Theophilus. They are not then defaced and taken away by the same. For the sins are not mortal, but unto those which sin unto death, and against the holy Ghost, and which persevere in their sins, without doing repentance, and running unto the mercy of God. But unto Gods elect all sins are venial: not by their nature, but by the grace of Jesus Christ. For there is no sin be it never so little, which of his nature is not mortal, and worthy of eternal death, if Jesus Christ make them not venial, and capable of pardon, to those 1which believe in him, to whom there is no more condemnation. Wherefore I am abashed of your Doctors, which take so much pains to purge the venial sins. And amongest others the sprinkling of the holy water: 2and that they do allow so much the exorcisms and conjurations, namely of Thomas of Aquin, which yet nevertheless do nothing differ from charms and sorceries. But I am yet more abashed, of that Canon, so 3full of blasphemy which is taken of Pope Alexander the fifth, whom you account to be the first finder out and inventor of holy water, who saith after this manner. We do bless the water sprinkled or mingled with salt among the people, to this end that all being sprinkled therewith, should be sanctified and purified: the which thing we command all Priests to do so. For it the ashes of a young Heifer being sprinkled upon the people do sanctify and make them clean, by a stronger reason the water being mingled with salt and hallowed with divine prayers doth sanctify and make them clean? And if the salt being 4cast in the water by the Prophet Elisha, hath healed and hoplen the barrenness thereof, how much more the water being hallowed with divine prayers, doth take away the sterility of human things, and sanctifieth and purgeth the filthiness, and multiplieth ⟨image 170⟩and increaseth the other goods, and putteth away the assaults of the Devil, and defendeth men from fantasies. O Lord God, what greater blasphemy can one hear, is not that to turn all the word of God upside down, and to overthrow all the virtue of the death and passion of Jesus Christ? That which the holy Apostle attributeth unto the death and blood of Jesus Christ is it not here altogether most evidently given unto the salt 5and water? For in stead that the Apostle saith.
Theophilus. They are not then defaced and taken away by the same. For the sinnes are not mortall, but vnto those whiche sinne vnto death, and agaynste the holy Ghost, and which perseuer in their sinnes, withour dooing repentaunce, and running vnto the mercye of God. But vnto Gods elect all sinnes are veniall: not by their nature, but by the grace of Iesus Christ. For there is no sinne be it neuer so little, which of his nature is not mortall, and worthy of eternall death, if Iesus Christe make them not veniall, and capable of pardon, to those 1which beléeue in hym, to whome there is no more condempnation. Wherefore I am abāshed of your Doctors, which take so much paines to purge the veniall sinnes. And amongest others the sprincklyng of the holy water: 2and that they doe allowe so muche the exorcismes and coniurations, namely of Thomas of Aquin, whiche yet neuerthelesse doe nothing dyffer from charmes and sorceryes. But I am yet more abashed, of that Canon, so 3full of blasphemye which is taken of Pope Alexander the fift, whome you accompte to bée the firste finder out and inuentour of holy water, who sayth after thys manner. Wée doe blesse the water sprinckled or myngled wyth salt amonge the people, to this ende that all béeing sprinckled therewyth, shoulde bée sanctified and puryfied: the which thinge wée commaunde all Priestes to doe so. For it the asshes of a younge Heyfer béeinge sprinckeled vppon the people doe sanctifie and make them cleane, by a stronger reason the water béeinge mingled wyth salte and hallowed wyth diuine praiers doth sanctifie and make them cleane? And if the salte béeinge 4cast in the water by the Prophet Eliseus, hath healed and hoplen the barrennesse thereoff, howe much more the water béeinge hallowed wyth diuine prayers, doth take awaye the sterrilitie of hamayne thynges, and sanctyfieth and purgeth the filthinesse, and multiplyeth ⟨image 170⟩and encreaseth the other goodes, and putteth awaye the assaultes of the Diuell, and defendeth men from fantasies. O Lorde God, what greater blasphemye can one heare, is not that to tourne all the worde of God vpsyde downe, and to ouerthrowe all the vertue of the death and passion of Iesus Christ? That which the holy Apostle attributeth vnto the death and bloud of Iesus Christe is it not héere altogether most euidentlye giuen vnto the salte 5
- 1Venial sins. Rom. 8. a. 1.Veniall sinnes. Rom. 8. a. 1.
- 24. Sent. dist. Tho. par. 4. q. 7. ar. 2. & in Ma 6.
- 3Pope Alexan. 5. de consec. dist 3. cap. aquam.
- 4A comparison between theasshet of a Heifer & the•roater 4. Reg. 2. d. 21A comparison betvveene theasshet of a Heyfer & the•roater 4. Reg. 2. d. 21
- 5The blood of Jesus.: Heb. 9. d. 13 Levit. 16. c. 14The bloude of Iesus.: Heb. 9. d. 13 Leuit. 16. c. 14
