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Of Alien Sins

1. What sinnes are called Alien sinnes?

THose, which although they be wrought and accomplished by the handes & deedes of other men, yet they are worthely imputed vnto vs, and doe make our consciences guilty of damnation in the sight of God. And therefore of this may that be vnderstood which the scripture commandeth: Doe 1 thou not communicate with other mens sinnes: And that which the Kingly Prophet praieih: Fron 2 my secret sinnes clense me o Lord, & from alien sinns spare thy seruante. Heereunto3 doth S. BASIL the great refer that which S. PAVL wrote to the EPHESIANS: Communicate not 4 with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenes, but rather reproue them. Then that also of the same Apostle: Withdrawe 5 your selues from euery brother walking inordinately, and not according to the Tradition which they haue receiued of vs.

2. How many in number are these alien sinnes?

NIne; as they are for the moste parte committed nine manner of waies: to wit, by councel: by commanding: by consent: by prouocation: by praise or flatterie: by silence: by winking, or Indulgence: by participation in the fault: and by wicked defending or maintaining the same.

63 When is an alien sinne committed by Councell?

AT such time certes, as we are the authors and instrumentes of euill counsell, which others doe or maye followe. Let CAIPHAS be an example:7 who by his coun sell incensed and prouoked the Senate of the Iewes to worke the death of Christ. But commended on the contrarie parte is IOSEPH of Aramathia, and is called a good and iust man, because he had not consented8 to the counsell and actes of themn, to wit, of the high Preistes and Pharisies wickedlye conspiring to put Christ to9 death. Of the same sorte of men was that10 DEMETRIVS, who with other Artificers for the tendering of his owne lucre & gaine, filled in a maner the whole citie of the EPHESIANS with a greate tumulte and sedition against S. PAVL & his doctrine. Herin also did offend that infamous11 HERODIAS Kinge HERODS aduoutres. For her dauncing daughter by her counsell and persuasion, did wickedly obtaine, the bodiles heade of the glorious S. IHON Baptist which she cruelly before had requested.

4. When is commanding an alien sinne?12

VVHen by our decree, commission, or commaundement, any wrong doth redound to our neighbour, or any euill whatsoeuer is committed. In this manner DAVID the King killed innocent VRIAS,13 not certes with his owne or with his seruantes handes; but working it and charging it by letter that he should be slaine in the battaile. And PILATE the President14 was giltie of Christs death: because for the fauour of the Iewes although otherwise after a manner vnwilling he adiudged him, and deliuered him ouer by his authoritie to be crucified. So did PHARAO15 and HERODE16 binde them selues with a monstrous crime, when they made the Tirannicall lawe of murdering the Infantes of the Hebrues. But 17 woe be vnto them that make vniust lawes.

185 When doth consent make vs guiltie of an alien sinne?

VVHen, that, which is wickedlye donne by others, hath, as it were our voice to go with it, or is, at the least, in secret sorte19 by vs approued. So sinned SAVL, consentinge20 to the deathe of the Protomartyr Saint STEVEN. Also herein offended aboue fortie21 men of the Iewes, who by vowe bound & armed themselues to put S. PAVL to death. Finallye herein offended the Citizens of Hierusalen, 22 giuing their voices to their Magistrates, that Christ might suffer death, so that S. PETER for that cause, vpbraiding them, saide: The author 23 of life you killed. Wherfore is that sentence of S. PAVL to be noted: Not 24 only they which doe euill thinges, but they also which consent vnto the doers, are worthy of death.

And hereunto may be referred that which we reade in S. CYPRIAN: Hee is 25 not free from wickednes that gaue commandement to haue it accomplishede: nor hee cleare from crime; whoe notwithstandinge hee neuer committed the same, yet geuethe his consent that it shall be otherwise giuen out, and publikely registred.

6. When doe we contract an alien sinne by prouocation?

26VVHen we doe wittinglye prouoke another to anger reuenge, blasphemie, crueltie, or other such like vices, whether it bee done by worde or deede or any other meanes howsoeuer. As when IOBS27 wife wantonly scorning her most patient husband, did also persuade him so much as lay in her, to blaspheme God. And Tobies wife28 as troublesome as the other often molesting & exasperating her husband with her reprochfull speaches, brought the matter to this passe, that the afflicted man was constrained to bewaile his domesticall iniurie with sighes, and teares, and praiers vnto Almightie God. But Ecclesiasticus admonisheth the contrarie, saying: Keepe 29 thy selfe from contention, and thou shalt diminishe sinnes. For an angry man doth kindle contention, & a man a sinner will molest his frendes, and in the middest of them that are in peace, soweth enmitie. And so hath Salomon saide: An euill man 30 alwaies seeketh chidings, but the cruell Angell shalbe sent against him.

7. When are we spotted with an alien sinne, by praise or flatterie?31

VVHen we commend any man in misdeeds or lewd behauiour, or as though the thing were very well done, we giue a spurre to him that runneth amisse, that he may holde on his wicked course. But woe be vnto them 32 that sowe coushens, vnder euery elbow, and doe make pillowes vnder the heade of euery age to take soules, as the Prophet saith. And into this vice do preachers33 sometime fall, & Magistrats naughtely flattering the common people, whilest they doe openly fauour & approue their licentiousnesse. And therefore rightly saith ESAIE: O my people, 34 they that call thee happy, these are they that deceiue thee, and bring to nought the way of thy steppes. For which cause S. PAVL commandeth vs to shunne those doctours, that by sweete speeches35 and benedictions, doe seduce the hartes of innocents. For because the sinner is 36 praised in the desires of his soule, & the wicked man is accounted happy: the sinner will prouoke our Lorde, as the Kingly Prophet testifieth.

8. When doth an alien sinne fall vpon vs through our silence?

37VVHen our vnseasonable silence bringeth detriment to our subiect, or to any other person. For example sake, if by office it belong vnto vs to teach, admonishe, or correcte our brother, or the wholle people, and we omitte the same without iust cause, when we may do good. For which cause our Lorde by ESAIE, testifieth to euery one that preacheth: Crie, 38 doe not cease, as a trumpette exalte thy voice, & shew vnto my people their wickednesse, and to the house of Iacob their sinnes. Heare moreouer the danger they stand in, who are not without cause called dumme dogges,39 not able to barke: If 40 when I saye to a wicked man, (saith our Lorde) thou shalt die the death, thou doe not warne him, and speake to him, that he may forsake his wicked way, and liue; the wicked man himselfe shall die in his iniquitie, but I will require his bloode at thy hand. So necessarie a thing it is to be obserued, which S. PAVL not without great protestation doth require. Preach the worde; 41 vrge in season, out of season, reproue, beseech, rebuke in all patience and doctrine: and againe in an other place: Them that sinne 42 reproue before all: that the rest also may haue feare.

439 When are we by winking or indulgence entangled with alien sinnes?

SO often, as that thing which by our power or authoritie, may & ought to be amended, & punished; we notwithstanding, suffer to go vnpunisht, & to waxe worse & worse.

Herein doe Magistrates offend, when they beare the sworde44 in vaine, and are not as they are called, Gods ministers, and reuengers vnto wrath, to those that behaue them selues wickedly or seditiously. This was the sinne45 of King SAVL, when contrarie to the commandement of God, he spared his enemies the Amalechites. The same sinne was also incurred by King ACHAB, when he receiued into fauour BENADAB the Kinge of Syria: for which cause he did not escape the seuere sentence of the Prophet giuing this threate: This saith 46 our Lorde, because thou hast dismissed out of thy hand a man worthy of death, thy life shall be for his life, and thy people for his people. Heereunto may be referred that which the Apostle willeth the Corinthians: Take 47 away the euill from among your selues: Know you not that a litle leauen corrupteth the wholle paste? purge the olde leauen.

Secondly heerein doe48 fathers and mothers, maisters and maistreses offend, whilest they with a certaine dissembling & fauourable indulgence, doe marre those in bringing them vp that are committed to their charge, & by their negligence and sloth doe suffer them to fall into great hazarde & danger. So wee reade the sonnes of HELI,49 to haue bin depraued through the default only of their fathers indulgence who for that cause, was greuously punished for his too much lenity.

Heereunto may also be added that sinne which is commonly called the omission of brotherly correction,50 admonition, or reprehension. For asmuch as Christ hath warned vs to correct our brother, once, and twice, and the third time that we may winne51 him when he sinneth. Although some doe distinguish betweene this manner of omission and the former sufferance which wee spake of, making them two different kinds of alien sinnes.

10. How doe we contract an alien sinne by participation?

52THen espeacially, when we are partners in gaine with theeues & extortioners: also when we doe wittingly togither with others, chalenge or retaine goods vniustly gotten or which any way doe belong to other men: and then moreouer when we are enriched with the spoile of others. And heereunto semeth to belong that which the Psalmist saith, to runne with the very theeues53 themselues, and to haue portion with the aduoutrers. This did ESAIE obiect vnto the people of the Iewes Thy 54 Princes be vnfaithfull, companions of theeues, all doe loue gifts, & followe rewardes. And yet more greeuously doe they sin, who do manifestly make a gain vnto then selues of an other mans filthinesse,55 as bauds do: or such as dare giue lodgeing & harbour vnto theeues, or notorious dishonest and factious persons, where they may haue couer for thenselues, or for their things.

11. When doe we by defending committe an alien sinne?

VVHen we either protect malefactours, or defend and publishe an other mans doctrine, though it be peruerse and wicked. When also by our care and endeuour, we labour to further & maintaine that, which is appointed against equitie and Iustice. Against such persons there thundreth out this diuine oracle: Woe 56 vnto you that call euill good; and good, euill: making darkenes, light; & light, darkenes: making bitter, sweete; and sweet, bitter: And againe: Thou 57 shalt not follow the multitude to doe euill: neither shalt thou in iudgement yeelde to the sentence of many; so, to decline from the truth.

And this shall suffice touching Alien sinnes as they call then, which now certes in those daies doe reach very farre, and are ouer licentiously committed euery daye, espeacially by Magistrates. And there is commonly so litle heede taken of them; that most men doe thinke them not to be sinnes at all: nor make any accounte of then: although often times with the filthe of these sinnes, they defile and make guilty of perpetuall torments, both their owne and other mens consciences. And al these kindes mentioned before, may be reduced to three kindes, and in few words comprehended, as sheweth S. BASIL.58 For that we fall into the participation of an other mans error, or sinne: it commeth to passe, either by Deede and Acte: or by Will onely, and a certaine purpose of the minde: or by some carelesse negligence, if at anie time others be defrauded of the duty that we owe in admonishing them, and seeking their amendment.

But the worste kinde of sinning of all others without comparison, is when a man sinneth against the holy-Ghost.

Footnotes

    1. Tim. 5, 22. vide Bas. de uera virg
    ↩

  2. Psal. 18, 13. & ibid. Euthim. Aug. l. 3. de. lib. arb. c. 10 ↩

  3. ser. 2. de bap. cap. 9. Aug. ser. 18. de ver Do. cap. 18. ↩

  4. Eph. 5, 11. ↩

    1. Thess. 3, 6.
    ↩

  6. Eccli. 27, 28. & 6, 7. & 8, 20. & 37, 7.9. Iob. 5, 13. & 12, 13.16. & 18, 5.7. Esa. 19, 11.13. Psal. 7, 16. & 9, 16. Prou. 26, 27. Eccles. 10, 8. ↩

  7. Io. 11, 49 ↩

  8. Luc. 23, 50. Psal. 1, 1. Gen. 49, 5. Iob. 21, 16. ↩

  9. Io. 11, 53. Mat. 26, 3. ↩

  10. Act. 19, 24. 2. Reg. 10, 3. & 16, 20. & 17, 1.5 3. Reg. 12, 4. & 21, 25. 2. Par. 22, 3. & 25, 16.20 1. Esd. 4, 5 Hest. 5, 10. Dan. 6, 5. 1. Mac. 1.12. 2. Mach. 1, 11. & 4, 32. Act. 14, 18. ↩

  11. Mar. 6, 24 Mat. 14, 8. ↩

    1. Reg. 22, 17. Iudith 2, 5. Hest. 3, 12 Dan. 3, 5. & 6, 16.1. Mach. 1, 43. 2. Mach. 6, 1. Mar. 6, 27. Act. 23, 2.
    ↩
    1. Reg. 11 15.
    ↩

  14. Io. 19, 16 Luc. 23, 25. ↩

  15. Exod 1, 16. ↩

  16. Mat. 2, 16. ↩

  17. Esa. 10, 1. Mat. 15, 3. Mar. 7, 9. ↩

  18. Leu 20, 4. Num. 16 24 26. Iudith. 8 9. Hest. 14.15. Luc. 11.47 ↩

  19. Iren. l. 4. cap. 46. ↩

  20. Act. 7, 60 ↩

  21. Act. 23, 12. ↩

  22. Mat. 27, 20. Mar. 15, 11. ↩

  23. Act. 3, 15 & 2, 23. ↩

  24. Ro. 1, 32. ↩

  25. ep. 51. quae est Cleri. Rom. ad. Cypr. ↩

    1. Reg. 1, 6. Psal. 105, 16 2. Mach. 14, 27. Gal. 5, 15.26 Eph. 6, 4. Col. 3, 21.
    ↩

  27. Iob. 2, 9. ↩

  28. Tob. 2, 15. & 3, 7. ↩

  29. Eccli. 28, 10. Pro. 15, 18. & 18, 6. & 22, 10. et 26, 17. & 29, 22. & 30, 33. ↩

  30. Pro. 17, 11. & 3, 30. Esa. 33, 1. ↩

  31. Pro. 24, 24.28. & 27, 2.5.6. & 28, 23 Psal. 140, 5. Esa. 5, 20. Chrys. ho 2. de Dauid. et Saule. Cyp. de laps. Basil hon. in Psal. 61. Aug. in Psa. 134. ↩

  32. EZech. 13, 18. ↩

  33. Hier. 14, 13. & 23, 15 17. & 27, 9 & 28, 15. & 29.8. Thren. 1, 14 Mich. 3, 5. 3. Reg. 22, 6 ↩

  34. Esa 3, 12 & 9, 15. & 30, 10 ↩

  35. Ro. 16, 18. 2. Pet 2, 1.12.14. Hiero. l.c. aduer. Pelag c. 9. & l. 2. aduer. Iouin c. 19. ↩

  36. Psal 1, 24 & 54, 22. Pro. 1, 10 & 16, 29. & 17 15. & 29, 5. Eccle 7, 6. Hier. 9, 3.8. ↩

  37. Bern. de nat. Ioan. Bapt. Greg. 2. part past. c. 4. Aug. ep. 109 et ho. 7. ex 50 Prosp. lib. l. de vit. cont. cap. 20. Isid. de sum. bon. l. 3. c. 44 45.46. ↩

  38. Esa. 58, 1. Hier. 23, 22. & 26, 2. & 50, 2. Ionae. 1, 2. 1. Cor. 9, 16. ↩

  39. Esa. 56, 10. ↩

  40. Ezech. 3, 17. & 33, 7. & ibid. Hier. Greg. ho. 11. in Ezech. Act. 20, 18. Esa. 6, 5. Hest. 4, 13. ↩

    1. Tim. 4, 2. Tit. 1, 9.13. & 2, 15. Chrys. ho. 6. in epist. ad Phil.
    ↩
    1. Tim. 5, 20. Leu. 19, 17. Aug. serm. 15. cap. 7. de verb. Dom. & serm. 16. cap. 4, 7.8.
    ↩

  43. Amb. ser. 8. in Psal. 118. Orig. ho. 9. in Hierem. Hieron. ad Ripar. ep. 53 Aug. in Psal. 50. & ser. 15 de verb. Do. Chry. orat. 1 con. Iudaeos. ↩

  44. Ro. 13, 4. Sap. 6, 3. Psal. 2, 10. Aug. 2. retr. c. 5. & ep. 48.50.204. tract 11. in Euang Ioan. Bern. ser. 66. in Cant. ↩

    1. Reg. 15, 9. Iud. 20, 13. Nun. 25, 4
    ↩
    1. Reg. 20, 42.
    ↩
    1. Cor. 5, 6.13. Exod. 22, 18 Deut. 13, 1.6.12. & 17, 12. & 18, 20 3. Reg. 18, 19.40. Hier. in cap. 5. ad Gal. Greg. lib. 32. ep. 31.
    ↩

  48. Aug. in Psal. 50. Greg. 4. dial. c. 18. Chrys. ho. 9. in 1. ad Tim. Ephes. 6, 4. Heb. 12, 7. Pro. 13, 18.24. & 22, 15.6. & 23, 13. & 29, 15 17.21. Eccli. 7, 25. et 22, 3.4.5. & 30, 1. ↩

    1. Reg. 3, 11. & 4, 17. 3. Reg. 1, 6.
    ↩

  50. Pro. 9, 7. & 15, 5.10.12. & 24, 14 15. & 25, 12. & 27, 5.6. & 28, 23. & 29, 1. Eccles. 7, 6. Eccli. 7, 25. & 10, 28 & 11, 7. & 19, 13.17. & 20, 1.4. Psal. 140, 5. Col. 1, 28. 1. Thes. 5, 14 2. Thes. 3, 15 1. Tim. 5, 20 2 Tim. 2, 25 & 4, 2. Tit. 1, 9.10. & 2, 15. ↩

  51. Mat. 18, 15. ↩

  52. Tob. 2, 21. Pro. 1, 14. & 29, 24. Num. 16, 26 Eccli. 5, 1. 2 Par. 20, 36 Greg. Turon. in glo. Conf. c. 36. & 71. Et lib. 1. de glor. Mart. c. 38.72. & 79. & lib. 2. cap. 13.14.15.16 17. & 20. Theod. li. 3. hist. c. 11. & 12. Vict. l. 1. persecu. Ios. 7, 24. Dan. 5, 23. 2. Mach. 3, 24. & 5, 15. & 9, 5. 1. Mach. 6, 12. ↩

  53. Ps. 49, 18. Aug. in Psal. 129. ↩

  54. Esa. 1, 23. ↩

  55. Deut. 23, 18. ↩

  56. Esa. 5, 20. & 10, 1. ↩

  57. Exod. 23, 2. ↩

  58. Bas. ser. 2. de Bap. ca. 9. ↩

Chapter 20 of 36