remission or purging of their sinnes And as touching Faith they are vtterly destitute (d) Aug. tra 67. in Ioan. Leo. ser 4. de Nat. Dom. therof who not consenting with the Faith of the Church doe with a certaine vaine (e) See before of presumption pag. 315. confidence promise vnto themselues and others remission of sinnes and grace of Iustification through Christ But they that perseuering in the Faith and vnitie of the Church doe desire to bee deliuered from their sinnes haue many waies proposed vnto them in Scripture for the taking away of their (f) Orig. ho. 2. in Leuit. Aug. l. 2. cōt Cres cap. 12. Chry. Conc. 4. de Lazar. in finc ho. 6. in Io. sinnes amongest which the principall is the Sacrament of Penance Which beeing despised it is to no purpose to vse any (g) See before of the Sacrament of Penance pag. 196. other remedies for deadly sinnes For this hath Christ the Phisician of soules ordained not onely as a present but also as a necessary medicine to bee of force against any leaper of sin whatsoeuer commēding the same he hath said to the Priests Whose (h) Io. 20 22 sins you shall remit they are remitted them Secondlie sinnes are cleansed and purged by Almes because it is written Almes (i) Tob. 4 8. 12 8. Eccli 3 15.33 Pro. 13 8. 15 27. 16 6. Luc. 11 41. deliuereth from all sinne and from death and will not suffer a soule to goe into darkenesse Therefore the Prophet giueth this admonition (k) Dā 4 24 Esa 1 17.18 Heb. 13 16. See after of Almes Redeeme thy sinnes with Almes and thy iniquities with the mercies of the poore Thirdly sins are remitted when although wee haue beene neuer so much wronged yet we do forgiue our brother the offence our Lorde haueing saide If (l) Mat. 6 14. Luc. 6 37. Mar. 11 25. Eccli 28 2. you will forgiue men their offences your heauenly Father will forgiue you also your offences Fourthlye the same effecte is wrought whē by admonishing our brother that sinneth we doe winne him and bring him to amendment as it is written He (m) Iac. 5 20 which maketh a sinner to be conuerted from the error of his way shall saue his soule from death and couereth a multitude of sinnes Fiftely hereunto belongeth the aboundance of syncere Charitie which is very puissant mightie to obtain accōplishe al good things For which it is said of MARY MAGDALEN Many (n) Luc. 7 47 sinnes are forgiuen her because shee loued much For (o) Pro. 10 12. 1. Pet. 4 8. Charity couereth the multitude of sins Sixtly hereunto is auaileable the Sacrifice of a contrit (p) Ps 50 19. Luc. 18 13. Mat. 18 32. Eccli 21 1. hart which God neuer despiseth an humble knowledg of a mans selfe confession of his sins For our Lord hath respect (q) Psal 101 18. vpon the praier of the humble and doth not despise their petitions In somuch that hereupon holy DAVID also testifieth of him selfe (r) Psal 31 5. I haue saide I will confesse against my selfe my iniustice vnto our Lorde and thou hast remitted the impietie of my sinne And S. IHON generally to al that doe truely confesse promiseth this grace (s) 1. Io. 1 9. If we confesse our sinnes saith he he is faithfull and iust for to forgiue vs our sins to cleanse vs from all iniquitie Therefore the Niniuites (t) Ionae 3 5 Mat. 12 41. Luc. 11 32. 3. Reg. 21 29. Sap. 11 24. Cypr. ep 40.8.26 when they did earnestlye perseuer in workes of humilitie and Penance appeased the present wrathe of God and turned away the imminent destruction of their Cittie and cuntrey And therefore of them we reade it thus written God (v) Ione 5 10. Num. 25 11 Psal 105 30. sawe their workes because they were turned from their euill waies God tooke compassion of the euill which he had spoken that he would doe to thē did it not Thus finally we learne by the testimonie of holy Scripture that by (x) Pro. 10 2 Act. 8 22. 2. Cor. 7 10. these other meanes offices of true pietie done by the grace of Christ this effecte is wrought that the sinnes of faithfull penitents in the Church as wee saide before are purged and taken away in regard whereof the Apostle warneth Hauing (y) 2. Cor. 7 1. 2 Tim. 2 19.21 therefore these promises my dearest let vs cleanse our selues from all inquination of the fleshe and spirit perfiting sanctification in the feare of God And with no lesse vehemencie speaketh S. IAMES (z) Iac. 4 8. Ezec. 18 27. Cleanse saith he your handes you sinners purifie your hartes you double of minde Be miserable and mourne and weepe let your laughter be turned into mourning and ioy into sorow Be humble in the sight of our Lorde and he will exalte you For it is not sufficient for a man to amende his manners to leaue his misdedes that we may againe vse the wordes (a) Hom 50 ex 50. cap. 5. in Ench. cap. 70. Cypr. de lapsis in fine others as before of Satisfaction pag. 209. of S. AVGVSTINE Vnlesse by the sorow of penance by the sighings of humilitie and by the sacrifice of a contrite harte together with the cooperation of almes satisfaction he made to God for those thinges also that haue bene committed Otherwise who so shall knowe that any mortall sinnes doe beare sway in him as the same (b) Se◠41. de Sanctus Saint writeth except he worthely amende himselfe if he haue space doe penance along time and giue large almes refraine from the sinnes themselues he cannot be purged with that transtorie fire whereof the Apostle (c) 1. Cor. 5 15. Aug. lib 16. ex 50. Ench. ca. 67. de fid op ca. 16. quaest 1. ad Dulcitium hath spoken but shall be tormented without any redresse in the euerlasting flame For not deadly sinnes but litle sinnes are purged and clensed after this life 2 And what conceipte ought we to haue of litle sinnes Aug. Ench. cap. 78. li. 21. ciu 5.27 Isid lib. 2. de sum bo c. 18 THis surelie that such lighter sinnes as the wandering of the minde an idle worde immoderate laughter and such like which are called quotidian or veniall sinnes and without the which this life is not past ouer for in (a) Iac. 3 2. 1. Io. 1 8. Eccles 7 21. Pro. 24 16. Psal 31 6. many thinges we offend all as we also noted before although they are not deadly and do seeme litle in outward apparāce yet they are not to bee (b) Aug. de 10. chord c. 11. in Pse 129. ser 244. de tēp tr 12. in Ioan. contemned For somuch as they displease God or as S. PAVL speaketh they (c) Eph. 4 30 Chry. ho. 87. in Mat.
the grace of Baptisme but also by the medicine of Penance the hope of life euerlasting might be repaired that they which had violated the benefite of regeneration condemning themselues in their owne iudgement might come to remission of sinne the succours of Gods goodnesse being so ordained that pardon cannot be had at Gods hands but by the supplication of Priests For the Mediator of (g) 1. Tim. 2 5. God and Men Christ Iesus hath giuē this power to Prelates of the Church that they might both admitte vnto Penance those which confesse and receiue them beeing purged with holesome satisfaction to the Communion of the Sacraments by the gate of reconciliation 7 What ought we to thinke of Satisfaction TRuely thus much Greg. in cap. 9. lib. 1. Reg. Bas q. 12. in reg breu that there is one kind of Satisfaction proper vnto Christ our Redeemer and an other common to all faithfull penitents That was once accomplished in the (a) Heb. 9 25. Eph. 5 2.26 4 32. 1. Ioan. 2 2. Ioan. 1 29. body of Christ crucified when that immaculate Lamb tooke away the sinnes of the worlde that they which by nature were the Sonnes of (b) Eph. 2 3. 2. Cor. 5 18. Cypr. ep 59. 10. Tert. de paenit ca. 5. 7. 8. 9. Conc. Trid. sess 14. cap. 8 9. de sacr Paenit wrath might bee reconciled vnto God but this which belongeth vnto penitentes is done euery day in the church by the mēbers of Christ when beeing sorie for our sinnes we doe after Confession performe those thinges which the PRIEST when hee gaue absolution enioined or when of our owne accorde wee doe bring forth the worthy fruits of penance wherby we may in some part at the least recompence the faults and offences of our life past This is a certaine (c) Exod. 32 31. Nū 12 9 14 19.27 20 10.24 Psal 98 6.8 2. Reg. 12.7.13 Aug. l. 2. de pec mer. c. 34. l. 22. cont Faust c. 67. Greg. l. 9. mor. c. 27. 2. Reg. 24 10 Prou. 11 31. Eccli 5 2. Aug. tract 124. in Ioan Satisfaction both of reuengement of purgation and it is so farre from obscuring the benefit Satisfaction of Christ our Redeemer that it doth more commend set forth the same For that Satisfactiō of his going before especially cooperating (d) Chry. ho. 80. ad pop with vs we do according vnto the Scripture vse (e) Esa 56 1. Ezech. 18 21.27 Hier. 22 3. 2. Cor. 7 9. Ps 50 1.6 Chrys ibid. in Mat. 3. iudgement and Iustice taking reuengment vpon our selues for our sinnes and cleansing the relickes of sin that remaine in vs procuring and deseruing for our selues the more plentiful grace of God finally professing by these meanes that wee doe willingly embrace the Crosse of Christ denie (f) Luc. 9 23. Mat. 16 24. Ro. 6 2.6 Eph. 4 22. Col. 3 9. our selues mortifie our fleshe and being striken with an hatred of olde ADAM in vs doe endeuour to perfection whilest we do with feruent zeale and courage striue against the motions of a depraued minde After this sort did holy (g) 2. Reg. 12 13. 1. Paral. 21 16. Ps 34 13. 98 11. Ionae 3 5. 3. Reg. 21 27. 1. Mac. 2 14. 3 47. 2. Mac. 3 20. Mat. 11 21. Luc. 10 13. Iudith 4 8.16 7 4. 8 5. 9 1. Ioel. 2 12. Dan. 9 3. Iob. 42 6. Hier. 6 26. 4 8. 25 34. 48 37. 49 3. Ezech. 7 18. Thren 2 10 DAVID the Niniuites and others giue themselues to Satisfaction whome it is manifest to haue done Penance in Sackecloth Ashes Sighing Mourning Fasting and other afflictions they are read to haue bin grateful and approued vnto God therefore And this part of Penance the Scripture confirming and commending vnto vs crieth out (h) Ioel. 2 12 Turne ye to me with al your heart in Fasting in Weepeing Lamentation And in another place (i) Ezech. 18 30.31 Conuert and doe Penance for all your iniquities And iniquitie shall not be vnto you in destruction And S. PAVL teacheth also that the sadnesse which is according to God doth worke Penance (k) 2. Cor. 7 9. And hee giueth generall admonition that If (l) 1. Cor. 11 31. we did Iudge our selues wee shoulde not be Iudged of our Lord. And for that cause we shall not neede to discourse of the name of Satisfaction which certes in the Fathers is verie familiar seing that the thing it selfe is expressely set down in holy Scripture 8 Let vs see some sentences of the Fathers touching Satisfaction SAint CYPRIAN that most holy Martyr teacheth in this manner Looke howe much (a) De lapsis Idem ep 55. ad Corn. ep 10. ad Clerum Almightie God is prone to pardon by the piety of a Father so much is hee to bee feared by the Maiesty of a Iudge Let a deepe wounde haue diligent and long phisicke Let not the Penance be lesse than the faulte wee must pray more earnestly passe-ouer the day in lamenting the nightes in watching and weeping spend the whole time in mourneful teares lie vpon the ground in ashes and wallowe in sackeclothe and filthe And againe the same God is to bee (b) De lapsis vide eūd de elecmos beseeched and to bee pacified with our satisfaction our sinnes must be pondered our actions and secreat intentions surueied and the deserts of our conscience waighed And a little after The way of Penance which the Prieste sheweth vs let vs imbrace let vs vse the vitall remedies which he taketh out of heauenly Scriptures and laying open the burden of our conscience before him let vs demaunde the holesome medicine for those secreat woundes which we haue confessed And let vs not ceasse to doe Penance call vpon the mercie of our Lorde least that which seemeth but little in the qualitie of the sinne be augmented by the negligence of Satisfactiō And (c) Ho. 50. ex 50. cap. 5. vide in Ench. cap. 70. 71. 65. Saint AVGVSTINE hath saide verie plainely That it is not sufficient for a man to amende his manners to leaue his misdeeds vnlesse by the sorrowe of Penance by the sighings of humility and by the Sacrifice of a contrite hart together with the cooperation of almes Satisfaction be made to God for those thinges also that haue beene committed Then in S. HIEROME we find it thus writtē (d) In Epita Paul cap. 7. Chry. ho. 10. in Mat. The body is to be afflicted which hath spente much time indelicacy long laughter must bee recompensed with continuall weeping the softe linnen pretious silkes must be changed into the sharpenesse of haire-clothe To this end also is this speache of (e) Lib. 2. de paenit c. 5. et li. 1. cap. 16. S. AMBROSE He that doth Penance ought not only to washe away his sinne with teares
exclameth the Ecclesiasticus Of (k) Eccli 5 4.5 Eccle. 9 1. vide Aug de perf lust cap 15. de corr gra c. 13. ho. 41. ex 50. ser 3. de Innoc Greg. li. 16. mor. c. 3. the remission of sinne be thou not without feare neither doe thou adde sinne vpon sinne And doe not say the mercie of our Lorde is great he will haue compassion vpon the multitude of my sinnes For mercie and anger doe soone approche frō him his anger doth looke vpon sinners rightly therfore saith the Prophet I will sing mercie (l) Ps 100 1. Bern. ser 52. ex paruis ser 6. in Cāt. Aug. de vtil poenit c. ult iudgement vnto thee o Lord. then in an other place The (m) Ps 98 4 honour of the King loueth iudgement 4 How doth a man sinne against the holy Ghost by desperation VVHen the contrarie vice vnto presumption Aug. ser 58. de temp in Psal 50. Greg. lib. 5. mor. c. 14. Isid lib. 2. de sum bo c. 14 Chry. ho. 2. in Psal 50. Ber. ser 5. de nat Dom. whereof we spake before doth so possesse the minde of a man that he casteth off all hope either of obtaining pardone before God or of attaining vnto life euerlasting After this sort sinned CAIN by despaire as himselfe testifieth by his speeche when he saith (a) Gen. 4 13 Bern. ser 11. in Cant. Greater is my iniquity than that I may deserue pardon Thus sinned also IVDAS that Traitour (b) Mat. 27 3. Act. 1 18. Ephes 4 19. 2. Reg. 2 26. vnto Christ at what time he being moued with despaire of saluatiō like an vnhappy wretch hanged himselfe But doubtlesse (c) Ezec. 18 21.27 33 11. 1. Io. 1 7.9 2 1. Hier. 3 1. Esa 1 18. Ps 144 8. Eccli 17 20.27 there is no penance too late as is manifest by the (d) Luc. 23 40. Aug. li. 1. retr c. 19. de cor gr ca. 15. ser 181. de tēp c. 16. Leo. ep 91. ad Theo. Conc. Trid. ses 14. cap. 7. example of that thiefe which vpon the Crosse euen in those last momentes of his life obtained great grace heauenly glory at the handes of Christ 5 When doth hee that oppugneth the trueth sin against the holy-Ghost VVHē * Leo. ep 10. ad Flau. c. 1. Aug. de Gē ad lit l. 7. c. 9 tra 18. in Euang. Ioa. de vtil cre ca. 1. l. 18. ciu ca. 51. lib. 21. c. 25. that trueth which cōcerneth the estate of Faith Religiō not of ignorance but of malice is purposely impugned that thereby the sinceritie of Catholike veritie may be blemished Of this sinne were the Pharisies (a) Mat. 12 24. 15 2. 21 45. 22 15. Io. 7 48. 12 10.19 guiltie whose chiefest care we see to haue bene as malitiously as falsly to blaspheme Christ to persecute the doctrine of the Gospell and to suppresse the testimonie (b) Act. 4 16. 5 18. of the Apostles and that euen against their own consciences Not vnlike vnto these are they that are said by the Prophet to sitte in the (c) Psal 1 1. chaire of pestilence and are called by S. PETER (d) 2. Pet. 2 1 lying maisters that doe bring in Sects of perdition Finally by S. (e) Tit. 3 10. PAVL Heretickes men corrupted (f) 2. Tim. 3 8. in mind reprobate concerning the faith attending (g) 1. Tim. 4 1. to spirites of errour subuerted condemned by their owne (h) Tit. 3 11 iudgement Among whom may be numbred that same seducer ELIMAS whom S. PAVL publikelie reprehending saide with great vehemencie O full (i) Act. 13 10. of all guile and all deceipte sonne of the deuill enemie of all iustice thou ceasest not to subuerte the right waies of our Lorde To this kind also is referred Blasphemie (k) Mat. 12 31 of the Spirite which sinne Christ doth greatly rebuke in the Iewes and maketh it worse then other sinnes And woulde to God that this sinne did not raigne in these our daies For against the holy Ghost doe they also blaspheme as writeth DAMASVS (l) Apud Gratianum 25. quaest 1. violatores who against the holy Canons of the Fathers endited by the instinct of the holy Ghost doe any thing willingly or malepertly or presume to speake or wilfully giue their consent to thē that haue a minde so to doe For it is manifest that such a presumption is one kinde of the blasphemies against the holy Ghost thus saith DAMASVS 6 How is Enuie of brotherly grace a sinne against the holy Ghost Aug. li. 1. de ser Dom. in monte cap. 22. 1. retr cap 19. VVHen we are striken with a greate greife and sorowe because of the splendor encrease of vertues Gods guiftes in which our brother doth excell Which sinne seemeth to be rather proper vnto the Deuill than vnto man whereas the Deuill doth most wrathfully take the encrease and continuance of (a) Sap. 2 24 the grace of God in man and for that cause he is not only an accuser (b) Apoc. 12 10. of our brethren but also an implacable aduersarie (c) 1. Pet. 5 8. of God of all good men who as a roring Lion goeth about seeking whom hee maye deuour There were among the Iewes such sonnes of Satan who did altogether enuie vnto the Gentiles the lately springing grace of the Gospell as we read in the Acts (d) Act. 11 2. 13 45. Gen. 4 5. of the Apostles 7 What kind of obstinacie is that which is a sinne against the holy Ghost Aug. in Enc. cap. 83. in Ps 58. conc 1. Greg. ho. 11. in Ezech. Bern. li. 1. de consid ca. 2. in ser de conuers ad Cler. cap. 4. THat certes which beareth an obstinate minde against him that giueth him good admonition so that he will not suffer him selfe by any meanes to be withdrawne from his damnable course With this sinne was King PHARAO (a) Exod. 7 seq Aug. quaest 18. 24. in Exod. ser 88. de temp Gerg 31. mor. c. 11 l. 11. ca. 5. notably attainted who although he were so often admonished by MOYSES and sometimes afflicted with very sore scourges frō God yet notwithstanding in his tirannicall purpose he (b) Exod. 14. obstinatly persisted and perished Famous also was that (c) Hier. 5 3. 8 5. Esa 48 4. Zach. 7 11. Gen. 49 7. incorrigible obstinacie of the Iewes whom S. STEVEN painting out as it were in their colours saith With a (d) Act. 7 51. hardnecke and with vncircumcised eares you haue all waies resisted the holy Ghost And not vnlike vnto them are those at this day that being addicted vnto new sectes may not abide so much as to heare or reade anye Catholike instructions but euen like to the serpent (e) Psal 57 5 called
cap. â—â— the Charitie of God is powred forth in their hartes that are iustified is inherent in theÌ„ And therfore in this iustificatioÌ„ togither with remission of sins a man receiueth by IESVS CHRIST vnto whom he is ingraffed all these thinges infused together to wit FAITH HOPE and CHARITY For FAITH excepte that HOPE and CHARITY bee adioined thereunto neither doth perfectly vnitie with CHRIST nor make a man the liuely meÌ„ber of his body In regarde whereof it is most truely saide Iac. 2 d that FAITH without workes is deade and idle And in Gal. 5 a Chrys ho. 5. in Io. Aug. l. 3. cot 2. ep Pelag. cap. 5. ho. 17. cap. 2 ex 50. lib. 15. Trin. cap. 18 Greg. l. 6. ep 15. Fulg. ep 2. c. 8. de incarn grat Christi c. 26. CHRIST IESVS neither Circumcision auailethe ought nor prepuce but FAITH that worketh by CHARITY This Faith before the Sacrament of Baptisme the Catechumens according to the TraditioÌ„ of the Apostles do demauÌ„d of the Church when they aske Faith which yeeldeth life euerlasting which truely without HOPE and CHARITY FAITH cannot afford And therefore they doe presently heare that word of CHRIST Mat. 19 c If thou wilt enter into life kepe the Commaundementes Therfore receiuing true and Christian Iustice that same euen as the first stole giuen vnto them by Iesus Christ for that which ADAM by his disobedience lost for himselfe vs they are presently after their regeneratioÌ„ coÌ„maunded to keep white vnspotted that they may bring the same before the iudgement seate of our Lord Iesus Christ haue life euerlasting 12. Howe it is vnderstoode that a wicked man by Faith freely is iustified ANd whereas the Apostle Ro. 3 â— Aug. de praedest sanct c. 7. ser 38. de temp saith that a man is iustified by FAITH and freely those wordes are to be vnderstood in that sense which the continuall consente of the Catholike Church hath helde and taught To wit that we are therefore said to be iustified by Faith because Faith is the beginning of mans saluation the foundation and roote of all Iustification Heb. 11 b without the which it is impossible to please God and to come to the societie of his children And we are therefore saide to be iustified Aug. l. 6. Hypog c. 4. l. 1. quaest ad Simplic qu. 2. lib. 1. cont Pelag. et Coelest cap. 31. serm 15. de verb. Apost c. 2. de spir et lit cap. 26. Prosp ad 3. prima dub Gennuen Haimo in Rom. 3. freely because none of all those thinges that goe before iustification whether it be Faith or Workes doe deserue the grace of Iustification For if it be Grace now not of workes otherwise as the same Apostle saith Ro. 11 â— Grace now is not grace 13 Against the vaine confidence of Hereticks ANd although it be necessarie to beleeue that sinnes neither are nor euer haue ben forgiuen but freely through the mercie of God for CHRIST his sake yet must wee saye that to no man which braggeth of a confidence and certaintie of the remission of his sinnes and which resteth only in that either are or euer were sinnes forgiuen whereas euen among Heretikes and Schismatikes this vaine confidence and voide of all pietie may be yea and is in these our daies with great contention is vaunted off against the Catholike Church But neither is this to bee affirmed that those which are truelie iustified ought for to assure themselues without any manner Iob. 9 d Psal 18 c Eccles 9 â— Eccli 5 b Pro 20 b 1. Cor. 4 a Aug. de perf iust cap. 15. in Psal 41 lib. 10. Conf. cap. 32. Hier. ep 127. ad Fabiol mansio 23. Chrys hom 11. in 1. Cor. Theod. in cap. 4. â— Cor. Bern. ep 42. 85. ser 2. in octa Pasch Haimo in cap. 4. ad Cor. Greg. lib. 6 ep 22. Cassian Col. 22. cap. 7. c the 1 question of sinnes against the holy Ghost page 315. of doubte that they are iustified and that no man is absolued from his sinnes and iustified but he who doth assuredly beleeue that he is absolued and iustified and that by this Faith only absolution and iustification is accomplished as though hee that beleeued not that must needs doubt of the promises of Almightie God or of the efficacie of CHRISTS death and Resurrection For as no godly person ought to dout of the mercie of GOD of the meritte of CHRIST and of the vertue and efficacie of the Sacraments so euery man considering himselfe and his owne infirmitie indisposition may iustly haue some feare of his owne grace whereas with certaintie of Faith in which there cannot be any falshood no maÌ„ can know that he hath obtained the Grace of God 14 Of the encrease of Iustification once receiued THey therefore who are thus iustified and made the frendes and Eph. 2 d domesticalls of God going from vertue to vertue Ps 83 b are renued as saieth the Apostle â— Cor. 4. d from day to day that is to say by mortifying Col. 3 a the members of the fleshe and Ro. 6 b Aug. de morib Eccles Cathol cap. vlt. lib. 14. de Trin. c. 17. l. 2. de peccat mer. cap. 7. 13. 17. lib. 6. cont Iul. c. 7. serm 16. de verb. Apost cap. 5. Fulg. ep 4. cap. 3. Bern. ep 91. Conc. Vien Clement ad nostrum de haeret exhibiting them as instrumentes of Iustice vnto sanctification by the obseruation of the commandementes of God and of the Church in that Iustice which they haue receiued by the grace of CHRIST Faith cooperating with good Workes they doe encrease are more iustified as it is written Apoc. 22 c He that is iust let him be iustified yet And againe Eccli 18 c Doe thou not feare to be iustified euen vnto death And again you doe see that by works a man is iustified and not by Faith only And this encrease of Iustice doth the holy Church demand when she praieth Giue vs O Lorde encrease of Faith Iac. 2 d In orat Domin 13. post Pent. Hope and Charitie 15 Of obseruing the Commaundements of the necessity possibility thereof BVt no man although he be iustified ought to thinke himselfe free Mat. 28 d Hier. Beda Theoph. ibidem Aug. lib. 3. cont 2. ep Pelag. cap. 4. Cyp. de vnitat Eccles Conc. Vien in Clem. ad nostrum de haeret See q. 5. of the ten Com. p. 64. q. 1. of the precepts of the Church page 90. froÌ„ obseruing the CoÌ„maundements nor vse that rash speach prohibited Hier. in expla Symb. ad Damas Conc. 2. Araus can 25. by the fathers vnder paine of excommune that the Commandementes of God are impossible to be obserued of a man that is iutified For God doth not commaund Aug. de natura grat c. 43. l. 2. de peccat mer. c. 6. de gratia lib arbit cap. 16. Chry. ho. 8. de poenit Leo. ser 5. de quadr
but also to couer his faultes with more reformed actions that sinne may not bee imputed vnto him And againe in another place For a great (f) Ad Virg. laps ca. 8. lib. 1. de paenit cap. 2. wound a deepe long medicine is necessarie Great wickednesse must of necessity haue great Satisfactiō Finally so saith S. GREGORY It is to be (g) Hom. 34. in Euan. vide Emis ad mon. ho. 5. 10. Theod. in epit diuinor decret ca. de paenit l. 4 haeret fab de Audianis seriously thought considered that he which knoweth himselfe to haue committed things vnlawefull must endeuour to abstaine from some things that are lawefull that thereby he may make Satisfaction vnto his Creatour 9 Is there any place for Satisfaction after Death FOr the explication of this point wee must consider the diuerse estates of them that die For some of them do keepe the grace of God and innocency of life euen to their end Vnto whom appertaineth that saying of (a) In orat Manassis MANASSES That Vnto iust persons and those which haue not sinned as ABRAHAM ISAAC and IACOB Penance was not ordained Others haue sinned indeed fallen from the grace of God which once they receiued but they haue purged in this life the filthe of their sinnes with the woorthy workes of Penance as (b) 2. Reg. 12 13. Psal 6 7. DAVID (c) Esa 38 15 EZECHIAS (d) Mat. 26 57. S. PETER (e) Luc. 7 37 S. MARY MAGDALEN Bothe these kindes haue no neede of Satisfaction after death but are altogether free from all bonde thereof But far more in number are those of a middle sorte and yet not verie euil as (f) Ench. ca. 11◠Beda in cap. 11. Pro. S. AVGVSTINE sheweth who haue not performed perfite Penance for their sinnes in their life time and therefore are to be saued (g) 1. Cor. 3 15. So doth Saint Augustine expoūd this place in Psal 37. l. 21. de ciuit c. 26. de fide oper cap. 16. in Psal 80. So doth also Origen ho. 12. 13. in Hier. 25. in Num. 6. in Exod. Amb. in 1. Cor. 3. ser 20. in Psal 118. Hieron in cap. 4. Amos. in fine vlt. libri in Esa lib. 2. in Iouin cap. 1◠Also Saint Gregory li 4. Dial. cap. 39. Beda in 3. cap. Luc. by fire that whatsoeuer was wanting of conuenient Satisfaction in this life may be paide vnto Gods Iustice in another For there (h) Apoc. 21 27. Psal 14 1. 23 3. shal not enter any polluted thing into that Cittie Therefore that we may aunswer to the question proposed such kind of persons departed must abide some Satisfaction yea that most painfull after their death Which yet neuerthelesse (i) Aug. vt supra li 21. ciu c. 24. ho. 16. ex 50. ser 41. de sāctis Greg. 4. Dial. cap. 39 Ber. de obitu Humb. Damasc in orat de def Conc. Flor. Trid. ses 6. can 30. ses 25. part 1 God of his great mercie is wonte to release by the deuout intercession of those that are aliue that so they which are depated being holpen in the Church by the Suffrages of their brethren and members may bee lightned of their sinnes of the terrible paines due vnto the same And hereunto belongeth that which the authority of holy Scripture deliuereth It (k) 2. Mach. 12 43. 1. Reg 31 13 Bedā ib. 2. Reg 1 12. 3 31 Tob. 4 18. Eccli 7 37. 17 18. 38 14. Hier. 16 6. 2. Tim. 1 17 1. Io. 5 16. is a holy and holesome cogitation to pray for the dead that they may bee loosened from their sinnes Whereupon IVDAS the Machabee was commended for that beeing mooued with a singular religious zeale he did with great care and sumptuosenesse procure that not only praiers but also (l) Ibidem sacrifice should be offered for the sinnes of the souls departed In this Doctrine doe agree the Reuerende (m) Conc. 4. Cart. ca. 79. 95. Tolet. 11. cap. 31. Bra. 1. c 34. Flor. Trid ses 25. ses 22. cap. 2. can 3. Councels and Fathers which haue deliuered the true Doctrine of the Church Of whō to alleadg one in steede of many him a witnesse most worthie of credite (n) Li. de cura mor. ca. 1. S. AVGVSTINE writeth thus In the bookes of the Machabees we reade Sacrifice to haue been offered for the dead But although it were no where extant in the olde Scriptures yet is the authority of the Vniuersall Church not small whose practise in this behalfe is most euident where in the praiers of the Priests which are made vnto our Lorde at his Altar the commendation also of those that are departed hath a peculiar place And againe It is to be thought saith hee that there shall bee no Purgatorie (o) Lib. 21. ciu ca. 16. vide Mat. 12 32. Which place is expounded of remission of sinnes in the other world by praiers of the Church By S. Aug. l. 21. ciu c. 24. l. 6. in Iul. c. 5. Greg. l. 4 Dial. ca. 39. Beda in c. 3. Mar. Bern. hom 66. in Cant. Pet. Clun in ep cōt Pet. Bru. Raban lib. 2 de inst cler cap. 44. vide etiam Mat. 5 26 Which place also is expoūded of Purgatorie By Tert. l. deanima cap. 17. Cypr. lib. 4. ep 2. Orig. ho. 35. in Luc. in ep ad Ro. Emis ho. 5. de Epiph. Amb. in Luc. 12. Hier. in Mat. 5. Bern. ser de obitu Humbert vide Mal. 3 3. Phil. 2 10. Apoc. 5 3.13 paines after that last and terrible iudgement And what can bee more plainelye spoken than those wordes It is not to bee doubted but that by the praiers of the (p) Aug. de verb. Apo. ser 32. cap. 1. 2. vide Isid lib. 1. de offic cap. 18. Raban lib. 2. de instit Cler. cap. 44. holy Church and by the most holesome Sacrifice by Almes which are bestowed for their soules those which are departed be holpen that our Lord may deal more mercifully with them than their sinnes haue deserued For this hath beene deliuered by the Fathers and the vniuersall Church obserueth that for those which are departed in the Communion of the Body and Bloode of Christ when their memory is made at the Sacrifice in the due place Praiers also are powred out vnto God it is expressely mentioned that the Sacrifice is offered for them And whē for the helping of them works of mercy are exercised who may doubt but that they are auaileable vnto them for whom praiers are not in vaine offered It is not at al to be doubted but these things doe profite the dead yet such only who liued so before death that these thinges might be profitable to them after death Thus writeth Saint AVGVSTINE aboue 1200. yeeres agone to omitte many also
And yet more greeuously doe they sin who do manifestly make a gain vnto thēselues of an other mans filthinesse (c) Deut. 23 18. as bauds do or such as dare giue lodgeing harbour vnto theeues or notorious dishonest and factious persons where they may haue couer for thēselues or for their things 11 When doe we by defending committe an alien sinne VVHen we either protect malefactours or defend and publishe an other mans doctrine though it be peruerse and wicked When also by our care and endeuour we labour to further maintaine that which is appointed against equitie and Iustice Against such persons there thundreth out this diuine oracle Woe (a) Esa 5 20. 10 1. vnto you that call euill good and good euill making darkenes light light darkenes making bitter sweete and sweet bitter And againe Thou (b) Exod. 23 2. shalt not follow the multitude to doe euill neither shalt thou in iudgement yeelde to the sentence of many so to decline from the truth And this shall suffice touching Alien sinnes as they call thē which now certes in those daies doe reach very farre and are ouer licentiously committed euery daye espeacially by Magistrates And there is commonly so litle heede taken of them that most men doe thinke them not to be sinnes at all nor make any accounte of thē although often times with the filthe of these sinnes they defile and make guilty of perpetuall torments both their owne and other mens consciences And al these kindes mentioned before may be reduced to three kindes and in few words comprehended as sheweth S. BASIL (c) Bas ser 2. de Bap. ca. 9. For that we fall into the participation of an other mans error or sinne it commeth to passe either by Deede and Acte or by Will onely and a certaine purpose of the minde or by some carelesse negligence if at anie time others be defrauded of the duty that we owe in admonishing them and seeking their amendment But the worste kinde of sinning of all others without comparison is when a man sinneth against the holy-Ghost OF SINNES AGAINST THE HOLY-GHOST 1 What is a sinne against the Holy-Ghost Vide S. Tho mam in 2.2 quaest 14. IT is malitiously and contemptuously to reiecte the grace and liberality of God beeing offered which grace certes is peculiarly attributed to the holy-Ghost as to the fountaine of all goodnesse And this is to sinne without any remedy or redresse insomuch that according to the speech of Christ for such so great a sinne no forgiuenesse is obtained either (a) Mat. 12 31. Mar. 3 28. Luc. 12 10. in this worlde or in the worlde to come For after this maner Almighty God dealeth with vs that he giueth neither grace vpon earth nor glory in Heauen to anie other but vnto those onelie which hauing once knowne sinne doe detest it setting before their eies that which is good doe make choise of a righteous course of life But from these sinnes farre is banished both detestation of sinne and the choise also of that good which were to bee followed and that moreouer is cleane reiected whereby the holy-Ghost doth vse of his singular grace to withdrawe a man from sinne And for this reason they which are fettered with such kind of sinnes doe either neuer get the grace of God or seldome and very hardly For these sinnes are not committed of humane imbecillitie frailtie which were to sinne against the Father and the might and power of the Father as we see in S. PETER (b) Mat. 26 74. Vide Greg. lib. 25. Mor. cap. 16. the Apostle who denied Christ nor yet of ignorāce which were to sinne against the Sonne the wisdome of the Sōne as was SAVL (c) 1. Tim. 1 13. Act 9 1. his case when he persecuted the Church but that which is farre worse without comparison these sinnes are committed of malice and obstinacie of minde as we see for example in those most peruerse and obstinate Pharisies 2 How many sinnes are there against the holy Ghost THere are of that kinde accounted sixe and their names commonly vsed are these Presumption of the mercie of God or of the impunitie of sinne Desperation Oppugning of the knowne truth Enuying of brotherly charitie Obstinacie and impenitencie But more plainly and significantly they may be thus numbred 1 Confidently to abuse the mercie of God 2 Vtterly to despaire of the grace of God or of his owne saluation 3 Rebelliouslye to oppugne the truth of religion against his owne conscience 4 Vehemently to be moued with a setled Enuy because of the encrease of saluation vertue in his brother 5 With an obstinate minde to persiste wittingly in a faulte 6 Without purpose of amēdment neuer to make an end of a lewd and peruerse kinde of life 3 What manner of presumption maketh a sinne against the holy Ghost Greg. in c. 3. lib. 1. reg l 33. mor. c. 15. l. 6. ep 22. Fulg. de fid ad Pet. cap. 3. Bern. serm 38. ex paruis THat which maketh a man to trust only in the mercie of God and to be hardened and emboldened to sinne all manner of respect of Gods Iustice and feare being laid aside And thus certes doe very many sinne at this day who flattering themselues with an only faith (a) Aug. de fid op c. 14. 22. in Ench. ca. 67. haer 54. Hier. in c. 4. Osc in Christ doe like beastes (b) Ioel. 1 17 wallow and rotte in the middest of the filth of sinnes and not to themselues only but to others also dare promise (c) 2. Pet. 2 18 Eccles 8 14. Conc. Trid. sess 6. cap. 9. can 12.13.14 Hier. in cap. 4. Dan. securitie if only they haue confidence in the merites of Christ in the grace of God apprehended by faith although in the meane time the fruites (d) Luc. 3 8.9 13 3. Mat. 3 8.10 Act. 26 20. Eccli 2 22. of penance be nothing regarded But to all these doth the doctor of the Gentiles cry out Doest thou contemne saith hee the riches of the goodnes of God and patience (e) Ro. 2 4. Eccles 8 11. Eccli 15 21. Aug. trac 33 in Ioan. ho. 50. ex 50. ca 4. Isid de sum bo lib. 2. cap. 13. and longanimitie not knowing that the benignitie of God bringeth thee to penance And for that cause he in an other place is so farre (f) 1. Cor. 13 1 off frō willing men to vaunt of only faith that he biddeth euen the faithfull thēselues euery one to worke their saluation with feare and (g) Phil. 2 12 Psal 2 11. Pro. 28 14. Rom. 11 20 1. Cor. 4 4. 10 12. trembling commending vnto them a faith not deade and idle as Sainte (h) Iac. 2 14. IAMES calleth it but liuely effectuall which worketh duely by (i) Gal. 5 6. charitie Against this abominable sinne thus
for an other that you may be saued for the continuall praier of a iust man auaileth much In like manner This (o) 1. Io. 5. c is the considence which we haue towards God that whatsoeuer we shall aske according to his will he heareth vs. Moreouer he that (p) 1. 5. d knoweth his brother to sinne a sinne not to death let him aske and life shall be giuen him OF ALMES AND THE WORKES OF MERCIE 10 What is Almes Vide Chrys ho. 13. in 2. Cor. et Aug serm 30. de verb. Do. c. 3 IT is a gifte or benefite whereby vpon an affection of compassion we doe succour an other mans miserie Heereunto beelongeth that which the Angell RAPHAEL testifieth in TOBIAS Praier is good (a) Tob. 12. b with Fasting and Almes That we may vnderstand as S. CYPRIAN (b) De opere eleemos item Petr. Chrysol ser 43. Leo. ser 3. de Ieiun Pentecost Osc 6. c. Mat. 6. b 12. a Pro 21 a Phil 4. d Heb. 13. c admonisheth that our praiers fastings are little auaileable vnlesse they be holpen with Almes Good is mercie saith S. AMBROSE (c) Lib. 1. offic o. 11. Chrys ho. 36. ad pop Ant. Aug. ser 76. de temp hom 36. ex 50. Leo. ser 5. 10. de quadrag Nyss de beatitud which of her selfe maketh men perfite because it doth imitate the Father which is perfect Nothing doth so commend a Christian soule as mercie Thus saith he (d) Luc. 6. d Psal 32. a 118. h 144. b c Be yee therefore mercifull as your Father also is mercifull that you may be the sonnes of your Father which is in heauen who maketh his sonne to rise vpon the good the euill raineth vpon the iust vniust Thus saith Christ our Sauiour and our (e) Luc. 10. f Samaritane full of all grace and mercie who went (f) Act. 10. f throughout doing good healing al that were oppressed of the Deuil 11 In what manner doth the scripture commend Almes vnto vs VVIth many certes (a) Deut. 15. b Esd 8. c Tob. 4. b Psal 40. a Pro. 11. c 14. c d 19. c 22. b 25. c 28. d Eccli 4. a b d 7. a d 12. a 17. c 29. b Ezech. 18. b c Mat. 25. d. Luc. 14. c and plaine preceptes promises and examples Yea S. CYPRIAN (b) De opere eleem Vide Aug. ser 50. cap. 8. sequ 227. de temp hom 18 19.29 cap. 1. sequ 47. ex 50. Nazian orat 16. de paup amore Chrys ho. 32. ad pop sequ teacheth that in the gospel there is nothing more often cōmaunded than that wee perseuer in giuing Almes that we be not busied in earthly possessions but rather lay vp treasures in heauen Hence are those speaches of Christ But (c) Luc. 11. f Hieron ad Hedib ep 150. quest 1 yet that which remaineth giue almes beholde al things are (d) Aug. in Ench. c. 75.76.77 ser 30. de verb. Dom. cleane vnto you (e) Luc. 12. d 3. c Mat. 6. a c 19. c d Mar. 10. c 1. Tim. 6. d Sel the things that you posses giue Almes make to you purses that weare not treasure that wasteth not in heauen And in an other place Make vnto you (f) Luc. 16. c Aug. ser 25. c. 3. 35. c. 1. seq de verb. Dom. frendes of the Mammon of iniquitie that when you faile they may receiue you into the eternall Tabernacles In briefe giue and there (g) Luc. 6. f 2. Cor. 8. b c 9. b 1. Tim. 4. c Ro. 12. c d Iac. 1. d shall be giuen to you And for that cause DANIEL the Prophet counseleth the wicked King Redeeme (h) Dan. 4. c Pro. 13. b. Amb. ser 30 31. de Helia Ieiun cap. 20. Leo. in ser de collectis Chrys hom 25. in Act. thy sinnes with Almes and thy iniquities with the mercies of the poore Then in an other place we read Water (i) Eccli 3. d Amb. serm 15. Chrys hom 34. in Gen. Pros part 2. de promiss praedict tionibus c. 7 doth quench the burning fire and Almes resistethe sinnes And not of a man certes but of an Angell was that speach Almes (k) Tob. 12. b 4. b Esa 1. c Pro. 15. d 16 a 10. b 1. Pet 4. b Iac. 5. d deliuereth from death and shee it is that purgeth sinnes and maketh a man to finde mercie and life euerlasting Yea and Christ himselfe pronounceth (l) Mat. 10. d Greg. ho. 5. in Euang. Amb. in lib. de viduis Leo. ser 4. 6. de qua drag ser 6 de Ieiun 10. mensis Whosoeuer shall giue drinke to one of these little ones a cuppe of colde water only in the name of a Disciple Amen I say to you he shall not loose his rewarde Blessed (m) Mat. 5. a therefore are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercie And contrarywise as S. IAMES affirmeth (n) Iac. 2. b. Pro. 21. b. Iudgement without mercie to him that hath not done mercie 12 With what examples is the effecte profite of Almes declared IN the holy scripture ABRAHAM and LOTH (a) Gen. 18. a 19. a through hospitalitie are saide both to haue pleased God and to haue entertained (b) He. 13. a Angels The Almes (c) Tob. 12. c 1. d of TOBIE and the Centurion (d) Act. 10. a See notable examples of Almes in these Saints liues Ioannis Eleemosinarii apud Leentium Martini apud Sulpitium Paulae apud Hieron ep 27. cap. 7. Paulini apud Greg. Turon de glor Conf. cap. 107. apud Greg. 3. dial c. 1. Tiber. apud Turon lib. 5 hist Franc. cap. 19. Bened. apud Greg. 2. dial c. 28. 29. Martyrii apud cund ho. 39. in Euang Greg. apud Ioan. Diac lib. 1. vitae eius cap. 10. lib. 2. cap. 22. 23. Osuald apud Bed lib. 3. hist Aug. cap. 6. were so auailable that they ascended into remembrance in the sight of God had the holy Angels not only for witnesses but also for commendors ZACHEVS moued by the words of Christ and of a prince of Publicans being made a mirror of mercy giueth halfe his goods to the poore and is presently pronounced the (e) Luc. 19. a b sonne of ABRAHAM by Christ himselfe TABITHA (f) Act. 9. f g Vide etiam Pratum Sprituale Sophronii cap. 175. 185. 195. 201 is praised by S. LVKE as being ful of good works and Almes which she bestowed especially vpon widdowes So are those deuoute Matrons singulerly commended in the (g) Luc. 8. 10. g Ioan. 12 a 3. Reg 17. b c d 4. Reg. 4. b c f Gospell which with MAGDALEN MARTHA did liberally minister of their goods to Christ our Lorde and to his poore disciples And of Sainte LAVRENCE the (h) Amb. lib 2. offic cap. 28. Leuite and Martyr it is most
iustly soung (i) Ps 111. b Chry. ho. 55 in Gen. He dispersed he gaue to the poore his rightuousnes remaineth for euermore 13 What is mercie IT is as S. AVGVSTINE (a) Lib. 9. ciu cap. 5. Isid de summo bono lib. 3. cap. 64. Nys in l. de beatitud affirmeth a certaine cōpassion in our harte of an other mans miserie whereby we are compelled to yeelde succour if it lye in our power Which name of mercie is wonte very often to be taken for Almes And all manner of mercie as witnesseth the diuine scripture (b) Eccli 16. b shall make a place vnto euery man according to the merite of his workes Very often and wonderfully doth Saint CHYSOSTOME (c) Hom. 32. in epist ad Heb. ho. 9. de poenit 53. in Mat. 36. ad pop Ant. commende the same and he doubteth not in a certaine place to say (d) Chrys ho. de miser duabus viduis Mercie is the fortresse of saluation the ornament of faith the propitiation of sinnes she it is that approueth the iust persons confirmeth the holy setteth forth the seruants of God Yea and if we beleeue Saint AMBROSE (e) In ep 1. ad Tim. c. 4. vide eund in Luc. 3. the wholle summe of Christian discipline consisteth in mercie and pietie 14 Are the workes of Mercie of one kinde only THey are (a) Aug. lib. de mor. b. Eccles Cathol cap. 27. 28. Ench. c. 72. ser 203. de tempore found to be of two sortes for asmuch as some be corporall some spirituall Some are certes called corporal because they are exercysed for the releeuing of the corporall miserie of our neighbour other spirituall for that in them we doe well prouide and lauour for the spiritual good of our neighbour Of this diuersitie of mercie the most bountifull IOB giueth a most cleare example who witnesseth of himselfe (b) Iob. 31. b ibid. Greg. From my infancie hath mercie encreased with me and from my mothers wombe she came forth with me I haue bene an eie (c) Iob. 29. c to the blinde and a foote to the lame I was the father of the poore and the cause which I knew not I did diligently search out I did consume the grinding stones of the wicked man and out of his teeth I did take the praie Also The stranger stood not without (d) Iob. 31. d dores my dore was open to the traueiler 15 How many workes of mercie be there both corporall and spirituall THere are seauen accounted of each kind And first certes the corporall workes are these (a) Mat. 25. d To feed the hungry To giue drinke to the thirstie To cloathe the naked To redeeme the captiue To visite the sicke To harbour Pilgrimes (b) Tob. 1. d 2. a b 12. c 2. Reg. 2. a Aug. lib. 1. eiu cap. 13. de cura mor. cap. 3. To burie the deade And the spirituall woorkes are these To correct (c) Mat. 18. b 1. Tim. 5. c. those that sin To teach the (d) Eccli 18. b 2 Tim. 4. a Esa 52. b Hier. 15. b Dan. 12. a Iac. 5. d Gal. 6. a Chrys ho. 3. 10. in Gē Clem. Alex. lib. 1. strom Bern. ser 36. in Cant. Greg. ho. 17. in Euang. ignorant To giue good counsell (e) Pro. 17. b Eccli 5. c to them that are in doubt To praie (f) Mat. 5. g Iac. 5. d to God for the welfare of our neighbour To comforte (g) Eccli 7. d 2. Cor. 1. a the sorowfull To beare iniuries (h) Tit. 3. a 1. Thes 5. c Rom. 15. a patiently To forgiue (i) Mat. 5. d 6. b 18. c d Mar. 11. c Eccli 28. a offences Which offices of humane pietie are so plaine and euident espeacially vnto Christians to those which are not altogether barbarous that they neede not any long discourse 16 How are these declared in holy Scripture VEry plainly certes and in euery place as notablely those words of ESAY or rather the precepts of God doe declare (a) Esa 58. b Breake saith he thy bread to the hungrie the needie and wandring bring into thy house when thou shalt see a naked man cloathe him and thy fleshe doe thou not despise Of which offices the great profite and commodity is after annexed in the same place (b) Ibid. c Then thy iustice shall goe before thy face and the glory of our Lord shall gather thee And Saint IOHN who wholly laboureth in cōmending vnto vs brotherly charity and mercie amongest other thinges teacheth (c) 1. Io. 3. c Iac. 2. c Bas ho. 7. in diuites auaros Amb. ser 81. apud Gratia dist 86. idē lib. 3. offic cap. 6. 7. Greg. 3. p. curae past adm 22. Greg. Turō in glor Cōf. cap. 108. Hee that shall haue the substance of this worlde shal see his brother haue neede and shall shut his bowels from him how doth the Charity of God abide in him And not cōtent with this speech he concludeth in most excellent manner My little children let vs not loue in word and in tongue but in deede and trueth In this we know that we are of the trueth These are the works of the faithfull and of those that are truely iust which in the (d) Mat. 25. d Luc. 14. c last iudgement Christ wil acknowledg publikely approue for the which he wil allot the promised kingdome rēder a crowne of Iustice vnto the merciful whom also himselfe calleth Iust Which workes (e) Greg. vbi supra adm 21. Amb. lib. 1. offic c. 30. l. 2. c. 21. 25. Chry. ho. de miser duabus Viduis hom 30. in 1. Cor. certes doe afford so much the more of true praise and eternall rewarde by how much the more syncerely cherefully and liberally they are done by a Christian minde Which then is performed when there is as little respecte as may be vnto humane vanity and desires but they are wholly directed vnto the glory of God and the profite of our neighbour who is benifited To this end are those speeches of holy Scripture to be obserued He (f) Ro. 12. b that giueth in simplicity he that sheweth mercy in cheerefulnesse (g) Tob. 4. b Turne not away thy face from anie poore man According to thy abilitie be thou merciful God loueth a (h) 2. Cor. 9. b cheerful giuer In euery (i) Eccli 35. b gifte make thy countenance cheerfull Pleasant (k) Ps 111. a is that man that taketh compassion and profiteth Christ certes in S. LVKE describeth such (l) Luc. 10. f a Samaritane as may be a notable example of exhibiting willingly the highest kinde of courtesie and perfect mercie euen vnto strangers and (m) Nazian orat 19. in funere Patris Chrys ho. 21. in ep ad Rom. ho. 35. 37. ad pop Ant the vndeseruing But He that (n) 2. Cor. 9.
Almighty God touching the heart of man by the inspiration of the holie Ghost both Aug. de gratia lib. arbit cap 2. 9. 15. de Spir. lit cap. 34. lib. 2 de pec mer. c. 5. de praed grat cap. 9. de verb. Apost serm 41. cap. 1. ser 15. cap. 11. tract 4. in epist Io. de Praedest sanct cap. 3. Chrys ho. 9. in Ioan. Bern. de gratia liber arbit Prosp lib. 2. de vocatione gent. cap. 26. 27. 28. cont Collat cap. 26. man himselfe doth something receiuing that inspiration because he might as well reiecte Matth. 23 d Act. 13 g Hierem. 18 b 25 a b 32 f 35 c Zach 1 b the same and yet without the grace of God Cypr. de orat Dom. Aug. de natura gratia cap. 18. lib. 2. cont 2. epist Pelag. cap. 10. Hier. epist 139. coulde hee not by force of his free-will moue himselfe to Iustice in his sight And for that cause when it is saide in holy Scripture Zach. 1 a Mal. 3 b Act. 2 f 3 c Ephes 5 c Iac. 4 c Mat. 11 d Hierem. 3 a d 4 d 18 b Esa 1 d 40 a 45 d 46 c 55 a b Bar. 4 a Ezech. 18 g 1. Reg 7 a Be yee conuerted vnto me and I will be conuerted vnto you We are put in minde of our libertie and when wee aunswere Thren 5 d Hierem. 31 c Conuert vs O Lord vnto thee and we shall be conuerted We confesse that we are preuented by the grace of God 10 What is the manner of preparation to Iustification ANd certes men are disposed to Iustice whilest beeing Aug. l. 2. cont 2. epist Pelag. c. 9. de Praed Sanct. c. 20. Conc. 2. Araus caÌ„ 5. 6. 7. 25. Fulg. de incarn gra Christi cap. 17. 18. stirred vp and holpen by the grace of God conceiuing Faith Ro. 10 c d by hearing they are freely Aug. tra 26. in Io. de Praed Sanct. c. 11. de spir lit cap. 31 32. in expos propos ex ep ad Ro. c. 44. lib. 1. qu. ad simplic q. 2. Prosp l. 2. de vocat gent. cap. 27. 28. Euthim. in cap. 1. Io. Isid lib. 2 de summo bono cap. 2. mooued vnto God beleeuing those thinges to be true which are reuealed and promised by God and this especially that God doth iustifie Rom. 3 d Aug. de nat gra câ—p 44. the wicked man by his grace through the redemption which is in CHRIST IESVS and whilest knowing themselues to be sinners by conuerting themselues from the feare of Gods iustice with which they are Fulgent lib. 1. de rem pec cap. 8. 9. 11. Prosp lib. 2. de vocat gent. cap. 27. lib. 3. de vit contemplat cap. 12. Aug. tract 9. in epist Ioan de catech â—ud cap. 5. profitablely storkeÌ„ to the consideration of his mercy they are erected into hope hauing confidence that for Christ his sake Almighty God wil be mercifull vnto them him they begin to loue as the fountaine of all Iustice and therefore are moued against sinne Eccli 2 d Aug. ho. 50. cap. 2. ex 50. et ho. 27. c. 1 Chrys ho. 21. ad Ant. with some hatred and detestation that is to say by that repentance which must be done before Baptisme Finallie whilest they purpose to take Baptisme to begin a newe life to keepe Gods Commaundements Of this disposition it is written Heb. 11 b He that commeth to God must beleeue that hee is and is a rewarder to them that seeke him And Mat. 9 a haue a good heart my Sonne thy sinnes are forgiuen thee And Eccli 1 c the feare of God expelleth sinne And Act. 2 f doe Penance be euery one of you Baptised in the name of Iesus Christ in remission of your sinnes and you shall receiue the gifte of the holie Ghost And Mat. 28 d going therefore teach yee all nations Baptising theÌ„ in the name of the FATHER of the SONNE and of the HOLIE GHOST teaching theÌ„ to obserue all thinges whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you Finally 1. Reg. 7 a prepare your hartes vnto our Lord. 11 What the Iustification of a wicked man is what are the causes thereof THis disposition or preparation verie Iustification it selfe doth followe which is not the onlie Aug. lib. 6. cont Iul. cap. 11. lib. 1 retract c. 13. ep 105. 106. Conc. Mileu cap. 3. 4. Chrys ho. 3. de poenit Theoph. in cap. 2. Mar. See the 3. question of Baptisme page 151. remission of sinnes but a Sanctification also and renouation of the inward man by the voluntarie receiuing of grace giftes of the holy Ghost whereby a man of vniust is made iust and of an enemy a friend that he may be Tit. 3 b heire according to the hope of life euerlasting The causes of this Iustification are these The finall cause is the glory of GOD and of CHRIST and life euerlasting the efficient cause is the mercifull God who freely Ibid. doth washe 1. Cor. 6 c sanctifie signing Eph. 1 c annointing with the holy spirite of promise which is the pleadge of our enheritance the meritorious cause is his most beloued onely begotten SONNE our Lorde IESVS CHRIST who Ro. 5 b when wee were enemies for his Eph. 2 a exceeding Charity with which he loued vs by his most holy Passion vpon the TREE of the CROSSE deserued Ro. 4 d for vs iustification satisfied God the Father in our behalfe Also the Instrumentall cause is the Sacrament See the 1. question of Baptisme pag. 147. of BAPTISME which is the Sacrament of FAITH without the which no man euer obtained IustificatioÌ„ Finally the only formal cause is the Iustice of God not by which Aug. de spir lit c. 9. 11. in Psal 150. tract 26 in Io. epist 120. c. 30. de nat grat cap. 63. lib. 1 cont Pelag. Coelest c. 30. lib. 1. de pec mer. c. 9. 10. Com. Vien in CleÌ„ l. 1. tit 1. de sum Trin. he himselfe is iust but whereby hee maketh vs iust To wit which beeing by him geuen vnto vs we are Eph. 4 c renued in the spirite of our minde and are not only reputed iust but are truely Aug. ep 29. ser 16. de verb. Apost l b. 2. retract c. 13. de spir lit cap. 26 27. called and are in very deede iust euery one receiuing our proper iustice in our selues according to the measure which the holy Ghost doth distribute 1. Co. 12 b Ephes 4 â— Aug. ep 57. quaest 1. to euery one euen as he will and according to euery mans proper disposition cooperation For although none can bee iust but hee to whom the passions of our Lorde IESVS CHRIST are communicated yet that is done in this iustification of a wicked man at what time through the merite of the same most holy Passion by the holy-Ghost Ro. â— 2. Cor. 1 d Aug. de spir lit cap. 17 32. de nat grot
doth the deuoute people take occasion not without the inducement of God himselfe in like miseries to haue recourse to the same Sainte for conuenient remedie Of this wee haue in the Scripture it selfe some figure and example DAVID mighte haue offered in diuerse places Sacrifice for the appeasing of Gods wrath but 1. Par. 21 27. only in the Courte of Ornan he deserued to see the Angel put vp his sworde Iobs friends by Iobs Iob. 42 9. Sacrifice only founde mercie If wee seeke reason hereof it was onely Gods pleasure What shall wee say of diuerse Leuit. 4. Sacrifices ordained by God for diuerse sinnes And yet one Sacrifice might haue sufficed if so it had pleased the Author thereof Some diuells are cast out by the Disciples others by Christ Mat. 17 16. alone Yea we reade of S. Anthony In Vita that when he could not cast out a Diuell hee sent the possessed party to his Disciple Saint Paul called the simple by whom he was deliuered The cause of which thing if we should impute to the greater holinesse in the one than in the other wee shoulde presumptuosly behaue our selues towardes both The only cause therefore is to bee referred to the will of God who beeing the Lord of all riuers yet sheweth himselfe more mighty in Iordan than in 4. Reg. 5 12. Abana and Pharphar riuers of Damascus We haue also a custome in the Exorcismes of the Church to charge the Diuell to disclose by whom he may be cast out for no other cause doubtles than because God according to his diuine Councell purpose giueth a limited strength vnto those infernall spirites which maie so farre preuaile as he permitteth no farther Of this we haue a proofe in S. Hilarions life Who beeing secretly gone into Sicily was disclosed by a possessed person in Rome whom the Saint deliuered But there is a manifest example recorded by an Autenticall Paulus Diac. lib. 6. de gestis longob c. 2. writer Of a great pestilence a thowsande yeeres since in Constantinople other places Of which one being warned be reuelation that it shoulde not cease vntill that in the Church of Saint Peter in Vinculis at Rome an AVLTAR were erected to S. Sebastian his Relickes being brought thither an AVLTAR dedicated the pestilence ceassed Which AVLTAR is as yet there remaining and with great deuotion frequented espeacially in time of pestilence Theodoret In Philotheo c. 26. also witnesseth of the generall deuotion of the Artificers of Rome to S. Simeon Whose Image he beeing yet aliue they vsed to set at the dores of their shoppes because of a generall opinion that the Sainte woulde protect their shoppes wares from robbing Of which we may reade a strange miracle in that Saintes life The like custome may we reade in S. Damascen Who also reporteth the seuere iudgement of God shewed vpon three persons one after another miserably slaine Lib. 3. de Imag. for attempting to violate the Saintes Image reuerently erected at a deuoute Christians shoppe A third reason may be alleadged the kinde of Passion of euery Saint which wee somewhat touched before For as they which sinne in those things in which they sinne are ordinarily punished so Almightie God doth speacially blesse the torments of his Saints maketh their paines occasion of their glory What did not saith Serm. de S. Laurent Saint Leo to the tormentour of Saint Laurence thy witte deuise for the glory of the conquerour when the very instrumentes of his torments were changed into the honour of his triumph And of Sainte Paules Chaines what S. Chrysostome saith Hom. 3. in epist ad Rom. ser 5. de Iob. all the worlde knoweth Howe meete is it then that in thinges proportionable to the MARTYRS tormentes or glorious confession of CHRIST although he were not a Martyr we shoulde runne to craue his aide and souccour And so truely it is founde in Tho. Fazel decad 1. lib. 1. cap. 1. S. Paul Whereas the stones of the place where the Viper inuaded his handes cure all the venemous bitings of Scorpions And in our owne Countrey the Mosse of S. WENEFRIDS-Well a deuoute memory of her glorious Martyrdome besides the straunge sweetenesse which alwaies is in it is founde a singuler remedy against fire The like of Sainte Agathaes Veile in Sicily which is knowen to preserue the Citty of Catana from the furious flames of Aetna Howe iust is it that the memories of so glorious Virgins shoulde haue special vertue against fire wheras they ouercomming their weake sexe did burne with the fyre of the Holy-Ghost which many waters coulde not quench the fire of carnall concupiscence being vtterly extinct in their sacred breastes As therefore in the relickes and instrumentes of the passions of Saints we see certain particular and determinate thinges brought to passe so also may wee deuoutely expecte the same particular effectes when vpon the sure groundes of the practise of the Church some similitude of that which they haue suffred for Christ we inuocate them to our particular assistance in some speaciall causes And as in the most holy Trinitie by the essentiall attributes of power wisdome and goodnesse appropriated more to one person than to another See page 313. we doe not deny as much to be in one as in another so by speciall deuotions to Saintes for particular matters we doe not attribute lesse to the one then to the other but rather stirre vp our owne frailty weakenesse to the more speaciall remēbrance of Gods graces in thē The like is in the Angells Dan. 10 13.21 who are allotted vnto their seuerall Coūtreis to protect and Apoc. 8. 9. in punishments are ministers of seueral woes Hence is that custome sprong that deuoute people pray to S. Apollonia for the tooth-ake because her teeth were in her Martyrdome stroke out of her head and therefore shee is a fit Patronesse either to obtaine deliuery or if it please God that we bee not deliuered a patient sufferance according to her example The like may we say of praying to S. Agatha for sore breastes because her breast was cut off To S. Roche against the plague and to diuerse Saintes for diuerse thinges wherein their vertuouse disposition did most shew it selfe And to conclude all this with an inuincible argument let our Heretickes yeeld me a reason wherefore to the Princes Pollyd l. 8. histor of our countrey as an hereditary power from S. Edward hath bin graunted this gifte of curing one particuler disease more than another which if they cannot then let them not so curiously and blasphemously deale in the like manner with Saintes If I haue spoken saith our Sauiour Io. 3 12. vnto you earthly thinges you beleeue not how if I shall speake to you heauenly thinges will you beleeue Thus much therefore be spoken in defense of the generall practises of Christian Countreies allowed by Pastours and confirmed by long continuance not to defend euery particular practise of olde and simple women
PARDONS 1 What is the grounde and foundation of Pardons FIrst we must heere call to mind that which hath bin shewed aboue out of Scriptures Fathers See pag. 209 that sinnes committed after Baptisme although in respect of the fault and disgrace of God guilt of euerlasting paine and damnation they bee fully remitted through the merits onlie of Christs Passion in the Sacrament of Penance doe notwithstanding leaue most ordinarily behind them if the contrition be not the greater a debt of Temporall punishment And that by such Temporall punishement satisfaction is to be made vnto Gods Iustice either in this worlde by workes of Penance enioined in the Sacrament or voluntarily vndertaken or in the other life in the fire of Purgatory See pag. 218 Nowe therefore as Almighty God hath lefte in his Church autority and iurisdiction to binde such Penitentes as haue recourse to the Sacramente for helpe vnto a conuenient satisfaction aunswerable to his diuine Iustice and decree so likewise hee beeing alwaies more prone to Mercy than to Iustice his grace superabounding wher sinne aboundeth Rom. 5 10. It necessarily followeth that he hath giuen as great a power to his Pastours in the one as in the other therefore as they may impose so they may release Penance as they are executioners of his Iustice to punishe so they are also dispensours of his mercie to remitte and pardon Finally as the power of his Mat. 16 19. Keies doe extend to bind so they doe also extend to loose whatsoeuer is bound or loosed in heauen which shall be more largely shewed hereafter 2 What is an Indulgence or Pardon Than may we hereby plainely see what is an Indulgence or Pardon which beeing wel vnderstoode duely considered we shall not need any long discourse for the proofe and defence of the same An Indulgence therefore or Pardon is the remission of the Temporall punishemente due vnto sinne already forgeuen graunted by the Pastours of the Church for iust and conuenient cause vnto him which is in Gods grace fauour Hence it followeth that whosoeuer will be partaker of an Indulgence graunted first he must be in grace then performe that which is in the graunt of the Indulgence required as Fasting or Praier or Almes And so he shall enioy the fruite thereof 3 How many things are necessary to obtaine a Pardon But if we will consider all the wholle chaine of thinges concurring and necessarily required in this matter we may the better conceiue the malitiouse slaunders and cauills of our aduersaries heerein First therfore he that will gaine an Indulgence must be hartely sory for his sinnes Secondly hee must haue a full and resolute purpose to amend his life and neuer to fall into any mortal sinne Thirdly he must make a diligent search of his conscience calling exactly to mind so farre as the frailtie of mans memory can reach all the particulars of his thoughts wordes deedes offensiue vnto God Fourthly he must humbly syncerely lay them open before the Priest who in Gods steed is to iudge thereof Fiftly he is to accept that Penance which is imposed vpon him And all this is so necessarie for remission of sinnes that if there want but one of them either sorrowe or purpose or due examination or pure Confession or fulfilling the Penance enioined or at the least in the three last a full intent to execute them in due time no man can obtaine the grace of God much lesse such Pardons as we speake of which are not nor can be imparted but to those onely which are in Gods blessed fauour Nowe if there happen any opportunity of Indulgence or remission of this Penance enioined or of that which by the auncient Canons of the Church or by Gods secrete most iust iudgement should in rigour bee inioined for ordinarily the Penance in our age enioined in Confession is not equall vnto that which the auncient Canons of the Church Gods own determination hath allotted than sixtly there is required the fulfilling of that worke vnto which the Indulgence is annexed And so if the partie which seeketh the Indulgence be still in grace and the cause proportionable to the Indulgence infallibly he receiueth the same And yet some Diuines doe vpon probable groundes affirme that he which will obtaine an Indulgence must besides all this of necessitie either haue accepted of his Ghostly-father or purposed to take vpon himselfe so greate penance as were in it selfe sufficient to satisfie for that paine which in the Indulgence is remitted or at the least that he must haue a generall purpose to satisfie Gods Iustice in this life by Godly workes and deuout labours and sufferings otherwise except the worke exacted in the Indulgence be equiualent to the paine remitted he shall not enioy the benefitte Their reason is for that he which hath not this minde as much as in himselfe lieth to procure his owne succours for his negligence coldenesse and slackenesse deserueth not helpe of others and it seemeth as they say that Christ his Saintes intended not to yeeld such vnnecessary helpe whereby negligence might be increased But this opinion is by others worthily reiected Who say that if the Penitent haue this full conditionall resolution to fulfill his enioined Penance in Confession if he cannot obtaine by Indulgence the remission therof whether his Penance were great or little then shall he not beeing a liuely member of CHRIST be depriued of the participation of the common treasure of his wholle body A Purpose of satisfaction very profitable for him which will receiue an Indulgence and consequently of such Indulgence Yet certaiâ— it iâ— that such actuall purpose of satisfying Gods Iustice by owne penall workes doth make a maâ— more apte â—o receiue the wholl Indulgence and encreaseth the value of the cause and Gods acceptation of the recompence which is made vnto him by such an Indulgence as wee will shewe hereâ—fter 4 A comparison betweene the Catholickes Pardons and the Protestants Pardons THis therefore being the course of all Catholicks in obtaining Pardon of sinnes let vs on the contrary side examine a little howe many of these things are to be found in the Protestants Pardons For that they haue Pardons yea plenary Indulgences also none can doubte who heareth euery day that they are cleansed purged from all sinne and sure to goe to Heauen so soone as they shall die For in very deede this is not only a full remission of all paines and punishmentes but also a most certaine assurance of that singular gifte of God which is perseuerance to the ende Which if the Catholicke could perswade himselfe so easelye to be gotten he would with S. Paul 1. Cor. 15 19. account himselfe the most wretched of all men whereas he should so toile and labour in infidelity for that which he ought to assure himselfe that already he possesseth But whereas they doe so malitiously and contemptuously obiect vnto vs the Popes Pardons giuing