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur à modo iam dicit spiritus vt requiescant à laboribus suis Hic sacer textus osteÌ„dit beatos morientes id est martyres aliosque fideles decedentes perfectè iustos sine omni macula reatu poenae id est obligatione ad poenam noÌ„ expectaturos vniuersale iudicium vt accipiaÌ„t beatitudinem ita explicat S. Aug. l. 20. de ciuit cap. 9. that martyrs by their death suffered for the confessing of Christs faith be perfectly purged of sin both in order to the guilt and paines therof and immediatly possess their glorious crowns which is the beatificall vision as S. Austin lib. de peccatorum meritis expresly teacheth saying he that prayeth for a martyr doth an iniury to a martyr The same doctrine the Councill of Trent ses
5. asserteth touching children that die immediatly after baptism notwithstanding they will receiue aduantages in order to their bodies in the day of generall resurrection But as to Onesiphorus Mr. White perhaps will answer that the Apostle supposeth him dead because in the same Chapter t is said Our lord giue mercy to the house of Onesiphorus Yet that form of speech doth not make him dead for the Apostle sayeth Rom. 10. salute them which are of Aristobulus his house and Mr. White cannot make it appeare by any orthodox writer that then Aristobulus was dead again the same Apostle 1. Cor. 10. writeth thus now brethren I beseech you ye know the house of Stephanus and Fortunatus be you obedient vnto such and yet it is certaine that Stephanus and Fortunatus were liuing at that time for the Apostle saith in the same Chapter I am glad of the coming or presence of Stephanus and Fortunatus Howeuer the Latine and Greek Martyrologes ought to carrie more weight with wise and iudicious men then Mr. Whites meer asserting the contrary But let his supposall be admitted gratis what doth he infer thence Mary that the soul of Onesiphorus bath not already found that mercy the Apōstle prayed our lord might grant vnto him because the Apostle praid that Onesiphorus might find it in illo die in that day In earnest a manifest weake inference in regard it relies on a false supposall as the former did viz. that of necessity by illo die thay day is meant the day of generall iudgment neither doth Mr. White produce any proofe besids his own bare assertion to shew that to be the Apostles meaning nor indeed can he produce any for both the words that day as likwise euen the words the day of our lord doe commonly signifie in scripture and namly 1. Cor. 5. 2. Cor. 1. Philip. 1. 1. Thes 2. as doe * Doctores Rhemenses in Annot a. super cap. 3. Epis 1. ad Cor. obserue Catholicke writers either the particular or generall iudgment And doubtless the mentioned Text of the Apostle is truly very fied in respect of particular judgment where vnto euery man is liable immediatly after his death because euery one shall be iudged in the generall iudgment according to the account he giues after his death at the particular tribunall of diuine Iustice and not only the fauour that a soul findeth in the generall iudgment but also the fauour that it finds at the particular iudgment is called in the scripture mercy both the one and the other being shown vpon the score of good works which proceed from the mercyfull grace of God through the merits of our lord Iesus-Christ Hereby plainly appeareth the vnquietness of Mr. Whits hawty spirite for as much as through a sacrilegious ambition he endeauours to wrest the Apostles words to ouerthrow the common practice of the whole Church of God Moreouer in persuance of his vnquiet ambition he passeth from this scripture-text vnto Church Lyturgies bearing himselfe confident to euidence thereby that the vnanimous consent of antiquitie witnes plainly on his side Let S. Iames be our first witness saith he in his lyturgy of the Hierosolymitan Church be mindfull lord God of the spirits and their bodyes whom we haue commemorated or not commemorated who were orthodox from the iust Abell to this present day Thou grant them there to rest in the region of the liuing in thy kingdom in the delights of paradise And to assure the reader that the Hierosolymitan Church which by origine is the Cheif in as much as she begun from the iust Abell could not exclude any he produceth S. Cyrills testimony for which he citeth his first catechesis next faith S. Cyril for the holy Fathers and Bishops departed and of all vniuersally who are dead from amongst vs. The second witness S. Basils Mass or lyturgy Bee mindfull also of all who haue slept in hope of resurrection vnto life euerlasting The third witnes S. Chrys Mass or lyturgy For the memory and remission of their sins who were the founders of this habitation worthy of eternall memory and all who haue slept in thy communion in the hope of resurrection and life eternall our orthodox Fathers and brethren The fourth witness S. Marks Mass or lyturgy Giue rest our lord our God to the souls of our Fathers and brethren who haue slept in the faith of Christ mindfull of our Ancestours from the begining of the world Fathers Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors Bishops Saints and iust men all the souls of Those who departed in the faith of Christ and moreouer of those whose memory this day we celebrate and our holy Father Marke the Euangelist to the souls of all these giue rest our supream lord and God in thy holy Tabernacle c. and he concludes saith Mr. White to their souls grant rest and admit them to the kingdom of Heauen The fift witnes S. Greg. the great his lyturgy Remember also o lord thy seruants who haue gone before vs with the sign of faith and now rest in the sleep of peace To them our lord and all that rest in Christ wee beseech the grant a place of ease and light and peace From the witnesses set down Mr. White argueth thus So many Patriarchall Churches continually in their publick lyturgyes beseech God in generall tearmes to giue saluation to all the faithfull departed assigning them a place of ease light and peace and where none is excepted all are included and in our case eminent Saints particularly named we cannot therefore doubt but that prayer was anciently offered for the blessed that is to say we cannot doubt but that the ancient Churches offered prayers for such as departed in the faith of Christ that they might find mercy saluation place of ease light and peace euen after their souls were beatified these aduantages according to Mr. White being the motiues on which ancient Churches grounded their prayers suffrages and sacrifices which they offered for such as were already blessed that they might find mercy place of ease light and peace which implies manifest weakness for he contradicts himselfe since blessedness is a clear sight of God importing of necessity saluation mercy place of ease light and peace Wherfore it seems a strang thing that vpon such premises he should conclude with soe much confidence as if the point were euidently clear that the anciēt lyturgyes acknowleged prayers for the blessed as to procuring them mercy saluation place of ease light and peace besides it s not as to reason consonant that the said lyturgyes should require the prayers and sacrifices of the faithfull on earth for the aduantages of the blessed in Heauen since these (m) As to the Churches lyturgyes it is obseruable 1. That in Saint Iames lyturgy these words are set down Let vs celebrate the memory of the most holy immaculate most glorious Mother of God and euer Virgin Mary and of all the Saints that through their prayers vve may obtaine