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AS concerning the third Title of Satisfaction for sinne, the difference is per∣spicuous betwixt the aunci∣ent Sacrifices and this, be∣cause they were not suffi∣cient to satisfy for one only sinne, as the Apostle Saint Paul many tymes affirmeth, specially in his Epistle to the Hebrews, where he sayth, that it is impossible
that by the bloud of bulls or goates sinne should be abo∣lished. And in the same Chapter he writes to the same effect, Euery Priest is occupied in offering againe & againe the same Victimes or Sacrifices; but this Priest (Christ Iesus) hauing offe∣red one Sacrifice sits for e∣uer at the right-hād of God. For this respect the same Apostle calleth them many tymes weake sacrifices, im∣potent and defectuous, In∣firma & egena elementa. And not only this is so, but also all creatures put togeather
are not able of themselues to satisfy for one only sinne: whereas our great High-Priest Christ Iesus, by one only Sacrifice satisfyed for all the sinnes of the world, and of a thousand worldes were there so many: & this satisfaction is not only suf∣ficient, but also abundant, not only equiualent and e∣quall, but also obtaying par∣don euen in rigour of iustice as is the most common true Doctrine of the Theologers: for (as S. Paul sayth) Vna oblatione consummauit in aeter∣num sanctificatos, by one O∣blation
he consummated for euer the sanctification of men; which most sufficient, & superabundant satisfaction, he applyes efficaciously vnto vs, as often as we do offer the most holy Sacrifice of the Masse. This is the reason that the most holy Councel of Trent defines, that this sa∣crifice is truly propitiatory: be∣cause God by this Oblatiō appea∣sed, by granting the grace and gift of Pennance, pardons mayne and heynous crimes. Hence it is, that a most graue & Deuout Authour affirmes, that a man hauing committed ma∣ny
& most grieuous sinnes, by one only Masse, which he should say, with the con∣uenient disposition, if there be no default on his part, might be as perfectly freed frō them all, by vertue of the sacrifice, as he was before he sinned: so that he might strayght enter into Heauen without any impediment. And herein he vtters a most certayne Truth, because the vertue and efficacy of the Sacrifice, as for within it selfe, hath no limitation nor any measure, but that which the meannesse of mans dis∣position
giues vnto it.
Wherfore the holy Coū∣cell of Trent sayth absolut∣ly, and without restraint, that by the vertue of this Diuine Sacrifice, all our sinnes are pardoned how heynous soeuer. In the for∣me of consecration Christ lykewise sayth, and we re∣peate the same dayly in his name, That this is the Bloud of the new Testamēt, which was shed and offered for the remission & pardon of sins: and Pope Iulius,* 1.1 as Gratian re∣lates, sayth: Omne crimen at∣que peccatum oblatis Deo sacrifi∣cijs
deletur, that euery sinne and crime is cancelled by the oblation of Sacrifice vn∣to God.* 1.2 S. Gregory in his Di∣alogues writes in this man∣ner: This Victime, doth singularly saue the soule frō eternall destruction, which mystically represents vnto vs the death of Gods only begotten Sonne. And in another place the same holy Doctour reportes of a man that was captiue in the han∣des of his enemies lodē with fetters & yrons, whose wife hearing no newes of him, and therefore belieuing him
to be departed this life, cau∣sed euery weeke vpon a cer∣tayne day Masse to be sayd for him. And as often as the Sacrifice of the Masse was offered on that day, the fet∣ters and yrons fell off from him, and he remayned free for them, to his great ad∣miration, he not knowing the cause of so great a won∣der, vntill retourning into his Countrey, and relating this strange thing, he found by conferring togeather the dayes and houres, that it was the very time that Masse was sayd for him. Hence the
holy Doctour inferres, what greate force and efficacy is in this most Diuine Sacrifice, to release men from the spi∣rituall fetters of sin, wherin was so great strength to vn∣doe and breake the chaynes of the body. The auncient formes of Masse deliuer the same truth: that of S. Iames, speaking with GOD, thus prayeth, that the sinnes we haue committed may be a∣bolished; that thou, o Lord, be propitious and mercifull vnto thy people; that by the Oblation of this gratious & Diuine Sacrifice, we may
be held worthy of eternall life. The Masse of S. Basil sayth: Let this Sacrifice be acceptable for our sinnes, & for the ignorances of the people. S. Chrysostomes: Make vs worthy to offer the gifts, and this speciall Sacrifice for our sinnes, & grant that we may find fauour in thy sight. And now in the Canon of the Masse we say, that we offer this Sacrifice, for the Re∣demption of our Soules.
Decret. d. 2. c. Cùm omne.
Greg. 4. Dial. c. 5.••.