Works of Joseph Hall, Section 12
SECTION XII. Concerning Indulgences or Pardons.
PVRGATORY is guilty of Indulgences, as their ROCHESTER confeſſes: Both of them were bred by ſuperſtition, and nurſed by couetouſneſſe; I touch theſe with a light hand onelyonly; It is long ſince all ingenious Clients of Rome were aſhamed of this holy fraud; I cannot but commend Caſſander, which writes thus modeſtly and truly: The abatement or relaxation of Canonicall puniſhments,Cap. de Indulg. was of old called Indulgence; which at this day is drawne to all priuate ſatisfactions, and the full right of beſtowing them withdrawne from all other Biſhops, to the Biſhop of Rome alone. About the vſe and practiſe whereof, all good men hauehave deſired a correction and moderation; as of things, which being hitherto ill handled, hauehave giuen the chiefe occaſion of this breach in the Church: Here therefore it were to be wiſhed, that the Popes would yeeld ſomething to the Publike peace. Thus farre Caſſander: De Indulg. l. 4. c. 4.With whom agrees Polydore Virgil; both of them more worthy of a blacke cole, than their honeſt Rocheſter, whom Gregory of Valence hath ſo foulely branded. Neither hath there wanted ſome of their own (as Bellarmine witneſſeth) which hauehave called both the treaſure of the Church, and Pardons into queſtion; neither hauehave there wanted thoſe which hauehave boldly and flatly denied them either to bee of vſe, or to bee at all: And indeed who, that is not too much intoxicate with the potions of that Harlot, can endure, that whilſt the imputation of Chriſts merits to the iuſtifying of a ſinner, applyed by God to vsus, is eueryevery where a common ſcoffing-ſtocke to theſe men, yet that the merits and ſufferings of holy men, out of a certaine common treaſure, ſhould by a man bee imputed to men, for the deliuerance of their ſoules from torment?Horae B. virg. ſtations of Rome. Rithinic. Horae B. Mar. virg. ad vſum ſacium. Who can abide that any mortall man ſhould ouer-ſatisfie God for his ſinnes? Who can abide the prodigall grants, and ſhamefull Marts of their Pardons? Who can endure to heare, that to the careleſſe mumbling ouer of ſome ſhort prayers (for if we beleeue their Caſuiſts, there is no great need of any intention of minde, of any ſpeciall deuotion) there ſhould bee granted by Iohn 22. a Pardon for no leſſe than a million of yeeres? Who can endure (ſince by their owne confeſſion, this fire muſt laſt but till the conflagration of the world) that yet in one little Booke there ſhould be tendred vntounto credulous poore ſoules, Pardons of but eleuen thouſand thouſands of yeeres? What ſhould we make many words of this? There is now lying by me a worme-eaten Manu-ſcript, with faire Rubrickes, in which, beſides other abſurd and blaſphemous promiſes, there is power giuen to one little prayer to change the paines of hell (due perhaps to him that ſayes it) into Purgatory; and after that againe, the paines of Purgatory into the ioyes of Heauen:Lib. de Indulg. Bellarmine had wiſely reſpected his owne reputation, if hee had giuen his voice according to that which he confeſſeth to hauehave beene the iudgement of ſome others; That theſe like Bills were not giuen by the Popes, but lewdly deuiſed by ſome of his baſe Queſtuaries for an aduantage: But that which he ſhould excuſe, hee defends. What ingenuity of ſhame is to be expected of Ieſuites? and how cleane hath an old Parrot (as he ſaid of old) forgotten the wand? Who may abide this vniuſt and inhumane acceptation of perſons? that the wealthier ſort, may by their purſes redeeme this holy treaſure of the Church, and by money deliuer the ſoules of themſelues and their friends from this horrible Priſon, while the needy Soule muſt be ſtall frying in this flame, without all hope of pardon, or mature relaxation, vntill the very laſt Iudgement day? Laſtly, who can endure, that whiles it is in the power of Chriſts Vicar to call miſerable ſoules out of this tormenting fire (which hell it ſelfe is ſaid to exceed onelyonly in the continuance) yet that he ſhould ſuffer them to lie howling there, and moſt cruelly broyling ſtill, and not mercifully beſtow on them all the heapes of his treaſure, as the ſpirituall ranſome of ſo many diſtreſſed ſpirits?Ambr. de Nab…th. A wretched man is he (as Ambroſe ſaid of the rich man) which hath the power to deliuer ſo many ſoules from death, and wants the will: Why hath God giuen him this faculty of Indulgences, if hee would not hauehave it beneficiall to Mankinde?Auth. operis imperfect. and where the Owner of the houſe will bee bountifull, it is not for the Steward to bee niggardly; Let that Circè of Rome keepe theſe huskes for her hogges.