St. Augustine, Of the citie of God vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues. Englished by I.H.

Whether that such as beeing baptized by heretiques, become wicked in life, or amongst Catholiques, and then fall away into heresies and schismes, or continuing amongst Catholiques, be of vicious conuersation, can haue any hope of escaping damnation, by the priuiledge of the Sacraments. CHAP. 12.

NOw let vs answer those, who doe both exclude the deuills from saluation,

(as the other before doe) and also all men besides whatsoeuer, excepting such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in CHRIST, and made pertakers of his body and bloud, and these they will haue saued, bee their liues neuer so spotted by sinne or heresie. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ostle doth plainely controll them, saying, The workes of the flesh are 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which are adultery, fornication, vncleanesse, wantonnesse, Idolatry, &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 such like whereof I tell you now as I told you before that they which doe such things 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not inherite the Kingdome of GOD. This were false now, if that such men should become Saints, at any time whatsoeuer. But this is true scripture, and therefore that shall neuer come to passe. And if they bee neuer made 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the ioyes of heauen, then shall they bee euer-more bound in the •…•…ines of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, for there is no medium, wherein hee that is not in blisse, might •…•…ue a pla•…•… free from torment.

And therefore it is fitte, wee see how our Sauiours words may bee vnder∣stood •…•…ere hee sayth: This is the bread that came downe from heauen that hee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of it, should not die. I am the lyuing bread which came downe from hea∣•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of this bread, hee shall liue for euer &c. Those whome wee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 answere by and by, haue gotten an interpretation for these places, some∣what more restrained then those whome wee are to answere at this present. For those other doe not promise deliuery to all that receiue the Sacraments, but onely to the Catholikes (of what manner of life soeuer) for they onely are those that receiue the bodie of CHRIST, not onely sacramentally, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 al•…•…, (〈◊〉〈◊〉 they) as beeing the true members of his bodie, whereof the Apostle saith, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are one bread and one bodie. Hee therefore that is in this •…•…ity of CHRISTS members in one bodie, the sacrament whereof the faithfull doe daylie communicate, hee is truely sayd to receiue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bodie, and to drinke the bloud of CHRIST. So that Heretiques and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 who are cut off from this bodie, may indeed receiue the same 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them no good, but a great deale of hurt, in that great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it will both make their paines more heauy, and their continu∣ance 〈◊〉〈◊〉. For they are not in that vnity of peace, which is expressed (a) in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

But •…•…ow these that can obserue, that hee that is not in CHRIST, cannot receiue his body 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doe ouer-shoote themselues in promising absolution (at one time or other) to all the •…•…ators of superstition, Idolatry, or heresie. First, because they ought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 obserue how absurd, and farre from all likely hood 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that those (bee they more or lesse) that haue left the church and be∣come 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heretiques, should bee in beer estate then those whome they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to bee heretiques with them, before that they were Catholikes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 church, if to bee baptized, and to receiue CHRISTS body in the church, bee the causes of those arch-heretiques deliuery. For an Apostata, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the faith hee hath once professed, is worse then hee that op∣•…•… •…•…hat hee did neuer professe. Secondly, in that the Apostle himselfe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, concluding of the workes of the flesh, that, They which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ll 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Kingdome of GOD.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 therefore, and wicked men, secure themselues by their conti∣nuance 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it is written. He th•…•… endureth to the end, hee shalbe sa∣ued; nor by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…quity renounce Christ, their iustice, in committing fornicati∣on, and either 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any part of those fleshly workes which the Apostle re∣•…•…)

counteth, or such vncleanesses as hee would not name: for of all such, hee •…•…aith expressely, they shall not inherite the Kingdome of GOD. Wherefore the doers of such deeds cannot but bee in eternall paines, in that they are excluded from the euerlasting ioyes. For this kinde of perseuerance of theirs, is no per∣seuerance in CHRIST, because it is not a true perseuerance in his faith, which the Apostle defineth, to bee such as worketh by loue. And loue (as hee sayth else∣where) worketh not euill. So then these are no true receiuers of CHRISTS bodie, in that they are none of his true members. For (to omit other allega∣tions) they cannot bee both the members of CHRIST and the members of an harlot. And CHRIST himselfe saying hee that eateth my flesh and drink∣eth my bloud, dwelleth in me & I in him, sheweth what it is to receiue Christ (not onely sacramentally, but) truely: for this is to dwell in Christ and Christ in •…•…m. For thus hee spoke as if hee had sayd Hee that dwelleth not in mee, nor I in him, cannot say hee eateth my flesh, or drinketh my bloud. They therefore that are not members of CHRIST, are not in him: they that make themselues the members of an harlot, are no members of CHRIST, vnlesse they purge a∣way their badnesse by repentance, and returne to his goodnesse by a true recon∣ciliation.

L. VIVES.

EXpressed (a) in this sacrament.] For all pertake of one bread, which is a great bond of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Againe, this mysticall bread is made of many graines of corne, loosing their proper formes to bee all incorporated into one masse or body. So, many are receiued into the church, and at th•…•… entrance, they put off their owne proper enormities, and being linked to the rest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 loue, and charity, seeme now no more what they were before, but are incorporate into one body, the church. Baptisme maketh vs both bretheren, and one also: and mutuall charity giu∣eth forme, collour, taste, and perfection▪ to the whole body. So that there could not haue bin giuen a more fit type of the Church, then that which CHRIST gaue in his institution.

Notes

• 〈…〉〈…〉
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 6
• 〈…〉〈…〉.
• Ioh. 6.