[31] Alienus est à fide qui ad agendam pœnitentiam tempus expectat senectutis. Jo. Benedictus Paris. in Annot. in Luc. xii. Multos vitam differentes mors incerta prævenit. Id. ib. ex Senec.
[32] Næ illi falsi sunt, qui diversissimas res pariter expectant, ignaviæ voluptatem et præmia virtutis. Sallust. Tenebit te diabolus sub specie libertatis addictum, ut sit tibi liberum peccare, non vivere: Captivum te tenet author scelerum, compedes tibi libidinis imposuit, et undique te sepsit armatâ custodiâ; Legem tibi dedit ut licitum putes omne quod non licet; et vivum te in eternæ mortis foveam demersit. Hugo Etherianus de Animar. regressu, cap. 9.
[33] Acosta saith, that the Indians are so addicted to their idolatry, and unwearied in it, that he knoweth not what words can sufficiently declare, how totally their minds are transformed into it, no whoremonger having so mad a love to his whore, as they to their idols: so that neither in their idleness or their business, neither in public or in private, will they do any thing, till they have first used their superstition to their idols: they will neither rejoice at weddings, nor mourn at funerals, neither make a feast, or partake of it, nor so much as move a foot out of doors, or a hand to any work, without this heathenish sacrilege: and all this they do with the greatest secresy, lest the christians should know it. Lib. 5. cap. 8. p. 467. See here how nature teacheth all men that there is a Deity to be worshipped with all possible love and industry! And shall the worshippers of the true God then think it unnecessary preciseness, to be as diligent and hearty in his service?
[34] How penitents of old did rise even from a particular sin, judge by these words of Pacianus Parænes. ad Pœnit. Bibl. Pat. To. 3. p. 74. "You must not only do that which may be seen of the priest, and praised by the bishop—to weep before the church, to lament a lost or sinful life in a sordid garment, to fast, pray, to roll on the earth; if any invite you to the bath (or such pleasures) to refuse to go: if any bid you to a feast, to say, These things are for the happy; I have sinned against God, and am in danger to perish for ever! What should I do at banquets, who have wronged the Lord? Besides these, you must take the poor by the hand, you must beseech the widow, lie at the feet of the presbyters, beg of the church to forgive you, and pray for you: you must try all means rather than perish."
[35] Of how great concernment faithful pastors are for the conversion of the ungodly, see a Jesuit, Acosta, lib. 4. c. l, 4. Infinitum esset cætera persequi, quæ contra hos fatuos principes tanaos, contra pastores stultos, vel potius idola pastorum, contra seipsos potius pascentes, contra væsanos prophetas, contra sacerdotes contemptores, atque arrogantes, contra stercus solennitatum, contra popularis plausus captatores, contra inexplebiles pecuniæ gurgites, cæterasque pestes, propheticus sermo declamat. Vix alias sancti patres plenioribus velis feruntur in Pelagiis, quam cum de sacerdotali contumelia oratio est. Acosta, ib. p. 353. Non est iste sacerdos, non est sed infestus, atrox, dolosus, illusor sui, et lupus in dominicum gregem ovina pella armatus. Ibid.
[36] Whereas there are two great and grievous sorts of trouble raised, one in the churches at the trial of members, and an other in men's consciences in trying their states, about this question, How to know true conversion or sanctification? I must tell them in both these troubles, plainly, that christianity is but one thing, the same in all ages, which is their consent to the baptismal covenant: and there is no such way to resolve this question, as to write or set before you the covenant of baptism in its proper sense, and then ask your hearts, whether you unfeignedly and resolvedly consent. He that consenteth truly, is converted and justified; and he that professeth consent, is to be received into the church by baptism (if his parents' consent did not bring him in before, which he is to do nevertheless himself at age).
[37] Passibilis timor est irrationabilis, et ad irrationabilia constitutus, sed eum præcipit qui cum disciplina et recta ratione consistit, cujus proprium est reverentia. Qui enim propter Christum et doctrinam ejus Deum timet, cum reverentia ei subjectus est; cum ille qui per verbera aliaque tormenta timet Deum, passibilem timorem habete viderur. Dydimus Alex. in Pet. 1.
[38] Every one is not a thief, that a dog barks at; nor an hypocrite, that hypocrites call so.
[39] As the Athenians, that condemned Socrates to death, and then lamented it, and erected a brazen statue for his memorial.
[40] Acosta saith, that he that will be a pastor to the Indians, must not only resist the devil and the flesh, but must resist the custom of men which is grown powerful by time and multitude: and must oppose his breast to receive the darts of the envious and malevolent, who, if they see any thing contrary to their profane fashion, they cry out, A traitor! a hypocrite! an enemy! lib. 4. c. 15. p. 404. It seems among papists and barbarians, the serpent's seed do hiss in the same manner against the good among themselves, as they do against us.