A DEFENCE OF D r. TENISON's SERMON OF Discretion in Giving Alms. Written in a LETTER TO THE AUTHOR OF THE Apology for the Pulpits.

A DEFENCE OF Dr. TENSION's SERMON OF Discretion in Giving Alms, &c.

SIR,

I Have here sent you, according to my promise, The defence of my Printed Sermon: you may please to use it as you see occasion.

Though I have been a Preacher many years, yet, not perceiving any want of Printed Ser­mons, I never was prevail'd with to publish more than one. It was a Sermon preached at St. Sepulchres Church in London, instead of the Spitall, upon Wed­nesday in Easter-Week, April the sixth 1681. It was [Page 2] then a Thing in course to print such Spitall Sermons at the request of the Lord Mayor and Court of Alder­men: and with their Request I comply'd. I was the more inclin'd to do it, because I had seen little up­on that Subject [Discretion in giving Alms;] and yet I had very often observ'd, that Alms, by a care­less and unskilful distribution of them, fell unprofita­bly to the ground. And I did believe it to be one part of Charity to give caution to the Rich for the Advan­tage of the true Objects of their Liberality. I am not surprized at the offence which some have taken at this Sermon; for it touches a very tender part, when it touches their gain.

Those who have appeared against it are two per­sons of the Roman Communion; The Author of the Advice to Pulpits, and Mr. A. Pulton, Jesuit.

The first of these, the Author of Advice to Pulpits (who is of the number of those forward Men who give Counsel when they stand in need of it) has pick'd out the following passage, which, by the mention of Indulgences (which tempt loose men to say to their Souls; Souls take your Ease, you have pardons laid up for many Years;) is become very grievous to Him and his Follower. Good Ad­vice to the Pul­pits, p. 39. Tho. Tenison at S. Sepul. 6. Apr. 1081. p. 16. ‘There is great boast made of Alms in the Ro­mish Church, they sound the trumpet of them per­petually in our Ears. But what is the End to which a great part of this Charity tendeth?—The Scope they too often vainly aim at, is the Blessing of a pre­sumed Saint, who is ignorant of them; Security from the External force of Evil Spirits, by the charms, and spells of Monkish Conjuration, a sort of Eccle­siastic Magic, which those very Spirits invent and encourage—Nay sometimes the Scope is that very wicked one of compounding with Heaven by [Page 3] their liberal Alms, for their unforsaken Sins. And here in this Nation (whilst the Island was enchanted with Popery) there were granted Indulgences even for what they call Deadly Sins, for many thousand Years to come.’

Here these Remarks may (I think) be made, with­out impertinence:

1. He first leaves out these Words [frequently the Motive which perswades them is extremely selfish, and the means they use are extravagantly indis­creet] then he drops those betwixt incourage, P. 16. and Nay. ‘—Avoidance of those causless Curses and Anathema's which are with Terror denounced from their Seven hill'd counterfeit Sinai; Preservation from, or deliverance out of, the imaginary flames of Purgatory, blown on purpose by Jesuitick breath for the melting of the Treasures of credulous peo­ple; Canonization, as scandalous as it is chargeable, P. 17. and perform'd in such manner, that, according to the Note of Cardinal Bessarion, the making of their New Saints doth move some sceptical Men to que­stion the Old ones.’

He leaves out these Words; which are not far from those he cited.

‘The things they purchase as conducive to these ends, P. 17. are the Wares of dark imposture; namely, such as these. Shrines, Images, Lamps, Incense, Ho­ly Water, Agnus Dei's, Blessed grains, Roses, Pebbles, Rings, Beads, Reliques, Pardons, Masses, Diriges, and Soul-Obits; the goodly Inventory of Superstition.’

This, it seems, was too particular for the purpose of Men who deal in generals which admit of less discovery.

[Page 4] 2. Whilst he recites the Charge [of Indulgences granted even for what they call deadly Sins for many thousands of years to come] he leaves out the Proof of it; Printed in the Margin in these words, Horae B. M. ad us. Sar. Fol. 66. ‘Who that devoutly say [these three Prayers] shall obtain ten hundred thou­sand years of Pardon for deadly Sins, granted by our Holy Father John 22d. P. of R.’

3. He allows, that the Practice with which the Church of Rome is hore charg'd is, in its Nature, very wicked. Otherwise, why does he bring this part of my Sermon as an instance (under his third Caution) of exposing the Roman Church, P. 30, 31. and laying on blacker Colours than justly belong to her?

4. There remains then, nothing but the Proof of this Charge; and that is Printed with the Charge, but left out by this Censurer; that his party who read on one side only, may believe my words to be malicious Slanders, without any ground for their support.

For Mr. Poulton, either he had Read my Sermon, or he trusted to the Book of the Adviser. If he tru­sted to him, he was deceived by him; and he ought not, at adventure, and with a mixture of credulity and confidence, to have accused me falsly; much less in Publick. If he read my Sermon himself, then the words he us'd in reproaching me, and in discouraging people from hearing of me, are a Demonstration of a wilful Malice: for these are the Expressions he used in his Afternoons-Exercise at the Savoy-Mass-House, on November the twenty seventh last past; of which the Effects have been, a further discovery of his rash and insincere dealing, and the People's Contempt of his useless Admonition.

[Page 5]
Mr. Pulton's Avice.
—Therefore, I say, if there be any of your Preachers tell you in their Sermons, that the Roman Catholicks do believe and do those things, which 'tis evident We do not, you ought to have the greater Care of them: I shall not mention the Names of any; they are done in an excellent Book lately pub­lished, Intituled Good Advice to the Pulpits, which I would have every one here read and have by them; wherein you'l find an Eminent Doctor (or one that is so thought to be) in his Sermon taking occasion to lay this Calumny on the Church of Rome, viz. that the Pope has oft-times granted his Bulls of In­dulgence for many years sins unrepented of; and that it has been, and is a common Practice: Now I say, that this is notoriously false; for I would sain have this Doctor discover by whom these Bulls have been granted? what time? in what place, &c? Or else 'tis a palpable imposture, and abuse both to us and his Auditory; and there when he goes thus to misinform six hundred, or more, that come at a time to hear him Preach the truth of the Gospel, they ought to have a Care how they trust him for the future.

1. Now here Mr. Pulton has added both to the words in the Adviser's Book, and to those in my Sermon. I say sometimes, and He makes me to say that it has been and is a common Practice. I did not say it; but how nigh I should have come to Truth, if it had been said by me, will by and by appear.

[Page 6] 2. The Reader has here a farther Exemplification of Mr. Pulton's Method in disputing or managing a Conference. He has Proofs given him, and he takes no notice of them, and goes on asking, Where are they, &c.? I had cited the Book, the Indulgence, the Pope that granted it; and he cries out, by whom was it granted? at what time? and what place? this 'tis to have been refin'd by Travel, and to have staid eighteen Years out of the dull Air of England.

3. But, seeing Mr. Pulton is so much upon Inquiry, I will give him my first Proof more at length; and then several other Instances, (though not, all of them, of so high a strain) out of the same Authentick Book, in which the Rubricks, which mention the Indulgen­ces, are printed in English; but the Prayers are in Latin. For some believe them to be, in this, like Charms, which have the more Vertue, the less they are un­derstood.

Horae B. Virginis Mariae ad usum Sarisburiensem, Fol. 66. Paris. 1526.

THese 3. Prayers be wrytten in the Chappell of the Holy Crosse in Rome, otherwise called Sa­cellum sanctae Crucis septem Romanorum: who that de­voutly say them, shall obteyne 1000000. of yers of Par­don for deedly Synnes graunted of our holy Father Ihon 22. Pope of Rome.

Pater Noster Ave. Oratio.

Domine Jesu Christe, &c.

[Page 7] TO all them that before this Ymage of Pyte de­voutly say 5. Fol. 54. 1. Pater Noster and 5. Abes, and a Credo, pytuously beholdynge these Armes of Crysts Passion are graunted 32755. years of Pardon. And Sixtus the 4th Pope of Rome hath made the fourth and fifth Prayer, and hath doubulled hys foresaid Pardon.

Adoro te Domine Jesu Christe in Cruce pendentem, &c.

THis Epistell of our Saviour sendeth our holy Fa­ther Pope Leo to the Emperour Carolo Magno, Fol. 66. p. 1. of the whyche we syndest wrytten, who that bereth thys Blessynge upon him and sayth it ones a day, shall obtein forty yere Pardon, and 80. Lenttyge. And he shall not peryshe wyth soden death.

Crux X. Christi sit mecum.

Crux X. est quam semper adoro, &c.

OUr holy Father Pope John the 22. Fol. 58. p. 2. hath graunted a hundred days of Pardon to all them that say this Prayer at the Elevacyon of our Lord Jesus Cryste.

Oratio.

Ave Caro Christi Chara immolata Crucis ara, &c.

[Page 8] OUr holy Father Innocentius Pope of Rome, Fol. 59. p. 1. hath graunted seven yere of Pardon to all them that say this Prayer devoutly at the Elevacyon of our Lord in the Mass.

Oratio.

Salve lux mundi: Verbum Patris, &c.

THis Prayer was shewed unto St. Augustine by Revelacyon of the Holy Gooste, Fol. 62. p. 2. and who that devoutly say this Prayer or hyre rede or beareth about them shall not perish in Fyer or Water no­ther in Battil or Judgement and he shall not dy of sodyn Death, and no Venym shall poysmn him that day; and what he asketh of God he shall obtein, if it be to the salvation of his Soule; and whan thy Soul shall depart from thy Body, it shall not enter to Hell. Pater Noster. Ave Maria.

Deus propicius esto mihi, &c.

THese 5. Petitions and Prayers made by St. Gre­gory, Fol. 65. p. 1. and hath graunted unto all them that devouted say these 5. Prayers, with 5. Pater Noster, 5. The Maria, and a Credo, 500. years of Pardon.

Oratio.

Ave Manus Dextera Christi &c.

[Page 9] THis Prayer shall ye say in the Worshyp of all the blessyd members of Cryste devoutly: Fol. 65. p. 2. and ye shall have 300. days of Pardon for every Salve.

Oratio.

Salve tremendum cunctis potestatibus Caput &c.

THis Prayer is made by our Holy Father the Ihon the 22. Fol. 66. p. 2. and he hath graunted unto all them that devoutly say this Prayer beholding the gloryous visage or vernakell of our Lord, 10000. dayes of Pardon: and they that kann not say this Prayer, let them say 5. Pater Noster, 5. Abes, and 5. Credo in Deum.

Salve Sancta facies Nostri Redemptoris &c.

AN other Oryson to the blessyd Vernacle of our Lord, Fol. 67. p. 2. who that sayth it devoutly shall have 3. yers of Pardon, graunted by our Holy Father the Pope Innocentius.

Oratio.

Ave facies praeclara &c.

WHo that devoutly beholdeth Thys Armes of our Lord Jesus Cryste, Fol. 68. p. 2. shall obteyne 6000. yers of Pardon of our Holy Father St. Peter the fyrste Pope of Rome, and of 30. other Popes of the Chyrche of Rome successours after hym, and our Holy Father [Page 10] Pope Ihon the 22. hath graunted unto all them very contryte and trewly confessed, that say these devout Prayers followinge in the Commemoracyon of the byt­ter passyon of our Lord Jesus Cryste 3000. years of Pardon for deedly Synnes, and other 3000. for ve­nial Synnes, and say fyrste a Pater Noster and The Maria.

Oratio.

Dirupisti Domine Vincula mea &c.

THis Prayer made the holy Doctor St. Ambros of all the Artycles of Crystus passyon, Fol. 70. p. 1. and our holy Father Anastasius the Pope hath graunted to all them that devoutly say it five hondreth days of Par­don.

Oratio.

Domine Jesu Christe &c.

OUr holy Father Pope Innocentius the 2d. hath graunted to all them that say this Prayer devoutly in the Worship of the wound that our Lord had in his blessyd syde whan he was deed, Fol. 71. p. 2. hanging in the Crosse. 4000. days of Pardon. Pater Noster. The Ma­ria.

Oratio.

Ave Vulnus Lateris Nostri Salvatoris &c.

Oratio Sancti Bernardi de Senis Ordinis Minorum.

THis moost devoutly prayer sayd the Holy Father Saint Bernard dayly knelying in the Worshyp of the moost holy name Jesus. Fol. 72. p. 1, 2. And it is well to be­lieve, that through the Invocation of the moost Excellent name of Jesu St. Bernard obteyned a Syngulare ward of perpetual consolacion of our Lord Jesu Cryste. And this Prayer is wrytten in a thabell that haunged at Rome in St. Peter's Chyrche nere to the high Awter there as our holy Fader the Pope evely is wounte to say the office of the Masse; and who that devoutly wythe a Contryte herte dayly say thys oryson, yf he be that day in the state of eternal damnacyon, than this eternal payne shall be chaunged him in temporal payne of purgatory, it shall be forgotten and forgyven throw the infinyte mercy of God. Pater Noster. The Maria.

Oratio.

O bone Jesu. O dulcis Jesu. O Jesu fili Mariae. &c. Fol. 79. p. 1.

ALexander the 6th Pope of Rome hath graunted to all them that say thys Prayer devoutly in the worshyp of St. Anna, and our Lady and her Son Je­sus 10000. yers of Pardon for deedly Synnes to­tiens quotiens.

Oratio.

Ave Maria gratiâ plena Dominus tecum &c.

[Page 12] ANother devout Prayer to be sayde before the ymage of St. Anna, Fol. 79. p. 1. Maria and Jesus: of the whyche Raymundus the Cardinal and Legate hath graunted a 100. days of Pardon totiens quotiens.

Oratio.

Quotquot Maris sunt guttae & arenae, terrae grana &c.

A After all this, Mr. P. may, perhaps, offer at an Evasion, and alledge, that Prayers, with­out Money, procure Indulgence. Be it one way or other, they have found out an easy method of com­forting Sinners. My Sermon speaks of the Money un­der the name of Almes. But Pope Leo call'd it a Tax; and the Council of Trent in one place calls it Almes, and Gain in another Sess. 22. c. 9. p. 230. Sess. 25. decret. de Indulgentiis. p. 388. They take it under the name of Almes; but, no Penny, no Indulgence, if the Penny be to be had. And when a Pope grants one, he grants to the dispensers, as great a temporal benefit as if he had given them a Toll, a Fayr, or a Mercat.

The Jesuit Escobar (in his Book taken from the works of 24. Jesuites, and printed 37 times in Spain, and thrice at Lions and once at Brussels,) saies something of this nature, but elsewhere more is told. Escob. Mor. Theol. Tract. 7. Exam. 5. de Indulgentiis, p. 1055. Indicitur Eleemosyna ad indulgentiae lucratio­nem: sufficit quaelibet? sufficit obolus si non indicatur fieri cum proportione ad facultates. Quid si pauper vel obolo careat? Commutandam Eleemosynam in aliud pium opus aliqui asseruere. Ast Ego cum Antonio Fernandez de Corduba part. 3. c. 7. § 8. n. 3. affirmo mentem esse Pontificis, quod qui Eleemosynam exhi [...]ere non potest, abs (que) ullâ Commutatione indulgentiam consequatur.

‘ Is an Alms exacted for the gaining of an Indulgence: do's any suffice? A halfpenny sufficeth, if it be not de­clared [Page 13] that it is done proportionably to the fortunes of the Giver. But what if a poor Man ha's not so much as an halfpenny? Some have asserted that in such a case there should be a Commutation of the Alms into some other pious work. But I, with Anthonie Fernandez of Corduba part. 3, c. 7. §. 8. n. 3. do affirm that it is the mind of the Pope that he who is not able to give an Alms, may obtain an Indulgence without any Com­muting.’

It should seem by this Casuist, that Money is the prin­cipal matter aim'd at.

But much more Money ha's been design'd and procur'd than Escobar's Halfpennys would amount to. For Pope Boniface the ninth made, by his Agents, in one Province above a hundred thousand Florens by selling of Pardons; and he had so great Custom for them, be­cause he gave Indulgence for All Sinns without Repentance. So an Author of their own assures us. Theod. à Ni [...]m Pontif. seriba & Epise. Verdensis de Schismate, &c. l. 1. c. 68. p. 73. Bonifacius hujusmodi Offertoriis non contentus, &c. ad diversa Regna misit Quaestuarios vendendo dictam Indulgentiam offerentibus tantum, quantum essent expensuri in viâ si proptertà ivissent ad urbem. Et hujusmodi Exactores seu Questuarii etiam maximas summas pecuniarum à simplicibus seu Barbaris subtiliter ex­torserunt, ita aliquando in uno regno seu in unâ provinciâ hujusmodi venditionibus ultra centum millia Florenorum reportarunt, quia Oinnia peccata etiam Sine poenitentia Ipsis Confitentibus ye­laxarunt. Super quibuslibet irregularitatibus dispensarunt interventu pecuniae, &c.

It is true, other Alms are sometimes required, but together with them there goes Money for the special Masses, as in the following Example, which I have transcrib'd from the End of an Antient Roman office in MS.

What Man or Woman, that causeth or maketh thies Messes folouing devoteli to be saed for themself or for any other special frend in whatsoever tri­bulacion. [Page 14] nede. Sekenes. or dises that thai be in. thai schal be delivered with the grace of God within. X. daes. And in the sam forme the Saul of ther Frende, schal be pardon'd and relesed. of their panes in Purgatori.

First schal be said of the Sondai. a mes in the worschippe of the Trinite. being light. iij. candels. and that dai fede. iij. pore men. or doo. iij. almes dedis.

The Moundai a mes in the Worschip of St. Michael and al the Angels. and light nine candels, and fede nine pore men. or doo. ix. almes dedis.

The Tisedai a mes of Saint John Evangle. and light iiij. candels. and fede iiij. pore men, or doo iiij. almes dedis.

The Weddonsdai a mes of Saint Peter and other Apostels. and light. xii. candels. and fede xii. pore men. or doo xii. almes dedis.

The Thorisdai a mes of the holi gost and light vii. candels, and fede vii. pore men. or doo vii. almes dedis.

The Fridai a mes of the holi cros. and light v. candels. and fede. v. pore men. or do. v. almes dedis.

The Saterdai a mes of owr Ladi and light a candel. and fede a por man. or doo a almes dede.

And at ich on of thies messes aforsaid must be, offerde after the power and devocion of them that causeth thies messes to be said. and verali thorow goddis merci this praer within short time shall be hard of God, and sai this holi ympe Ueni sancte spiritus within vii. Verses and this versicul. Emitte spiritum tuum & creabuntur. And this Collet fol­lowing. S. Deus qui corda fidelium.

If this be too ancient and out of Date, I will offer one, which is more Modern; in which, though the gaining of Money is not proposed, yet great Super­stition appears, and the easiness of Pennance.

Indulgenze che la santita' din. Signore Clemente Papa K. concede alle Corone, Ro­sarii Imagini, Croci, e Medaglie benedette, in occasione della Canonizatione de Santi Confessori Gaetano, Francesco Borgia, Fi­lippo Benizio, Lodovico Beltrando, e di Santa Rosa Vergine del Peru.

CHi sarà solito dire, una volta almeno la settimana, la Corona del Signore, ò della Madonna, ò'l Rosa­rio, ò la sua terza parte, ò l' Officio Divino, ò piccolo della Madonna. ò de' Morti, overo i sette Salmi Penitenzialè, ò Graduali, overo haver à per usanza di visitare i carcerati, ò di souvenire i poueri, ò di far per un quarto d'hora alme­no, orazion mentale; se confessandosi da Confessore appro­vato dall' Ordinario, e communicandosi in qualsivoglia delle Feste del Signorè, e della B. V. che celebra la S. Chiesa, cio è Natività, Circoncisione, Epifania, Resurrezione, Ascensione, Pentecoste, Trinità, e Corpus Domini; Con­cezione, Natività, Presentazione, Visitazione, Annunzia­zione, Purificazione, & Assunzione della B. V. ò nel gior­no della Natività di S. Gio. Battista, ò de SS. Apostoli Petro, Paolo, ò dell' uno dè sudetti cinque Sancti Canoni­zati, ò de tutti i santi, ò della dedicazione della propria Chiesa, ò del Padrone, ò Titolo di essa, devotamente pre­garà Dio per l'estirpazione dell' Eresie, e per la Propaga­zione della Fede Cattolica, e per altre necessita della santa Madre Chiesa, ogni volta conseguisca Indulgenza plenaria.

Chi digiuner à la vigilia di ciasche duno de' sudetti cinque santi, e confessato si communicherà nec giorno della sua fe­sta, [Page 16] e pregherà come sopra, acquisterà ogni volta Indul­genza plenaria.

Chi dira messa, overo confessato, e communicato l' udi­rà, all' Altare dove sia l' imagine, ò'l corpo, ò qualche re­liquia d'uno de' Sudetti Santi, in un giorno di ciasche dun mese à sua elezione, pregando come sopra, acquisti Indul­genza plenaria.

Chi pentito de' suoi peccati, con proposito d' emendarsi, vi­siterà in un'istesso giorno sette chiese à sua elezione, e doue sette Chiese non sieno, visitarà tutte quelle, che vi sono, & essendovene solo una visitarà tutti gl' Altari di essa; similmente pregando per l'esterpazione dell' Eresie, &c. una volta l' anno guadagni l' Indulgenze delle sette Chiese di Roma.

Chi pensera devotamente à qualche Mistero della Passio­ne di Nostro Signore, & à riverenzà della medesima Passione bacierà humilmente la terra sette volte, in quel giorno acquisterà l' Indulgenza della Scala santa, e ciò una volta l' anno.

Chi farà un' atto di pentimento vero de suoi peccati, con­fermo proposito d' emendarsene, ò ch'serciterà qualche atto di virtu ad esempio de' sudetti Santi, guadagni ogni volta sette anni, & altretante quarantene d' Indulgenza.

Chi leggerà qualche Capitolo della Vica de sudetti Santi, ò viseterà il loro Altare, ò venererà la loro immagine, pre­gando per l'estaltazione di santa Chiesa, e per la conver­sione de peccatori, guadagni ogni volta cento giorni de In­dulgenza.

Chiunque si eserciter à nella divozione del Santissimo Sa­cramento dell' Altare, ò della Vergine meditando quel Mistero, e i beneficii, che à not ne dirivano, overo com­patendo à i dolori, che senti la Beatissima Vergine per la Passione, e morte del Figlio, ò in altra forma vener ando il Santissimo Sacramento, e pregando per i visogni della [Page 17] Santa Chiesa, guadagni ogni volta cento giorni d' Indul­genza.

Chi farà qualche limosina a' poveri, overo compatendo à i dolori gìistruirà nelle cose della Fede, ò buoni costumi, ò pure opererà, che ciò si faccia da altri, ogni volta gua­dagni cento giorni d' Indulgenza.

Chi stando in Roma, ò nel suo Distretto per lo spazio di venti miglia per legitimo impedimento non potria essere presente alla Beneditione solenne, che il sommo Pontefice suol dare nel giorno di Pasqua, e dell' Ascensione, se con­fessato, e communicato, preghera per l'estirpazione dell' Eresie, &c. acquisterà l' Indulgenza come se fosse presente: la quale Indulgenza conseguirà parimente chi sta­rà fuori di Roma, e di tal Discretto, in qualunque luo­go si sia, benche egli non sia impedito, facendo le cose su­dette.

Chi raccommanderà devotamente à Dio in articolo di morte l'anima sua, & insieme ricorrerà all' intercessione de sudetti Santi ò d' uno di essi con la bocca, ò, non poten­do, col cuore, essendosi confessato, e communicato, ò, non potendo, almeno contrito, conseguisca plenaria Indulgenza de suoi peccati.

Che ciascuna delle soprad. Indulgenze si possa applicare all' anime del Purgatorio per modo di suffragio.

Per acquistore le sopradette Indulgenze basta havere una Corona, ò Medaglia, &c. benedetta da sua santità con le me­desime Indulgenze, facendo gl' atti prescritti, come sopra, benche per altro si douvessero fare per obligo.

Commanda sua Santità, che nella distribuzione, & uso di queste Medaglie, Corone, &c. si osserui il Decreto della fe. mem. di Alessandro VII. stampato sotto li 6. Febraro 1657. cioè, che le Medaglie, Corone, &c. benedette con le sopra­dette Indulgenze non passino la parsona di quelle, à quali sar anno consedute, ò à quali da questi saranno distribuite [Page 18] per la prima volta; e che non possano prestarsi ad altri, ò darsi precariamente, altrimenti perdano l'Indulgenza, che anno; e che per dendosene una, non se ne possa sostituire in suo luogo un altra, non ostente qualunque concessione, ò priulegio in contrario. Sua santità prohibisce la stampa di queste Indulgenze in ogni altro luogo, fuori di Roma.

Michel Angelo Ricci Secr.
In Roma, Nella Stamperiadella Rev. Cam. Apost. 1676. Con licenza de'Superiori.

Indulgences which his Holiness our Lord Pope Clement the X. grants to Crowns, Rosa­ries, Images, Crosses and Medals, blessed upon the Occasion of Canonizing the Saints and Confessors Gaetano, Francesco Borgia, Philippo Benizio, Lodowico Beltrando, and of St. Rosa a Virgin of Peru.

WHosoever shall use to say, at least once in the Week, the Crown of our Lord, or of our Lady, or the Rosarie, or the third part of it, or the Divino Office of our Lady, or of the Dead; or else the seven Pe­nitential Psalms, or the Graduals, or shall use to visit Pri­soners, or to relieve the Poor, or to make mental Prayer for at least a quarter of an hour, confessing himself to a Confessor, approved by the Ordinary, and communica­ting upon any of the Holy-days of our Lord, and of the Blessed Virgin, which Holy Church does celebrate; that is to say, Christmas, the Circumcision, Epiphany, the Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, and Corpus Christi; The Conception, Nativity, Presentation, Visitation, Annunciation, Purification, and the Assum­ption of the Blessed Virgin, or on the day of the Nati­vity of St. John Baptist, or of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul; or of one of the abovesaid five Canonized Saints, or of All Saints, or of the Dedication of his [Page 20] own Church, or of the Patron and Title of it, shall devoutly pray to God for the rooting out of Heresie, and for the Propagation of the Catholick Faith, and for the other Necessities of Holy Mother Church, shall every time obtain Plenary Indulgence.

Whosoever shall fast the Eve of every one of the abovesaid five Saints, and having confessed, shall com­municate upon their Holy-day and shall pray, as has been directed, shall every time obtain Plenary Indulgence.

Whosoever shall say Mass, or being confessed and communicated shall hear it at an Altar where the Image or Body, or some Relique of one of the abovesaid Saints shall be, upon any day of every Month, at his own choice praying, as above, shall obtain Plenary Indulgence.

Whosoever repenting of his Sins, with purpose of Amendment, shall visit in one day seven Churches at his own Choice; and where there be not seven, shall visit all that there be; and where there is but one, shall visit all the Altars of it, praying likewise for the Extirpation of Heresie, &c. once a year, shall obtain the Indulgences of the seven Churches of Rome.

Whosoever shall think devoutly upon any Mystery of the Passion of our Lord, and in Reverence of that Passion, shall humbly kiss the Ground seven times, shall obtain upon that day, the Indulgence of the Scala Sancta, and that once every year.

Whosoever shall do an Act of true Repentance of his Sins, with true purpose of forsaking them; or shall [Page 21] stir up some Act of Vertue after the Example of the aforesaid Saints, shall every time obtain seven Years, and as many Quarantains of Indulgence.

Whosoever shall read some Chapter of the Life of the aforesaid Saints, or shall visit their Altar, or shall Ve­nerate their Image, praying for the Exaltation of Holy Church, and for the Conversion of Sinners, shall every time obtain an hundred days of Indulgence.

Whosoever shall exercise himself in the devotion of the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, or of the Vir­gin, meditating that Mystery, and those Benefits, which are derived to us from thence; or else having a feeling of those Griefs which the Blessed Virgin felt for the Passion and Death of her Son, or in other form adoring the most Holy Sacrament, and praying for the Needs of Holy Church, shall every time obtain a hundred days of Indulgence.

Whosoever shall give an Alms to the Poor; or ha­ving Compassion of their Sufferings, shall instruct them in Matters of Faith, or good Manners, or shall cause the same to be done by others, shall each time obtain a hundred days of Indulgence.

Whosoever being in Rome, or within the space of twenty Miles of it, and cannot be by reason of some Lawful Impediment, present at the solemn Benediction, which the Pope is wont to give upon Easter-day; and Ascension-day; and having confessed and communica­ted; shall pray for the Extirpation of Heresie, &c. shall obtain the same Indulgence, as if he were present; which Indulgence he likewise shall obtain, who being [Page 22] out of Rome and out of the said distance in any place whatsoever (though he be not hinder'd) provided he do the abovesaid things.

Whosoever shall devoutly recommend the Soul to God in the instant of Death, and together shall have recourse to the Intercession of the abovesaid Saints, or to any one of them, with his Mouth; or not being able to do so, with his Heart, having confessed and communicated, or not being able to do so, being at least Contrite, shall obtain Plenary Indulgence for all his Sins.

That every one of the abovesaid Indulgences may be applied to the Souls in Purgatory, by the way of Suf­frage.

To obtain the abovesaid Indulgences it is sufficient to have a Crown or Medal, &c. blessed by his Holiness with the same Indulgences, doing the Acts appointed, as above, though they were otherwise to be done by Obligation or Duty.

His Holiness commands, That in the distribution of these Medals, Crowns, &c. That Decree of Alexander the VII. of happy Memory be observed, which was printed February the 6th. 1657. viz. That the Medals, Crowns, &c. blessed with the abovesaid Indulgences, may not pass from the Person of those, to whom they shall be granted, or to whom they shall be by them distri­buted for the first time; and that they cannot be lent to another, or given by intreaty; for thereby they lose the Indulgence they have; and one of them be­ing lost, another cannot be substituted in its Place, [Page 23] notwithstanding any Grant or Priviledge to the con­trary.

His Holiness prohibits the printing of these Indul­gences in any other place, except Rome.

Michel Angelo Ricci Secretary.
Rome, In the Printing-House of the Reverend Apostolical Chamber, 1676. With Licence of the Superiours.

This is an Indulgence granted by a Pope; And any English Man may see some such thing in his own Coun­trey, and granted by a Bishop of a lower Chair: I mean the Inscription containing the Lord Beauchamp's In­dulgence. It is written in a very fair Saxon Letter, at the South-East Corner Pillar of the Quire at Windsor upon a large Tablet, and underneath a Niche in the Wall or Pillar, in which the Book therein mentioned, is suppos'd to have been put; as also the Cross: It being almost in the manner of one of their smaller Altars. The Inscription is this:

Who leyde this Booke here.

The Reverend Fader in God Richard Beauchamp Bishop of this diocyse of Sarysbury [...] And wherefore [...] to this entent that Preestes and Ministers of Goddis Church may here have the Occupacion thereof seying there in their di­vyne servyse and for alle other that lystyn to sey there­by ther devocyon.

[Page 24] Askyth he any spiritual mede [...] yee asmoche as our Lord lyst to reward hym for his good entent praying every Man wos Dute or De­voycion is Cased by thys Book they woll sey for hym this Commune oryson̄ Domine Jesu Christe, knelying in the Presence of this Holy Cross for the whyche the Reverend Fader in God aboveseyd hathe grauntid of the Tresure of the Chirche to every Man, XL. dayys of Pardun.

This Beauchamp was a Doctor of Law; After­wards Arch-Deacon of Suffolk: then Bishop of He­reford, Anno 1448. Thence he was translated to Sarum, Anno 1450. and twenty seven years after this was made Dean of Windsor, viz. Anno 1477. 17th. Ed­ward 4th. He was the first Chancellour of the Garter, he was nearly related to Edward the Fourth.

These Pardons so easily obtain'd cannot but occa­sion in the People who procure them looseness of Manners; which if it be so offensive to Mr. Pulton's Church and Person, how comes it to pass, that in his Remarks M. P. Rem. p. 14. he uses these loose Words? ‘The Fathers there Assembled [that is at Nice in the Second Council] said, as they ought, That an Oath made to the Devil, could not oblige; and that it would be less Sin to be naught with a Wo­man (it being a Personal and private Trespass) than by denying the Respect due to holy Images (at that time wickedly oppugn'd by the most Im­pious Iconoclasts) to give occasion of publick Scan­dal and Heresie.’

[Page 25] I thank God I do not familiarly know one Clergy­Man of our Church (either married or unmarried) who would have written this Case with so unchaste a Pen: or who would, with such presumption, have ad­vanced the unjust Opinion of a very weak and partial Synod above the most reasonable Law of God.

I do not doubt but this immodest Case is as offen­sive to your self, as it is to me and many others. I will, therefore, lay it aside, and put an end to your Pain and this tedious Letter together.

S. M. Jan. 11. 87.
Sir, I am Your most faithful Friend and Servant, THO. TENISON.
FINIS.

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