For, whereas M. Harding amongst many other words, wherewith he laboureth to shadow, and to darken the case, saith, It is God only, and none other, that applieth unto us the Death of Christ, and the Remission of our Sins, Johannes Scotus, one of his most famous, and most Catholic Doctors, saith plainly the contrary: Non solus Deus distribuit Virtutem Sacrificij,1 sed Sacerdos quoque: Not onely God ⟨p. 591⟩distributeth, or Applieth the Virtue of the Sacrifice, but the Priest also. And Gabriel Biel, an other of M. Hardinges Doctors in like sort saith, 2The force, and effect of the Sacrifice is Distributed, and Applied, not only by God, but also by the Priest. Only, and, Not Only, imply a Contradiction. If the one be true, the other of necessity must be false. Again, Biel saithe, Sacerdotis est determinare Virtutem Sacrificij, ut his,3 vel illis indigentibus praemium reddendum per huiusmodi Ecclesiae Sacrificia conferatur. It is the Priests office, to determine, and limit the Virtue of the Sacrifice, that the meed, that is given by such Sacrifices of the Church, may be Applied to these, or them, that stand in need. Which thing •e proveth by sufficient example in this wise: As the Pope, by right of his Supremacy, hath power to divide the Treasure of the Church (whereby he meaneth his Pardons) giving unto some full Remission of all their sins: and dispensing with some other for the third part of their pains: and granting unto some pardon for a certain number of days, or years, as he seeth, it may be most expedient for the devotion of the people: Even so (saith he) may the Priest dispense, and divide the Merits of the Church, and Apply the same to this man,4 or that man, as he shall think, it may stand him in some stead.
For, whereas M. Hardinge emongest many other woordes, wherewith he laboureth to shadow, and to darken the case, saithe, It is God onely, and none other, that applieth vnto vs the Deathe of Christe, and the Remission of our Sinnes, Iohannes Scotus, one of his most famous, and most Catholique Doctours, saithe plainely the contrary: Non solus Deus distribuit Virtutem Sacrificij,1 sed Sacerdos quoque: Not onely God ⟨p. 591⟩distributeth, or Applieth the Vertue of the Sacrifice, but the Priest also. And Gabriel Biel, an other of M. Hardinges Doctours in like sorte saithe, 2The force, and effecte of the Sacrifice is Distributed, and Applied, not onely by God, but also by the Priest. Onely, and, Not Onely, implie a Contradiction. If the one be true, the other of necessitie must be false. Againe, Biel saithe, Sacerdotis est determinare Virtutem Sacrificij, vt his,3 vel illis indigentibus praemium reddendum per huiusmodi Ecclesiae Sacrificia conferatur. It is the Priestes office, to determine, and limit the Vertue of the Sacrifice, that the meede, that is geuen by suche Sacrifices of the Churche, may be Applied to these, or them, that stande in neede. Whiche thinge •e prooueth by sufficient example in this wise: As the Pope, by right of his Supremacie, hath power to diuide the Treasure of the Churche (whereby he meaneth his Pardons) geuinge vnto somme ful Remission of al their sinnes: and dispen••nge with somme other for the thirde parte of their paines: and grauntinge vnto some pardon for a certaine number of daies, or yeeres, as he seeth, it may be moste expedient for the deuotion of the people: Euen so (saithe he) may the Priest dispense, and diuide the Merites of the Churche, and Applie the same to this man,4 or that man, as he shal thinke, it may stande him in some steede.
- 1Qu•dlibet. quaest. 20.
- 2jell Lectione. 26•iel Lectione. 26
- 3Biel in eadem lectione.
- 4Ut illi, vel illi possit applicare. Sum. Angelica. in Missa.Vt illi, vel illi possit applicare. Sum. Angelica. in Missa.
