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The Council of Trent desires that the usage of Indulgences may be reformed by those ancient and rigorous rules made a∣bout that matter,* 1.1 Che si tornasse all'antica severità. But 'tis not to be understood
that one should quite return to that an∣cient severity;* 1.2 non volle significare che vi si ritornasse in tutto; but that herein one should use prudence according to time and places,* 1.3 fin à quel segno che la condizione de tempi è de luoghi cansiliava, which depends on the Pope's prudence, that is to say, That the account upon which the Pope grants it be such, that the Pope in granting it commits no imprudence, and yet that the reason therefore in it self appear little considerable. As for Example, When the Pope grants a full Indulgence to him that shall visit St. Peter's Church, or stay to take the Pope's Blessing in a publick place; the Cause in it self does not appear so great that it should merit Indulgence or a Par∣don; but in the same thing we must di∣stinguish, what that thing is in it self, and what it is as to its End, for to attend, for Example, the Pope's Blessing in a Publick place is not an Act that appears in it self important, but yet 'tis very much so, when it is considered as to its end: which is thereby to make publick profession of Be∣lief of the Unity of the Church, and the Worship which is due to the Sovereign Pontifice, as Vicar of Jesus Christ,* 1.4 far co'tali opere che fia una professione univer∣sale esibita da Christiani sopra l'unita della chiesa è sopra il culto che rendono al Roma∣no Pontefice come Vicario di Christo. So that to make profession of this Worship is an act that's worth as much as all the ancient se∣verity
of Canonical Penances; and this is the sense that one should understand the Council of Trent in, when it desires that the ancient simplicity should be returned unto; wherefore the least actions being capable to be thus exalted through their End, though it were only to manifest the all-puissant∣ness of the Pope, it would bee rash, if from the small Importance which is found in those actions, one shoulld conclude there∣from a nullity in the grant of Indulgences, saremo temerarii se della tenuita delle azio∣ni conchiuderemo la nullità delle concessioni.* 1.5
Adde to this the vast profit which comes in to the Pope from these Indulgences. As in Pope Leo the tenth's Time, who granted them (when Luther Preached against them) to help build St. Peter's Church, for he wanted for that a vast summe of money, richiedendosi all'opera denaro immenso.* 1.6 Wherefore he had recourse to this efficaci∣ous remedy of Universal Indulgences, ad∣ding Liberty also to it to eat Cheese and Milk on Fasting-days, and to chuse what Confessour one listed.
This was in truth a great scandal to Christendom to see the Revenue of these Indulgences let out to him, that would give most, as temporal Princes do farm out Im∣posts; but it is certain also, as Princes would get little by their taxes, if they were to leavy them themselves, by their own im∣mediate Officers, so the Pope would get as 'twere nothing by Indulgences if he did
not find people to farm them at a Rate and Price,* 1.7 qual Principe non è costretto ad usar il medesimo in tutte le Gabelle che impone.
Its further true, that those Indulgences which were leavied upon the people to build St. Peter's Church, a material Temple, have been the cause of the ruine of a great part of the Churches Spiritual Temple, quel edi∣ficio materiale di San' Pietro rouino in gran' parte il suo edificio spirituale; because that for leavying so many Millions, which the vast work of that admirable Church was to take up, the Pope was constrained to publish those Indulgences, whereof Luther's Here∣sy took beginning, which hath impove∣rished the Church a many more Millions of Souls that are seperated from her Commu∣nion,* 1.8 percioche affin d'adunare tanti milioni quanti ne assorbiva l'immenso lavoro di quella chiesa, convenne far ciò d'onde prese origine l'eresia di Luthero, che à impoverita di molti più milioni d'anime la chiesa.
But yet this hinders not, but the build∣ing of that material Temple, which is the first Temple of the World, and which draws the greatest veneration to the Pope, was a very sufficient cause for granting those Indulgences; because that which is most im∣portant in the Church after the Worship of God, is the Worship of the Pope, and it would be Simony in the Pope to relinquish his Rights under pretence of buying thereby the salvation of Souls.
l. 24. c. 12.
l. 24. c. 12.
Ibid.
l. 2. c. 4.
l. 2. c. 4.
l. 1. c. 2.
l. 1. c. 3.
l. 1. c. 1.