Answer to Book by Romish Priests, Doctrine 16
XVI. That Pardons and Indulgences were not in the Apoſtles times.
Anſwer.
NOthing truer, by the Confeſſion of their own Authors; particularly Antoninus *Part I. Tit. X c. 3.in his Sums; Of theſe we have nothing expreſly, neither in the Scriptures, nor out of the ſayings of the Ancient Doctors. The ſame is ſaid by Durandus, and many others; who have been ſo honeſt as to confeſs, That ſuch Indulgences and Pardons as are now in uſe, are but of late invention: There being no ſuch thing heard of in the Ancient Church, as a Treaſure of the Church, made up of the Satisfaction of Chriſt and of the Saints, out of which theſe Indulgences are now granted, for the profit of the dead, as well as of the living. Whereas of old they were nothing but Relaxations of Canonical Penances, when long and ſevere Humiliations had been impoſed upon great Offenders; which ſometimes were thought fit to be remitted, upon good conſiderations, either as to their ſeverity, or as to their length. Now this, which was done by any Biſhop, as well as he of Rome, we are not againſt. But ſuch Indulgences are in theſe ages of no uſe, becauſe the Penitential Canons themſelves are relaxed, or rather laid aſide, and no ſuch tedious and rigorous Penances are inflicted; which the Church of Rome hath exchanged for Auricular Confeſſion, and a ſlight Penance ſoon finiſhed
The firſt place he produces out of our Bible to countenance their Indulgences,2 Cor. II. 10. we had before to prove men may forgive ſins, Sect. XIV. and others have alledged it to prove men may ſatisfie for their ſins; now it is preſſed for the ſervice of Indulgences. What will not theſe men make the Scripture ſay, if they may have the handling of it? But after all, this will not ſerve their purpoſe; for the Pardon the Apoſtle here ſpeaks of, was nothing but the reſtoring him again to Chriſtian Communion, who had been thrown out of the Church. But is this the Indulgence they contend for in the Church of Rome? Will this ſerve their turn? Then every Church hath as much power as this comes to; and the whole body of the Church will have a ſhare in this power of Indulgences: For St. Paul ſpeaks to all the Corinthian Chriſtians in general, that they ſhould forgive him.
And ſo he doth alſo in the next place here alledged, v. 6, 7.Ibid. v. 6.7. of the ſame Chapter; which ſpeak of a Puniſhment inflicted ed by many; which he tells them ought not to be continued, but contrarywiſe, Ye ought to forgive him, and comfort him, &c. Upon which words hear what your Menochius ſays, This Puniſhment was publick Separation from the Church, out of which he was ejected by MANY, i. e. by you all, with deteſtation of his Wickedneſs, &c. The forgiveneſs of which, was taking him into the Church again, as Theodoret expounds the next words, v. 8. Ʋnite the member to the body; joyn the ſheep together with the flock; and thereby ſhow your ardent affection to him.
He bids us ſee more in two other places of Scripture, which we have examined before for other purpoſes, but he would have ſerve for all: A ſign they have great ſcarcity of Scripture-proofs; and therefore he gives us a larger Catalogue of Fathers; which he packs together after ſuch a faſhion, as no Scholar ever did. For after Tertullian and Cyprian, who ſpeak only of the forenamed Relaxation of Canonical Cenſures, he mentions the Council of Lateran, but doth not tell us which; though if he had, it would have been to no end: For the firſt Lateran Council was above Eleven hundred years after Chriſt: And Innocent III. who is his next Father, lived an hundred year later; holding the IVth. Lateran Council, 1215. After theſe he brings St. Ambroſe, Auſtin, Chryſoſtome, who lived 800 years before, and knew of no Indulgences, but ſuch as I have mentioned. Laſtly, He tells us, Urban the ſecond granted a Plenary Indulgence; and when lived this holy Father, do you think? Almoſt eleven hundred years after Chriſt, Anno 1086. A moſt excellent proof, that the Romiſh Indulgences were in uſe in the Apoſtles times. Can one think that ſuch men as this, expect to be read by any but fools? who perhaps may imagine this Ʋrban was contemporary with the Apoſtles. It is ſome wonder he did not quote that holy Father Hildebrand, Greg. VII. who ſomething before this, granted Pardon of Sins to all thoſe who would take up Arms againſt his Enemies. Poor man! he did not know this, elſe he would have mentioned him rather than Ʋrban, who was but his Ape.
The Proteſtants hold (if you will believe him),