A briefe institution of the common places of sacred divinitie. Wherein, the truth of every place is proved, and the sophismes of Bellarmine are reprooved. Written in Latine, by Lucas Trelcatius, and Englished by Iohn Gawen, minister of Gods word.

In Defence of the matter of Actual sinne, against the distinction of Sinne Ʋeni∣all, and Mortall. Bellar. Lib. 1. Cap. 9.10.

I.

THe Testimonies of Scripture, doe not proue, or confirme the Veri∣ty

of the distinction, according to the mind of the adversary. Not the First, Mat. 5. for hee treateth of the inequa∣lity, not onely of sinnes, but also of punishments, by an allusion to civill, or politicke punishments. Not the Second, Mat. 23. for hee treateth of the nature of Hypocrites, who being carefull in small matters, doe openly neglect the chiefest things, and make not a diffe∣rence betweene those things, which by themselues, and alwayes are necessary; and those, whereof not the want, but the contempt doth make vs guilty (or culpable.) Not the Third, Luc. 6. for he treateth of them, who hunt after prayse, by the reprehending of others, but doe neyther know, nor reproue themselues: being in others very quicke sighted, but in themselues blind. Not the Fourth, Luc. 12. for hee speaketh of the duety of loue towardes our neighbour, whereby wee are bound af∣ter the example of Gods goodnesse to forgiue even the least sinnes. Not the Fift, 1. Cor. 3. for hee speaketh of do∣ctrine,

and the manner of teaching, & that by a supposition applyed to the Doctors of the Corinthians. Not the Sixt, Iac. 1. for hee speaketh of the degrees of sinnes, which are three, Viti∣ousnesse, a vitious motion, and vitious action. And of all these, Death is made the reward (or wages). Not the two Last, Math. 12. for hee speaketh of the nature of Sinnes, even the least or lightest: for which notwithstanding, we are presented guilty before God. Eph. 5. because both the heavinesse of sinnes, and the effect of the same, are expounded Synecdochically.

II.

THe Testimonies of Councels, and Fathers, are either suspected, or in controversie: as of the Tridentine Councell, and of the Popes, both Pi∣us, and Gregorie: or doe treat of the inequality, and divers degrees of sins, as the Councell of Milevitum, and of the Fathers, Augustine, Origen, Chry∣sostome,

and Hierome.

III.

THe reasons which are alleadged, proue nothing. Not the first; because it is grounded vpon a double false, presupposall. Vppon the one, that sinnes in the faithfull are not mortall; For the Wages of Sinne, of whatsoever manner it be, vnlesse it bee forgiven, is Death. Vpon the o••her, that the sinnes of the faithfull are lighter then the sinnes of the vnfaithfull, and so in their Nature Veniall. For in that sinnes are Veniall in the faithfull, it is not from the nature of the sinnes, but from the Grace of God, and in that they are not so in the vnfaithfull, it is not from God, but from the nature both of the sinnes, and sinners. Not the Second, because Sinne is not sayde to be Veni∣all, or pardonable, for that it is wor∣thy of pardon, but for that God vouch∣safeth pardon to the Sinne, and the Sinner. Not the Third, because it is

false, both that Sinne is Veniall of it own nature, and that any the least Sinne should not bee against Charity. For it is the transgression of the Law, the ende whereof is Loue. Not the Fourth, because the Nature (or consi∣deration) of man offended is one, and of God is another, for according to the party offended, the greatenesse of the offence is esteemed. Not the Fift; for no sinne is vnperfect, because eve∣ry sinne is a perfect iniquity, though there bee degrees of this perfection. Not the Sixt, because though all sins doe not exclude charity, yet they offend. Now in that they exclude not, or are veniall to the faithfull; we must impute it not to sinne it selfe, but to Gods mercy in Christ.