Chapter 6 of 22

9Under the altar. Christ as man (no doubt) is this altar, under which the souls of all Martyrs live in heaven, expecting their bodies, as Christ their head hath his body there already. And for correspondence to their place or state in heaven, the Church layeth commonly their bodies also or relics near or under the altars, where our Saviour's body is offered in the holy Mass: and hath a special proviso that no altars be erected or consecrated without some part of a Saint's body or relics. Conc. African. can. 50. Carthag. 5. can. 14. See St. Jerome cont. Vigilant. c. 3. St. Augustine de civit. lib. 8 c. 27. St. Gregory lib. 5 ep. 50. lib. 1 ep. 52. lib. 2 ep. 58. Whereunto the Prophet seemeth here to allude, making their souls also to have their being in heaven, as it were under the altar. But for this purpose note well the words of St. Augustine (or what other ancient writer soever was the author thereof) Ser. 11 de Sanctis. Under the altar (saith he) of God I saw the souls of the slain. What is more reverent or honourable, then to rest under that altar on which sacrifice is done to God, and in which our Lord is the Priest: as it is written, Thou art a Priest according to the order of Melchisedec? Rightly do the souls of the just rest under the altar, because upon the altar our Lord's body is offered. neither without cause do the just there call for revenge of their blood, where also the blood of Christ is shed for sinners. and many other goodly words to that purpose. This place also the wicked heretic Vigilantius (as St. Jerome writing against him witnesseth c. 2) abused to prove, that the souls of Martyrs and other Saints were included in some certain place, that they could not be present at their bodies and monuments (where Christian people used in the primitive Church to pray unto them, as Catholic men do yet) nor be where they list, or where men pray unto them. To which the holy doctor answereth at large, that they be wheresoever Christ is according to his humanity: for under that altar they be. Part of his words be these, that you may see how this blessed father refuted in that Heretic the Calvinists so long before they were born. Doest thou (saith he) prescribe laws to God? Doest thou fetter the Apostles, that they may be kept in prison till the day of judgement, and be kept from their Lord, of whom it is written, They follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. If the Lamb be in every place, then they that be with the Lamb, must be every where. And if the devil and wicked spirits gadding abroad in the world with passing celerity, be present every where: shall holy Martyrs after the shedding of their blood, be kept close under an altar, that they can not stir out from thence? So answereth this learned doctor. Which misliketh our Calvinists so much, that they charge him of great error, in that he saith, Christ according to his humanity is every where, as though he were an Ubiquitary Protestant. Where, if they had any judgement, they might perceive that he meaneth not, that Christ or his Saints should be personally present at once in every place alike, as God is: but that their motion, speed, and agility to be where they list, is incomparable, and that their power and operation is accordingly. which they may learn to be the holy doctor's meaning, by the words that follow of the Devil and his ministers: whom he affirmeth to be every where no otherwise but by their exceeding celerity of being and working mischief now in one place, now in another, and that in a moment. For though they be spirits, yet are they not every where at once according to their essence. And for our new Divines it were a hard thing to determine, how long Satan (that told our Lord he had circuited the earth) was in his journey, and in the particular consideration and temptation of Job: and how many men he assaulted in that his one circuit. No, no. such curious companions know nothing, nor believe nothing, but that they see with corporal eyes, and teach nothing but the way to infidelity.Vnder the altar. Christ as man (no doubt) is this altar, vnder vvhich the soules of al Martyrs liue in heauen, expecting their bodies, as Christ their head hath his body there already. And for correspondence to their place or state in heauen, the Church laieth commonly their bodies also or relikes neere or vnder the altars, vvhere our Sauiours body is offered in the holy Masse: and hath a special prouiso that no altars be erected or consecrated vvithout some part of a Saincts body or relikes. Conc. African. can. 50. Carthag. 5. can. 14. See S. Hierom cont. vigilant c. 3. S. Augustine de ciuit. li. 8. c. 27. S. Gregorie li. 5. ep. 50. li. 1. ep. 52. li. 2 ep. 58. Vvhervnto the Prophet seemeth here to allude, making their soules also to haue their being in heauen, as it vvere vnder the altar. But for this purpose note vvel the vvordes of S. Augustine (or vvhat other auncient vvriter soeuer vvas the author thereof) Ser. 11 de Sanctis. Vnder the altar (saith he) of God I savv the soules of the slaine. What is more reuerent or honorable, then to rest vnder that altar on vvhich sacrifice is done to God, and in vvhich our Lord is the Priest: as it is vvritten, Thou art a Priest according to the order of Melchisedec? Rightly do the soules of the iust rest vnder the altar, because vpon the altar our Lordes body is offered. neither vvithout cause do the iust there call for reuenge of their bloud, vvhere also the bloud of Christ is shed for sinners. and many other goodly vvordes to that purpose. This place also the vvicked heretike Vigilantius (as S. Hierom vvriting against him vvitnesseth c. 2) abused to proue, that the soules of Martyrs and other Saincts vvere included in some certaine place, that they could not be present at their bodies and monuments (vvhere Christian people vsed in the primitiue Church to pray vnto them, as Catholike men doe yet) nor be vvhere they list, or vvhere men pray vnto them. To vvhich the holy doctor ansvvereth at large, that they be vvheresoeuer Christ is according to his humanitie: for vnder that altar they be. Part of his vvordes be these, that you may see hovv this blessed father refuted in that Heretike the Caluinistes so long before they vvere borne. Doest thou (saith he) prescribe lavves to God? Doest thou fetter the Apostles, that they may be kept in prison til the day of iudgement, and be kept from their Lord, of vvhom it is vvritten, They folovv the Lambe vvhithersoeuer he goeth. If the Lambe be in euery place, then they that be vvith the Lambe, must be euery vvhere. And if the diuel and vvicked spirites gadding abrode in the vvorld vvith passing celeritie, be present euery vvhere: shal holy Martyrs after the sheading of their bloud, be kept close vnder an altar, that they can not sturre out from thence? So ansvvereth this learned doctor. Vvhich misliketh our Caluinistes so much, that they charge him of great errour, in that he saith, Christ according to his humanitie is euery vvhere, as though he vvere an Vbiquetarie Protestant. Vvhere, if they had any iudgement, they might perceiue that he meaneth not, that Christ or his Saincts should be personally present at once in euery place alike, as God is: but that their motion, speede, and agilitie to be vvhere they list, is incomparable, and that their povver and operation is accordingly. vvhich they may learne to be the holy doctors meaning, by the vvordes that folovv of the Diuel and his ministers: vvhom he affirmeth to be euery vvhere no othervvise but by their exceding celeritie of being and vvorking mischeefe novv in one place, novv in an other, and that in a moment. For though they be spirites, yet are they not euery vvhere at once according to their essence. And for our nevv Diuines it vvere a hard thing to determine, hovv long Satan (that told our Lord he had circuited the earth) vvas in his iourney, and in the particular consideration and tentation of Iob: and hovv many men he assaulted in that his one circuite. No, no. such curious companions knovv nothing, nor beleeue nothing, but that they see vvith corporal eies, and teach nothing but the vvay to infidelitie.

10And they cried. St. Jerome also against the said Vigilantius reporteth, that he used an argument against the prayers of Saints out of this place, for that these Martyrs cried for revenge, and could not obtain. But we will report his words, that you may see how like one heretic is to another, these of our days to those of old. Thou sayest in thy book (saith St. Jerome c. 3.) that whiles we be alive, one of us may pray for another: but after we be dead, no man's prayer shall be heard for another: specially seeing the Martyrs asking revenge of their blood, could not obtain. So said the Heretic. Against which the holy Doctor maketh a long refutation, proving that they pray much more after they be in heaven, then they did here in earth: and that they shall be much sooner heard of God, then when they were in the world. But for the Heretic's argument framed out of these words of the Apocalypse thus, These Martyrs did not obtain, ergo Saints do not pray for us: it was so frivolous, and the antecedent so manifestly false, that he vouchsafed not to stand about it. For it is plain that the Martyrs here were heard, and that their petition should be fulfilled in time appointed by God (whereunto they did and do always conform themselves:) for it was said unto them, That they should rest yet a little time, till etc. And that Martyrs' prayers be heard in this case, our Saviour testifieth Luke 18 saying, And will not God revenge his elect that cry to him day and night? I say to you, he will quickly revenge them. And if God do not hear the Saints sometime nor grant their requests, is it therefore consequent that they do not or may not pray? Then Christ him self should not have prayed his father to remove the bitter cup of death from him, because that petition was not granted.And they cried. S. Hierom also against the said Vigilantius reporteth, that he vsed an argument against the praiers of Saincts out of this place, for that these Martyrs cried for reuenge, and could not obtaine. But vve vvil report his vvordes, that you may see how like one heretike is to an other, these of our daies to those of old. Thou saiest in thy booke (saith S. Hierom c. 3.) that vvhiles vve be aliue, one of vs may pray for an other: but after vve be dead, no mans praier shal be heard for an other: specially seing the Martyrs asking reuenge of their bloud, could not obtaine. So said the Heretike. Against vvhich the holy Doctor maketh a long refutation, prouing that they pray much more after they be in heauen, then they did here in earth: and that they shal be much sooner heard of God, then vvhen they vvere in the vvorld. But for the Heretikes argument framed out of these vvordes of the Apocalypse thus, These Martyrs did not obtaine, ergo Saincts do not pray for vs: it vvas so friuolous, and the antecedent so manifestly false, that he vouchsaued not to stand about it. For it is plaine that the Martyrs here vvere heard, and that their petition should be fulfilled in time appointed by God (vvhervnto they did and do alvvaies conforme them selues:) for it vvas said vnto them, That they should rest yet a litle time, til &c. And that Martyrs praiers be heard in this case, our Sauiour testifieth Luc 18 saying, And vvil not God reuenge his elect that crie to him day and night? I say to you, he vvil quickly reuenge them. And if God do not heare the Saincts sometime nor graunt their requestes, is it therfore consequent that they do not or may not pray? Then Christ him self should not haue praied his father to remoue the bitter cuppe of death from him, because that petition vvas not graunted.

10Revengest thou not. They do not desire revenge upon their enemies for hatred, but of charity and zeal of God's honour, praying that his enemies and the persecutors of his Church and Saints, that will not repent, may be confounded: and that our Lord would accelerate his general judgement, that so they might attain the perfect crown of glory promised unto them, both in body and soul: which is to desire the resurrection of their bodies, which then shall triumph perfectly and fully over the persecutors that so cruelly handled the bodies of the elect, which shall then appear glorious to the enemies' confusion.Reuengest thou not. They do not desire reuenge vpon their enemies for hatred, but of charitie and zeale of Gods honour, praying that his enemies and the persecutors of his Church and Saincts, that vvil not repent, may be confounded: and that our Lord vvould accelerate his general iudgement, that so they might attaine the perfect crovvne of glorie promised vnto them, both in body and soule: vvhich is to desire the resurrection of their bodies, vvhich then shal triumph perfectly and fully ouer the persecutors that so cruelly handled the bodies of the elect, vvhich shal then appeare glorious to the enemies confusion.

11Till their fellow-servants be complete. There is a certain number that God hath ordained to die for the testimony of truth and the Catholic faith, for conformity of the members to the head CHRIST our chief Martyr, and till that number be accomplished, the general condemnation of the wicked persecutors shall not come, nor the general reward of the elect.Til their fellovv-seruantes be complete. There is a certaine number that God hath ordained to die for the testimonie of truth and the Catholike faith, for conformitie of the members to the head CHRIST our cheefe Martyr, and til that number be accomplished, the general condemnation of the vvicked persecutors shal not come, nor the general reward of the elect.