CHAPTER LVIII – Q.8: What penance or self-revenge does it require?
provide for ourselves. And in this regard, our neighbour must be loved but as a second self, or next ourselves. 4. But this natural love in the exercise of it, at least in imperative acts, is to be subservient to our rational spiritual love, and to be over-mastered by it. And therefore it is that as reason teacheth an heathen to prefer his country before his life, (though the instinct of nature incline us more to life,) so faith teacheth a Christian much more, to prefer God's honour, and the Gospel, church, commonwealth, and his neighbour's good, when it more conduceth to these ends, than his own, before himself, his liberty or life.
CHAPTER LVIII
Is Self-revenge and Penance Self-denial?
Quest. 8. 'WHETHER self-denial require us after sin, to use vindictive penance or punishment of the flesh, by fasting, watching, going barefoot, lying hard, wearing haircloth, or to do this ordinarily? as some of the papists, monks, and friars do?'
Answ. The easiness of this case may allow a brief decision. 1. The body must be so far afflicted, as is needful to humble it, and subdue it to the spirit, and tame its rebellion, and fit it for the service of God.
2. The exercise of a holy revenge on ourselves may be a lower end, subservient to this. 3. It must also be so far humbled as is necessary to express repentance to the church, when absolution is expected upon public repentance. 4. As also to concur with the soul in secret or open humiliation.