An Ample Declaration of the Christian DoctrineChapter 8. The declaration of the Euangelicall Counsailes

Scholar. I Desire to know, if besides the commandements of our Lord, there be any counsels also of his, to liue more perfectly.

Master. There are many most holy counsels and most profitable to obserue the commandements with more perfection: But there are three most principall; voluntary pouertie, chastitie, and obedience.

Scholar. Wherein consisteth the counsell of pouertie.

Master. In not hauing any thing proper, all his goodes being giuen to the poore, or put into the common, which likewise hath giuen all to the poore. And this counsell Christe taught, not onely in wordes: but also by his example. And after Christ, the holy Apostles followed it, as also all the first Christians, who dwelled in Ierusalem, in the time of the Primatiue Church: and finally al religious persons make vow to obserue this holie counsaile of voluntarie pouertie.

Scholar. Wherein consisteth the counsaile of chastitie?

Master. In a resolution to be perpetually chast, not only abstayning from all sortes of carnal sinnes, but also from Mariage. And this coūsaile also our Lord taught by word and example. And our Ladie likewise obserued the same, S. Iohn Baptist, al the Apostles, after they were called by Christ to the Apostleship. And al religious persons make particular vow hereof as also al Ecclesiastical men, that take holie Orders.

Scholar. Where in consisteth the counsaile of obedience;

Master. In renouncing our proper iudgment, and proper wil, which in the holie Gospel is called, denying of a mans selfe, and to subiect him selfe to the wil of his superior, in al things that be not against God. And this counsaile likewise the Sauiour of the world, taught not only in word, but also by his example, obeying in all thinges his eternall Father, and submitting himself when he was a child to his mother, and to S. Ioseph his supposed Father, the spouse of our B. Lady, albeit indeede he was not his Father, being borne of a mother, who was alwaies a Virgin. And this is the third counsaile, to the which all religious persons bind themselues by vowe.

Scholar. Wherefore are there three principall counsailes, and no moe?

Master. Because these principall counsailes serue to take away the impediments of perfection: that consisteth in charity, for the impediments are three, to witte, the loue of goods, which is taken away by pouerty: the loue of carnall pleasures, which is taken away by chastitie: & the loue of honour and power which is taken away by obedience. Moreouer, because a man hath but three sorts of goods; to wit, a soule, a body, and his exterior wealth, therefore giuing the exterior goods to God by pouertie, his bodie by chastitie, and his soule by obedience, he maketh a Sacrifice vnto God of all that he hath, and so disposeth himselfe to perfection of charitie, in the best maner that in this life is possible.