A SVMME OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE : COMPOSED IN LATIN , By the R. Father P. CANISIVS , of the Society of IESVS .

With an Appendix of the fall of Man & Iustification , according to the Doctrine of the Councel of Trent .

Newly translated into Englishe .

To which is adioined the explication of certaine Questions not handled at large in the Booke as shall appeare in the Table .

THe gloriouse Apostle Saint PETER very fittely compareth the worde of God , 2. Pet. 1 , 19. and the doctrine of the holy-Ghost , vnto a Candell shining in a darke place , vntill the day dawne , and the day starre arise in our hartes . For although Christ our Sauiour the true light of the worlde , hath by his most bitter Passion and pretiouse woundes giuen light vnto our darkenes ; yea , and of darkenes which we were before , made vs a shining light : yet so long as we remaine in the mist of this mortalitie , and that it appeareth not what we shal be : we are truely light in comparison of Heretickes and Infidells : but in respect of heauen ; we are in the night , and continually conuerse in obscurity and darkenes . All honour then and glory be ( as it is worthy ) yeelded vnto him , who least we walking in darkenes know not whither to goe , hath prouided vs a Candell of his holy doctrine euen in the middest of Egypt , and set it vpon a candlesticke in the Catholicke Church : where those which are out of this house of God liuing in palpable darkenes ; the children of this light may safely expecte the rising of that starre , which neuer shall sette , which is the cleare vision of Gods euerlasting glory . This light although by diuerse persons who loue darkenes better than light , it hath by sundry meanes bene assaulted : yet hath these assaultes done nothing e●se , but by encreasing the aduerse darkenes , made the light appeare more gloriouse : and contrary to mans expectation , yet agreeably to Gods disposition , not brought water to quench , but fewell to feede so liuely flames . Hence may we in all places of our Countrey to our owne great comforte , and Gods singular glory , out of Prisons , out of Iudgementes , out of all maner of publicke places , out of many priuate persons and families , behold the beames of this light so vehemently issuing forth ; Mat. 24 , 27. that comming out of the East ( for to vse our Sauiours wordes ) it appeareth euen to the West : and it shineth so generally abroade , that it is renowmed in the wholle world : which seeing the beauty thereof , glorifieth our Father of light which is in heauen .

Onely ( my deare Catholicke Brother ) who being vnlearned seekest to treade the steppes of thy forefathers , & walking in darkenes of this mortall life , procurest to follow those which bef●re thee haue caried lightes for thy direction : it sometime cometh into my minde to feare , least either thy torchbearers being taken from thee , or for ouer-long watching , the oile of the Lampe which they may leaue thee ( I meane charitie and a good conscience * * 1. Tim. 1 , 19. the tinder and fewell of that light of Faith ) begining to faile ; the light it selfe may by little and little be extinguished : and so thou returning to thy former darkenesse , togither with the children of darkenes , maiest fall and perishe . We are not ignorant of his cogitations , who like a roaring Lion goeth about seeking whom he may deuour : and amongst other sleightes which he vseth , transfiguring himselfe into an Angell of light , with a counterfaite light of hypocrisy and heresy ; seeketh to depriue thee of that which is true and sincere .

Wherefore I offer vnto thee a torch or candell , containing in it , although in a small match , the wh●ll lighte of Christian Rel●gion , which although it bee lighted at the candel of another man : yet thou knowest , that light is neuer the lesse because it is receiued of another : and in this it is more free from all suspition , whereas it is the same light which lighteneth many other partes of the world . This when thou hast once receiued , and fully enioied , thy selfe : thinke that thou hast not performed thy duety , if thou imparte it not to thy children . O how they are deceiued , & in how great daunger of euerlasting damnation doe they liue , who as though they had by carnall generation brought into this world brute beastes , whose onely end is to liue here , without any end of heauenly blisse : do not seeke for their children the meanes of their saluation , onely prouiding for them earthly riches , not caring for heauenly . Nor considering , that besides the very bonde of the lawe of nature , & of God himselfe , who hath giuen most straite charge of good education of children : Christ our Sauiour hath consecrated Christian mariages into a sacrament , for this end amongst others ; that they may present vnto our Sauiour sanctified children by baptisme first , and afterward by all Christian and Catholike discipline . Mariage was instituted to propagate the people of God , not to build vp the confused walles of Babilon . The Turke or Iew if he should perceiue his child to haue bene present at Christian Ceremonies , would not sticke to embrew his handes in that which he begotte . And yet he which professeth himselfe a Catholicke , by sending his child , or permitting his childe to be sent to such thinges as are indispensably forbidden by God himselfe : doth vnnaturally depriue his innocent sonne of that which he coulde not giue him . But true it is which our Sauiour saide : Luc 16 , 8. that wiser are the children of this worlde in their generation , than the children of lighte . But thou deare Brother , when thou fallest into any such preuarication , thinke assuredly that thy light is beecome darkenes . And that in darkenes thou shalte so long remaine , vntill thou take away the bushell with thou hast sette before others eies : and permit the light to shine to all those of whom thou hast charge .

But to the intent that thou maiest not onely performe this duety , which is necessarily & vpon paine of vtter darkenes required of thee : but also like vnto a childe of lighte seeke that which is perfect , and according to the nature of light liberally endeuour to communicate vnto al men that which thou hast thy selfe of God receiued : I haue set downe in the margen of this booke , all those places of holy Fathers and Scriptures which are in the Lattin : to the intent that thou either being assaulted by any aduersary , or thy selfe seeking to reschew out of miserable captiuitie any soule : maiest haue authorities to alleage for whatsoeuer thou shalt say . Of the places of scripture for the most parte I haue quoted the very verse ▪ that sodainely thou maiest find that wherin consisteth the force of the proofe .

Finally I haue added certaine little Kindled sizes , to lighten some secrete corners which might otherwise annoy thee . All which God graunt that it may to his glory both maintaine and increase the light of thy hart , and bring forth in many obscure mindes such brightnes of true beliefe , that wee all may worthely walke by the same , conforming our liues thereunto . That so being made worthy vnto the parte of the loue of the Saints , Col. 1 , 13. in the light ; we may by him which hath deliuered vs from the power of darkenes , be translated at the length into the euerlasting Kingdome of the sonne of his loue : where we shall not onely neede neither sunne nor moone : but we shal receiue that perfecte light of the Lambe , by whome onely as we haue bene redeemed , so must we also be glorified .

WHereas there is promised thee about the latter end of the booke a Treatise of seruice and scripture in the vulgar tongue : know thou that by reason of the continuall warres in this Countrey and the manifolde difficulties which all those that liue here-about doe feele : I haue bene constrained to finish this worke , without ful accomplishment of my promise and purpose . But thou in the meane time enioy this my present which I make thee : & if I shall perceiue that this my labour is grateful vnto thee : then shalt thou in the next edition receiue a perfect recompence for this my defaulte . I haue also set down a Catalogue of the Fathers and Doctours which are in this Booke alleaged , that thou maiest see how auncient defendours we haue of the Catholike truth : which in deede neither could be Catholicke if it had not antiquitie with it : neither can want antiquitie if it be Catholicke . So that in my iudgement two principall thinges thou shalt finde in this Booke , of themselues sufficient to confirme thy owne Faith , and to confound the negatiue Religion of al aduersaries . The first is the very naked & sincere truth very plainly & expresly set downe . The second is the multitude of witnesses of her sinceritie . For the innocency of truth is such , that it presently commendeth it selfe vnto the beholder and discouereth all malicious slaunders ; which when they growe vnto most intollerable impudency , cannot yet abide the force and maiesty of so vnspotted testimonies , against which there cannot be taken any exception . This whereas I my selfe haue founde in the perusing of this worke , I could not but imparte vnto thee my minde and iudgemente . Fare-well .

CHRISTIAN Doctrine consisteth in Wisedome & Iustice . To Wisedome , maie bee referred these Chapters that followe in order .