An Ample Declaration of the Christian DoctrineChapter 16. Of Vices and sins in generall

Scholar. It is nowe time that you teach mee, what vice and sinne is, to flie from it: like as you haue instructed me in vertues and good works, to obtaine them.

Master. Sinne is nothing else but a voluntarie committing, or omitting against the lawe of God: where you haue to consider, that three things are required to a sinne. First, that there be some act committed, or omitted, that is, to doe and worke a thing forbidden, or not to doe a thing commanded. As for example, to blaspheame is a committing, not to heare Masse is an omission. Secondly is required, that this committing, or omitting be against the law of God: for that the law of God is the rule of well-working: like as the arte of a Maison, is the rule of making a Wall well: And therefore as a Maison is not a good Maison, and maketh not a Wall well, when he worketh not according to art: so a man liueth not well, and is not a good man, when hee followeth not the law of God. And by the lawe of God, is not only vnderstood, that which he hath giuen by himselfe, as the ten commandements are, but that also, which he giueth vs by his vicar in earth, the Pope his holines, and other superiors, aswell spirituall as temporal: because al are the ministers of God, & haue authoritie frō him: thirdly, is required, that cōmitting, or omitting be voluntarie: for whatsoeuer is done without consent of the will, is no sinne. As for example, if one blaspheme when he sleepeth, or hath not the vse of reason, or probably knoweth not, that such a word is blasphemie: in such a case a man sinneth not: because there is no consent of the will.

Scholar. I haue vnderstood, what sinne is, now tell me what vice is?

Master. Vice is an euill habite, or an euil custome of sinning, procured by often sinning. Whereof commeth, that a nan sinneth more easely: and with more boldnes and alacritie. As (for example) we do call one a blasphemer, or a gamester, when he is woont to blaspheme, or vseth gamming. So that to blaspheme is a sin, & to be a blasphemer is a vice. And so we may say of al the other sinnes.

Scholar. Is sinne a great euil?

Master. It is the greatest euil that can be found. Yea rather, it onlie is absolutly euill, & displeaseth God more then any thing else, which appeareth by this, that God spareth not to destroy & loose the most noble things that hee hath, to punish finne. If a Prince had a vessell of siluer, or of gold most fayre and most precious, and finding in it some stincking liquore, should be so displeased there with, that he should breake it & cast it into the bottome of the Sea, you would doubtles say, that Prince had a wounderfull great hate againste that liquore. So God hath made two most precious vessels: one of siluer, which is man, & one of gold which is an Angell. And for that hee hath found this stincking liquore of sin, in the one and in the other, he hath broken them, and cast into the bottome of hell to perpetuall miserie, all those Angels that sinned, and daily casteth into the same place of perdition, all those men that die in their And once for the sins of the world, he brought vpon it the Deluge, and drowned all, except Noe and his familie that liued justlie.

Scholar. Howe many sorts of sinnes bee there?

Master. Sinne is of two sorts. For one is called Original sinne, and the other Actuall. And actual sinne is likewise of two sorts; one mortal, and the other veniall.