Wesley Corpus

§ So many are granted to particular churches in Rome, for the benefit of pilgrims. | So those that upon his motion took up arms against the Albigenses, had by an indulgence the promise of an eternal reward. Baron. ad A. D. 1179, n. 7. "| So Pope Alexander VI. granted to those that recited this prayer to the blessed Virgin, and St. Ann her mother, 30,000 years' indulgence. REPLY. The scandal given by them was so notorious, that order was given by the Council of Trent for reforming the abuses of them; but when the Fathers thought fit not to dis cover those abuses, and only forbad wicked gain, (Sess. 25, Decret. de Indulg.,) they left a large scope for making a gain of them. And two of the Popes under whom that Council sat, viz., Paul III., and Julius III., (A Bull of Indulgence to the Fraternity of the Altar, Paris, 1550, v. B. Taylor's Defence, Part II., l. 2, p. 8) proceeded in the same course as their predecessors, if they did not exceed them; for by their Bulls, there is granted to all such of the Fraternity of the Holy Altar, as visit the Church of St. Hilary of Chartres, during the six weeks of Lent, 775,700 years of pardon, besides fourteen or fifteen plenary indulgences. And since that, Urban VIII., (Bullar. to 3., p. 74) and Clement X., (A.D. 1671. Bull upon the Canonization of five Saints,) have granted by their indulgence a plenary remission of sins. Q. 19. Upon what pretence or reason is the doctrine and practice of indulgences founded ? A. Upon works of supererogation,” that is, the overplus of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints, which is a treasury, (Concil. Trid. Sess., 21, c. 9) committed to the Church’s custody,t and to be disposed of as she sees meet. (Bellarm. Ibid. c. 3.) REPLY. “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us;” (Rom. viii. 18;) so 2 Cor. iv. 17. “Every one of us shall give an account of himself to God.” (Rom. xiv.