The practical divinity of the papists discovered to be destructive of Christianity and mens…

Sect. 21. By the premises we may see what, and how many sins may pass for Venial in the Church of Rome, and they have presumed to make them so without evidence from Scripture, as even a ^(p)Jesuit ⟨p. 298⟩will acknowledge. The Maxims they proceed on therein (though eternal life or death depend on it) are purely their own conceits; no wonder if they leave them at great uncertainty. ^(q)Many sins are believed to be venials, which are mortal, says Bonaventure, and it is most difficult to discern them. So that they have no sufficient direction from any rule, no not their own, but they are encouraged to venture upon all this wickedness in the dark and blindfold. The instances I have given, may serve for a taste, there is a world more, nor have I picked out all the worst, more time and diligence may discover more, as bad or worse. But by these we may discern, that what-ever the Lord hath forbidden in his Law, they have ways to reduce it to the rank of Venials; for the whole matter of the divine Law, is, in it self, either of less, or greater weight; if it be small, or they please to count it so, they conclude presently upon that account, it is not mortal: what-ever appears not to be a grand enormity, whether it be against God, others, or our selves, must be venial, according to that of Richard de Sancto Victore. ^(r)Mortal sin cannot be committed by any, but by a grand corrupting of himself, or contempt of God; or grievous mischief of others; all the rest are Venial. Whatever is not in their apprehension, grand and grievous, is next to nothing. Yea, one Member of the three, is in a manner, wholly shrivelled away into Venials. ^(s)A man can scarce do any thing against himself, which will be big enough to make a mortal sin of. Indeed, it may seem no more than requisite to make it no crime for a man to damn himself, when they animate him to venture on so many damnable things, as if they were nothing. Thus they serve whatever the great God hath forbidden, which they have the confidence to count small; but if they cannot choose but think it great, they have other expedients to level it (according to the exigence of mens Lusts), and diminish it into a Venial. To make it more, they