the enflamed wordes of the holie fathers and examples Thou seest then o Christian by what hath bene said how pernicious and horrible sinne is and consequently what reason thou hast to detest and fly it as much as thou maist But yet perhaps thou wouldest willingly haue some remedies to preserue thy selfe from this accursed monster Besides the feare and loue of God the â—istrust of ones selfe the due frequentinge of the Sacraments of Penance and of the Eucharist spirituall lecture daylie examen of conscience and holy prayer wherof we will treate by Gods asistance in the booke ensuing behould here seauen singular remedies most effectuall 1. To fly the occasions as are dangerous places and euill companies The memorie 2. Of the presence of God 3. Of the passioÌ„ of our Lord. 4. Of death 5. Of iudgment 6. Of hell and of the eternitie of the damned 7. Of heauen and of the eternitie of the saued §. 1. Of flying the occasions of sinne The Prouerbe saith that the occasion causeth the thiefe The Flies and Gnattes houering about the candle fall at the last into the flame He must not walke nere the water who will not be drowned If thou then o Christian wilt keepe thy selfe so as not to fall into sinne flie the occasions such as are euill companies the dangerous places of tauernes and other houses of dissolute women in the euening and time of night For a maide for example doth put her selfe in great hasard of offending God and of her owne honor who vndertakes to talke with a younge man alone in a place apart in the darke or in the night You shall rendar account fathers and mothers who giue such libertie vnto your daughters See l. 2. c. 3. § 4. examp 3. He that loueth danger shall perish in it Eccl. 3. 27. Can a man hide fire in his bosome that his garments burne not Or walke vpon heate coales that his soales be not burnt Pro. 6. 27. My sonne if sinners shall entise thee condescend not to them If they shall say come with vs c. walke not with them stay thy foote from their pathes Pro. 1. 10. Depart from the wicked and euill shall fayle from thee Eccl. 7. 2. He that toucheth pitche shall be defiled with it he that communicateth with the proude shall put on pride Eccl. 13. 1. With the holie thou shalt be holie and with the innocent man thou shalt be innocent psl. 17. 26. If thy right eye scandalise thee pluck it out and cast it from thee for it is expedient for thee that one of thy limmes perish rather then thy whole body be cast into hell Mat. 5. 30. By the eye that scandaliseth is to be vnderstood all occasion of scandall and of offence The master then must quit him selfe of his maide if she giue him occasion to offende God and if it be the master which inciteth the maide to commit euill then must she leaue him and so of others There is no assurance saith S. Hierom to sleepe nere vnto a serpent it may be that he will not bite me but it may be also that he will bite me l. cont Vigilant And writing to Furia touching her widdowhood he saith Fly the companie of younge youthes let not your house admit these young courters of girles which weare their perewigges who haue their haire fâ—…sled their habits spruce and their lookes lasciuious admit not likewise neere vnto you singers and players c. but insteed of these holie widdowes Epist. 10. S. Aug. bewayling the stealth of apples which he had committed in his youth saith If I had bene alone I had neuer done it it was wicked company that caused me to doe it O frindship too too iniust seduction of spirit when one saith Let vs goe let vs doe it and one is ashamed not to be without shame l. 3. Conf. c. 8. 9. EXAMPLES The children of Seth were good before they were married but as soone as they were allied with the daughters of Caine they became so wicked that God was constrained to drowne them all by the deluge Gen. 4. 6. 7. 2. Loth being retired from the holy company of Abraham was taken by the Infidells all his goods were burned in Sodome he made himselfe drunke and being drunke violated his two daughters Gen. 14. 19. 3. SalomoÌ„ coÌ„uersing with the EgiptiaÌ„ Ladies became an Idolater 3. Reg. 11. 4. 4. S. Peter leauing the companie of our Ladie and the Apostles and rancking him selfe amongst the wicked denied thrice his Lord and Master Mat. 26. 70. 5. Gordiana aunt to S. Gregorie delighting ouer-much to be in company of certaine secular maydes forgot the vow she had made to serue God and by litle and litle turned all worldly after the death of her two sisters Tharsilla Emiliana which weÌ„t to heauen she plunged her selfe entirely in vanities with the finall perdition of her soule S. Greg. 4. Dial. c. 14. Hom. 38. in Euang. 6. A younge scholler studying in the dioces of Mastrick finding him self vpon a day in the company of some younge and dissolute libertines was conducted into a certaine house where it wanted litle that together with the puritie of his hart he lost not the flower of his virginitie Seing him selfe therfore assaulted with an impudent woman he forsooke his companions and departing forth of that debauched lodging it being now night he went towards his owne dwelling and as he went he began to thinke not without great astonishment vpon the euident perill which he had passed to make an irreparable losse of the pretious treasure of his chastitie As he entertayned him selfe in this thought behould a young man of a most maruellous beautie appeared vnto him and gaue vnto him a box on the eare that so fierce and soundly set on that he feld him flat vpon the ground saying vnto him Learne then learne thou for another time to flie euill company and so disappeared sodainly The schollar all shaking and trembling for very feare got him selfe vp some while after and waighing more seriously what had passed knew more clearly that this younge man was his Angell gardien which had deliuered him that day from so great danger and had admonished him so charitably of the fault which he had committed for which cause he gaue thankes vnto God and to his good Angell makinge a firme purpose to fly for the time to come more carefully then euer before all kinde of euill company And the better to assure that it was not a dreame the cheeke wheron the Angell smote remayned sweld sundry dayes after P. Francis Albertin in his treatise of our Angell Gardien c. 7. ex speculo ex dist 10 ex 9. See also another as remarkable in the treatise aforsaid c. 19. and here before c. 4. § 7. examp 3. of S. Edmond in the 2. booke c. 3. § 4. exampl 3. If we haue so great care to conserue our body from euill ayres and from all that which may be
approach often therunto §. 2. Of the preparation and deuotion requisite to communicat well Let a man proue him selfe that is to say examine him selfe and if he see him selfe in mortall sinne that he confes him selfe and so let him eate of that bread and drinke of the chalice For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthely in mortall sinne eateth and drinketh iudgement to him selfe that is to say his condemnation not discerninge the body of our Lord. Therefore are there among you many weake and feeble and many sleepe that is to say are in the death of sinne These are the wordes of the Apostle 1. Corinth 11. and so explicated by Theophil Saint Anselme Saint Greg. lib. 2. cap. c. 1. in l. 1. Reg. serm 1. temp Concil Trid. Sess 13. c. 7. Now four thinges are requisite to communicate well 1. Faith 1. Tim. 3. S. Basil quest 172. in reg breu That is to say to beleue the reallitie of the pretious body of Iesus Christ in the holy Sacrament 2. Penance and Confession 3. An attention of soule deuotioÌ„ excited by prayers and meditations Chrisost hom 83. in Mat. 3. ad Ephes 60. 61. ad pop 4. A decent cariage and comportment to be fasting chaste modest humble hauing our face mouth and handes cleane S. Aug. ad Ian. epist. 118. cap. 6. Orig. hom 5. â—n diuers euang locos O what horrible indignitie is it to beleeue that Iesus Christ is in the most holie Sacrament and yet to presume to receiue him hauing thorough mortall sinne the diuell harboured in his soule EXAMPLES 1. A holy Bishop hauing asked of God to know the interior estate of two of his subiects which were reported to be adulterers as they communicated he saw the one of them to haue his face black and his eyes full of blood and the face of the other bright and shining and al his garments as white as snow And not knowing what it ment an Angell tould him that the first was an adulterer and was yet in sinne The other albeit he had likewise committed adulterie yet had he cleansed him selfe by Confession before communion In vitis patrum pag. 2. § 156. The same also Saint Euthymius Abbat saw in some communicants as Surius writeth in his in life Ian. 20. 2. Widekindus Duke of Saxonie being come disguised into the campe of Charlemaigne saw the priest vpon Easter day giue to those that did communicat a very beautifull litle childe who entered into the mouth of some with a face laughing and into others with a countenance frowning and as it were by force Albertus Crautz l. 2. de hist. de Sax. c. 23. 3. A young man in Guienna anno 1600. communicating in mortall sinne had neuer power to open his mouth Wherat the priest amazed asked of him if he were confest who answered with teares no Florimond Reimond tom 1. of the begining of heresie lib. 2. cap. 12. S. Greg. of Tours writeth the like historie lib. de gloria mart c. 89. 4. Kinge Lotharius hauing for a long time kept a concubine came to Rome to Pope Nicholas to be absolued assuring that he had put her from him which notwithstanding he had not done The Pope to proue his saying caused him to communicat with all the Lordes of his trayne A strange case the kinge died within a few daies after at Placentia and within the yeare all the others of his company Sigebert in chron anno 870. 5. At Dulaca a cittie of the Phillippine Islandes a younge man receiuing the B. Sacrament in mortall sinne felt instantly most strange paines thoroughout his body He cast vp the holy Hoste in a priuie and the paine ceased our Lord choosing rather to be in that dirt then within that sinfull soule Within a while after he fell againe to his former sinnes and went notwithstanding vnto the communion and behould he was at the same instant as seased with a fire in his throate he withers and consumes quite away which his parents them selues perceiued well and yet descouered not the cause He communicats againe and behould an infinite number of litle flies which fly to his mouth and gaue him so many prickes with their stinges that at the last he knew him selfe confest him and presently all those litle flies and all his paines departed In the annales of the Societie anno 1605. O the blindnes and obstinacie of the sinner O the admirable patience and benignitie of God! THE IX CHAPTER Of hearing sermons or the word of God BLessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct o Lord and shalt teache out of thy law psal 93. 12. Blessed is the wombe that bare thee and the pappes that thou didst suck said a woman vnto our Lord after his sermon yea rather quoth he blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it Luc. 11. 28. He saith yet more in another place He that is of God that is to say according to the explication of the holy fathers a he that is predestinat to eternall life he heareth the wordes of God therfore you heare not quoth he to the Iewes because you are not of God Iohn 8. 47. a Aug. tract 42. in Ioan. Greg. hom 12. in euang Ber. ser 1. in Septuag Certainly saith S. Iohn Chrisostome I haue great proofes of your profit and spirituall aduancement to see you euery day to runne with so great promptitude and to be so greedie and desirous to feede and fill your selues with spirituall doctrine For euen as the appetit to corporall meate is an argument of the good constitution of the body euen so the desire of spirituall doctrine is an euident signe of the good constitution and health of the soule Chrisost hom 32. in Gen. The wordes of sermons are called by our Lord the wordes of God because it is God who speaketh by their mouthes He that heareth you heareth me Luc. 10. And Mat. 10. 20. It is not you that speake but the spirit of your Father that speaketh in you We giues thankes to God without intermission because that when you had receiued of vs the word of the hearing of God you receiued it not as the word of men but as it is indeed the word of God 1. Thes 2. 12. EXAMPLES 1. S. Ephrem being one day in praier he heard a voice which said vnto him Ephrem eate What shall I eate quoth he and who shall giue me foode Goe to Basil replied the voice he will teache thee and will giue vnto thee the euerlasting bread He arose goes seeke S. Basil and found him preaching in the church Surius 1. of Feb. 2. S. Gregorie of Nice and Metaphrastes write that S. Ephrem saw a Doue to prompt vnto S. Basil all that he preached And Amphilochius addeth that he saw the tongue of S. Basil all on fire 3. An Arrian heretique and a great enimie of our faith was conuerted to the truth for that he perceiued whilst S. Ambrose preached an Angell to dictat into his eare all that
against the sinne of voluntarie Polluâ—ion pag 135. § 5. Of the sinne of Enuie pag. 138. § 6. Of Gluttonie and Drunkennes pag. 141. § 7. Of the sinne of Anger pag 150. § 8 Of the sinne of Slouth pag. 156. An aduertisemeÌ„t touching this vice for such as are Magistrates father of families p. 165. THE VII CHAPTER Of certaine remedies and meanes wherby not to fall into sinne pag 168. § 1. Of flying the occasions of sinne p. 169. § 2 Of the mindfulnes of the presence of God pag 176. § 3 Of the remembrance of the most dolorous passion of our Lord pag. 183. § 4 Of the memorie of death pag. 188. § 5. Of the memorie of Iudgment pag 200. § 6. Of hell and of the Eternitie of the accursed pag. 206. § 7. Of the memorie of heauen and of the eternitie of the blessed pag. 215. THE II. BOOKE The Prologue pag 225. THE I. CHAPTER Of the signe of the Crosse pag. 228. § 1 Of the ancient vse and custome to make the signe of the Crosse at the begining and ending of our workes and how dangerous it is ether to eate or drinke not makinge before and after this holy signe pag. 229. § 2. That this signe is a preseruatiue against all danger and particularly against the tentations of the diuell pag. 235. THE II. CHAPTER Of Prayer and Thanksgiuing which a Christian ought to make morning and euening before and after meate And of the inuocation of our blessed Lady of our Angell Gardian and our other Patrons pag 241. § 1 Of the prayer which a Christian ought to make morning and euening pag 243 § 2 Of thankâ—giuing which we ought to render to God in all times but particularly after meate and drinke pag. 254. § 3 Of prayer examen of conscience and Inuocation of Saintes which a Christian ought to make before he sleepe pag. 259. Sect. 1 Of the examen of our conscience pag 261 Sect. 2 Of the Inuocation of Saintes pag 269 § 4 Of holie water where with a Christian ought to sprinkle him selfe at his going in or coming out of his bed and chamber pag. 276 § 5. Of Agnus Dei pag 280. § 6. Of the Reliques of Saintes pag 285. THE III. CHAPTER Of the three Theologicall virtues Faith Hope and Charitie pag 289. § 1. Of Faith 290. § 2. Of Ignorance in thinges of faith how dangerous it is and which the points are that necessarily are to be knowen pag 298. § 3. Of Hope pag 303. § 4. Of distrust of our selues and how we must neuer begin nor vndertake any thinge but first to recommend the same to God pag. 305. § 5. Of Chaâ—itie particularly of that which we owe vnto God pag 311. The properties of the loue of God pag. 314 § 6 Of Charitie towards our neighbour pag 320 THE IV CHAPTER Of the seauen virtues contrary to the capitall sinnes pag. 325 § 1. Of the virâ—u of Humilitie pag. 326. § 2. Of Liberallâ—…ie pag. 333. § 3. Of Chaâ—…itie pag. 335. § 4 Of Chariâ—…e pag 346. § 6. Of the viâ—…u of Patience pag 353. § 7. Of spirituall diligâ—nce pag â—…7 THE V. CHAPTER Of the holy sacrifice of the Masse pag. 372. § 1 Of the fruites and vtiliâ—…es of the Masse pag 373 § 2 Of the reuerence and attention we ought to haue during the sacrifice of the Masse pag 375 § 3. Of the vtilities of the Masse proued by examples with some remarkable punishments of those who haue despiced the same pag 380 THE VI CHAPTER Of Confession of the Sacrament of PennaÌ„ce pag 388. § 1. Of Contrition pag. 389. § 2. Of Confession pag. 394. § 3. Of frequent Confession how dangerous it is for to delay it pag 401. § 4. Of Generall Confession pag 406. § 5. Of satisfaction the third part of the Sacrament of Penance pag 408. § 6. Of Indulgences pag 409. § 7. Of the paines of Purgatorie pag 412. § 8. Of prayers or suffrages for the departed pag. 415 THE VII CHAPTER Of satisfactorie workes Fasting Almes and Prayers pag 420 § 1. Of Fasting pag. 421. § 2 Of Almes pag. 424. § 3. That we neuer loose any thinge no not in this present life by giuing almes pag. 430. § 4. How rigorously God hath punished those which had no pittie of the poore p 434. § 5. Of Prayer How excellent profitable and necessarie it is pag. 437. § 6 Of the conditions required to pray profitably pag 444 THE VIII CHAPTER Of Communion pag. 448. § 1. Of the necessitie and vtilitie of Communion ibid § 2. Of the preparation and deuotion requisite to communicat wel pag. 453. THE IX CHAPTER Of hearing sermoÌ„s or the word of God p 458 § 1 Of the efficacy of the word of God pag. 461. THE X CHAPTER Of the singular deuotion which the good Christian ought to haue to our B. Lady pag. 463. FIN
the fier of hell and to come to heauen with Iesus Christ counter garding him selfe against all tentations and not suffering him selfe to be corrupted by prosperity nor beaten downe with aduersity and who arriueth to this perfection that he more loueth God then he feareth hell Who though God him selfe should say vnto him vse and enioy the pleasures of the world commit all the sinnes thou wilt thou shalt not be damned would not for all this commit sinne for feare of offending almighty God such an one is truly Christian lib. de Catech. rud c. 16. 17. tom 4. Acknowledge thy dignitie o Christian saith S. Leo and take good heede that thou returne not by a degenerate and vnworthy conuersation to thy wonted vilenes and basenes Ser. 1. de Nat. EXAMPLES 1. S. Lewis kinge of France went more willingly to Poissi then to any other place in all his kingdome for that he had bene there baptised and made a Christian and was wont to say that he had receiued more dignitie and honor in that place then in any other in the whole world Nicol. Aegid Franc de Belleforest vpon his life Behould o Christian the dignitie thou hast sith such a Kinge preferreth the same before his crowne 2. Now to be a true Christian one must first flie and detest all sinne as well mortall as veniall as well that of will only and of thought as of wordes and worke 3. And touching wordes to keepe him selfe from swearing without necessitie and reason from blaspheming cursing and wicked imprecations from speaking wordes of contumelie detracting lying vttering of dishonest songes or wordes 4. As touchinge sinnes of worke parents ought to take heede that they be not negligent both to instruct and correct their children and children not to disobey their parents 5. Aboue all the sinne of Pride Couetousnes Luxurie Enuie Gluttonie Drunkenes Anger and Sloth is to be auoided 6. The most effectual remedies are to fly the occasion the memorie of the presence of almightie God of the passion of Iesus Christ of death Iudgement Hell and the kingdome of Heauen thus much concerninge the flight of sinne 7. Secondly one must addict him selfe to the exercise of virtues and of good workes as 8. To make the signe of the Crosse in rising vp and lying downe before eating and drinking before worke and in euery necessitie 9. To pray to God and to giue him thankes both morning and eueninge both before and after meate and to inuoke the assistance of our B. Ladie his Angell Guardian and of the Saintes namly of him whose name he beareth 10. To sprinkle him selfe with holie water and to beare about him an Agnus Dei. 11. To learne the most necessarie pointes of faith and of Christian religion 12. To haue a distrust of him selfe and a great trust and confidence in almightie God 13. To loue God aboue all thinges and his neighbour for God 14. To heare Masse both with reuerence and attention 15. To Confes often game Indulgences and to pray for the soules that are in Purgatorie 16. To fast pray and willingly to giue almes vnto the poore 17. To receiue often the holy Communion to heare gladly sermons and to beare a singular deuotion to our B. Ladie Loe these are the most necessarie pointes to liue and die a good Christian whereof I pretend to treate thorough all the chapters that doe ensue THE II. CHAPTER Of mortall and veniall sinne 1. AMongst all the euills that raigne in the world the greatest and most to be deplored is that men know not nor apprehend not the euills and miseries of the soule regarding none but those of the body The Asse falleth into the myre saith S. Bernard and both the master and the neighbours runne with speed to pull him forth the soule falleth into sinne and perdition none at all takes care thereof 2. What doth it profit a man saith our Lord if he gayne the whole worlde and sustaine the damage of his soule Mat. 16. 26. O yee fathers mothers apprehend this point and teache it betimes vnto your children make them to suck it with their milk whilst they are yet in their infancie and often singe vnto them this goulden sentence of our Sauiour Feare yee not them that kill the body and are not able to kill the soule but rather feare him that can destroy both soule and body into hell Mat. 10. 28. which nether is nor neuer shall be but for sinne §. What mortall sinne is and what detriments it bringeth to the soule 1. S. Augustin speaking of sinne in generall saith that it is a word thought or deede against the law of almightie God lib. 22. cont Faustum cap. 27. 2. Diuines say that it is a foulenes and deformitie of the reasonable creature wherby it is made displeasing to God and wherwith it can not see God in his glorie 3. To be mortall it must be committed freely and voluntarily against some commandement of God or the Church in a matter of importance 4. It is called mortall because it depriueth vs of our spirituall life and bringeth death vnto the soule separating it by this death from the kingdome of God and making it worthie of fire and paines that are perpetuall 5. The soule that shall haue sinned â—hall dye the death Ezech. 18. If I doe this said the chast Susanna being solicited vnto sinne it is my death Dan. 3. And the father of the prodigall child said vnto his eldest sonne thy brother was dead and is reuiued Luc. 15. 32. 6. Besides the spirituall life that is to say the grace of God which is lost by mortall sinne he likewise looseth all the merits he had got Ezech. 18. 24. All the giftes and the familiaritie of the holy Ghost and his virtues Sap. 1. 4. 5. Abdias 5. 6. He looseth the right of the children of God that is to say euerlasting life The especiall particular protection of God Psal 32. 18. The protection of his good Angell S. Basil in psal 33. Communication in the merits of all the Saints that is to say of all good Christians He becometh in an instant the slaue of the deuill prickt gnawen coÌ„tinually with the remorce of conscience it being the greatest of all torments that are in this life S. August in Psal 45. Iob. 15. 21. Pro. 28.1 throughout Sap. 17. Psal 50. He meriteth nothing in doing any good worke Isay 59. Luc. 5. 5. But that which is the greatest of al mischiefes he remayneth obliged to euerlasting paines Eccles 21. 10. 11. Iis procella tenebrarum seruata est in aeternum Cath. ep of S. Iude to whom the storme of darknes is reserued for euer Blessed Lord how many euills doth one only pleasure bringe EXAMPLES 1. Lysimachus kinge of Thracia rendring him selfe with his whole kingdome vnto his enimie for the thirst which he could no longer suffer after he had drunk a glasse of water Good God said this poore Pagan how great a miserie is it
downe therein he applied and laid his nostrils vnto the carion as longe as he was able to suffer the stinke that proceeded thēce but at the last he fel backward as halfe dead Being come to him selfe he issued thence most victorious in such sort that he neuer after felt any prouocation of the flesh Tho. de Cantip. affirmeth to haue knowen this Priest and writes the historie in his 2. booke of Ezech. c. 30. 10. A holy Ermit did almost the like for not able to blot out of his imagination a woman which was already dead he went into her graue to cut a piece of her flesh which he applied afterwards vnto his nostrils as oft as the remembrance of this woman returned vnto him and the stinke which issued forth of this rotten flesh rendred him as many times victorious In vitis patrum p. 2. de fornic n. 10. §. 5. Of the memorie of Iudgment The memorie of Iudgment is a most stronge bridle to with hould and stay a man in the course of sinne For who I pray you is so hardy as to commit any sinne who considereth that within a litle while and perhaps also the selfe same day he is to giue an account of all the thoughtes wordes workes of his whole life vnto a Iudge infinitly iust infinitly wise infinitly powerfull and receiue from his mouth according to the good or euil he shall haue done the definitiue irreuocable sentence ether of life or death eternall It is appointed to men to die once and after this the iudgment Heb. 9. 27. We must all be manifest before the iudgment seate of Christ that euery one may receiue the proper thinges of the body according as he hath done ether good or euill 2. Cor. 5. 10. I will search Ierusalem with lampes Sophonia 1. 12. It is horrible to fall into the handes of the liuing God Heb. 10. 31. What shall I doe when God shall rise to iudge And when he shall aske what shall I answer him c. I haue alwaies feared God cap. 9. 28. I feared all my workes knowing that thou didst not spare the offender What can a man imagin more dreadful more repleat with anxiety and vehement sollicitude then to be presented at this so terrible tribunall there to be iudged and to awaite there vpon a Iudge so exact and for a sentence so doubtfull S. Bern. Ser. 8. in psal qui habitat Before sicknes take medicine and before iudgment examin thy selfe and in the sight of God thou shalt finde propitiation Eccl. 18. 19. 20. Feare the examen of the Iudge dread him who saith by his prophet in that day I will search Ierusalem with lampes he is sharp of eye-sight he will suffer nothinge to escape S. Ber. Ser. in 55. in Cant. The iust doe feare whatsoeuer they doe considering before what Iudge they must one day infallibly be presented S. Greg l. 8. Moral c. 13. O what feare and affrightment will there then be what teares and groninges For if the pillars of heauen doe tremble before him what then shall sinners doe If the iust shall scarcely be saued where shall sinners then appeare Who is he that redouteth not a Iudge infinitly powerfull infinitly wise infinitly iust Innoc. 3. l. 3. of the contempt of the worlde c. 15. Sensuall loue and the prickinge of lubricitie shall soone be extinguisht if one doe set before his eyes the latter iudgment said S. Anthonie to his Disciples S. Athanas in his life As often as thou feelest thy selfe prouoked forward to any sinne call to minde the day of iudgment and thou shalt by this meanes giue a bridle vnto thy soule S. Basil in psl. 35. S. Ambrose also saith the same ad virg lap c. 8. Climachus grad 20. EXAMPLES 1. S. Hubertus Bishop of Liege said to his seruants at the houre of his death that he greatly feared the iudgement of God wherat he was to rendre account of all his life Sur. 3. of Nouemb. 2. S. Hilarion likewise a litle before he rendred vp his blessed soule said Goe forth my soule goe forth what doost thou feare thou hast serued God nighe seauentie yeares why fearest thou then to goe forth S. Hierom in his life 3. S. Arsenius trembling and bitterlie weeping a litle before his death demanded by his disciples wherfore he wept answered Since the time I haue bene religious I neuer was without this feare Sur. ex Metaphrast c. 27. Iuly 19. If the Saints them selues doe tremble what shall the sinners doe at that dreadfull houre 4. In the yeare 1082. a Doctor of Paris reputed of all for a holy man being dead as they read for him the office of the dead being arriued at the Lesson Responde mihi he lifted him selfe vp out of his coffin in the open church before all and said I haue bene accused before the iust iudgment of God This gaue great matter of feare vnto all and was cause that the office was deferred vntill the morrow Vpon the morrow they began againe and being come to the selfe same wordes he that was dead arose againe and said I haue bene iudged by the iudgment of God These wordes were very fearfull but yet gaue clearly enough to vnderstand the estate of his soule wherfore it was thought good to defer this office yet once more It can not be spoken how many people ran flockinge on the morrow to so strange a spectacle They singe as before and when they were come to the selfe same wordes the dead arose againe and said with a voice much more lamentable then before I am condemned by the iust iudgment of God S. Bruno was then amongst the other spectators a Doctor of Paris and Canō of Rhemes who affrighted with so horrible a fact resolued frō that instant freelie to forsake all the vanities of the worlde and to this purpose hauing found forth six others of the same resolution went together with them and shut vp them selues in one of the desert mountaines which are seated vpon the confines of France and Sauoy and there gaue begining to the holy order of Charterhouse monkes Franc. Puteus generall of the same order vpon the life of S. Bruno Sur. tom 5. Ribad 6. of Octob. Thus the Saintes forsooke all the occasions of sinne at the only memorie of their iudgment thou o Christian remembring thee of a thinge so horrible which most infallibly also must arriue to thee darest thou to dwell in the occasions of sinne See that which followeth after §. 6. Of hell and of the Eternitie of the accursed If the feare of death or some temporall paine doth hinder vs ordinarily to doe that which otherwise we would doe the apprehension of the euident danger of a death and punishment which is eternall shall it not haue the force to bridle our will not to consent vnto some sinne There is a hell it is a point we must beleeue a place designed for all those which die in mortall sinne where in the
to be healed but only if her sinnes were forgiuen her and vnderstanding that they were she died with most exceeding consolation S. Greg. l. 4. dial c. 13. 5. The Emperor Mauritius hauing bene the cause of the massacre of sundry of his captiue subiects which he might haue set free for a smale matter besought of God to haue his punishment in this life and wrote to all the Patriarkes and Monkes of the easte to the end they should offer vp to God their praiers for this effect God granted him his demand for he saw all his children put to death before his eyes he saying no other thinge saue only that verse of the psalme 118. Thou art iust o Lord and thy iudgment is right and within a while after he him selfe had his head cut off Niceph. l. 18. hist. c. 38. and Card. Baron anno 602. 6. S. Liduuine natiue of Holland from the age of fifteene yeares to fifty three was neuer without sicknesses and diseases And first hauing an Apostume broken within her body was afterwards smitten with the palsie and fire of S. Anthonie had al her members rotten and full of holes Out of her breasts wormes issued by whole hundreds which eate and gnawed all her body She had her head afflicted with most sharp paines her fore-head open her chinne cleft one eye out and the other not able to behould the light cast commonly blood out at her mouth eyes nose and eares had the squinzie in her throate the tooth-ache agues single double triple quadruple and the dropsie and besides all these euills she was accused of witcherie Now what feeling could she haue amongst so many and such afflictions notwithstanding she said no other thinge but. O my sweete Lord augment my paines Wretch that I am alas what is it that I endure Alas how litle is it in comparison of that which thou endurest for me Surius to 7. 14. of Aprill See the example of Saint Frauncis here before lib. 1. c. 7. § 7. example 1. 7. S. Nichola or Colecta hauing craued of our Lord to make her partaker of his paines for the space of fiftie yeares was neuer without sicknesses and most greeuous dolours which allwayes redoubled vpon solemne feastes And as they that looked vnto her wept at the very sight of her torments she in smyling wise said vnto them Wherfore weepe yee my good sisters that which I suffer deserues not so much as to be thought of If God haue sent it me alas should I be so perfidious as to quarrell against the bountie of my sweet Lord who hath so great a care of his poore seruāt And as she ommitted not for all her paine to come and goe to doe some seruice vnto God some saying vnto her You will die by the way So that quoth she we die betwixt the armes of good Iesus what forces it my poore sisters whither we die in the fieldes or in the cittie vpon the pauement or vpon a matteras We cannot fall amisse falling betwixt the handes of God Surius 6. of March ex Stephano Iuliaco See Binet in ses consolations des malades c. 7. § 4. 8. S. Spiridion being called by the Emperor Constance as he entred the pallace a courtiar seeing him poorely apparelled gaue him a box vpon the eare the Saint presented him the other Which touched in such sort the hart of this arrogant person that he cast him selfe before his feete and asked him forgiuenes Surius 24. of December 9. S. Romuald of the house of the Dukes of Rauenna being often strucken with a pole by Marinus the Hermit when he hapned to misse in saying his psaulter replied not a word vntill such time as after certaine daies seeing that by this meanes he lost the hearing of one eare he said vnto him that if he thought good he should frō thence forth strike him vpon the right side because he had lost the hearing of the left by reason of the blowes that he had giuen him Marinus was extreamly amazed at this patience and was the cause that he euer afterwards respected him so much the more The B. Card. Damian in his life Ribad 7. of Feb. 10. Our Lord said vpon a day to the B. mother Teresa of Iesus Beleeue my daughter that he that is most beloued of my Father is he to whom he giueth the greatest troubles Behould and consider my woundes neuer will thy euills be equall to my paines This so encouraged her that she had no other desire but to suffer so that being buffeted spit on and trode vnder foote she fell a laughing being calumniated in all that possible might be said she set not by it Yea she prayed to God that she might neuer be without paines as she was not And after she had bene once tormented for the space of fiue houres by the deuill with great dolors and interior and exterior troubles so that she thought that she was able to endure no more she notwithstanding ceased not to craue patience of our Lord offring her selfe according to her custome that if he would make vse therof that then this paine might last her till the day of iudgment and this was her ordinarie prayer My Lord be it to dye or to endure I for my selfe aske naught else of thee 11. Blessed Father Zauerius endured much in the Indies but it was nothing in regard of that which he desiered to endure for amidst his greatest paines he praied to God to giue him greater And when vpon a day our Lord had shewed him the crosse and torments by the which he was to passe he began to cry Yet more yet more o Lord yet more Ribad in the abridgment of his life 12. S. Iohn Gualbertus hauing pardoned from his hart the murdering of his brother as he praied a while after before a crucifix our Lord. who was nayled theron enclined his head downe vnto him Blas Mediolan general ord val vmbrosae circa annum 1040. Baron tom 11. anno 1051. 13. An English gentilman hauing likewise pardoned him who had kild his father as he praid before a Crucifix the Kinge who was present perceiued that at eache genuflexion which he made the Crucifix bowed its head vnto him Math. Paris hist. Anglic. anno 1090. Thou confirmest o Lord by this miracle the truth of thy doctrine vttered so many ages past Forgiue and it shall be forgiuen you Luc. 6. Mat. 6. 14. Our Lord said vpon a time vnto S. Gertrude that euen as the ringe which is giuen at a making sure is a signe of the faith which the parties promise one to another euen so patience in corporall and spiritual aduersities endured for the loue of God is a signe of diuine election and of the mariage of the soule with almightie God Blos l. de consol pusillam He said the same to the B. Mother Teresa Thou knowest full wel quoth he vnto her the mariage there is betwixt thee and me and that by this meanes all that I haue is thyne I
his sinnes was much more stinking and abhominable vnto him then was the most corrupted carion D. Antonij 4. p. sum tit 14. c. 6. § 1. O sinne how horrible detestable cruell gastly and stinking art thou c Let vs fly from a monster so abhominable 6. S. Edmond had an exceedinge horror therof sith he said that he had rather cast him selfe into a burning fornace then to fall into one mortal sinne Sur. in his life c 29. Nou. 16. 7. Yea S. Anselme said that he had rather fall into hell then into sinne S. Ansel de similit Sur. 2. of Aprill See hereafter lib. 2. c. 3. § 1. the like answere of an old Iaponian §. 3. By mortall sinne we crucifie againe Iesus Christ. 1. O the full measure of all mischiefe that sinne is not only extremly iniurious to him who committeth it but euen to God him selfe the author of health It is the sentence of S. Paul Heb. 6. 6. saying that sinners crucify againe to themselues the Sonne of God and make him a mocquerie And in the 10. c. 29. he saith that they tread the Sonne of God vnder foote and esteeme the blood of the testament polluted wherin they had bene sanctified By one mortall sinne we crucifie againe the Sonne of God because we doe that which was the cause of his crucifixion And if his death had not bene sufficient for the ransome of all the sinnes of the world he must for the expiation of euery sinne which we commit haue againe bene crucified and put to death 2. With great reason then said that good doctor Ioannes Taulerus if God would suffer some one to see his owne sinnes as they are seene of God him selfe he would burst a sunder with very sorrow at the same instant perceiuing the iniurie and contempt that he hath done by them to his Creator and Redeemer lib. de vita pass Christi c. 7. EXAMPLES 1. At the time that the Albigensian heretiques ransacked France our Lady appeared vnto S. Leutgarde with a sad and weeping countenance The saint hauing enquired the cause of her heauines she answered vnto him that it was because that the heretiques and euil Christiās crucified againe by their sinnes her deare Sonne Iesus Christ Sur. tom 3. ex Tho. Cantiprat 2. S. Bridgit of Sueede haueing heard preached vpon a day the passion of our B. Sauiour the night ensuinge our Lord appeared vnto her al bloody and full of dolors as when he was fastned to the Crosse and said vnto her Behould my woundes The Saint beleeuing that they were fresh said vnto him in weeping wise Alas my Lord who hath hurt thee in this maner They quoth he that doe contemne and make none account of my charity Sur. to 4. Ribad in her life the 23. of Iuly 3. See more in the 2. booke c. 7. § 3. Example 4. of S. Collect. O execrable malice of mortall sinne Let vs now speake of veniall sinne §. 4. Of veniall sinne 1. Veniall sinne doth not exclude the grace of God nor charitie it diminisheth notwithstanding the feruor thereof and as S. Paul speaketh Ephes 4. doth contristat the holy Ghost obfuscat the conscience and hinder the aduancement in virtues and by litle and litle draweth a man to mortall sinne He that contemneth smale thinges shall fall by litle and litle saith the wiseman Eccles 19. 1. S. Aug. compareth veniall sinnes vnto the itche which spoyle the beautie of the face and disgusteth the behoulders feare them not saith he because they are lesser then the others but because they are in greater nombre The gnattes and flies are litle beastes which yet if they be many in number are able to take from a man his life Graines of Sande being multiplied doe sinke the Shippes and droppes of waters gathered together make riuers swell and ruine houses 2. Veniall sinne is like to a thrid tied to the foote of the soule which hindreth it to fly to perfection It is a mothe which eateth by litle and litle beames and summer postes which not able at the last to support the waight that is laid vpon them doe cause the fall of the whole house No polluted thinge shall enter into the celestiall Ierusalem saith S. Iohn Apoc. 21. 27. vnles therfore veniall sinnes be blotted forth in this life they traile a man to the fire of Purgatorie a fire so terrible that in respect therof the paines of this life are in a maner nothinge as both S. Aug. and S. Greg. say in psl. 37. ser 41. in 3. psl. paenit And our Lord him selfe saith That euery idle word that men shall speake they shall render an account for it in the day of iudgement Mat. 12. 36. And doost thou set so light by veniall sinne EXAMPLES 1. The Abbot Moises was posessed with the diuell for hauing thorough impatience spoken a litle ouer roughly vnto another Cassian Colat. 7. c. 27. Another Monke was also possest for hauing drunke with too much sensuallitie a glasse of water S. Greg. dial l. 1. c. 4. And another for hauing bene distracted voluntarily in his prayer Ibid. l. 2. c. 1. Is not this enough to giue to vnderstand that veniall sinnes are not so litle before God as men imagin 2. S. Marie of Ognia was so circumspect and so aduised in her actions euen in the very least of all that none could euer obserue the least idle word to issue out of her mouth nor anie other vncomely cariage and was accustomed to confes her selfe of her least faultes with as much contrition as if they had beene mortall sinnes Iac. de vitriaco Card. in her life l. 1. c. 6. 3. Eusebius Monke casting once his eye thorough curiositie vpon the the workmen which laboured in the fieldes whilst Amyan read the gospels vnto him for this cause not hauing well vnderstood a certaine passage whereof the other asked him the explication had so great repentance for it that he euer after mortified his sight duringe the time of his whole life carying continually his head enclined towards the earth by meanes of a great iron chaine which tyed his neck vnto his girdle and this for the space of forty yeares so great esteemed he this litle fault Theodore in hist sanct pat sect 4. Sophron. in prato◠spirit 4. The B. Mother Teresa of Iesus foundresse of the discalceat Carmelits makes mētion in her writinges of her sinnes with such excesse of exaggeration albeit they were but very litle as if they had bene exceeding greuous If in reciting any lesson in the quire she chanced to fayle but a litle she presētlie prostrated her self vpō the groūd in the midst of the quire which all the other sisters seeing could not abstaine from teares and were constrained to interrupt their seruice for the great feeling they had therof Ribera in her life and in the 10. c. of that which she wrote with her owne hande Now if the Saintes haue so apprehended the malice of veniall sinne what
blindnes of spirit inconsideration inconstancie precipitation selfe-loue hatred of God too great a desire of this life horror of death and of the iudgment of God together with dispaire of eternall felicitie Greg. l. 31. Mor. c. 31. Ose 4. 2. Reg. 11. Dan. 13. Pro. 13. Sap. 4. Psl. 51. Tim. 3. Psal 20. Iac. 4. Ephes 4. Fornication and all vncleanes let it not so much as be named among you as it becometh Saints that is to say Christians Ephes 5. 3. Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ Taking therfore the members of Christ shall I make them the members of an harlot God for bid 1. Cor. 6. 15. 19. Doe not erre nether fornicators nor adulterers nor the effeminate shall posesse the kingdome of God ibid. 10. If you liue according to the flesh you shall die Rom. 8. 13. You haue heard that it was said to them of old thou shalt not commit adulterie but I say to you that whosoeuer shal see a woman to lust after her hath already committed adulterie with her in his hart Mat. 5. 28. S. Bernard saith that Luxurie is one of the chariots of Pharao who pursued the seruants of God and carries them that sit thereon to the red sea of the infernall flames Her four wheeles are Gluttonie and drunkennes curiositie of apparell iâ—lenes and ardor of concupiscence The two Coursers or horses are prosperitie of life and aboundance Vpon these two horses doe sit stupid ignorance and blinded assurance Sor. 39. in Cant. EXAMPLES Behould the horrible punishments which God hath imposed vpon this sinne 1. For the sinne of the flesh God hath drowned all the world Gen. 7. 21. 2. The citties of Zodome and Gomorah and all the contrie round about with their inhabitants were con-consumed by fire sent from heauen Gen. 19. 25. 3. Hemor sonne of Sichem with all the inhabitants of the cittie of Sichem were put to the sword Gen. 34. 26. 4. All the tribe of Benianim were cut off for the same cause Iudg. 20. 48. 5. Sampson was blinded with ouermuch affection towards his wife Iudg. 16. 21. 6. Amnon was slaine by his brother Absalon 2. Reg. 13. 29. 7. Dauid was persecuted of his sonne 2. Reg. 11. 15. 8. Salomon became an adulterer 3. Reg. 11. 9. The husbands of Sara were strangled by the deuil Asmodeus Tob. 3. 8. 10. The two old men that coueted the chast Susanna were stoned to death Dan. 13. 11. Four and twentie thousand of the people of Israel were put to death Num. 25. 12. Marie daughter to the kinge of Arragon wife to the Emperor Othon the 3. hauing solicited the Count of Modena to condescend to her lubricitie and he most constantly refusing her was accused by her calumniously that he would haue induced her to sinne wherupon the Emperor cut off his head But before he died hauing declared his innocencie to his wife he prayed her to carry his head after his death vpon her bare feete into a great fire in witnes of the integritie of her husband which she performed nether that head nor yet her body being hurt any whit at all Which the Emperor seeing he commanded the Empresse to be cast into the fire Thus God permitted that this terrible chasticement shauld befall her not only for this calumnie and filthie desire but also for that she had somtimes abandoned her body to a young youth disguised like a wenche who serued her for a chamber maide and was also burnet aliue by the commandement of the Emperor but she receiued pardon by the intercession of the princes and Lordes of the court The 2. Chron. Gotscalcus Holenser 23. p. Hyem Licosthemes in theatro mundi D. Antonin p. 2. tit 6. c. 3. Baron anno 998. Iacobus Serada in thes Imp. Krantz l. 4. Saxon. c. 26. 13. Raimond of Capua confessar to S. Catharin of Sienna writeth that this Saint could nether see nor abide to come neere those which were infected with the sinne of the flesh that if she spake with them she was enforced to stop her nose Sur. 20. of Ian. 14. Palladius writeth that S. Pachomus hauing giuen a box on the eare vnto the diuell which appeared vnto him in the forme of an Ethiopian had his hande so infected that he spent more then two yeares to take away the stink therof In his Lausiaca 15. S. Euthimius Abbot as Cyrillus Monke writeth in his life passing by one who had consented to a dishonest thought smelt such a stinke that he supposed him selfe to haue bene posest of the diuell See before a terrible and fearfull historie of this matter in the 3. cap. example 3. and another in the 4. cap. § 2. example 6. and in the 2. booke cap. 2. § 2. Loe here the gayne and reward which is got by this sinne for a beastly pleasure and which lasteth so litle plunging ones selfe into so many euills temporall and eternall Let vs say with that wise Pagan Demosthenes I will not buy a repentance at so deare a price Agell noct Act. l. 1. c. 8. §. 4. Particular Considerations against the sinne of voluntarie Pollution It is with great griefe that I speake at all of this sinne yea that I doe so much as name it because it is so enorme and detestable yet so it is that I cannot altogether ommit the same for that it is o heauie case so coÌ„mon and so vniuersall Hearken hereupon to Cardinal Toletus The sinne of voluntarilie pollution is amongst al others the most difficult to be amended and this by reason that one hath alwaies with him the occasion for to fall therein and is so vniuersall that I beleeue that the most part of those that goe to hell are damned for the same sinne l. 5. Instruct sacerd c. 13. Ioannes Benedictus in his Summe vpon the 6 commandement of the deâ—alogue writen after Conradus Clinâ—ius be it that the same be knowen by reuelauelation or else by experience that those which are habituated in this sinne as many yeares as our Lord liued that is to say thirtie three are incurable and as it were without hope of their saluation vnles that God doe succour them by a maruellous rare and extraordinarie grace This is that which this author saith But touching the sinne it selfe accordinge to the minde of the Cardinall before alleadged there is no better remedy then to be confessed often to communicate twice or thrice aweeke and this vnto the same confessar Note all this Christian and if euer thou felst into this curssed sinne resolue to rise out of it from this very instant that thou readest this page for feare lest habituating thy selfe therin thou canst not afterwardes rid thee thereof and that thou twist not by litle and litle the netts and vnloosable lines which draw thee in the end into the abisse of mischiefe and eternall torments For accordinge to the Apostle Effeminat nor liers with mankinde shal not possesse the kingdom of God 1. Cor. 6. 10. EXAMPLES 1.
hurtfull to it shall we not haue the same of our soule What permutation shall a man giue for his soule Matt. 16. 26. Marc. 8. §. 2. Of the mindfulnes of the presence of God This also is a most singular remedy for who is he I pray you vnles he be quite out of his wittes that dares and would offende when he calls to minde that God that almightie and redoubted iudge seeth euen to the very bottome of his hart In all thy waies thinke on him and he will direct thee in thy steppes Pro. 3. 6. I will shew thee o man what is good what our Lord requireth of thee verely to doe iudgment and to loue mercie and to walke solicitous with thy God Mich. 6. 8. He hath said in his hart God hath forgotten he hath turned away his face not to see foreuer psal 10. 11. Remember God thou shalt neuer sinne saith S. Ignatius Martyr epist. 6. Behould the whole meanes neuer to sinne if one suppose God to be alwaies nere vnto him Clem. Alex. 1. 3. pedag c. 5. The remembrance of God shuts the gate to all sinne S. Hierom. l. 7. c. 22. Euen as at the arriuing of the Prouost theeues withdraw them selues from their commō hauntes euen so at the remembrance of the presence of God the infamous passions of the soule are chased away and it becometh the temple and habitation of the Holie Ghost But where the memorie of God is not there doth darknes dominiere with stench and all kinde of wickednes is there exercised S. Ephrem l. de virtute tom 2. c. 10. Thinkest thou that thou art alone when thou committest fornication And rememberest not that the eyes of God doe behould the whole worlde All the holy Trinitie is hard by thee the Angells his ministers the Cherubins and Seraphins which continuallie cry Holy holy holy all the earth is full of thy maiestie Thinkest thou that in the brothel house Iesus Christ doth not behould thee he who saw thee enter into the same Thinkest thou that he seeth thee not committing adulterie he that seeth the adulterie which thou conceiuest in thy soule S. Amb. in psl. 118. Serm. 1. O carelesse Christians o mortall men how then liue you You offend God as if God saw you not What God that great God doth he not see you He that is aboue you beneath you round about you yea euen within you GOD IS EVERY WHERE What doost thou then forgetfull of thy God what doost thou Hearken in what place soeuer you be Shall a man be hid in secrets and shall not I see him saith our Lord Ierem. 23. 24. Heare this tremble for feare for GOD SEETH ALL. What saist thou thou who art forgetfull of God What doost thou say What he that planted the eare shall he not heare psl. 93. 9. I liue saith our Lord according as you haue spoken I hearing it so will I doe to you Num. 24. 28. Take heede then what you say for GOD VNDERSTANDETH ALL Alas what thinke you in your hart What doe you thinke What knowe you not then that at that great day he wil visit and examin Hierusalem with torches Sophon 1. Deceiue not your selues it is a point most assured that GOD KNOWETH ALL. Yea euen the most secret thoughtes What dare you then offend God in his owne presence No Christian let vs say now let vs say for euer rather die then be dāned rather die then be defiled rather die then to offende before the face of so great and so good a God Dan. 13 28. EXAMPLES 1. The holie scripture speaking of the old men who coueted carnally the chast Susanna saith And they subuerted their sence and declined their eyes that they would not see heauen nor remember iust iudgments Dan. 13. 9. And a litle after Perplexities are to me on euery fide for if I shall doe this it is death to me and if I doe it not I shall not escape your handes But it is better for me without the act to fall into your handes then to sinne in the sight of our Lord. v. 22. O right worthie and generous resolution 2. S. Dorotheus Abbot writeth that at the begining whē Dosithus his disciple tooke the habit of religion he gaue this sentence worthy to be written in letters of gould Let God be neuer out of thy hart thinke alwaies that God is present with thee and that thou art before his face Which Dosithus imprinted so deeply in his hart that he neuer forgot it no not in his greatest sicknes And by this exercise of the presence of God he profited so well that of a knight and soldiar of the worlde of one debauched and vtterly addicted vnto vanities he became a most perfect and a most holy religious person and was seene after his death of diuers holy personages most glorious and triumphant in heauen amongst the holy Anchorets S. Doroth. in his life 3. Saint Catharine of Sienna to keepe her selfe alwayes recollected amiddest the distractions and occupations which her mother prescribed her made according as her heauēly spouse had taught her an oratory of her hart in the midst wherof she placed her God O most goodlie and wholsome practise Raymond in her life 4. Palladius affirmeth to haue learned of a certaine religious man called Diocles that a deuout person as soone as he leaueth the remembrance of the presence of God becomes a beast or else a diuell In hist lausia c. 93. 5. An vnmannerly woman who dwelt hard by the house where S. Ephrem was one day lodged in Edessa came and solicited him to lubricitie The Saint asked her if she were content to come vnto the open market and that there he would satisfie her demand What quoth she dare we doe this before men If we dare not doe this before men replied the Saint how dare we to doe it before God who vnderstandeth all thinges euen the most secret and is to iudge vs of all our workes These wordes touched the woman so exceeding deeply that detesting this enterprise and all her fore-passed life from that very houre she gaue the farwell to the flesh and the worlde retyring her selfe according to the councell of the Saint into a monastery where she liued and died most holily Blessed Lord what change doth thy remembrance make within a hart Giue it vs we beseeche thee continually to the end that this euill neuer arriue vs as to sinne in thy presēce §. 3. Of the remembrance of the most dolorous passion of our Lord. O Christian canst thou offende thy God and thy Redeemer when thou remembrest that he was wounded for our iniquities and that he was broken for our sinnes I say 53. 5. Canst thou well commit any kinde of sinne when thou remembrest those lamentable cries of thy Sauiour all peirced and wounded vpon a Crosse O all yee that passe by the way attend and see if there be sorrow like to my sorrow Thren 1. 12. If in the greene wood they doe
woman if her husband sleepe she is at libertie let her marrie to whom she will only in our Lord but more blessed shall she be if she so remaine according to my councell and I thinke that I also haue the spirit of God O how beautifull is the chast generation with glorie for the memorie therof is immortal Sap. 4. All waight is not worthie a continent soule Eccl. 26. 20. that is to say there are no riches nor treasures which can be compared to a chast soule I praise mariages saith S. Ierom but in as much as they engendre virgins I gather the Rose from amongst the thornes the gold from the earth the pearle froÌ„ the shell epist ad Eustâ—ch S. Ciprian speaking to virgins saith You haue already begun to be that which we shall be hereafter you haue euen from this life the glorie of resurrection passing by the world without the thoughtes of the world when as you perseuer chaste and virgins you are equall to Angells Cyp. de hab virg O chastitie exclaimes S. Ephrem which reioycest the hart and giuest winges to the soule to fly to heauen O chastitie which doost diminish passions and deliuerest the soule from all vnquietnes O chastitie which giuest light to the iust and darknes to the diuell O chastitie spirituall chariot which cariest vs to thinges sublime and celestiall O chastitie who like a sweet smelling Rose amidst the soule replenishest it with all good odor Tom. 1. ser de cast Humane bodies resemble glasses which cannot be borne one with another touching together without encurring danger to be broken And vnto fruites which albeit sound and well seasoned yet receiue detriment by touching one another Water it selfe how fresh soeuer it be with in a â—essell yet being touched by any terâ—estriall creature can not longe keepe â—ts freshnes A chast soule must be like the spouse in the sacred Canticles hauing her handes distilling mirrhe a â—iquour preseruing from corruption â—er lippes are bound vp with a vermilian riband a marke of the shamfastnes of her wordes her eyes are of Doues by reason of their puritie and implicitie her nose is like the Cedars of Libanus a wood incorruptible EXAMPLES Of the puritie of our Lord Iesus Christ and of his most holie mother â—…s now no neede to speake then which nothing can be imagined more â—oble or better Let vs therfore speake of some Saints both of the olde and â—…w law 1. How exceeding chast was the patient Iob who said I haue made a couenant with myne eyes that I would not so much as thinke of a virgin Iob. 31. 1. 2. The patriark Ioseph being sundry times solicited vnto lubricitie in the verie flower of his age by the wife of Putephar his Lady and mistris constaÌ„tly refused her for feare of offeÌ„ding God And at the last as she instantly vrged him vpoÌ„ a day he fled froÌ„ her leauing his cloke behinde him Gen. 39. 3. For that thou hast loued chastitie and after thy husband not knowen any other therfore also the hande of our Lord hath strenghtned thee and therfore shalt thou be blessed foreuer Iudith 15. 11. 4. Godfrie of Bullen in the conquest of Hierusalem being enquired of by the Turkes after diuers notable exploites and stratagemes which he had done whence it was that his hand was so mightie answered Because he had neuer bene stained with any vnchast or dishonest touch Th. Sallius c. 8. Of his spirituall practise 5. Susanna seeing her selfe reduced to so hard a case as ether to dye or to consent to the wicked concupiscence of the two old men chose rather to dy then to defile by so filthy an act the puritie of her body and soule Dan. 3. 6. S. Potamiana an Egiptian virgin being requested sundry times by her master to yeld assent to the act of vncleanes did alwaies deny him coÌ„stantly being deliuered by him into the handes of the Prefect of Alexandria and threatned to be throwen into a cauldron full of boylinge pitche vnles she condescended to her masters pleasure she stil withstood him and chose rather to be plunged by litle litle in this scaulding cauldron and see al her flesh boyled to peeces vntil such time â—s after the tormeÌ„ts of an houre being put therinto vp to the neck she rendred vp her soule into the haÌ„des of her celestial spouse theÌ„ for so short a pleasure to loose the pretious treasure of her pudicitie This historie hath bene declared by S. Antonie to one Isidorus and he recounted it afterwards to Palladius who reporteth it in his Lusiac c. 1. Card. Baron tom 3. anno 310. 7. S. Euphrasia led to the stewes seeing that she could not escape the handes of a younge lecher she said vnto him that if he would leaue her honor vntouched she would bestowe an ointment vpon him wherwith being annointed he should neuer be hurt wherupon she praied him to make proofe in her He was content and when she had caused her neck to be rubbed with wax melted in oyle she said vnto him that he should strike with his sword with all the might that he was able He did so and at the first blow smote off her head Niceph. l. 7. hist eccles c. 13. Baron to 3. anno 309. 8. Casimirus sonne to Casimirus kinge of Polognia being in danger of death according to the iudgment and opinion of the best phisitians vnles he gaue him selfe to the pleasures of the flesh chose rather to die then in so dooing to loose the flower of his virginitie Cromerus l. 29. Rer. Polon And Politianus writeth that the like â—apned to Michael Vernius Poet of the age of eightene yeares 9. S. Macrina virgin sister to S Basil and S. Gregorie of Nice being often requested by her mother to put into the Chirugians handes a sore brest which she had which threatned an incurable cancker if it were not lanced in dâ—e time she was so chast and so shamfast that her disease seemed nothing vnto her in respect of exposing to the eyes and handes of men some part of her body She went then into her oratorie and there besought God with trickling teares that he would heale her without discouering her flesh to the sight of men This done she went and lookt forth her mother and besought her to make the signe of the Crosse vpon her disease which she did and therupon was healed instantly Ribad in her life the 19. of Iuly 10. S. Anthonie being enforced vpon a day to strip himselfe naked to passe the flood of Lycus besought Theodorus his companion to remoue him selfe a far off from him and being vpon the point to vnclothe him selfe he was ashamed of him selfe which thing was so gratefull vnto God that he passed him ouer miraculously on the other side without the puttinge off his clothes S. Athanasius in his life 11. S. Nympha of Palermo in Sicilia hauing preferred virginitie before mariage receiued of her good Angell a crowne made of Lillies and of
in Lent taken from S. Gregorie 1. That it represseth the flesh and vices 2. That it eleuateth the spirit 3. That it acquireth virtues and merits For which cause the holy scripture recommendeth the same so much vnto vs. Ioel. 2. psal 101. 34. Luc. 5. Mar. 2. 9. 17. Luc. 4. 2. Cor. 11. and the holie Fathers S. Basil hom 1. 2. de Ieiun Aug. ser 55. de temp Amb. ser 23. 25 34. 36. 37. And our Lord him selfe hath both honored and recommended it by his example Mat. 4. EXAMPLES 1. The prophet Daniel by fasting obtained the knowledge of thinges to come Dan. 9. 2. The Niniuites appeased the anger of God Ionas 3. 3. Elias and Moyses by the fast of fortie dayes obtayned the companie and familiaritie of almightie God 3. Reg. 19. 11. Exod 24. 25. 33. 11. 4. Eleazer a gentleman of note being nintie yeares olde chose rather to loose his life after diuers greuous torments he had endured then to eate swines flesh contrary to the commandement of God 2. Mac. 6. 18. 5. The seauen Machabean bretheren together with their mother did the same 2. Mac. 6. 18. 6. The Emperor Iustinian seeing his people afflicted with famin caused the but cherie in Constantinople to be opened in the second weeke of Lent and gaue permission to buy and sell flesh but the good people chose rather to die by hunger then ether to buy or to sell flesh Niceph. lib. 17. cap. 32. At Vartisla◠or Breslaw in Silesia an hereticall Minister to deride and mock at Catholique religion hauing put a peace of meate into his mouth vpon a Friday his mouth remayned open and wistly gaping without being able to shut it againe nether by force nor yet by art In the historie of the Societie Anno 1592. 8. A woman in the same place hauing put flesh into her mouth vpō a Saturday fell downe starke dead Ibidem 9. At Poldachie a cittie of Polognia in the yeare 1585. a young man eating flesh vpon a Friday was possessed of the diuill who a litle after stopt his throate and kild him out right In the same hist. anno 1585. 10. A married man mockinge at the fast of Lent which S. Elphegus bishop of Winchester in England had recommended died sodainly the night ensuing according to the prediction of the Saint Baron tom 10. annal eccles anno Dom. 947. §. 2. Of Almes Redeeme thy sinnes with almes said Daniel to Nabuchodonoser and thine iniquities with the mercies of the poore Dan. 4. 24. Blessed is the man that vnderstandeth concerning the needie and the poore in the euill day our Lord will deliuer him psal 40. 1. Loe this was the iniquity of Sodome thy sister pride fulnes of bread and abundance and the idlenes of her and of her daughters and they raught not the hande to the needy and the poore Ezech. 16. 49. Almes giuing is a marke of predestination according to S. Paul for in the 3. of the Colos vers 12. he saith Put yee on therfore as the elect of God holy and beloued the bowells of mercie I remember not to haue read saith S. Hierom that any one came to an euill death who gladly during his life practised the workes of mercie because such an one hath many intercessors and it is impossible that the prayers of many should not be heard S. Hier. ad Nepotian And the same S. Aug. saith serm ad fratres in Eremo Heare for the last S. Chrisostom Almes saith he is one of the greatest friendes of God and which is alwayes neere vnto him She hath in such sort gained his grace that all whatsoeuer she asketh of him and for whomsoeuer she doth obtaine without difficultie She it is that vnbindes the bādes the shackles and manacles of sinners she expels darknes and puts out the fire for which respect she enters with all assurance into heauen for that the gates of this great pallais are instantly open to her and as if it were the Queene her selfe none nether porters nor gard dare say vnto her who art thou whence comest thou but contrariwise all the courtiars of heauen doe goe before her to entertayne her S. Chrisostom Hom. 9. in Matt. EXAMPLES 1. S. Catharine of Sienna hauing giuen a siluer Crosse vnto a poore bodie our Lord appeared vnto her the night following saying that he would shew that Crosse at the day of iudgement to all the worlde Ant. Senen in her life 2. S. Iohn the Almes-giuer so stiled because of the continuall almes which he bestowed called the poore his Lordes for as much quoth he as they had the power to helpe him that he should not be shut out of the kingdome of heauen Ribad in his life 3. S. Lewis kinge of France and B. Amaedes Duke of Sauoye were wont to serue the poore bare-head this latter called thē his hunting houndes where with he hunted after and caught the kingdome of heauen In their liues 4 Robert kinge of France as Hegaldus writeth and after him cardinall Baronius the yeare of our Lord 1033. whersoeuer he went drew allwayes after him great wagons all full of poore people and when any asked him why he did so I goe quoth he to besiege the cittie of paradise with these troupes God hath said that he will open the gates of paradise to the riche who haue opened to them their harts and their treasures Who then shall enter into heauen if this armie shall not enter and I also who am the Colonnel of the company See the liues of S. Martin S. Francis S. Edward Kinge of England and S. Oswald of S. Gregorie pope S. Iulian bishop of Guence S. Nicholas S. Bernardine S. Iohn Chrisostom with infinit others and you shall see them all maruellously addicted to this virtu Is it not true then that Almes giuing is a marke of predestination 5. Euagrius philosopher being conuerted to the faith by the Bishop Senesius gaue him three hundred crownes of gould for an almes receuing an obligation from the bishop vnder his hande to receaue them againe in heauen Being dead he appeared to this bishop willing him to goe vnto his graue and to open it The which he did and found his obligation in the handes of him that was dead wherin was written that he held him selfe wel content for he had receiued his mony in heauen Sophron. in prat spirit cap. 195. Ioan. Zonaras 3. annal 6. S. Gregorie writeth that two Martyrs appeared after their death in the habit of pilgrimes to a deuout matrone and as she gaue them her almes according to her custome they said vnto her You helpe vs now and we will also helpe you at the day of iudgment Hom. 32. in euang 7. The like did certaine Charter-house Monkes martyred vnder Henrie the eight to a deuout woman at the houre of her death which had somtimes asisted thē in the time of their prisonment P. Cornelius in Deut. cap. 26 12. See the happy death of Peter Velleio a
his neck and so meltinge into teares dyed He beleeued that the B. mother would make his excuse towards her Sonne and that he should not be excluded heauen presenting at the gate thereof the picture of her who was the Queene of heauen and hauing his harâ— all grauen with the markes of her deuotion Binet in his treatise of deuotion to our Lady 8. The B. mother of Teresa of Iesus being appointed prioresse of the Incarnation at Auila before she began any thinge touching her office placed in the Prioresses chaire an image of wood of our B. Lady and offered vp vnto her the whole house and the keyes therof This act was so aggreable to our B. Lady that within a few daies after as she her selfe hath left in writâ—inge she saw at the beginning of the Salue the mother of God come downe from heauen into the same chaire with a great multitude of Angells who said vnto her that she had done rightwell to set her in her place and that for this fact she would present their prayers and praises vnto her Sonne Fâ—b l. 3. cap. 1. of her life 9. A certaine religious man of the order of S. Francis had a custome neuer to take his refection if first he had not said his Beades once to our B. Lady One day being set at the table he called to minde that he had not discharged that day that pious dutie Hauing then obtained leaue of the Gardian to goe forth he went and said his Bedes in the Church and as he staied somwhat longe another went for to call him Who as he entred into the Church he saw our Ladie accompanied with a multitude of Angels who gathered from the mouth of this religious as he said his Beades most faire Roses the which they placed about our Ladies head and at euery time that he pronounced in the Aue Marie the name of Iesus our Lady and the Angells bowed downe their heades Extracted out of the Chronicles of the Friar Minors Part. 3. l. 1. c. 36. 3â— 10. A Sodaliste of our B. Lady in the yeare 1586. confest aâ— his death that he had bene presented before the iudgment of God and in great danger of being saued had he not bene sodainly asisted by our B. Lady Franciscus Bencius in the annales of the Societie anno 1586. and Ioannes Bonifacius in the historie of the virgin l. 4. c. 18. 12. Martin Guttrich an heretique hauing heard in the sermon of Doctor Frederick Fornerus preacher of Bamberge that none could die ill who deuoutly serued our B. Lady and dailie offered vnto her sonne Aue Maries he began from that very time to say vnto her euery day seauen in the morning and as many at night which he continued for three whole yeares at the end whereof being fallen sick our B. Lady appeared vnto him warning him to be confest and to receiue the B. Sacrament tellinge him that she had obtained of her Sonne that he should not die in his wicked heresie in requit all of the seruice that he had done her and that she would come and fetche him at the same instant that she was deliuered of her Sonne as it came to passe for he deceased on Christmas night betwixt twelue and one a clock the yeare of our Lord 1607. This historie was written more at large by the preacher aforsaid as an eye witnes in a letter sent to a certaine friend of his at Monich the 4. of Ianuarie 1608. If an heretique hath merited so much fauour of the moâ—her of God for some few Aue Maries which he recited during his heresie what oughâ—est thou to hope for true Christian Catholique if being in the state of grace thou rendrest vnto her euery day some pious seruice recitinge the Rosarie or the Bedes or at the least a litle Coronne of twelue Aues interposing three Paters in honor of the crowne of twelue Starres or fauours wherwith the most holy Trinitie hath crowned her soule And how much more if rancking thy selfe in some Sodalitie of hers thou resoluest to be particularly and singularly deuout vnto her Wilt thou be assured more and more one day to rendar and giue vp thy soule betwixt her armes Put thy selfe in the companye of those who pray one for another to this purpose reading the Litanies of Loretto with some other prayers vnto S. Ioseph Loe here that which I had to impart vnto thee touching the maner to liue Christianly that is to say to liue in such sort that thou mayest as a true soldiar of Iesus Christ hauing driuen away sinne from thy soule trampled vpon the diuell the world and the fleshe thy mortall enimies hauing gotten many merits and virtues by the exercise of good workes thou maist one day at the last ascend vpon a chariot of honor and triumphantly enter into euerlastinge glorie and felicitie Amen To the greater glorie of God and of his glorious mother the Virgin Marie APPROBATIO Ego infrascriptus testor me perlegisse libellum intitulatum The Christian 〈◊〉 Per R P Philippum Doultreman Societatis Iesu SacerdoteÌ„ Gallicè compositum in linguam Anglicaâ—…am per Ioannem Heigham traductum nihilque in eo contra fidem CatholicaÌ„ aut bonos morâ—…s deprehendisse sed magnam potiù vtilâ—…atem consolationem Catholicis Angliaeâ—… aturum fore Quare securè imprimi potest Datum Audâ—…mari in Collegio Anglorum Soc. Iesu die 18. Aug 1622. Hugo Buccleus Soc. Iesu Sac. A Summarie of the Chapters and Paragraphes contayned in these two bookes THE I. BOOKE Of the flight from sinne THE I. CHAPTER Of the name Christian pag 18. THE II. CHAPTER Of mortall and veniall sinne pag. 25. § 1. What mortall sinne is and what detriments it bringeth to the soule p 27. § 2. How much mortal sinne is detestable horrible and stinking pag 33. § 3. By mortall sinne we crucifie againe Iesus-Christ pag. 37. § 4. Of veniall sinne pag. 40 THE III. CHAPTER Of sinnes of will only of thought pag. 45. THE IV. CHAPTER Of the sinnes of the Tongue pag 50. § 1 Of Swearing pag. 52. § 2. Of Blasphemie pag 64. § 3 Of Malediction and of wicked Imprecation pag 69. § 4. Of contumelious wordes pag. 73. § 5 Of Dâ—traction pag. 76. § 6 Of Lying pag. 81. § 7. Of songes and of dishonest wordes pag. 86. THE V. CHAPTER Of the sinnes of parents and their children pag. 92. § 1. Of the negligence of parents to correct their children from their tendre youth and to instruct them in matters of faith and of good maners pag 93 § 2. Of the sinnes of Children towards their parents pag 102. § 3. Other considerations for the fathers of families touching the gouuernment of their houshold and particularly towards their men and women seruants pag. 110. THE VI CHAPTER Of the Seauen capitall sinnes pag. 115. § 1. Of Pride and Superbitie pag 116. § 2. Of Couetousnes pag 121. § 3. Of the sinne of Luxurie pag. 129. § 4 Particular Considerations
c. 31. 2. Tim. 3. 1. Cor. 6. Eccl. 11. Zachar 8. Mat. 6. Pro. 22. The Apostle S. Paul calleth it the seruice of Idols Colos 3. 5. And to the Ephes 5. 5. They that will be made riche fall into tentation and the snare of the diuell and many desires vnprofitable and hurtfull which drowne men into destruction and perdition for the roote of all euils is couetousnes 1. Tim. 6. 9. Nothing is more wicked then the couetous man Eccl. 10. 9. S. Bonauenture compareth the couetous man vnto the hog for euen as the hog is nothinge worth so long as he is a liue and is only profitable when he is dead euen so the couetous man is nothing worth so long as he liueth because he keepeth all to him selfe and doth no good to any body vntil he be dead for then he giues his soule to the diuells his body to the wormes and his welth to his kinsfolkes S. Bon. in diaeta salutis tit 1. c. 6. The scripture likewise compares him to one sick of the dropsie who the more he drinketh the dryer he is the more he hath the more he would haue Eccl. 5. 9. S. Gregorie of Nazian compares the couetous to the cursed Tantalus who is pictured by the poets plunged in the infernall waters as high as the chinne and dies for drithe and hauing the Apples of delight hanging nere their nose can not eate them The couetous also beare their hell in their owne bosome and doe endure it the more riches they swallow the more they thirste the more they abound in victualls and foode the more are they famished Is not this a hell in this world to be oppressed with sleepe vpon a bed of fethers and to be enforced to watch To be pinched with extreame hungar at a table full of good meates and not to be able to eate To burne with thirst hauing the goblets full of delicious wine hard at his mouth and not able to drinke Beâ—hould the hell which the miserable couetous doe endure is there then a more miserable sinne in the whole worlde EXAMPLES 1. Giesi Elias seruant was for his couetousnes punished with leprosie 4. Reg. 5. 27. 2. Iudas egged by auarice sould his master for thirtie pence after hunge him selfe burst asunder in the midst and gaue his bowells to the earth and his damned soule to the diuels Mat. 26. 14. 27. 5. 3. Ananias and Saphira retayning the halfe of their goodes thorough auarice dyed both one after another with soddanie death Act. 5. Achan in Iosue 7. of Saul 1. Reg. 15. 20. Of Achaâ— and Iesabell 3. Reg. 21. 4. Reg. 9. 4. During the Empire of Constantine sonne of Heraclius there was in Constantinople a riche man who being in danger of death gaue to the poore thirtie pounds of gold but recouering after he repented him selfe of his almes A certaine friend of his endeuored to take this sadnes from him but seing that he profited not he said vnto him I am ready to restore you your thirtie poundes vpon condition that you shal say in the Church in my presence Lord it was not I that gaue the almes of thirtie poundes but this is he He accepted it and said it But o incomparable secret of the iustice of God as he thought to goe forth of the Church with his mony he fell to the ground starke dead Baron tom 7. annal an 553. ex Cedreno Raderus ex Menoeo Grecorum 5. A woman vnder the cloke of pietie and religion hauing made a great many of pilgrimages to holie places she had gathered together a great deale of mony which she fayned to be for the redeeming of prisoners for the necessitie of the poore â—he hid the same vnder the ground within her house that none but her selfe should singar the same Her daughter was askt what her mother had done with her mony And because she could tel no tydinges they sought so long that at last they found it The Bishop caused it to be carried to the graue of this couetous woman and to be cast vpon her carkas About midnight most pittifull cryes were heard to issue forth of the hollow places of that sepulcher and a voice which said with a lamentable accent My gold burnes me my gold burnes me These cryes lasted three whole daies at the end wherof they opened the graue a fearfull thinge and saw the gold that had beene there laid all melted and in flames to runne into the mouth of this wicked woman S. Greg. of Tours reports the same l. 1. of the glorie of Martirs c. 106. 6. S. Atoninus writeth that an aâ—aritious man admonished of his parents and friends being sick euen to death to confes him selfe answered I haue no hart how then will you that I confes And that you thinke not that I doe but ieste goe to my coffre you shall finde it amidst my gold wherin I haue put my whole hope This said he died without any repentance His coffre is visited and iust as he said his hart was found amidst his gold so true it is which our B. Sauiour somtimes said Where thy treasure is there is thy hart also Mat. 6. S. Ant. in Summa 2. p. tit 1. c. 4. § 6. 7. Behould another like case arriue vnto a couetous man whose hart was found in his coffre after his death betwixt the clawes of a Dragon which lay vpon the gold and siluer saying that hart was geuen vnto him by the dead during his life In Gabr. Inchinoser 1. of the puritie of hart 8. Another being at the point of death could neuer be induced to be confest but as soone as he saw the priest depart he called his wife and caused a platter full of gold to be brought vnto him to which he said Thou art my gold in thee it is that I doe hope let the Priests say what they please thou art it that shouldst asist me Hauinge said these wordes he bowed his head into the platter and there rubbing it amidst the gold which he kist and adored for his idoll he so died miserably Extracted out of the annales of the societie 9. Such another also was he of the cittie of Constance recounted by Niderus and Pinelli who falling sick of set purpose to spare his mony caused him selfe to be carried to the hospitall And seeing him selfe neere his end caused to be made him some pease pottage and cast his gold into the same hauing stird it with his spoone endeuored to swallow it downe but he choked him selfe and died before he had eate it vp Pinelli pag. 1. c. 5. 10. Reginherus bishop of Misne haueing buried his treasure in his own chamber was found on the morrow laid theron with his face against the ground and starke dead Lambert Schafnabur apud Baron to 11. anno 1067. O strange and tragicall deathes of couetous parsons §. 3. Of the sinne of Luxurie Luxurie is a disordinate appetite of carnall pleasure her daughters are