Well, this satisfaction may notwithstanding be fulfilled more then one way. For a man being once by the Sacrament of penance justly reconciled to the mystical Body of Christ, which is his Church, wherein (as the Prophet saith) a faithful man is made partaker of all that fear God and keep his commandments:1 we have in that band of peace such an unity of Spirit communicated to us all, that the defect of one may be in spiritual causes* supplied out of the plenty of all others his fellow members,3 according as the Apostle saith,‡ Bear ye one an others burdens. And because the Head (which is Christ) is the chief member of all, and far more then all the rest, such influence is from him derived throughout his mystical Body, that even his death may as well inwardly by charity, as outwardly by another way also be applied to us for the pardoning of that temporal satisfaction, which after the Sacrament of penance is left unforgiven. And that is by such authority, as Christ gave to Peter, saying:5 To thee I will give the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and what so ever thou bindest in Earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven, and what so ever thou* loosest in Earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven. Lo, what so ever Peter looseth in earth, it shall be loosed in the sight of God. If therefore the Pope, who succeedeth Peter, do by just cause loose not only the mortal Sin by the sacrament of penance, but also the band of Temporal pain, which remaineth yet due to to the Sin: it is undoubted, that such pain is loosed in the sight of God. The cause of loosing must be, not only the will of the Pope (who is put in Authority to build, and not to destroy: to dispense, and not to lavish) but a reasonable change or recompense substituted in that behalf, such as appertaineth to the Honour of God; or to the profit of souls: As maintaining war and fighting against infidels for the defence of Christendom, recovery of the Sepulchre of Christ, succouring widows, Orphans, or other poor persons, the building or maintaining of Holy places, the visiting of Prisons and Martyrs tombs, or any like Devout and Charitable deeds.
VVell, this satisfaction may notwithstanding be fulfilled more then one waie. For a man beinge once by the Sacrament of penaūce iustly reconciled to the mystical Body of Christe, which is his Church, wherein (as the Prophete saithe) a faithfull man is made partaker of al that feare God and keepe his commaundementes:1 we haue in that bande of peace suche an vnitie of Spiriie communicated to vs al, that the defect of one may be in spirituall causes* supplied out of the plenty of all others his felowe membres,3 accordinge as the Apostle saithe,‡ Beare ye one an others burdens. And because the Head (whiche is Christe) is the chiefe membre of all, and farre more then all the rest, such influence is from him deriued throughout his mysticall Body, that euen his death may as well inwardely by charitie, as outwardly by another waie also be applied to vs for the pardoninge of that temporal satisfactiō, which after the Sacrament of penaunce is lefte vnforgeuen. And that is by such authoritie, as Christ gaue to Peter, saying:5 To thee I will geue the Keies of the Kingedome of Heauen, and what so euer thou bindest in Earth, it shal be bounde also in Heauen, and what so euer thou* loosest in Earth, it shall be loosed also in Heauen. Lo, what so euer Peter looseth in earth, it shall be loosed in the sight of God. If therefore the Pope, who succedeth Peter, do by iuste cause loose not onely the mortall Sinne by the sacrament of penaunce, but also the bande of Temporall paine, whiche remaineth yet due to to the Sinne: it is vndoubted, that suche paine is loosed in the sighte of God. The cause of loosinge must be, not onely the will of the Pope (who is put in Authoritie to builde, and not to destroy: to dispense, and not to lauishe) but a reasonable change or recompence substituted in that behalfe, suche as apperteineth to the Honour of God; or to the profite of soules: As mainteininge warr and fightinge against infidels for the defence of Christendome, recouery of the Sepulchre of Christe, succouringe widowes, Orphanes, or other poore persons, the buildinge or mainteininge of Holy places, the visitinge of Prisons and Martyrs toumbes, or any like Deuout and Charitable deedes.
- 1Psal. 118.
- *A folly passing all other follies.A folie passinge al other folies.
- 3Galat. 6.
- ‡A text full wisely applied to prove Pardons.A texte ful vvisely applied to prooue Pardonnes.
- 5Matth. 16.
- *O Fond man, Christ saith, What so ever thou loosest in Earth, and not in Purgatory.O Fonde man, Christe saithe, VVhat so euer thou loosest in Earthe, and not in Purgatorie.
