and al other particular pointes Which him self saith S. Augustine did not take order for that he might cōmit that to the Apostles by vvhom he vvas to dispose his Churches affaires though both he and the Apostles and the Fathers of the primitiue Church left vs example of receiuing vnder one kind Christ * at Emmaüs The Apostles Act. 2 42. The primitiue Church in giuing the bloud onely to children Cypr. li. de lapsis nu 10. in reseruing most commonly the body onely Tertul. li. 2 ad vxo nu 4. Cypr. li. de lapsis nu 10. in houseling the sicke therewith Euseb Ec. hist li. 6 c. 36. in the holy Eremites also that receiued and reserued it commonly and not the bloud in the wildernes Basil ep ad Caesariam Patritiam and in diuers other cases which were to long to rehearse Whereby the Church being warranted and in the ruling of such things fully taught by Gods spirit as wel for the reprouing of certaine heresies that Christ God and man vvas not vvhole and al in euery part of the Sacrament as specially for that the Christian people being novv enlarged and the communicants often so many at once that neither so much vvine could be conueniently consecrated nor vvithout manifold accidents of sheading or abusing be receiued vvhereof the Protestants haue no regard because it is but common vvine vvhich they occupie but the Church knovving it to be Christs ovvne bloud must haue al dreadful regard therfore I say she hath decreed and for some hundreth yeres put in vse that the Priest saying Masse should alvvaies both consecrate and also receiue both kindes because he must expresse liuely the Passion of Christ and the separation of his bloud from his body in the same and for to imitate the vvhole action and institution as vvel in sacrificing as receiuing as to vvhom properly it vvas said Do this for that vvas spoken onely to such as haue povver thereby to offer and consecrate But the Lay men and the Clergie also vvhen they do not execute or say Masse them selues should receiue in one kinde being thereby no lesse partakers of Christs vvhole person and grace then if they receiued both For as S. Paul saith He that eateth the hostes is partaker of the altar He that eateth saith he for though there vvere drink-offerings or libaments ioyned lightly to euery sacrifice yet it vvas ynough to eate onely of one kinde for to be partaker of the vvhole 62. If you shal see Our Sauiour seemeth to insinuate that such as beleeue not his wordes touching the holy Sacrament and thinke it impossible for him to giue his Body to be eaten in so many places at once being yet in earth should be much more scandalized and tempted after they saw or knew him to be ascended into heauen Vvhich is proued true in the Capharnaites of this time whose principal reason against Christs presence in the Sacrament is that he is ascended into heauen yea who are so bold as to expound this same sentence for them selues thus It is not this body or flesh which I wil giue you for that I wil carie with me to heauen Whereby if they meant onely that the condition and qualities of his body in heauen should be other then in the Sacrament it were tolerable for S. Augustine speaketh sometime in that sense but to deny the substance of the body to be the same that is wicked 63. The flesh profiteth nothing If this speach were spoken in the sense of the Sacramentaries it would take away Christs incarnation manhod and death no lesse then his corporal presence in the Sacrament for if his flesh were not profitable al these things were vaine Therfore CHRIST denieth not his owne flesh to be profitable but that their grosse and carnal conceiuing of his wordes of his flesh and of the maner of eating the same was vnprofitable Which is plaine by the sentence folowing where he warneth them that his wordes be spirit and life of high Mystical meaning and not vulgarly and grosly to be taken as they tooke them And it is the vse of the Scripture to call mans natural sense reason and carnal resisting or not reaching supernatural truthes flesh or bloud as Flesh and bloud reuealed not this to thee c Mat. 16. This carnalitie then of theirs stood in two points specially first that they imagined that he would kill him self and cut māgel his flesh into partes so giue it them raw or rost to be eaten among them Which could not be meant saith S. Augustine for that had conteined an heinous and barbarous facte and therfore they might and should haue bene assured that he would commaund no such thing but some other sweete sense to be of his hard mystical or figuratiue wordes and to be fulfilled in a Sacrament mysterie and a maruelous diuine sort otherwise then they could comprehend Secondly they did erre touching his flesh in that they tooke it to be the flesh of a mere man and of a dead man also when it should come to be eaten of which kind of flesh Christ here pronoūceth that it profiteth nothing Wherevpon S. Cyrist saith This body is not of Peter or Paul or any other like but of Christ IESVS who is the life it self and therfore this Body giueth life the very fulnes of the Diuinitie dvvelling in it And the holy Councel of Ephesus in the 11 Anathematisme expounded also by the said S. Cyril The Eucharist is not the body of any common person for the flesh of a common man could not quicken but of the VVORD it self But the Heretike Nestorius dissolueth the vertue of this Mysterie holding mans flesh onely to be in the Eucharist Thus there And S. Ignatius cited of Theodorete and many other Fathers haue the like Whereby we may see that it commeth of the Diuinitie and Spirit without which Christs flesh can not be that this Sacrament giueth life 64. That beleeue not It is lacke of faith you seee here that causeth men to spurne against this high truth of the Sacrament as also it may be learned here that it is the great and merciful gift of God that Catholike men do against their senses and carnal reasons beleeue and submit them selues to the humble acknowledging of this Mysterie lastly that it may wel by Christs insinuation of Iudas be gathered that he specially spurned against our Maisters speaches of the holy Sacrament 66. Went backe It can be no maruel to vs now that so many reuolt from the Church by offense or scandal vniustly taken at Christs body and bloud in the Sacrament seeing many of his Disciples that savv his vvonderful life doctrine and miracles forsooke Christ him self vpon the speach promes of the same Sacramēt for the mysterie of it is so supernatural and diuine in it self and withal so low base for our sakes by the shew of the formes of these terrene
you but if I goe I vvil send him to you ✠verse 8 And vvhen he is come he shal argue the vvorld of sinne and of iustice and of iudgement ✠verse 9 of sinne because they beleeue not in me ✠verse 10 but of iustice because I goe to the Father and novv you shal not see me ✠verse 11 and of iudgement because the prince of this vvorld is novv iudged ✠verse 12 Yet many things I haue to say to you but you can not beare them novv ✠verse 13 But vvhen he the Spirit of truth commeth he shal teach you al truth for he shal not speake of him self but vvhat things soeuer he shal heare he shal speake and the things that are to come he shal shevv you ✠verse 14 He shal glorifie me because he shal receiue of mine and shal shevv to you ⊢ ✠verse 15 Al things vvhatsoeuer the Father hath be mine Therfore I said that he shal receiue of mine and shal shevv to you ✠verse 16 A litle vvhile and novv you shal not see me and againe a litle vvhile and you shal see me because I goe to the Father ✠verse 17 Some therfore of his disciples said one to an other Vvhat is this that he saith to vs A litle vvhile and you shal not see me and againe a litle vvhile and you shal see me and because I goe to the Father ✠verse 18 They said therfore Vvhat is this that he saith A litle vvhile vve knovv not vvhat he speaketh ✠verse 19 And IESVS knevv that they vvould aske him and he said to them Of this you doe question among your selues because I said to you A litle vvhile and you shal not see me and againe a litle vvhile and you shal see me ✠verse 20 Amen amen I say to you that you shal vveepe and lament but the vvorld shal reioyce and you shal be made sorovvful but your sorovv shal be turned into ioy ✠verse 21 A vvoman vvhen she trauaileth hath sorovv because her houre is come but vvhen she hath brought forth the childe novv she remembreth not the anguish for ioy that a man is borne into the vvorld ✠verse 22 And you therfore novv in deede you haue sorow but I vvil see you againe and your hart shal reioyce and your ioy no man shal take from you ⊢ ✠verse 23 And in that day me you shal not aske any thing Amen amen I say to you if you aske the Father any thing in my name he vvil giue it you ✠verse 24 Vntil novv you haue not asked any thing in my name Aske and you shal receiue that your ioy may be ful ✠verse 25 These things in prouerbes I haue spoken to you The houre commeth vvhen in prouerbes I vvil no more speake to you but plainely of the Father I vvil shew you ✠verse 26 In that day you shal aske in my name and I say not to you that I vvil aske the Father for you ✠verse 27 For the Father him self loueth you because you haue loued me and haue beleeued that I came forth from God ✠verse 28 I came forth from the Father and came into the vvorld againe I leaue the vvorld and I goe to the Father ✠verse 29 His disciples say to him Behold novv thou speakest plainely and saiest no prouerbe ✠verse 30 novv vve knovv that thou knovvest al things and thou needest not that any man aske thee in this vve beleeue that thou camest forth from God ⊢ ✠verse 31 IESVS ansvvered them Novv do you beleeue ✠verse 32 * Behold the houre commeth and it is novv come that you shal be scattered euery man into his ovvne and me you shal leaue alone and I am not alone because the Father is vvith me ✠verse 33 These things I haue spoken to you that in me you may haue peace In the vvorld you shal haue distresse but haue confidence I haue ouercome the vvorld ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVI 12. Yet many things This place conuinceth that the Apostles and the faithful be taught many things which Christ omitted to teach them for their weaknes and that it was the prouidence of God that Christ in presence should not teach and order al things that we might be no lesse assured of the things that the Church teacheth by the Holy Ghost then of the things that him self deliuered 13 The spirit of truth Euer note that the Holy Ghost in that he is promised to the Church is called the Spirit of truth Which Holy Spirit for many other causes is giuen to diuers priuate men and to al good men to sanctification but to teach al truth and preserue in truth and from error he is promised and performed onely to the Church and the cheefe Gouerner and general Councels thereof CHAP. XVII After his Sermon of farevvel he prayeth to his Father that seing he hath novv finished his vvorke he vvil giue him his appointed glorie for the conuersion of al nations 6 and preserue his Apostles and his Church after them in vnitie and veritie that is from Schisme and Heresie 24 finally also glorifie them vvith him in heauen verse 1 THESE things spake IESVS and lifting vp his eies into heauen he said Father the houre is come glorifie thy sonne that thy sonne may glorifie thee ✠verse 2 As thou hast giueÌ„ him povver ouer al flesh that al vvhich thou hast giuen him to them he may giue life euerlasting ✠verse 3 And this is ″ life euerlasting that they knovv thee the only true God and vvhom thou hast sent IESVS CHRIST ⊢ ✠verse 4 I haue glorified thee vpon the earth I haue consummated the vvorke vvhich thou gauest me to doe ✠verse 5 and novv glofie thou me O Father vvith thy self vvith the glorie vvhich I had before the vvorld vvas vvith thee ✠verse 6 I haue manifested thy name to the men vvhom thou gauest me out of the vvorld Thine they vvere and â—o me thou gauest them and they haue kept thy vvord ✠verse 7 Novv they haue knovven that al things vvhich thou gauest me are from thee ✠verse 8 because the vvordes vvhich thou gauest me I haue giuen them and they haue receiued and knovven in very deede that I came forth from thee and haue beleeued that thou didst send me ✠verse 9 For them doe I pray Not for the vvorld doe I pray but for them vvhom thou hast giuen me ✠verse 10 because they be thine and al my things be thine and thine be mine and I am glorified in them And novv I am not in the vvorld and these are in the vvorld and I come to thee ⊢ ✠verse 11 Holy father keepe them in thy name vvhom thou hast giuen me that they may be one as also vve ✠verse 12 Vvhen I vvas vvith them I kept them in thy name Those * vvhom thou gauest me haue I kept and none
the man of sinne be reuealed the sonne of perdition ✠verse 4 vvhich is an aduersarie is ″ extolled aboue al that is called God or that is worshipped so that he sitteth ″ in the temple of God shevving him self as though he were God ✠verse 5 Remember you not that vvhen I vvas yet vvith you I told you these things ✠verse 6 And now ″ vvhat letteth you knovv that he may be reuealed in his time ✠verse 7 For novv the mysterie of iniquitie vvorketh only that he vvhich novv holdeth doe hold vntil he be taken out of the vvay ✠verse 8 And then that vvicked one shal be reuealed * vvhom our Lord IESVS shal kil vvith the spirit of his mouth shal destroy vvith the manifestation of his aduent him ✠verse 9 vvhose comming is according to the operatioÌ„ of Satan ″ in al povver and lying signes and vvonders ✠verse 10 and in al seducing of iniquitie to them that perish for that they haue not receiued the charitie of the truth that they might be saued ✠verse 11 Therfore God vvil send them the operation of errour to beleeue lying ✠verse 12 that al may be iudged vvhich haue not beleeued the truth but haue consented to iniquitie ✠verse 13 But vve ought to giue thaÌ„kes to God alvvaies for you brethreÌ„ beloued of God that he hath chosen you first-fruites vnto saluation in sanctification of spirit and faith of the truth ✠verse 14 into the vvhich also he hath called you by our Gospel vnto the purchasing of the glorie of our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 15 Therfore brethren stand and hold the ″ traditioÌ„s vvhich you haue learned vvhether it be by vvord or by our epistle ✠verse 16 And our Lord IESVS Christ him self and God our father vvhich hath loued vs and hath giuen eternal consolation and good hope in grace ✠verse 17 exhort your hartes and confirme you in euery good vvorke and vvorde ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. â— Aâ— though the day The curiositie of man fed by Satans deceites hath sought to knovv and to giue out to the vvorld such things as God vvil not impart to him nor be necessarie or profitable for him to knovv so farre that both in the Apostles daies and often aftervvard some haue feined reuelations some falsely gathered out of the Scriptures some presumed to calculate and coniecte by the starres and giuen furth to the vvorld a certaine time of Christes coming to iudgement Al vvhich seducers be here noted in the person of some that vvere about to deceiue the Thessalonians therein And S. Augustine in his 80 Epistle ad Hesychium proueth that no man can be assured by the Scriptures of the day yere or age that the end of the vvorld or the second Aduent shal be â— Vnles there come a reuolt first Though vve can not be assured of the moment houre or any certaine time of our Lordes coÌ„ming yet he vvarranteth vs that it vvil not be before certaine things be fulfilled vvhich must come to passe by the course of Gods prouidence and permission before vvhich are diuers vvhereof in other places of Scriptures vve be forevvarned Here he vvarneth vs of tvvo specially of a reuolt defection or an apostasie and of the comming or reuelation of Antichrist Vvhich tvvo pertaine in effect both to one either depending of the other and shal fall as it may be thought neere together and therfore S Augustine maketh them but one thing This apostasie or reuolt by the iudgement in maner of al auncient vvriters is the general forsaking fall of the Romane empire So Tertullian li. de resur carnis S. Hierom q 11 ad Algasiam S. Chrysostom ho. 4. and S. Ambrose vpon this place S. Augustine De Ciuit. Dei li. 20 c. 19. Al vvhich fathers and the rest * Caluin presumpâ—kously condemneth of errour and follie herein for that their exposition agreeth not vvith his and his fellovves blasphemous fiction that the Pope should be Antichrist To establish vvhich false impietie they interprete this reuolt or apostasie to be a general reuolt of the visible Church from God vvhose house or building they say vvas sodenly destroied and lay many yeres ruined and ruled onely by Satan and Antichrist So faith the foresaid Arch-heretike here though for the aduantage of his defence and as the matter els vvhere requireth he seemeth as al their fashion is to speake in other places quite contrarie but vvith such colour and collusion of vvordes that neither other men nor him self can tell vvhat he vvould haue or say And his fathers Vvicleffe and Luther his fellovves and folovvers Illyricus Beza and the rest are for the time of the Churches falling from Christ so various among them selues and so contrarie to him that it is horrible to see their confusion and a pitieful case that any reasonable man vvil folovv such companions to euident perdition But concerning â—his errour and falshod of the Churches defection or reuolt it is refuted suffiâ—iently by S. Augustine against the Donatistes in many places Vvhere he proueth that the Church shal not faile to the vvorldes end no not in the time of Antichrist affirming them to deny Christ and to robbe him of his glorie inheritance bought vvith his bloud vvhich teach that the Church may faile or perish Li. de vnit Ec. c. 12. 13. De Ciuit. li. 20. c. 8. In Psal 85 ad illud Tu soâ—u Deus magnus ps 70 Conc. 2. Psal 60. De vtil cred c. 8. S. Hierom refuteth the same vvicked Heresie in the Luciferians prouing against them that they make God subiect to the Diuel and a poore miserable Christ that imagine the Church his body may either perish or be driuen to any corner of the vvorld both of them ansvver to the Heretikes arguments grounded on Scriptures falsely vnderstood vvhich vvere to long here to rehearse It is ynough for the Christian reader to knovv that it is an old deceite and excuse of al Heretikes and Schismatikes for defence of their forsaking Gods Church that the Church is perished or remaineth hidden or in them selues onely and in those places vvhere they and their folovvers dvvel to knovv also that this is reproued by the holy Doctors of the primitiue Church and that it is against Christes honour povver prouidence and promis If the Aduersaries had said that this reuolt vvhich the Apostle foretelleth shal come before the vvorldes end is meant of great numbers of Heretikes Apostataes reuolting from the Church they had said truth of them selues and such others vvhom S. Iohn calleth Antichristes And it is very like be it spoken vnder the correction of Gods Church and al learned Catholikes that this great defection or reuolt shal not be onely from the Romane empire but specially from the Romane Church and vvithal from most points of Christian religion not that the Catholike Christians either in the time of
Cornelius epistle to Fabius concerning Nouatus Likewise S. Cyprian in many places namely ep 55. nu 1. where see the notes vpon the same S. Hiero. ep 2. c. 6. Of Subdeacon there is mention in S. Augustine ep 74 and ep 20 de epistolis 22 in edit Paris S. Epiph. harâ— 59. S. Cyprian ep 24. S. Ignatius ep 9 ad Antiochâ—nos and in the 43 canon of the Apostles Conc. Tolet. 2. can 1 3. Conc. Laodicen can 21. Epist Epiph. apud Hiero. 60. c. 1. 1â— In the house of God Al the vvorld being Gods yet the Church onely is his house the Rector or Ruler vvhereof at this day saith S. Ambrose vpon this place is damasus where let our louing brethren note vvel how cleere a case it vvas then that the Pope of Rome vvas not the Gouernour onely of one particular See but of Christes vvhole house vvhich is the Vniuersal Church vvhose Rector this day is Gregorie the thirtenth 15. The piller of truth This place pincheth al Heretikes vvonderfully and so it euer did and therfore they oppose them selues directly against the very letter and confessed sense of the same that is cleane contrarie to the Apostle some saying the Church to be lost or hidden some to be fallen avvay from Christ these many ages some to be driuen to a corner onely of the vvorld some that it is become a stewes and the seate of Antichrist lastly the Protestants most plainely and directly that it may and doth erre and hath shamefully erred for many hundred yeres together And they say herein like them selues and for the credit of their ovvne doctrine vvhich can not be true in very deede except the Church erre euen the Church of Christ vvhich is here called the house of the liuing God But the Church vvhich is the house of God whose Rector saith S. Ambrose in his time was Damasus and novv Gregorie the thirtenth and in the Apostles time S. Peter is the piller of truth the establishement of al veritie therfore it can not erre It hath the Spirit of God to lead it into al truth till the vvorldes end therfore it can not erre It is builded vpon a rocke hel gates shal not preuaile against it therfore it can not erre Christ is in it til the end of the vvorld he hath placed in it Apostles Doctors Pastors and Rulers to the consummation and ful perfection of the whole body that in the meane time we be not caried about vvith euery blast of doctrine therfore it can not erre He hath praied for it that it be sanctified in veritie that the faith of the cheefe Gouernour therof faile not it is his house his spouse his body his lotte kingdom and inheritance giuen him in this vvorld he loueth it as his ovvne flesh and it can not be diuorced or separated from him therfore it can not erre the nevv Testament Scriptures Sacraments and sacrifice can not be changed being the euerlasting dourie of the Church continued and neuer rightly occupied in any other Church but in this our Catholike Church therfore it can not erre And therfore al those pointes of doctrine faith and vvorship vvhich the Arians Manichees Protestants Anabaptistes other old or new Heretikes vntruely thinke to be errors in the Church be no errors in deede but them selues most shamfully are deceiued and so shal be still til they enter againe into this house of God vvhich is the piller and ground of al truth that is to say not onely it self free from al error in faith and religion but the piller and stay to leane vnto in al doubtes of doctrine and to stand vpon against al heresies and errors that il times yeld without vvhich there can be no certaintie nor securitie And therfore the holy Apostles and Councels of Nice and Constantinople made it an article of our Creeds to beleeue the CATHOLIKE and APOSTOLIKE CHVRCH Vvhich is not onely to acknowledge that there is such a Church as heretikes falsely say but that that which is called the Catholike Church knovven so to be and coÌ„municateth vvith the See Apostolike is the Church and that vve must beleeue heare and obey the same as the touch stone piller and firmament of truth For al this is comprised in that principle I beleeue the Catholike Church And therfore the CouÌ„cel of Nice said I beleeue in the Church that is I beleeue and trust the same in al things Neither can the Heretikes escape by fleing from the knovven visible Church to the hid congregation or companie of the Predestinate For that is but a false phantastical apprehension of Vvicleffe and his folowers The companie of the Predestinate maketh not any one Societie among them selues many of them being yet vnborne and many yet Infidels and heretikes and therfore be not of the one house of God vvhich is here called the piller of truth And those of the Predestinate that be already of the Church make not a seueral companie from the knovven Catholike Church but are baptized houseled taught they liue and die in the common Catholike visible Church or els they can neither receiue Sacraments nor saluation S. Paul instructeth not Timothee hovv to teach preach correct and conuerse in the inuisible societie of the Predestinate but in the visible house of God So that it must needes be the visible Church which can not erre If any make further question how it can be that any companie or societie of men as the Church is can be void of error in faith seing al men may erre he must knovv that it is not by nature but by priuilege of Christes presence of the Holy Ghosts assistance of our Lordes promis and praier See S. Augustine vpon these vvordes of the 118 Psalme Cone 13. Ne auferas de ore meo verbum veritatis vsqucquaque Vvhere he hath goodly speaches of this matter For the same purpose also these vvordes of Lactantius are very notable It is the Catholike Church onely that keepeth the true vvorship of God this is the fountaine of truth this the house of faith this the Temple of God vvhither if any man enter not or from vvhich if any man go out he is an aliene and stranger from the hope of euerlasting life and saluation No man must by obstinate contention flatter him self for it standeth vpon life and saluation c. S. Cyprian saith The Church neuer departeth frâ—m that vvhich she once hath knovven Ep. 55 ad Cornel. nu 3. S. Ireneus saith That the Apostles haue laid vp in the Church as in a rich treasurie al truth And that she keepeth wish most sincere diligence the Apostles faith and preaching li. 3 c. 4. 40. li. 1. c. 3. It vvere an infinite thing to recite al that the fathers say of this matter al counting it a most pernicious absurditie to affirme that the Church of Christ may erre in religion CHAP. IIII.
and is no doubt much more novv in al Haeretikes al being precursors of that great Antichrist vvhich shal come tovvards the later end 3. That dissolueth To dissolue loose or separate IESVS a sunder vvas proper to al those old Heretikes that taught either against his Diuinitie or Humanitie or the Vnitie of his person being of two natures as Cerinthus Ebion Nestorius Eutyches Manes or Manichaeus Cerdon Apelles Apollinaris and the like And this is one place by vvhich vve may see that the common Greeke copies be not euer authentical and that our old approued translation may not alvvaies be examined by the Greeke that novv is vvhich the Protestants onely folow but that it is to be presupposed vvhen our old Latin text differeth plainely from the Greeke that in old time either al or the more approued Greeke reading was othervvise and that often the said Greeke was corrupted then or since by Heretikes or otherwise For of the Greekes S. Irenaeus li. 3. c. 18 among the Latin fathers S. Augustine tract 6. in fine S. Leo ep 10. c. 5 and Venerable Bede did reade as we doe and this reading maketh more against the said Heretikes then that vvhich the common Greeke novv hath to vvit Euery spirit that confesseth not Christ to haue come in flesh is not of God vvhich is also in effect said before vers 2. And that therfore it vvas corrupted and altered by Heretikes see the vvordes of Socrates also a Greeke vvriter very agreable to this purpose Nestorius saith he being eloquent by nature vvhich is often in Heretikes accounted him self therfore learned disdained to study the old interpreters counting him self better then them all being ignorant that in S. Iohns Catholike epistle old Greeke copies had EVERY ONE THAT DISSOLVETH IESVS IS NOT OF GOD. So saith he adding moreouer that such as vvould separate the diuinitie from the dispensation of Christs humanitie tooke out of the old copies this sense for vvhich the old expositours noted that these which would loose IESVS had corrupted this Epistle See also the Tripartite li. 12. c. 4. 6. In this vve knovv This is the most sure general marke to knovv the true spirites and prophets from the false that those vvhich be of God wil heare and obey their Apostles and lavvful pastors succeding the Apostles and submit them selues to the Church of God the other that be not of God wil not heare either Apostle pastor or Church but be their ovvne iudges 17. That vve may haue confidence Confidence called in Latin Fiducia is neither alone with faith nor a persuasion infallible that maketh a man no lesse secure and certaine of his saluation then of the things that vve are bound to beleeue as the Protestants falsely teach but it is onely a hope wel corroborated confirmed and strengthened vpon the promises and grace of God and the parties merites And the vvordes both folowing going before proue also euidently against the Protestants that our confidence and hope in the day of iudgement dependeth not onely vpon our apprehension of Christs merites by faith or vpon his grace and mercie but also vpon our conformitie to Christ in this life in charitie and good vvorkes And that is the doctrine of S. Peter vvhen he said Labour that by good vvorkes you may make sure your vocation and election and S. Paules meaning vvhen he said I haue fought a good fight there is laid vp for me a crovvne of iustice vvhich our Lord vvil render to me in that day a iust iudge 18. Feare is not in charitie The Heretikes very falsly vnderstand this place so that Christian godly men ought to haue no doubt mistrust or feare of hel and damnation Vvhich is most euidently against the Scriptures commending euery where vnto vs the awe and feare of God and his iudgements Feare him saith our Sauiour Mat. 10 that can cast body and soul into hel And Psal 118. Pearse my flesh vvith thy feare Vvhich feare of Gods iudgements caused S. Paul al good men to chastise their bodies lest they should be reprobate and damned And the vvise man for this cause affirmeth him to be happie that is euer fearful And holy Iob faith I feared al my vvorkes And the Apostle Vvith feare and trembling vvorke your saluation Vvhich kinde of feare is euen in the iustest men and most ful of charitie consisting wel with the same vertue and is called Filialis is timer because it is such as the good childe ought to haue toward his father But there is a kinde of feare vvhich standeth not with charitie and is cleane against hope also that vvhich bringeth such perplexitie and auxietie of conscience that it induceth a man to mistrust or despaire of Gods mercies That seruile feare also vvhich maketh a man often to leaue sinning and to doe the external vvorkes of iustice not for any loue or delight he hath in God or his lawes but onely for feare of damnation though it be not il in it self but very profitable as that vvhich helpeth toward the loue of God yet it standeth not with charitie neither but is daily more and more lessened and at length quite driuen out by charitie Of these kinde of feares then the Apostle speaketh and as some expound of the feare of men also of vvhich our Sauiour saith Feare not them that kil the body CHAP. V. They that loue God must loue his natural sonne IESVS and his sonnes by adoption and keepe his commaundements vvhich to the regenerate are light 4 But not vnles they continue in the Catholike faith namely of this article that IESVS is the sonne of God and therfore able to giue vs life euerlasting 14 and al our petitions 16 and our praiers for al our brethren that sinne not vnto death dying in their mortal sinnes by impenitence Last of al he vvarneth them not to communicate vvith idols verse 1 WHOSOEVER beleeueth that IESVS is Christ is borne of God And euery one that loueth him vvhich begat loueth him also vvhich vvas borne of him ✠verse 2 In this vve knovv that vve loue the children of God vvhen as vve loue God and keepe his commaundementes ✠verse 3 For this is the charitie of God that vve keepe his commaundements * and ″ his commaundementes are not heauy ✠verse 4 Because al that is borne of God ouercommeth the vvorld and this is the victorie vvhich ouercommeth the vvorld our faith ✠verse 5 Vvho is he * that ouercōmeth the vvorld but he that beleeueth that IESVS is the sonne of God ✠verse 6 This is he that came by vvater and bloud IESVS Christ not in vvater only but in vvater and bloud And it is the Spirit vvhich testifieth that Christ is the truth ✠verse 7 For there be ″ three vvhich giue testimonie in heauen the Father the Vvord and the Holy Ghost and these three be one ✠verse 8 And
of infinite places take occasion of pernicious errors for though the letter or text haue no error yet saith S. Ambrose the Arrian or as vve may novv speake the Caluinian interpretation hath errors lib. 2 ad Gratianum ca. 1. and Tertullian saith The sense adulserated is as perilous as the style corrupted De Praescript S. Hilarie also speaketh thus Heresie riseth about the vnderstanding not about the vvriting the fault is in the sense not in the vvord lib. 2 de Trinit in principio and S. Augustine saith that many hold the scriptures as they doe the Sacraments ad speciem non ad salutem to the outvvard shevv and not to saluation de Baptis cont Donat. lib. 3 ca. 19. Finally all Sect-maisters and rauening vvolues yea * the diuels them selues pretend Scriptures alleage Scriptures and vvholy shroud them selues in Scriptures as in the wooll and fleese of the simple sheepe Vvhereby the vulgar in these daies of generall disputes can not but be in extreme danger of error though their bookes vvere truely translated and vvere truely in them selues Gods ovvne vvord in deede But the case novv is more lamentable for the Protestants and such as S. Paul calleth ambulantes in astutia vvalking in deceitfulnes haue so abused the people and many other in the vvorld not vnvvise that by their false translations they haue in steede of Gods Lavv and Testament for Christes vvritten vvill and vvord giuen them their ovvne vvicked vvriting and phantasies most shamefully in all their versions Latin English and other tonges corrupting both the letter and sense by false translation adding detracting altering transposing pointing and all other guileful meanes specially vvhere it serueth for the aduantage of their priuate opinions for vvhich they are bold also partly to disauthorise quite partly to make doubtful diuers vvhole bookes allovved for Canonical Scripture by the vniuersal Church of God this thousand yeres and vpward to alter al the authentical and Ecclesiastical vvordes vsed sithence our Christianitie into nevv prophane nouelties of speaches agreable to their doctrine to change the titles of vvorkes to put out the names of the authors to charge the very Euangelist vvith follovving vntrue translation to adde whole sentences proper to their sect into their psalmes in meter euen into the very Creede in rime al vvhich the poore deceiued people say and sing as though they vvere Gods ovvne vvord being in deede through such sacrilegious treacherie made the Diuels vvord To say nothing of their intolerable liberty and licence to change the accustomed callings of God Angel men places things vsed by the Apostles and all antiquitie in Greeke Latin and all other languages of Christian Nations into nevv names sometimes falsely and alvvaies ridiculously and for ostentation taken of the Hebrues to frame and fine the phrases of holy Scriptures after the forme of prophane writers sticking not for the same to supply adde alter or diminish as freely as if they translated Liuie Virgil or Terence Hauing no religious respect to keepe either the maiestie or sincere simplicity of that venerable style of Christes spirit as S. Augustine speaketh vvhich kind the holy Ghost did choose of infinite vvisedom to haue the diuine mysteries rather vttered in then any other more delicate much lesse in that meretricious maner of vvriting that sundrie of these new translators doe vse of vvhich sort Caluin him selfe and his pue-fellovves so much complaine that they professe Satan to haue gained more by these nevv interpreters their number leuitie of spirit and audacitie encreasing daily then he did before by keeping the word from the people And for a paterne of this mischeefe they giue Castalion adiuring all their churches and scholars to bevvare of his translation as one that hath made a very sport and mockery of Gods holy vvord so they charge him them selues and the Zuinglians of Zuricke vvhose translations Luther therfore abhorred handling the matter vvith no more fidelitie grauitie or sinceritie then the other but rather vvith much more falsification or to vse the Apostles vvordes cauponation and adulteration of Gods vvord then they besides many vvicked gloses prayers confession of faith conteining both blasphemous errors and plaine contradictions to them selues and among them selues all priuileged and authorised to be ioyned to the Bible and to be said and sung of the poore people and to be beleeued as articles of faith and vvholy consonant to Gods vvord Vve therfore hauing compassion to see our beloued countrie men vvith extreme danger of their soules to vse onely such prophane translations and erroneous mens mere phantasies for the pure and blessed vvord of truth much also moued therevnto by the desires of many deuout persons haue set forth for you benigne readers the nevv Testament to begin vvithal trusting that it may giue occasion to you after diligent perusing thereof to lay avvay at lest such their impure versions as hitherto you haue ben forced to occupie Hovv vvell vve haue done it vve must not be iudges but referre all to Gods Church and our superiors in the same to them vve submit our selues and this and all other our labours to be in part or in the vvhole reformed corrected altered or quite abolished most humbly desiring pardon if through our ignorance temeritie or other humane infirmitie vve haue any vvhere mistaken the sense of the holy Ghost further promising that if hereafter we espie any of our ovvne errors or if any other either frende of good vvil or aduersarie for desire of reprehension shal open vnto vs the same vve vvil not as Protestants doe for defense of our estimation or of pride and contention by vvrangling vvordes vvilfully persist in them but be most glad to heare of them and in the next edition or othervvise to correct them for it is truth that vve seeke for and Gods honour which being had either by good intention or by occasion al is vvel This vve professe onely that vve haue done our endeuour vvith praier much feare and trembling lest vve should dangerously erre in so sacred high and diuine a vvorke that vve haue done it vvith all faith diligence and sinceritie that vve haue vsed no partialitie for the disaduantage of our aduersaries nor no more licence then is sufferable in translating of holy Scriptures continually keeping our selues as neere as is possible to our text to the very vvordes and phrases vvhich by long vse are made venerable though to some propsiane or delicate cares they may seeme more hard to barbarous * as the whole style of Scripture doth lightly to such at the begining acknowledging with S. Hierom that in other writings it is ynough to giue in trāslation sense for sense but that in Scriptures lest vve misse the sense vve must keepe the very vvordes Ad Pammach epistola 101. ca. 2 in princip Vve must saith S. Augustine speake according to a set rule lest licence of
and they receiue you eate such things as are set before you ✠verse 9 and cure the sicke that are in it and say to them The kingdom of God is come nigh vpon you ⊢ ✠verse 10 And into vvhatsoeuer citie you enter and they receiue you not going forth into the streates thereof say ✠verse 11 The dust also of your citie that cleaueth to vs vve doe vvipe of against you yet this knovv ye that the kingdom of God is at hand ✠verse 12 I say to you it shal be more tolerable for Sodom in that day then for that citie ✠verse 13 Vvo to thee Corozáim vvo to thee Beth-saida for if in Tyre and Sidon had been vvrought the miracles that haue beene vvrought in you they had done penance sitting in sacke cloth and ashes long agoe ✠verse 14 But it shal be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the iudgement then for you ✠verse 15 And thou Capharnaum that art exalted vnto heauē thou shalt be thrust dovvne euen vnto hel ✠verse 16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me And he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me ✠verse 17 And the Seuentie-tvvo returned vvith ioy saying Lord the Deuils also are subiect to vs in thy name ✠verse 18 And he said to them I savv Satan as a lightening fal from heauen ✠verse 19 Behold I haue giuen you povver to treade vpon serpents and scorpions and vpon al the povver of the enemie and nothing shal hurt you ✠verse 20 But yet reioyce not in this that the spirits are subiect vnto you but reioyce not in this that your names are vvritten in heauen ⊢ ✠verse 21 In that very houre he reioyced in spirit and said I confesse to thee O Father Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast hid these things from the vvise and prudent and hast reuealed them ″ to litle ones Yea Father for so hath it vvel pleased thee ✠verse 22 Al things are deliuered to me of my father And no man knovveth vvho the Sonne is but the Father and vvho the Father is but the Sonne and to vvhom the Sonne vvil reueale ✠verse 23 And turning to his Disciples he said Blessed are the eies that see the things that you see ✠verse 24 For I say to you that many Prophets and Kings desired to see the things that you see and savv them not and to heare the things that you heare and heard them not ✠verse 25 And behold a certaine lavvyer stoode vp tempting him and saying Maister by doing of vvhat thing shal I possesse life euerlasting ✠verse 26 But he said to him In the lavv vvhat is vvritten hovv readest thou ✠verse 27 He ansvvering said Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God vvith thy vvhole hart and vvith thy vvhole foule and vvith al thy strength and vvith al thy minde and thy neighbour as thy self ✠verse 28 And he said to him Thou hast ansvvered right ″ this doe and thou shalt liue ✠verse 29 But he desirous to iustifie him self said to IESVS And vvho is my neighbour ✠verse 30 And IESVS taking it said A certaine man vvent dovvne from Hierusalem into Iericho and fel among theeues vvho also spoiled him and giuing him vvoundes vvent avvay leauing him ″ halfe-dead ✠verse 31 And it chaunced that a certaine Priest vvent dovvne the same vvay and seeing him passed by ✠verse 32 In like maner also a Leuite vvhen he vvas neere the place and savv him passed by ✠verse 33 But a certaine Samaritane going his iourney came neere him and seeing him vvas moued vvith mercie ✠verse 34 And going vnto him bound his vvoundes povvring in oile and vvine and setting him vpon his ovvne beast brought him into an inne and tooke care of him ✠verse 35 And the next day he tooke forth tvvo pence and gaue to the host and said Haue care of him and vvhatsoeuer thou shalt supererogate I at my returne vvil repay thee ✠verse 36 Vvhich of these three in thy opinion vvas neighbour to him that fel among theeues ✠verse 37 But he said He that did mercie vpon him And IESVS said to him Goe and doe thou in like maner ⊢ ✠verse 38 And it came to passe as they vvent and he entred into a certaine tovvne and a certaine vvoman named Martha receiued him into her house ✠verse 39 and she had a sister called Marie vvho sitting also at our Lords feete heard his vvord ✠verse 40 But Martha vvas busie about much seruice vvho stoode and said Lord hast thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serue speake to her therfore that she help me ✠verse 41 And our Lord ansvvering said to her Martha Martha thou art careful and art troubled about very many things ✠verse 42 But one thing is necessarie ″ Marie hath chosen the best part vvhich shal not be taken avvay from her ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. X. 21. To litle ones By this place euery vulgar artificer may not presume that God hath reuealed al truth to him and therfore refuse to be taught of the learned for Christ did not aftervvard endevv fishers and vulgar men nor any other vvith the gifts of vvisdom and tonges vvithout their industrie study and teaching though at the beginning of great prouidence he did it that it might be cleere to the vvorld that al Nations vvere conuerted to him not by persuasion of cunning Orators or subtil Disputers but by the plaine force of his grace and truth vvhich S. Augustine counteth greater then al other miracles Further we are taught by this place that the poore humble obedient children of the Church knovv by their faith the high mysteries of Christes Diuinity and his presence in the B. Sacrament and such like rather then Arius Caluin and other like proud Scribes and Pharisees 28. This doe Not by faith only but by keeping Gods commaundements we obtaine life euerlasting not onely by beleeuing but by doing The heretikes say that it is impossible to keepe this commaundement of louing God with al our hart But the Scriptures giue vs examples of diuers that haue kept and fulfilled it as far as is requisite in this life 3. reg 14 8. ◠Par. 15 15. Ps 118 10. Ecclci 47 9 10. 4 Reg. 20 3. 5. Luc. 1 5. And if it vvere impossible to keepe it and yet by Christ proposed for the meane to obtaine life euerlasting he had mocked this Lavvyer and others and not taught them 30. Halfe dead Here is signified man vvounded very sore in his vnderstanding and free-wil and al other povvers of soule and body by the sinne of Adam but yet that neither vnderstanding nor free-vvil nor the rest vvere extinguished in man or taken avvay The Priest and Leuite signifie the Lavv of Moyses this Samaritane is Christ the Priest of the nevve Testament the
hath not left me alone because the things that please him I doe alvvaies ⊢ ✠verse 30 Vvhen he spake these things many beleeued in him ✠verse 31 IESVS therfore said to them that beleeued him the Ievves If you abide in my vvorde you shal be my disciples in deede ✠verse 32 And you shal knovv the truth and the truth shal make you free ✠verse 33 They ansvvered him Vve are the seed of Abraham and vve neuer serued any man hovv saiest thou You shal be free ✠verse 34 IESVS ansvvered them Amen amen I say to you that * euery one vvhich coÌ„mitteth sinne is the seruant of sinne ✠verse 35 and the seruant abideth not in the house for euer the sonne abideth for euer ✠verse 36 If therfore the sonne make you free you shal be free in deede ✠verse 37 I knovv that you are the children of Abraham but you seeke to kil me because my vvorde taketh not in you ✠verse 38 I speake that vvhich I haue seen vvith my father and you doe the things that you haue seen vvith your father ✠verse 39 They ansvvered and said to him Our father is Abraham IESVS saith to them If you be the children of Abraham doe the vvorkes of Abraham ✠verse 40 But novv you seeke to kil me a man that haue spoken the truth to you vvhich I haue heard of God this did not Abraham ✠verse 41 You doe the vvorkes of your father They said therfore to him Vve vvere not borne of fornication vve haue one father God ✠verse 42 IESVS therfore said to them If God vvere your father verely you vvould loue me for from God I proceded and came for I came not of my self but he sent me ✠verse 43 Vvhy doe you not knovv my speach Because you can not heare my vvord ✠verse 44 You are of your father the Diuel and the desires of your father you vvil doe he vvas a mankiller from the beginning and he stoode not in the veritie because veritie is not in him vvhen he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his owne because he is a lyer and the father thereof ✠verse 45 But because I say the veritie you beleeue me not ✠verse 46 Vvhich of you ″ shal argue me of sinne If I say the veritie vvhy doe you not beleeue me ✠verse 47 He that is of God heareth the vvordes of God Therfore you heare not because you are not of God ✠verse 48 The Ievves therfore ansvvered and said to him Doe not we say vvel that thou art a Samaritane and hast a diuil ✠verse 49 IESVS ansvvered I haue no deuil but I doe honour my Father and you haue dishonoured me ✠verse 50 but I seeke not mine ovvne glorie there is that seeketh and iudgeth ✠verse 51 Amen amen I say to you If any man keepe my vvord he shal not see death for euer ✠verse 52 The Ievves therfore said Novv vve haue knovven that thou hast a deuil Abraham is dead and the Prophets and thou saiest If any man keepe my vvord he shal not tast death for euer ✠verse 53 Vvhy art thou greater then our father Abraham vvho is dead and the Prophets are dead Vvhom doest thou make thy self ✠verse 54 IESVS ansvvered If I doe glorifie my self my glorie is nothing it is my father that glorifieth me vvhom you say that he is your God ✠verse 55 And you haue not knovven him but I knovv him And if I shal say that I knovv him not I shal be like to you a lyer But I doe knovv him and doe keepe his vvord ✠verse 56 Abraham your father reioyced that he might see my day and he savv and vvas glad ✠verse 57 The Ievves therfore said to him Thou hast not yet fiftie yeres and hast thou seen Abraham ✠verse 58 IESVS said to them Amen amen I say to you before that Abraham vvas made I am ✠verse 59 They tooke stones therfore to cast at him but IESVS hid him self and vvent out of the temple ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VIII 34. Amen amen What is it saith S. Augustine vpon this place vvhen our Lord saith Amen amen He doth much coÌ„mend and vrge the thing that he so vttereth doubling it It is a certaine othe of his if a man may so say for AmeÌ„ in Hebrue signifieth verum a truth Yet is it not translated whereas it might haue been said verum veruÌ„ diâ—o vobis but neither the Greeke interpreter durst doe it nor the Latin the Hebrue word hath remained stil that so it might be the more esteemed Tract 41 in Ioan. By vvhich vvordes and the like recorded in other places of this nevv Testament the Reader may see great reason vvhy vve also say Amen amen and durst not translate it and such like vvordes into our English tongue CHAP. IX To show that by his Baptisme being the Sacrament of illumination or faith he vvil take avvay the blindnes of the vvorld he giueth vvith strange ceremonies sight to one borne blinde 8 By vvhich vvonderful miracle the attestation of the partie him self and of his parents concurring first the neighbours then also the Pharisees them selues are plainely confounded Yet so obstinate they are that because it was the Sabboth vvhen he vvrought it they inferre that he is not of God yea and throvv out of their Synagogue the partie for confessing him 35 But our Lord receiueth him 39 and foretelleth by this occasion the excecation of the Ievveâ— because of their vvilful obstinacie and illumination of the Gentils vvho confesse their ovvne blindnes verse 1 AND IESVS passing by savv a man blinde from his natiuitie ✠verse 2 and his disciples asked him Rabbi vvho hath sinned this man or his parents that he should be borne blinde ✠verse 3 IESVS ansvvered Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents but that the vvorkes of God may be manifested in him ✠verse 4 I must vvorke the vvorkes of him that sent me vvhiles it is day The night commeth vvhen no man can vvorke ✠verse 5 As long as I am in the vvorld I am the light of the vvorld ✠verse 6 Vvhen he had said these things he spit on the ground and ″ made clay of the spettle and spred the clay vpoÌ„ his eies ✠verse 7 and said to him Goe vvash in the poole of Siloé vvhich is interpreted Sent. He vvent therfore and vvashed and he came seeing ✠verse 8 Therfore the neighbours and they vvhich had seen him before that he vvas a begger said Is not this he that sate and begged verse 9 Others said That this is he ✠But others No not so but he is like him But he said That I am he ✠verse 10 They said therfore to him Hovv vvere thine eies opened ✠verse 11 He ansvvered That man that is called IESVS made clay and anointed mine eies and said to me Goe to
father of many nations haue I appointed thee before God vvhom thou didst beleeue ' vvho quickeneth the dead and calleth those things that are not as those things that are ✠verse 18 Vvho contrarie to hope beleeued in hope that he might be made the father of many nations according to that vvhich vvas * said to him So shal thy seede be as the starres of heauen and the sand of the sea ✠verse 19 And he vvas not vveakened in faith neither did he coÌ„sider his ovvne body novv quite dead vvhereas he vvas almost an hundred yeres old and the dead matrice of Sara ✠verse 20 In the promisse also of God he staggered not by distrust but vvas strengthened in faith giuing glorie to God ✠verse 21 most fully knovving that vvhatsoeuer he promised he is able also to doe ✠verse 22 Therfore vvas it also reputed him to iustice ✠verse 23 And it is not vvritten only for him that it vvas reputed him to iustice ✠verse 24 but also ″ for vs to vvhom it shal be reputed beleeuing in him that raised vp IESVS CHRIST our Lord from the dead ✠verse 25 vvho vvas deliuered vp for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 1. Abraham The Apostle disputing in this chapter as before against them that thought they might be iustified by their vvorkes done vvithout the grace of Christ and faith in him proposeth Abraham for an example and proueth that he had no iustice nor estimation of iustice before God by any vvorkes done before he had faith or that proceded not of faith and Gods grace 2. By vvorkers If Abraham did any commendable vvorkes before he beleeued Christ as many Philosophers did men might count him iust therfore but in Gods sign vvho accepteth nothing vvithout faith in him or that procedeth not from his grace he should neuer haue had the estimation of a iust man Therfore God in the Scriptures reputing him as a iust man giueth the cause therof saying Abraham beleeued God and it vvas reputed to him for iustice 4 To him that vvorketh That is to say He that presumeth of his ovvne vvorkes as done of him self vvithout faith Gods helpe and grace and saying that grace or iustification vvere giuen to him for his vvorkes this man doth chalenge his iustification as dette and not as of fauour and grace 5. To him that vvorketh not He vvorketh not in this place that hath no vvorkes or alleageth not his vvorkes done in his infidelitie as cause of his iustification but faith in Christ and that proceding of mere grace Vvherevpon S. Augustine saith Knovv thou that faith found thee vniust And if faith giuen to thee made the iust it found thee a vvicked one vvhom it might make iust If it found thee vvicked and of such an one made thee iust vvhat vvorkes hadst thou being then vvicked None couldest thou haue nor canst haue before thou beleeudst Beleeue then in him that iustifieth the impious that thy good vvorkes may be good vvorkes in deede August in Psal 31. 6. As Dauid termeth The Protestants for termeth translato describeth for that they vvould haue the ignorant beleeue the vvhole nature definition of Iustification to be nothing els but remission of sinnes and no grace or inherent iustice giuen from God at al. Vvhen the Apostle vvould say nothing els but that in the first justificatioÌ„ God findeth no good vvorkes or merites to revvard but only sinnes to forgiue vnto such as haue faith in him 7. Couered 8. not imputed You may not gather as the Heretikes doe of these termes couered and not imputed that the sinnes of men be neuer truely forgiuen but hidden only for that derogateth much to the force of Christes bloud and to the grace of God by vvhich our offences be truly remitted He is the Lambe that taketh avvay the sinnes of the vvorld that vvasheth and blotteth out our sinnes therfore to couer them or not to impute them is not to charge vs vvith our sinnes because by remission they be cleane taken avvay othervvise it vvere but a â—eined forgiuenesse See S. Augustine in psal 3â— enarrat â— 11. A seale The Heretikes vvould proue hereby that the Sacraments of the Church giue not grace or iustice of faith but that they be notes markes and badges only of our remission of sinnes had by faith before because Abraham vvas iust before and tooke this Sacrament for a seale thereof only To vvhich must be ansvvered that it folovveth not that it is so in al because it vvas so in the Patriarch vvho vvas iust before and vvas therfore as it vvere the founde of Circumcision or he in vvhom God vvould first establish the same no more then it folovveth that because the Holy Sacrament of the Altar remitted not sinnes to Christ nor iustified him therefore it hath that effect in none Looke S. Augustine de baptismo contra Donatistas li. 4. c. 24. Vvhere you shal see that though not in Abraham yet in Isaac his sonne and so consequently in the rest the Sacrament vvent before and iustice folovved 24. For vs to vvhom it shal be reputed By this it is most plaine against our Aduersaries that the saith vvhich vvas reputed for iustice to Abraham vvas his beleefe of an Article reuealed to him by God that is to say his assent and credit giuen to Gods speaches as in vs his posteritie according to the spirit it is here plainely said that iustice shal be reputed to vs by beleeuing the Articles of Christes death and Resurrection and not by any fond special faith fiducia or confidence of eche mans ovvne saluation to establish the vvhich fiction they make no account of the faith Catholike that is vvherevvith vve beleeue the Articles of the faith vvhich only iustifieth but call it by contempt an historical faith so as they may terme Abrahams faith and our Ladies faith of vvhich it vvas * said Beata quae credidisti Blessed art thou that hast beleeued And so in truth they deny as vvel the iustification by faith as by vvorkes CHAP. V. Hauing therfore through faith in Christ obteined the beginning he shevveth vvhat great cause vve haue to hope for the accomplishment 12 And then he procedeth in his arguing and shevveth that as by one â—l vvere made sinners so by one al must he made iust verse 1 BEING iustified therfore by faith ″ let vs haue peace tovvard God by our Lord IESVS CHRIST ✠verse 2 by vvhoÌ„ also vve haue ″ accesse through faith into this grace vvherein vve stand and glorie in the hope of the glorie of the sonnes of God ✠verse 3 And not only this but also vve glorie in tribulations knovving that tribulation vvorketh patience ✠verse 4 and patience probation and ″ probation hope ✠verse 5 and hope confoundeth not because ″ the charitie of God is povvred forth in our hartes by the holy Ghost
more infirme and ignorant sort of Christian men be called sensual or carnal also vvho being occupied in secular affaires and giuen to sensual ioy and vvorldlines haue no such sense nor feeling of these great gifts of God as the perfecter sort of the faithful haue Vvho trying these high pointes of religion not by reason and sense but by grace faith and Spirit be therfore called spiritual The spiritual then is he that iudgeth and discerneth the truth of such things as the carnal can not attaine vnto that doth by the spirit of the Church vvhereof he is partaker in the vnitie of the same not onely see the errours of the carnal but condemneth them and iudgeth euery povver resisting Gods spirit and vvord the carnal Ievv Heathen or Heretike hauing no meanes nor right to iudge of the said spiritual man For vvhen the spiritual is said to be iudged of none the meaning is not that he should not be subiect or obedient to his Pastors and spiritual Povvers and to the vvhole Church specially for the trial or examination of al his life doctrine and faith but that a Catholike man and namely a teacher of Catholike doctrine in the Church should not be any vvhit subiect to the iudgement of the Heathen or the Heretike nor care vvhat of ignorance or infidelitie they say against him for such carnal men haue no iudgement in such things nor can attaine to the Churches vvisedom in any ceremonie mysterie or matter vvhich they condemne Therfore S. Irenaeus excellently declaring that the Church and query spiritual childe thereof iudgeth and condemneth al false Prophets and Heretikes of vvhat sort so euer at length he concludeth vvith these notable vvordes The spiritual shal iudge also all that make schismes vvhich be cruel not hauing the loue of God and respecting their ovvne priuate more then the vnitie of the Church mangle deuide and as much as in them lieth kill for smal causes the great and glorious body of Christ speaking peace and seeking battaile He shal iudge also them that be out of the truth that is to say out of the Church vvhich Church shal be vnder no mans iudgement for to the Church are al things knovven in vvhich is perfect faith of the Father and of al the dispensation of Christ and firme knovvledge of the Holy Ghost that teacheth all truth CHA. III. If they vvil not be carnal stil they must boast in God only not in their preachers which are but his ministers 10 and neede to looke vvel hovv they preach 12 because not al preaching though it be Catholike is meritorious but rather it buildeth matter to be purged by fire vvhen it is vaine and vnfruitful as also any other like vvorkes of other Catholikes marie if it be heretical destroying the temple of God then it vvorketh damnation 18 The remedie is to humble them selues and referre al to God verse 1 AND I brethren could not speake to you as to spiritual but as to carnal As it vvere to litle ones in Christ ✠verse 2 I gaue you milke to drinke not meate for you could not as yet but neither can you novv verely for yet you are carnal ✠verse 3 For vvhereas there is among you emulation and contention are you not carnal and vvalke according to man ✠verse 4 For vvhen one saith I certes am Paules an other I Apollos are you not â—men ' Vvhat is Apollo then and vvhat is Paul ✠verse 5 The ministers of him vvhom you haue beleeued to euery one as our Lord hath giuen ✠verse 6 I planted Apollo vvatered but God gaue the increase ✠verse 7 Therfore neither he that planteth is any thing nor he that vvatereth but he that giueth the increase God ✠verse 8 And he that planteth and he that vvatereth are one And â— euery one shal receiue his owne reward according to his ovvne labour ✠verse 9 For vve are Gods coadiutors you are Gods husbandrie you are Gods building ✠verse 10 According to the grace that is giuen me as a vvise vvorkemaster haue I laid the foundation and an other buildeth therevpon but let euery one looke hovv he buildeth thereon ✠verse 11 For other foundation no man can lay beside that vvhich is laid vvhich is Christ IESVS ✠verse 12 And if any man build â— vpon this foundation gold siluer pretious stones vvood hay stubble ✠verse 13 the vvorke of euery one â— shal be manifest for â— the day of our Lord vvil declare because it shal be reuealed in fire and the vvorke of euery one of vvhat kinde it is the fire shal trie ✠verse 14 If any mans vvorke abide vvhich he built therevpon he shal receiue revvard ✠verse 15 If any mans vvorke burne he shal suffer detriment but him self shal be saued yet so â— as by fire ✠verse 16 Knovv you not that you are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dvvelleth in you ✠verse 17 But if any violate the temple of God God vvil destroy him For the temple of God is holy vvhich you are ✠verse 18 Let no man seduce him self if any man seeme to be vvise among you in this world let him become a foole that he may be vvise ✠verse 19 For the vvisedom of this vvorld is folishnes vvith God For it is vvritten I vvil compasse the vvise in their subteltie ✠verse 20 And againe Our Lord knovveth the cogitations of the vvise that they be â—aine ✠verse 21 Let no man therfore glorie in men For al things are yours ✠verse 22 vvhether it be Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the vvorld or life or death or things present or things to come for al are yours ✠verse 23 and you are Christs and Christ is Gods ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III. 8. Euery man shal receiue according A most plaine text for proofe that men by their labours and by the diuersities thereof shal be diuersly revvarded in heauen and therfore that by their vvorkes proceding of grace they do deserue or merite heauen and the more or lesse ioy in the same for though the holy Scripture coÌ„monly vse not this vvord merite yet in places innumerable of the old and nevv Testament the very true sense of merite is conteined and so often as the vvord merces and the like be vsed they be euer vnderstood as correlatiues or correspondent vnto it for if the ioy of heauen be â—erribution repaiment hire vvages for vvorkes as in infinite places of holy Scripture then the vvorkes can be none other but the valure deseit price vvorth and merite of the same And in deede this vvord revvard vvhich in our English tonge may signifie a volutary or bountiful gift doth not so vvel expresse the nature of the * Latin vvord or the Greeke vvhich are rather the very stipend that the hired vvorkeman or iournieman couenanteth to haue of him vvhose vvorke he doth and is a thing equally
you ✠verse 21 lest againe vvhen I come God humble me among you I mourne many of them that sinned before haue not done penaÌ„ce for the vncleannes fornication and incontinencie that they haue committed ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XII 1. Visions S. Cyprian ep 69. nu 4. complaineth that the Aduersaries of Gods Church and Priestes giue no credit to visions but their incredulitie is much more in our daies that condemne al such reuelations though they be reported and recorded for most certaine of holy S. Gregorie S. Bede or vvho els so euer Yea they are so vvicked in this case that the vision vvhich the holy author of the booke of Mathabees * calleth fide dignum vvâ—rthy of credit is one cause vvhy they deny the vvhole booke to be Canonical and as vvel might they for this vision deny al S. Paules Epistles and for the like the Actes of the Apostles Act. 9. 10. 11. 12. 27 and the Gospel it self Mat. 1 20. 2 13 19. 11. Aboue measure Apostles Though al vvere in that they vvere Apostles of one and the same order yet ye may see that some had maruelous great preeminence and priuilege aboue others in the same office specially S. Peter and S. Iohn vvhom S. Paul often calleth great Apostles aboue measue or passing Apostles â—l epilleâ—s c. 2 Cor. 11 5. 12 11. Gal. 2 9. 12. In signes Miracles be necessarie and be great signes of truth vvhen it is first nevvly taught And therfore let al Catholike men holâ— fast that faith vvhich vvas first preached and confirmed by miracles as in England by S Augustine and in other nations by other holy Apostolike men And let the Heretikes that preach extraordinarily nevvly and othervvise then vve receiued at our first conuersion shevv their calling and doctrine by miracles or els let them be taken for false Apostles as they be CHAP. XIII He driueth into them the feare of excommunication to the end that they doing penance beforehand he may not be compelled to vse his authoritie vvhen he commeth and as he hath threatened 11 And so vvith a general exhortation he endeth verse 1 LO this the third time I come vnto you * In the mouth of tvvo or three vvitnesses shal euery vvord stand ✠verse 2 I foretold and doe foretel as present and novv absent to them that sinned before and al the rest that if I come againe I vvil not spare ✠verse 3 Seeke you an experiment of him that speaketh in me Christ vvho in you is not vveake but is mightie in you ✠verse 4 For although he vvas crucified of infirmitie yet he liueth by the povver of God For vve also are vveake in him but vve shal liue vvith him by the povver of God on you ✠verse 5 ″ Trie your ovvne selues if you be in the faith proue ye your selues Knovv you not your selues that Christ IESVS is in you vnlesse perhaps you be reprobates ✠verse 6 But I hope you knovv ' that vve are not reprobates ✠verse 7 And vve pray God that you doe no euil not that vve may appeare approued but that you may doe that vvhich is good and vve be as reprobates ✠verse 8 For vve can not any thing against the truth but for the truth ✠verse 9 For vve reioyce for that vve are vveake you are mightie This also vve pray for your consummation ✠verse 10 Therfore these things I vvrite absent that being present I may not deale hardly according to the povver vvhich our Lord hath giuen me vnto edification and not vnto destruction ✠verse 11 For the rest brethren reioyce be perfect take exhortation be of one minde haue peace and the God of peace of loue shal be vvith you ✠verse 12 Salute one an other in a * holy kisse Al the saincts salute you ✠verse 13 The grace of our Lord IESVS Christ and the charitie of God and the communication of the holy Ghost be vvith you all Amen ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIII 5. Trie your selues The Heretikes argue herevpoÌ„ that euery man may knovv him self certainely to be in grace vvhere the Apostle speaketh expresly and onely of faith the act vvhereof a man may knovv and feele to be in him self because it is an act of vnderstanding though he can not be assured that he hath his sinnes remitted and that he is in al pointes in state of grace and saluation because euery man that is of the Catholike faith is not alvvaies of good life agreable therevnto nor the actes of our vvil so subiect to vnderstanding that vve can knovv certainely vvhether vve be good or euil See S. Augustine â—â— 7 de perfect iustitia c. 15. Li. de Cor. et grat c. 13. S. Thomas 1. 2 q. 112. art 5. ⧠THE ARGVMENT OF THE EPISTLE OF S. PAVL TO THE GALATIANS THAT this Epistle may seeme to be the first that S. Paul vvrote vvas declared in the Argument of the Epistle to the Romanes notvvithstanding that in the second chapter it is euideÌ„s to haue bene vvritten 14 yeres at the least after his Conuersion and as it is said from Ephesus belike at that time of his being there vvhich is mentioned Act. 18. The occasion of it vvere such False apostles as vve reade of Act. 15. Et quidam descendentes c. And certaine comming dovvne from Ievvrie taught the brethren that is the Christian Gentiles at Antioche that vnles you be circumcised according to the manner of Moyses you can not be saued Such commers also to the Galatians vvhom S. Paul had conuerted Act. 16 as him self mentioneth Gal. 1. and 4. did seduce them saying that al the other Apostles to vvhom they should rather harken then to Paul vvho came they knevv not from vvhence did vse Circumcision yea and that Paul himself vvhen he came among them durst do none other And to vvinne them more easily they did not lay on them the burden of the vvhole Lavv but of Circumcision only Against these deceiuers S. Paul declareth that he receiued his Apostleship and learned the Gospel that he preacheth of Christ him self after hiâ— Resurrection and that the other Apostles although he learned nothing of them receiued him into their societie and allovved vvel of his preaching to the Gentiles though themselues being Ievves and liuing among the Ievves had not yet left the ceremonies of the Lavv hovvbeit they did not put in them any hope of iustification but in Christ alone vvithout them He declareth moreouer that the said False apostles belyed him in saying that he also preached Circumcision sometimes Againe that they themselues in preaching no more but Circumcision did against the nature of Circumcision because it is a profession to obserue the vvhole Lavv finally vvhatsoeuer they pretended that in deede they did it onely to please the Ievves of vvhom othervvise they should be persecuted So that in this Epistle he handleth the same matter vvhich in
the Epistle to the Romanes but here lesse exactly and more briefly because the Galatians vvere very rude and the Romanes contrarivvise repleti omni scientia Rom. 15. replenished vvith al knovvledge THE EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE GALATIANS CHAP. I. After the foundation laide in the salutation â— 6 he exclaimeth against the Galatians and their false apostles 1â— considering that the Gospel vvhich he preached to theÌ„ he had it immediatly of Christ him self 13 Vvhich to shevv he beginneth to tel the storie of his conuersion and preaching since then that as he learned nothing of the other Apostles so yet he had their approbation verse 1 PAVL an Apostle not of men ″ neither by man but by IESVS Christ and God the Father that raised him from the dead ✠verse 2 and al the brethren that are vvith me to the churches of Galatia ✠verse 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 4 vvho gaue him self for our sinnes that he might deliuer vs from this present vvicked vvorld according to the vvil of our God and father ✠verse 5 to vvhom is glorie for euer and euer Amen ✠verse 6 I maruel that thus so soone you are transferred from him that called you into the grace of Christ vnto an other Gospel ✠verse 7 vvhich is not an other vnles there be some that trouble you and vvil inuert the Gospel of Christ ✠verse 8 But although we ″ or an Angel from heauen euaÌ„gelize to you beside that vvhich vve haue euangelized to you be he anáthema ✠verse 9 As vve haue said before so novv I say againe If any euangelize to you beside that vvhich you haue receiued be he anáthema ✠verse 10 For do I novv vse persuasion to men or to God Or do I seeke to please men If I yet did please men I should not be the seruant of Christ ✠verse 11 For I doe you to vnderstand brethren the Gospel that vvas euangelized of me that it is not according to man ✠verse 12 For neither did I receiue it of man noâ— learne 〈◊〉 but by the reuelation of IESVS Christ ✠verse 13 For you haue heard my coÌ„uersation sometime in Iudaisme that aboue measure I persecuted the Church of God and expugned it ✠verse 14 and profited in Iudaisme aboue many of mine equales in my nation being more aboundantly an emulator of the traditions of my fathers ✠verse 15 But vvhen it pleased him that separated me from my mothers vvombe and called me by his grace to reueale his sonne in me ✠verse 16 that I should euangelize him among the Gentils incontinent I condescended not to flesh and bloud ✠verse 17 neither came I to Hierusalem to the Apostles my antecessors but I vvent into Arabia and againe I returned to Damascus ✠verse 18 Then after three yeres I came to Hierusalem ″ to see Peter and taried with him fiftene daies ✠verse 19 But other of the Apostles savv I none sauing Iames the brother of our Lord. ✠verse 20 And the things that I vvrite to you behold before God that I lie not ⊢ ✠verse 21 After that I came into the partes of Syria and Cilicia ✠verse 22 And I vvas vnknowen by sight to the churches of Ievvrie that vvere in Christ ✠verse 23 but they had heard only That he vvhich persecuted vs sometimes doth novv euangelize the faith vvhich sometime he expugned ✠verse 24 and in me they glorified God ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 1. Neither by man Though he vvere not first by mans election nomination or assignement but by Gods ovvne special appointmeÌ„t chosen to be an Apostle yet by the like expresse ordinance of God he tooke orders or imposition of hands of men as is plaine Act. 18. Let vs bevvare then of such false Apostles as novv a daies intrude them selues to the office of Ministerie and preaching neither called of God nor rightly ordered of men â— Or an Angel Many vvorthie obseruations are made in the fathers vvritings of the earnest admonition of the Apostle and much may vve gather of the text it self first that the credit of any man or Angel for vvhat learning eloquence shevv of grace or vertue so euer though he vvrought miracles should not moue a Christian man from that truth vvhich he hath once receiued in the Catholike Church of vvhich point Vincentius Liâ—inensis excellently treateth li. cont profan hares Nouitates Vvhereby vve may see that it is great pitie and shame that so many folovv Luther and Caluin and such other Ieude fellovves into a nevv Gospel vvhich are so farre from Apostles and Angels that they are not any vvhit comparable vvith the old Heretikes in giftes of learning or eloquence much lesse in good life Secondly S. Augustine noteth vpon the vvord Beside that not al other teaching or more preaching then the first is forbidden but such as is contrarie and disagreing to the rule of faith The Apostle did not say saith he If any man euangelize to you more then you haue receiued but beside that you receiued for if he should say that he should be preiudiâ—ial to him self vvho coueted to come to the Thessalonians that he might supply that vvhich vvas vvanting to their faith Novv he that supplieth addeth that vvhich vvas lacking taketh not avvay that vvhich vvas c. By vvhich vve see hovv friuolously and calumniously the Heretikes charge the Church vvith addition to the Scripture Thirdly as vvel by the vvord euangelizamus vve euangelize as the vvord accepistis you haue receiued vve may note that the first truth against vvhich no second Gospelling or doctrine may be admitted is not that onely vvhich he vvrote to the Galatians or vvhich is conteined either in his or any other of the Apostles or EuaÌ„gelistes vvritings but that vvhich vvas by vvord of mouth also preached taught or deliuered them first before he wrote to them Therfore the Aduersaries of the Church that measure the word of God or Gospel by the Scriptures onely thinking them selues not to incurre S. Paules curse except they teach directly against the vvritten vvord are fouly beguiled As therein also they any shamefully erre when they charge the Catholikes with addint to the Gospel when they teach any thing that is not in expresse wordes written by the Apostles or Euangelistes not marking that the Apostle in this Chapter and els where commonly calleth his his fellovves whole preaching the Gospel be it written or vnvvritten Fourthly by the same wordes we see condemned al after-preachings later doctrines new sectes and authors of the same that onely being true which was first by the Apostles and Apostolike men as the lavvful husbandmen of Christes fild sovved and planted in the Church and that false which was laten and as it vvere ouersovven by the enemie By which rule not onely Tertullian de praescript nu 6 9. but all other auÌ„cient Doctors and specially S.
in your account ✠verse 18 But I haue al things and abound I vvas filled after I receiued of Epaphroditus the things that you sent an odour of svveetenes an ″ acceptable host pleasing God ✠verse 19 And my God supply al your lacke according to his riches in glorie in Christ IESVS ✠verse 20 And to God our father be glorie vvorld vvithout end Amen ✠verse 21 Salute ye euery saincte in Christ IESVS The brethren that are vvith me salute you ✠verse 22 Al the sainctes salute you but especially they are of Caesars house ✠The grace of our Lord IESVS Christ be vvith your spirit Amen ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 1. My ioy He calleth them his ioy and crovvne for that he expected the crovvne of euerlasting life as a revvard of his labours tovvardes them Vvhereby vve may learne also that besides the essential glorie vvhich shal be in the vision and fruition of God there is other manifold fellcitie incident in respect of creatures â— Sincere companion The English Bibles vvith one consent interprets the Greeke vvordes faithful yokefellovv perhaps to signifie as some vvould haue it that the Apostle here speaketh to his vvife but they must vnderstand that their Maisters Caluin and Beza mislike that exposition and * al the Greeke fathers almost much more reiect it and it is against S. Paules ovvne vvordes speaking to the vnmaried That it is good for them to remaine so euen as him self did 1 Cor. 7 8. Vvhereby it is euident he had no vvife and therfore meaneth here some other his coadiutor and fellovv-labourer in the Gospel 1â— Acceptable Hovv acceptable almes are before God vve see here namely vvhen it is giuen for religion to deuout persons for a recompense of spiritual benefites for so it putteth on the condition of an oblation or sacrifice offered to God and is most acceptable and svvete in his sight THE ARGVMENT OF THE EPISTLE OF S. PAVL TO THE COLOSSIANS THE Epistle to the Colossians is not only in sense but almost in vvordes also all one vvith the Epistle to the Ephesians and vvas sent also by the same messenger Tychicus c. 4 â— 7. And in it he maketh like mention of his bandes and sufferings c. 1. v. 24. and c. 4. v. 3 18. And therfore no doubt is vvas vvritten at Rome at the same time to vvitte in his last apprehension yet before he knevv of his martyrdom This difference there is that he had himself preached to the Ephesians but vvith the Colossians he had neuer bene as he signifieth c. 2. v. 1. Therefore although in matters of exhortation he be here briefer then to the Ephesians yet in matters of doctrine be is longer And generally he assureth them that to be the truth vvhich their Apostle Epaphras had taught them but namely he giueth them vvarning both of the Iudaical False-apostles vvho sought to corrupt them vvith some ceremonies of Moyses lavv and also of the Platonike Philosophers vvho reiected Christ vvho is in deede the head of the Church and Mediator to bring vs to God and in steed of him brought in certaine Angels as more excelleÌ„t then be vvhom they termed Minores dij teaching the people to sacrifice vnto them calling that humilitie that they might bring them to the great God Vvith vvhich falsehood the heresie of Simon Mague a long time deceiued many as vve reade in Epiph. har 21. Against such therefore S. Paul telleth the Colossians that Christ is the Creator of all the Angels God in person the head of the Church the principall in all respects that he is the Redeemer Mediator and pacifier betvvene God and men and therefore by him vve must goe to God so that vvhether vve pray our selues or desire any other in earth or in heauen to pray for vs al must be done as the Cath. Church in euery Collect doth Per Christum dominum nostrum that is through Christ our Lord. or per Do. nostrum Iesum Christum filium tuum qui tecum viuit regnat c. Vvhereby the Church professeth coÌ„tinually against such seductions both the Mediator ship and the Godhead of Christ THE EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE COLOSSIANS CHAP. I. Saying that he thanketh God for their excellent faith and charitie and continually praieth for their encrease he doeth vvithal giue vvitnes to the preaching of their Apostle Epaphrâ—s and extelleth the grace of God in bringing them to Christ vvho is cheefe aboue al and peacemaker by his bloud This is the Gospel not of Epaphras alone but of the vniuersal Church and of Paul him self vvho also suffereth for it verse 1 PAVL an Apostle of IESVS Christ by the vvil of God and brother Timothee ✠verse 2 to them that are at Colossa sainctes and faithful brethren in Christ IESVS ✠verse 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord IESVS Christ Vve giue thankes to God and the Father of our Lord IESVS Christ alvvaies for you praying ✠verse 4 hearing your faith in Christ IESVS and the loue vvhich you haue tovvard al the saincts ✠verse 5 for the hope that is laid vp for you in heauen vvhich you haue heard in the vvord of the truth of the Gospel ✠verse 6 that is come to you as also in the vvhole vvorld it is and fructifieth and grovveth euen as in you since that day that you heard knevv the grace of God in truth ✠verse 7 as you learned of Epaphras our deerest fellovv-seruant vvho is a faithful minister of IESVS Christ for you ✠verse 8 vvho also hath manifested to vs your loue in spirit ✠verse 9 Therefore vve also from the day that vve heard it cease not praying for you and desiring that you may be filled vvith the knovvledge of his vvil in al vvisedom and spiritual vnderstanding ✠verse 10 that you may vvalke vvorthie of God in al things pleasing Fructifying in al good vvorke increasing in the knovvledge of God ✠verse 11 in al povver strengthened according to the might of his glorie in al patience and longanimitie vvith ioy ✠verse 12 giuing thankes to God and the Father vvho hath made vs vvorthy vnto the part of the lot of the sainctes in the light ✠verse 13 vvho hath deliuered vs from the povver of darkenes and hath translated vs into the kingdom of the sonne of his loue ✠verse 14 in vvhom vve haue redemption the remission of sinnes ⊢ ✠verse 15 vvho is thâ— * image of the inuisible God the first-borne of al creature ✠verse 16 because * in him vvere created al things in heauen and in earth visible and inuisible vvhether Thrones or Dominations or Principalities or Potestates ✠al by him in him vvere created ✠verse 17 and he is before al and al consist in him ✠verse 18 And he is the head of the body the CHVRCH vvho is the beginning first-borne of
10 c. 23. Tradition caused him to beleeue that the baptized of heretikes should not be rebaptized notvvithstanding S. Cyprians authoritie and the manifold scriptures alleaged by him though they seemed neuer so pregnant De bap li. 2. c. 7. By tradition onely he and others condemned Heluidius the heretike for denying the perpetual virginitie of our Lady And vvithout this be the Scriptures neuer so plaine no Arian no Macedonian no Eutychian no Pelagian no Zuinglian vvil yeld We must vse tradition saith S. Epiphanius â—har 61 Apostolicorum For the Scripture hath not al things and therfore the Apostles deliuered certaine things in vvriting certaine by tradition and for that he alleageth this place also of S. Paul And againe haer 55. Melchised There be boundes set dovvne for the foundation and building vp of our faith the tradition of the Apostles and holy Scriptures and succession of doctrine so that truth is euery vvay â—insed S. Irenaeus li. 3. c. 4. hath one notable chapter that in al questions vve must haue recourse to the traditions of the Apostles teaching vs vvithal that the vvay to trie an Apostolical tradition and to bring it to the fountaine is by the Apostolike succession of Bishops but specially of the Apostolike See of Rome declaring in the same place that there be many barbarous people simple for learning but for constancie in their faith most vvise vvhich neuer had Scriptures but learned onely by tradition Tertullian li. de corona militis nu â— reckeneth vp a great number of Christian obseruations or customs as S. Cyprian in many places doth in maner the same vvhereof in fine he concludeth Of such and such if thou require the rule of Scriptures thou shalt finde none Tradition shal be alleaged the author custom the confirmer and faith the obseruer Origen also of this matter vvriteth in plaine termes that there be many thinges done in the Church vvhich he there nameth vvhereof there is no easier reason to be giuen then tradition from Christ and the Apostles ho. 5. in Numer S. Dionysius Areopagita referreth the praying and oblation for the dead in the Liturgie or Masse to an Apostolical tradition in fine Eâ— Hierarch c. 7. parte 3. So doth Tertullian De coron militit S. Augustine De â—ura pro mortuis c. 1. S. Chrysostom ho. 3. in ep ad Philip. in Moral S. Damascene Sâ—r. de defunctis in initio Vve might adde to al this that the Scriptures them selues euen al the bookes and partes of the holy Bible be giuen vs by tradition els vve should not nor could not take them as they be in deede for the infallible vvord of God no more then the vvorkes of S. Ignatius S. Clement S. Denys and the like The true sense also of the Scriptures vvhich Catholikes haue heretikes haue not remaineth stil in the Church by tradition The Crede is an Apostolike traditioÌ„ Ruffin in expo Symb. in principio Hiero. ep 61. c. 9. Ambros Ser. 38. Aug. de Symb. ad Catechum li. 3. c. 1. And vvhat Scriptures haue they to proue that vve must accept nothing not expresly vvritten in Scriptures Vve haue to the contrarie plaine Scriptures al the fathers most euident reasons that vve must either beleeue traditions or nothing at al. And they must be asked vvhether if they vvere assured that such and such things vvhich be not expressed in Scriptures vvere taught and deliuered by vvord of mouth from the Apostles they vvould beleeue them or no If they say no then they be impious that vvil not trust the Apostles preaching if they say they vvould if they vvere assured that the Apostles taught it then to proue vnto them this point vve bring them such as liued in the Apostles daies and the testimonies of so many fathers before named neere to those daies and the vvhole Churches practise and asseueratioÌ„ descending dovvne from man to man to our time vvhich is a sufficient proofe at least for a matter of fact in al reasonable mens iudgement specially vvhen it is knovven that S. Ignatius the Apostles equal in time vvrote a booke of the Apostles traditions as Eusebius vvitnesseth li. 3. Ec. hist c. 30. And Tertullians booke of prescriptioÌ„ against Heretikes is to no other effect but to proue that the Church hath this vantage aboue Heretikes that she can proue her truth by plaine Apostolike tradition as none of them can euer do CHAP. III. He desireth their praiers 4 and inculcateth his precepts and traditions namely of vvorking quietly for their ovvne liuing commaunding to excommunicate the disobedient verse 1 FOR the rest brethren pray for vs that the vvord of God may haue course and be glorified as also vvith you ✠verse 2 and that vve may be deliuered from importunate and naughtie men for al men haue not faith ✠verse 3 But our Lord is faithful vvho vvil confirme and keepe you from euil ✠verse 4 And vve haue confidence of you in our Lord that the things vvhich vve commaund both you doe and vvil doe ✠verse 5 And our Lord direct your hartes in the charitie of God and patience of Christ ✠verse 6 And vve denounce vnto you brethren in the name of our Lord IESVS Christ that you vvithdravv your selues froÌ„ euery brother vvalking inordinarly and not according to the traditioÌ„ vvhich they haue receiued of vs. ✠verse 7 For your selues knovv hovv you ought to imitate vs for vve haue not been vnquiet among you ✠verse 8 * neither haue vve eaten bread of any man gratis but in labour in toile night and day vvorking lest vve should burden any of you ✠verse 9 * Not as though vve had not authoritie but that vve might giue our selues a paterne vnto you for to imitate vs. ✠verse 10 For also vvhen vve vvere vvith you this vve denounced to you that if any vvil not vvorke â— neither let him eate ✠verse 11 For vve haue heard of certaine amoÌ„g you that vvalke vnquietly vvorking nothing but curiously meddling ✠verse 12 And to them that be such vve denounce beseeche them in our Lord IESVS Christ that vvorking vvith silence they eate their ovvne bread ✠verse 13 But you brethren * fainte not vvel-doing ✠verse 14 And if any â— obey not our vvord â— note him by an epistle ✠verse 15 and do not companie vvith him that he may be confounded and do not esteeme him as an enemie but admonish him as a brother ✠verse 16 And the Lord of peace him self giue you euerlasting peace in euery place Our Lord be vvith you al. ✠verse 17 The saluation vvith mine ovvne hand Paules vvhich is a signe in euery epistle so I vvrite ✠verse 18 The grace of our Lord IESVS Christ be vvith you al. Amen ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III. 10. Neither let them eate It is not a general precept or rule that euery man should liue by this handvvorke
to abuse the simple do falsifie this sentence of the Apostle to make it serue for the mariage of Votaries it is notorious First they vse deceit in supplying the verbe substantiue that vvanteth making it the Indicatiue moode thus Mariage is honorable c. as though the Apostle affirmed al mariage to be honorable or lavvful vvhere the verbe to be supplied ought rather to be the Imperatiue moode Let mariage be honorable that so the speache may be an exhortation or commaundement to them that be or vvil be maried to vse them selues in that state in al fidelity cleanlinesse and coniugal continencie one tovvard an other as vvhen S. Peter also and this Apostle exhorte maried men to giue honour to their vviues as to the vveaker vessels and to possesse their vessel in honour not in the passions of ignominie and vncleanlinesse this is honorable or chast mariage to vvhich he here exhorteth And that it is rather an exhortation then an affirmation it is euident by the other partes and circumstances of this place both before after al vvhich are exhortations in their owne translations this only being in the middes and as indifferent to be an exhortation as the rest by their owne confession they restraine of purpose Our text therfore and al Catholike translatioÌ„s leaue the sentence indifferent as it is in the Greeke and as true translatours ought to do not presuming to addict it to one side lest they should restraine the sense of the holy Ghost to their owne particular fantasie Againe our new Translatours corrupt the text in that they translate in omnibus among al men because so they thinke it vvould sound better to the ignorant that Priests Religious and al vvhosoeuer may marie vvhere they can not tell either by the Greeke or Latin that in omnibus should be the masculine gendre rather then the neutre as not only Erasmus but the Greeke doctors also take it to signifie that mariage should be honorably kept betweene man and vvife in al pointes and in al respectes See S. Chrys and Theophyl in hunc locum For there may be many filthy abuses in vvedlocke vvhich the Apostle vvarneth them to take heede of and to keepe their mariage-bed vndefiled But the third corruption for their purpose aforesiad and most impudent is that some of the Caluinistes for in omnibus translate inter quosuis vvith a marginal interpretation to signifie al orders conditions states and qualities of men So boldly they take away al indifferencie of senses and make Gods vvord to speake iust that vvhich them selues vvould and their heresie requireth in vvhich king they passe al impudencie and al heretikes that euer vvere 7. Remember your Prelates Vve be here vvarned to haue great regard in our life and beleefe to the holy fathers Doctors glorious Bishops gone before vs in Gods Church not doubting but they being our lawful Pastors had and taught the truth of vvhom S. Augustine said That vvhich they found in the Church they held fast that vvhich they learned they taught that vvhich they receiued of their fathers the same they deliuered to their children Cont. Iulian. li. 2 c. 10. Vvhich respect to our holy forefathers in faith is now in this vvicked contempt of the Heretikes so much the more to be had See the said holy doctors second booke against Iulian the Pelagian throughout vvhat great account he maketh of them in the confutation of heresies and hovv far he preferreth them aboue the proud Sectmaisters of that time as vve must now doe against our new doctors This place also is rightly vsed to proue that the Church of God should keepe the memories of Saincts departed by solemne holidaies and other deuout vvaies of honour 9. Not vvith meates He speaketh not of Christian fastes but of the legal difference of meates vvhich the Hebrues vvere yet proâ—e vnto not considering that by Christes faith they vvere made free from al such obseruations of the Law 10. We haue an altar He putteth them in minde by these vvordes that in folowing to much their old Iewish rites they depriued them selues of an other maner and a more excellent sacrifice and meate meaning of the holy altar and Christes ovvne blessed body offered and eaten there of vvhich they that continue in the figures of the old Law could not be partakers This altar saith I sychius is the altar of Christes body vvhich the Ievves for their incredulity must not behold Li. 6 c. 21 in Leuit. And the Greeke vvord as also the Hebrue ansvvering therevnto in the old testament signifieth properly an altar to sacrifice on and not a metaphorical and spiritual altar Vvhereby vve proue against the Heretikes that vve haue not a common table or profane communion borde to eate mere bread vpon but a very altar in the proper sense to sacrifice Christes body vpon and so called of the fathers in respect of the said body sacrificed Greg. Nazianz. in orat de sorore Gorgonia Chrys demonst quòd Christus sit Deus Socrat. li. 1. c. 20. 25. Aug. ep 86. De ciu Dei li. 8. c. 27. li. 22. c. 10. Confess li. 9 c. 11. 13. Cont. Faust Manich. li. 20. c 21. Theophyl in 23. Mat. And vvhen it is called a table it is in respect of the heauenly foode of Christs body and bloud receiued 15. The hoste or praise Though it may signifie the spiritual sacrifices of praise and thankesgiuing of vvhat sort soeuer ye it specially may be thought to signifie the great Sacrifice of the B. body and bloud of Christ not as vpon the Crosse vvhich vvas but once done in bloudy sort but as in the Church and new Testament vvhere it is daily done vnblouddily being the proper host of laude and thankes giuing and therfore called the Eucharist and being the fruite and effecte of Christ and his Priests lippes or vvordes that is of consecration because this sacrifice is made by the force of the holy vvordes And vvhen vve reade in the psalme and other places of the olde Testament of the host of praise it may be thought to be a prophecie of the nevv Sacrifice not of euery vulgar thankes giuing And so the old fathers in the primitiue Church to hide the mysteries from the vnvvorthy or heathen often speake What is saith S. Augustine a more holy sacrifice of praise then that vvhich consisteth in thankes giuing all vvhich the faithful do knovv in the sacrifice of the Church Li. 1. cont aduers leg preph c. 18. Againe c. 20. The Church from the times of the Apostles by the most certaine successions of Bishops offereth to God in the body of Christ the Sacrifice of praise And a 〈◊〉 aftervvard Novv Israel according to the spirit that is the Church offereth a singular Sacrifice according to the spirit of vvhose house be vvil not take calues nor goates but vvil take the Sacrifice of praise not according
be temporally chastised in the next life cannot be saued vvithout great vvatch feare and trembling and much labouring and chastisement And this is far contrarie to the Protestants doctrine that putteth no iustice but in faith alone maketh none iust in deede and in truth teacheth men to be so secure and assured of their saluation that he that hath liued vvickedly al his life if he onely haue their faith at his death that is if he beleeue stedfastly that he is one of the elect he shal be as sure of his saluation immediatly after his departure as the best liuer in the vvorld CHAP. V. He exhorteth Priests to feede their flockes onely for Gods sake and revvard of heauen vvithout al lordlines 5 the laie to obey al to be humble one toâ—ards an other 8 to be constant in the Catho faith considering it is not man but that lion the Diuel that persecuteth them 9 as he doth the vvhole Church also that God vvil after a vvhile make them secure in heauen verse 1 THE seniors therfore that are among you I beseche my self a fellovv senior vvith them and a vvitnesse of the passions of Christ vvho am also partaker of that glorie vvhich is to be reuealed in time to come ✠verse 2 feede the flocke of God vvhich is among you prouiding not by constrainte but vvillingly according to God neither for filthie lucre sake but voluntarily ✠verse 3 neither as â— ouerruling â— the Clergie but made examples of the flocke from the hart ✠verse 4 And vvhen the prince of pastors shal appeare you shal receiue the incorruptible crovvne of glorie ✠verse 5 In like maner ye yong men be subiect to the seniors And do ye al insinuate humilitie one to an other because God resisteth the proude and to the humble he giueth grace ✠verse 6 * Be ye humbled therfore vnder the mightie hand of God that he may exalt you in the time of visitation ✠verse 7 * casting al your carefulnes vpon him because he hath care of you ✠verse 8 Be sober and vvatch because your aduersarie the Deuil as a roaring lion goeth about seeking vvhom he may deuoure ✠verse 9 vvhom resist ye strong in faith knovving that the self same affliction is made to that your fraternitie vvhich is in the vvorld ✠verse 10 But the God of al grace vvhich hath called vs vnto his eternal glorie in Christ IESVS he vvil perfite you hauing suffered a litle and confirme and stablish you ✠verse 11 To him be glorie and empire for euer and euer Amen ⊢ ✠verse 12 By Syluanus a faithful brother to you as I thinke I haue breefely vvritten beseching and testifying that this is the true grace of God vvherein you stand ✠verse 13 The Church saluteth you â— that is in Babylon coëlect and Marke my sonne ✠verse 14 * Salute one an other in a holy kisse Grace be to al you vvhich are in Christ IESVS Amen ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V. 1. Seniors Though the Latin Senior be not appropriated to holy order by vse of speache neither in the Latin nor in our language yet it is plaine that the Greeke vvord Presbyter vvhich the Apostle here vseth is here also as commonly in other places of the new Testament a vvord of Ecclesiastical office and not of age and is as much to say as Priest or Bishop For the Apostle him self being of that order speaketh as by his vvordes it is plaine to such as had charge of soules saying Feedâ— the flocke of God vvhich is among you Because vve folow the vulgar latin translation vve say Seniors and Senior vvhereas othervvise vve might and should say according to the Greeke The Priests therfore I beseech my self a follovv-priest vvith them So doth S. Hierom read Presbyteros compresbyter and expound ep 85. So translateth Erasmus and Beza him self 3. Ouerruling Not superiority preeminence souerainty or rule on the one side not obedience subiection and inferiority on the other side be forebidden in the Clergie but tyrannie pride and ambitious domination be forbidden and humility meekenes moderation are commended in Ecclesiastical Officers the Greeke vvord here of ruling or ouerruling being the same that our Sauiour vseth in the Gospel of the tyrannical rule of secular Heathen Princes saying to his Apostles that it shal not be so among them according as here the prince of the Apostles teacheth his brethren the Ecclesiastical rulers 3. The Clergie Some of the English nevv translations turne it corruptly Parishes others heritages both to auoid the most knovven true and common vvord in al Christian languages to vvit Clergie a vvord by vse of al antiquity agreably to the holy Scriptures made proper to the Spiritualty or Clergie though in an other more vulgar acception it may agree to al Christs chosen heritage as vvel of lay people as Priests vvhich the Protestants had rather folovv because they vvill haue no difference betvvene the laity the Clergie But the holy fathers far othervvise euen from the beginning Vvhereof see S. Cyprian ep 4. 5. 6. c. And S. Hierom ep 2 to Nepotianus â— 5. vvhere he interpreteth this vvord Therfore saith he Clericus that is a Clergie man vvhich serueth the Church of Christ let him first interprete his name and the signification of the name being declared let him endeuour to be that vvhich he is called If 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cleâ—us in Greeke be called in Latin Sors therfore are they called Clerici that is Clergie men because they are of the lot of our Lord or because our Lord him self is the lot or portion of Clergie men c. Vvhich calling no doubt vvas taken out of the holy Scriptures Numer 18. and Deutero 18. vvhere God is called the inheritance lot and portion of the Priests and Leuites and novv vvhen men be made of the Clergie they say Dominus pars haereditatis meae that is Our Lord is the portion of mine inheritance but specially out of the nevv Testament Act. 1 17. 25. and 8 21. Vvhere the lot or office of the Ecclesiastical ministerie is called by this vvord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cleâ—us See in Venerable Bede the causes vvhy this holy state being seuered by name from the Laity doth vvearâ— also a crovvne on their head for distinction Lib. 5. hist Angl. c. 22. 4. Crovvne of glorie Aâ— life euerlasting shal be the revvard of al the iust so the preachers Pastors that doe vvel for their doing shal haue that revvard in a more excelleÌ„t degree expressed here by these vvordes Crovvne of glorie according to the saying of Daniel c. 12. They that sleepe in the dust of the earth shal avvake one sort to life euerlasting others to euerlasting rebuke but such as he learned shal shine as the brightnes of the firmament and such as instruct many to iustice shal be as starres
our Catholike Bishops tooke vp the necessarie vse of often visiting their flockes cures coÌ„mitted to their charge for confirmatioÌ„ in faith vertue reformatioÌ„ of maners both of clergie laitie Act. 13 14. Act. 13 13. ⸬ Not only the things coÌ„maunded by Christes expresse vvord or vvritten in the Scriptures as our Heretikes hold but vvhatsoeuer the Apostles and Rulers of the Church commaund is to be kept obeied See these wordes repeated againe c. 16 4. that in the greeke lest any man cauil because here the greeke hath them not The way to end dissension in religion is to coÌ„mit it to a CouÌ„cel Of vvhat persons a Councel consisteth Deut. â—â— Mal. 2 7. Agga 2 12. A general CouÌ„cel representeth the vvhole Church Luc. 10 16 li. 1. c. 1â— de bapt The first Councel at Hierusalem Peter head of the Councel his successors after him Peters preeminence both toward Iewes Gentiles Ro. 15 8. Gal. 2 7. S. Iames and the rest folow S. Peters sentence Hiero. to 2. ep 89 ad August C. 2. The principal question Incident questions How later couÌ„cels alter the former The Churches authoritie in making Decrees Going out a marke of heretikes God our Ladie and the like speaches * Gen. 48 15. 16. Iud. 7 18. 20. Exod. 14 31. VISVM EST Sp. sancto nobis 1. Tim. 5 â—1 The holy Ghost assistant in al lawful couÌ„cels to the vvorlds end and that by Christs promisse Io. 16 1â— S. Gregories reuerence of General Councels The ProtestaÌ„ts fond distinctioÌ„ betvvene the 4 first the later Councels Bezas blasphemie against the first general Councels Beza in praef Test No. an 1565. Vvhat the Fathers attribute to Councels namely S. Augustine Pâ—ouincial Councels Notvvithstanding the Holy Ghosts assistance yet humane meanes must be vsed to search the truth Lu. 1 3. Though the See Apostolike it self haue the same assistance yet councels be also necessarie for many causes Heretical or Schismatical assembles de vnit Ec. nu 7. Al good Christians rest vpon the determinatioÌ„ of a general Councel Al Heretikes make exceptioÌ„s against the couÌ„cels that condemne them Ievv ⸬ Here againe they take order that the decrees and articles of faith agreed vpon in the Councel of IerusaleÌ„ should be executed obserued vvhereby vve see both the great authoritie of Councels the diligence that al Prelates ought to haue to see the decrees Canons of the CouÌ„cels put in executioÌ„ ⸬ This people had not the Gospel denied vnto them altogether but for a time because as Venerable Bede thinketh God foresavv they vvould not beleeue so should haue been more greuously damned ⸬ Colonia is such a citie where the most inhabitants are strangers sent thither from other great cities States namely from the Romanes ⸬ Either the Diuel vvas compelled by the vertue of Paules presence to say truth or els as such do often times he spake truth novv that they might the more trust him and he better beguile them at other times 2. Cor. 11. ⸬ It is no other faith that saueth but that vvhich vvorketh by Charitie Aug. Enchirid. â— 67. c Happie Gailers that doe mercie tovvard their godly prisoners and receiue againe by them such spiritual benefites ⸬ Zelantes This is the zeale of Heretikes and a liuely paterne of their dealing at this day against Catholike Priests and preachers and the good Iasons that receiue them b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c daemoniorum The Epistle for S. Dionysius Areopagita Octob. 9. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c The Aduersaries in the nevv Test 1580 traÌ„slate your deuotions most corruptly against the nature of the Greeke vvord 2 Thes 2 4 and most vvickedly against the laudable deuotion of good Christians calling the PagaÌ„s idolatrie and superstitioÌ„ their deuotions ⸬ God is not concluded in Temples nor needeth them for his necessitie of dvvelling or other vses of indigence See Annot. c. 7. Act. v. 48. Act. 7 48. Aratus Dyonysius Areopagita The people may not iudge of the sense of Scriptures The comfort of Christian men by hearing or reading the Scriptures The ProtestaÌ„ts call deuotion superstition The Apostle speaketh of the Heathens superstition * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aug. de coÌ„s EuaÌ„g li. 1 â— 26. The Catholike Church alloweth no superstition How there may be Images or resemblaÌ„ces of the thre persons in Trinitie and of Angels Dan. 7 22. Gen. 18 2. Gen. 32 24 Exo. 37 7 Esa 6 2. Images are for the peoples instruction Grego li. 9 ep 9. S. Dionysius Areopagita is al for the Catholikes Nu. 6 18. Act. 21 24. Apollo The Epistle vpoÌ„ whitson-eue c Iohns baptisme noâ— sufficieÌ„t Mt 3 11. Mr. 1 8. Lu. 3 16. c Christs baptisme necessarie ⸬ S. Paul ministred the Sacrament of CoÌ„firmatioÌ„ See anÌ„ot c. 8 〈◊〉 ` them ⸬ They made not only a general confessioÌ„ wherein al meÌ„ shew theÌ„ selues alike to be sinners as our Protestants do but euery one confessed his owne proper deedes and faultes The 6 part ⸬ Of taking avvay the Gospel froÌ„ Hierusalem the head citie of the Iewes and giuing it to ROME the head citie of the Gentils 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c The Protestants translate shrines in the bible an 1577 to make the people thinke that it toucheth the holy shrines of Sainctes most corruptly the greeke signifyng plainly temples and that of heatheÌ„ gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c Here the Heretikes adde to the text this word image more then is in the greeke to put a scruple into the peoples minde concerning holy Images Touching of Relikes miracles done by the same Act. 5 15. The name or presence or Reliques of Saincts holy men confound the Diuel In vit Hilarionis Chrys loco citato Superstitious heretical and al hurtful bookes must be made avvay Decrees and penal lawes against heretical bookes ⸬ S. Paul did here breake bread on the Sunday as it is broken in the SacrameÌ„t of the body of Christ and had both before after the celebrating of the SacrameÌ„t a sermon to the people Aug. ep â—6 ad CasulanuÌ„ Vâ—ner Beda in 20 Act. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is Priests as Act. 15. 4. See the marginal annot there Act. 19 1 ⸬ Apostolike preaching commendeth not faith only but penance also to the people ⸬ Bishops or Priests for then these names were sometime vsed indiffereÌ„tly gouernours of the Church of God placed in that roome high functioÌ„ by the Holy Ghost The Christian Pentecost Sunday Avg. ep 118 c. 1. Rauening vvolues are the Heretikes of al ages Christs speaches not vvritten in the Gospel Great almesmen blessed Act. 6 5 ⸬ As S. Peter had a wife but vsed her not after his calling as it is noted els where out of S. Hierom Luâ— 4 38 so may it â—e â—aâ—d of S. Philip being Deâ—con Nu. 6 18. Act. 15 20. Nu. 6 13 c In castra So in the places folovving Act. 22 3. Virgins
thereof b The Epistle vpoÌ„ the 6 SuÌ„day after Pentecost ⸬ Remission of sinne nevv life sanctification and iustificatioÌ„ are giuen by baptisme because it resembleth in vs and applieth to vs Christes death and resurrectioÌ„ and engraffeth vs into him Io. 8 34. 2. Pet. 2 19. ⸬ Here againe is signified that our discharge froÌ„ the boÌ„dage of sinne is by the Christian faith by obedience to the vvhole doctriÌ„e of Christs religion in that the Apostle attributeth this their deliuerance froÌ„ sinne to their humble receiuing of the Catholike faith The Epistle vpoÌ„ the 7 Sunday after Pentecost ⸬ He signifieth that as vvhen they vvere subiect to sinne by coÌ„tinual ofteÌ„ vvorking vvickednes they increased their iniquitie that so also novv being iustified they may should by external vvorkes of Iustice increase their iustice and sanctification Not only faith The old man the nevv Dying to sinne Liuing to God Hovv concupisceÌ„ce is called sinne The doctrine of our first Apostles Life euerlasting a stipend and yet grace 1. Cor. 7 39. ⸬ Nothing but death dissolueth the band betvvixt man vvife though for fornication one may depart from an others companie therfore to mary againe is aduoutrie during the life of the partie separated ⸬ Being novv baptised and dead to sinne engraffed in Christs mystical body you are discharged of the Lavv of Moyses and are free in Christ c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ⸬ By Baptisme vve haue not Christes iustice imputed to vs but an invvard nevvnesse of spirit giuen vs and resident in vs. Exo. 20 17. Deu. 5 â—1 ⸬ Sinne or conâ—upisceÌ„ce which vvas a sleepe before vvas wakened by prohibition the Lavv not being the cause thereof not giuing occasion therevnto but occasion being taken by our corrupt nature to resist that which was commaunded 1 Tim. 1 8. The Epistle in a Votiue Masse for sinnes c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Actual concupiscence forbidden not habitual Soden inuoluâ—taâ—ie motions are no sinne Concupiscence taketh not avvay free vvil c. 5 17. Sinne is voluntarie and otherwise it is no sinne ep ad Asâ—lâ—cum â—00 Concupiscence defileth not a iust mans actioÌ„â— as the Lutherâ—s say ⸬ This conuinceth against the Churches aduersaries that the lavv that is Gods coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts may be kept that the keeping thereof is iustice that in christian men that is fulfilled by Christs grace vvhich by the force of the Lavv could neuer be fulfilled ` enmitie The Epistle vpoÌ„ the 8 Sunday after Pentecost ⸬ He meaneth not that the ChildreÌ„ of God be violently coÌ„pelled against their vvilles but that they be svveetly dravveÌ„ moued or induced to do good Aug. Enchirid. c. 64. De verb. Do. ser 43 c. 7. et de verb. Apost ser 13 c. 11. 12. 2 Tim. 1 7 Gal. 4 5. The Epistle vpoÌ„ the 4 Sunday after Pentecost and for many Martyrs condignae ad gloriam The Epistle for S. Ignatius Febr. 1. Ps 43 22. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The testimonie of the Spirit NovvithstandiÌ„g Christs satisfaction and Passion yet ours also is required Al suffering in this life is nothing in comparison of the heauenly glorie and yet it is meritorious vvorthy of the same * ad gloriaÌ„ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heretical traÌ„slation 1. Cor. 4. 1â— Vvhence the merite of vvorkes riseth As sometime faith only is named so els vvhere only hope and only charitie as the cause of our saluation Scripture abused against the Godhead of the Holy Ghost The doctrine of predestination hovv to be reuerenced and vvhat it teacheth vs. Gods predestition taketh not avvay free wil. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Confide Hiero. q. 9 ad Algas No man ordinarily is sure of his saluation but only in hope c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 21 â—2 Gen. 18 10. S. Hierom. q. to ad Hedibiam Gen. 25 21. Al the epistle surely to the Romanes needeth 〈◊〉 and is 〈◊〉 wrapped with 〈…〉 that to vnderstaÌ„d it we neede the helpe of the Holy Ghost who by the Apostle did dictat these same things but especiaally this place Howâ—eit nothiÌ„g pleaseth vs but that which is Ecclesiastical that is the sense of the Church Gen. 25 23. Mal. 1 2. Exo. 33 19. Exo. 9 16. ⸬ That God is not the cause of any mans reprobation or damnation othervvise then for punishment of his sinnes he shevveth by that he expecâ—teth al mens amendement vvith great patience and consequently that they haue also freo vvil ` apted fitted Os 2 23. Os 1 10 Es 10 22. Es 1 9. c Here vve see that they are the cause of their ovvne damnation by infidelity Es 8 14. 28 16. Anáthema In vvhat sense S. Paul vvisheth to be anáthema 〈◊〉 â—2 12. Gods promis not made to carnal Israel Isaac preferred before Ismael Iacob before Esau By the example of Iacob and Esau is shewed Gods mere mercie in the elect and iustice in the reprobate That God is not vniust or an accepter of persons is declared by familiar examples S. Augustines example is of tvvo debters the one forgiueÌ„ all and the other put to pay all by the same creditor li. de predest gra cap. 4. Predestination and reprobatioÌ„ take not avvay free vvil neither must any man be retchlesse desperate â— Pet. â— 10. Our election or coÌ„uersion is not of our selues but of Gods grace and mercie Exo. 9 16. In vvhat sense God raised vp Pharao c. Heretical bookes concerning predestination The example of the pot and the potter 2 Tim. 2 21. ⸬ The Lavv vvas not giueÌ„ to make a maÌ„ iust or perfect by it self but to briÌ„g vs to Christ to be iustified by him ⸬ The iustice of the Law of Moyses went no further of it self but to saue a man from the temporal death and punishmeÌ„t prescribed to the traÌ„sgressors of the same Leu. 18 5. Deu. 30 12. The Epistle vpoÌ„ S. Andrevves day Nouemb. 30. Es 28. 16 Ioel. 2 22. ⸬ To beleeue in him to inuocate him is to serue him with al loue and sincere affectioÌ„ Al that so doe shal doubtlesse be saued shal neuer be confounded Es 52 7. ⸬ We see then that it is in a mans free wil to beleeue or not to beleeve to obey or disobey the Gospel or truth preached Es 53 1. Ps 18. 5. Deu. 32 21. Es 65 1. Es 63 2. Gods iustice the Ievves ovvne iustice Iustice of faith Open coÌ„fession protestation of our faith is sometime necessarie Euseb li. 6 c. 31 histor Eccles The place alleaged against inuocatioÌ„ of Sainctes ansvvered Preachers not lavvfully called not sent Confes des Egli de France The first iustification of mere grace Free vvil 3. reg 19. 20. c The Heretikes adde here also Image to the text as Act 19 â—5 Es 6 9. Ps 68 23 ⸬ The Ievves are not relected vvholy incurably for euer but for a part and for a time suffered to fall Which God did turne to the
estimation examples of some peculiar traditions out of the fathers S. Chrysostom S. Basil S. Hierom. S. Augustine S. Epiphanius S. Irenaeus Tertullian S. Cyprian Origen The Scriptures giuen vs by tradition and the sense thereof The Creede an Apostolical tradition An inuincible argument for the credite of Traditions â— Here also 〈◊〉 as is noted before 2 Thess 2. 15. the aduersaries in their translatioÌ„s auoid the vvord Tradition being plaine in the Greeke lest them selues might seeme to be noted as men vvalking inordinately and not according to Apostolical Tradition as al Schismatikes Heretikes and rebels to Gods Church doe Ep. 6 18. Col. 4 3. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 20. 1. Cor. 4. 1. Th. 2. 1. Cor. 9 6. Gal. 6 9. The heretikes cauillation against Religious meÌ„ that vvorke not ansvvered 1 Cor. 9. The spiritual trauailes of the Clergie * See S. Cypr. ep 66. Religious meÌ„ working with their handes Monkes were shauen in the primitiue Church and Nonnes clipped of their heare S. Augustines opinion concerning Religious mens working or not working li. de â—p Monach. c. 21. Ecclesiastical censures against the disobedient Not to communicate with excoÌ„municate persons but in certaine cases 1 Timoth. 3. 1 Timoth. 3. * 1 Tim. 1. Act. 20. v. 25. 38. Col. 2. v. 1. ⸬ S. Augustine saith He that list to haue the hope of heaueÌ„ let him looke that he haue a good coÌ„scieÌ„ce to haue a good conscience let him beleeue vvorke vvel for that he beleueth she hath of faith that he vvorketh he hath of charitie Praefat. in Psa 31. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ro. 7 13 Mt. 9 13. Mr. 2 17. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ⸬ Euil life and no good conscience is often the cause that men fall to Heresie from the faith of the Catholike Church Againe this plainely reproueth the heretikes false doctrine saying that no man can fall from the faith that he once truely had Teaching othervvise then the doctrine receiued is a special marke of Heretikes * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luthers teaching othervvise Al heretical doctrine is fables Curious questioning in religion Charitie the very formal cause of our iustification Heretikes great boasters but vnlearned Libertines alleage scripture Excommunication of Heretikes and the effect thereof The Priests high authoritie of Excommunication The terrible effect thereof ⸬ Euen for heathen kings Emperours by vvhom the Church suffereth persecution much more for al faithful Princes powers and people both spiritual and temporal for vvhom as members of Christes body and therfore ioyning in praier oblation vvith the ministers of the Church the Priestes more properly and particularly offer the holy Sacrifice See S. Augustine de orig anima li. 1. c. p. 2. Tim. 1 11. 1. Pet. 3 3. 1. Cor. 14 34. Gen. 1 27. 3 6. ` she The praiers petitions in the Masse deduced out of the Apostles vvordes by S. Augustine other fathers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 PATER NOSTER in the Masse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Theoph. in hunc loc Praier in the Masse for kings and other God vvil no mans perditioÌ„ but the saluation of al. Hovv there is but one Mediator Christ and vvhat it is to be such a Mediator * Aug. li. 9. de Ciu. cap. 15. De fid ad Pet. c. 2. The different maner of praying to Christ and to Saincts Kyrie eleison Christe eleison Hovv there be many mediators as there be many sauiours and redeemers eueÌ„ in the Scriptures Iud. 3 9. 2 Esd 9 27. Act. 7 35. Women great talkers of Scripture and promoters of heresie * S. Chrys Ho. 9. in 1. Tim. Tit. 1 6. c He saith hauing children not getting children S. Ambr. Ep. 82. b Neophytus is he that vvas lately christened or nevvely planted in the mystical body of Christ b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The great charge great merite of Ecclesiastical functions The Apostle vnder the name of Bishop instructeth Priestes also The heretikes opinion coÌ„cerning Priests mariage 1 Cor. 7. S. Paules place of one vvife excludeth bigamos from holy Orders * li. 2 ep 25. Vvho are counted bigami Leuit. 21. The Heretical clergie nothing regardeth the Apostles prescription of one vvife None euer maried after holy Orders Socrat. li. 1 c. 8. They that vvere made Priests of maried men absteined from their vviues Sozom. li. 1 c. â—2 S. Epiphanius Mariage of Priests is contrarie to the auÌ„cient canoÌ„s Eusebius S. Hierom. S. Augustine See S. Leo ep 92. c. â— S. Ambrose Tertullian S. Cyprian Councels None rashly to be admitted to the Clergie Heretikes admit al sortes vvithout exception The three holy orders only bound to chastitie Leo ep 92. c. 3. Greg. li. 1 ep 42. The 4 inferiour orders not bound to chastitie Al the seuen orders auncient eueÌ„ from Christ and the Apostles time S. Ambrose calleth the B. of Rome Rector of the vvhole Church The heretikes say directly coÌ„trarie to the Apostle that the Church is not the piller of truth That the Church is the piller of truth and can not erre is proued by many reasons Io. 14 16. Mat. 16. Mat. 28. Eph. 4. Io. 17. Luc. 22. Psal 2. Eph. 5. The meaning of this article I beleeue the Cath. Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is the visible Church that is the piller or truth and can not erre Vvhence the Church hath this priuilege neuer to erre S. Augustine Lactantius S. Cyprian S. Irenaeus 2 Tim. 3 3 Pet. 3. Iude v. 18. ⸬ We see plainely by these vvordes such abstinence only to be disalovved as condemneth the creatures of God to be naught by nature creation 1. Tim. 1 4. Tit. 3 9. ⸬ Some saith S. Chrysost expound this of fasting but they are deceiued-for fasting is a spiritual exercise See a goodly commentarie of these vvordes in S. August li. de mor. Eccl. Cath. c. 33. Al Heretikes are apostataes from the faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cap. 1. 19. The old Heresies against matrimonie * Aug. har 46. The old Heresies about abstinâ—â—e from meates The Catholikes impudently charged vvith the said old heresies Abstinence from certaine meates is no condemnation of the meates Diuers good causes of abstinence Forbidding certaine persons to marrie is no condemnation of matrimonie Catholikes esteeme matrimonie more then the Protestants doe The Protestants obiectoÌ„s answered long ago by S. Hierom and S. Augustine * Aug. li. 2 c. 5 de nupt câ—ncupise Blessing of the table or of meates specially by a Priest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To blesse is a preeminence of the better person Hebr. 7. No creature il by nature yea one more sanctified then an other Holy times and places euery thing deputed to the seruice of God holy Mat. 23. 2 Pet. 1. Creatures hallovved by the signe of the Crosse The blessing of our meate vvhat a vertue it hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
there be three vvhich giue testimonie in earth the spirit vvater and bloud and these three be one ' ✠verse 9 If vve receiue the testimonie of men the testimonie of God is greater because this is the testimonie of God vvhich is greater that he hath testified of his sonne ✠verse 10 * He that beleeueth in the sonne of God hath the testimonie of God in him self ⊢ He that beleeueth not the Sōne maketh him a lier because he beleeueth not in the testimonie vvhich God hath testified of his sonne ✠verse 11 And this is the testimonie that God hath giuen vs life euerlasting And this life is in his sonne ✠verse 12 He that hath the Sonne hath life he that hath not the sonne of God hath not life ✠verse 13 These thinges I vvrite to you that you may knovv that you haue eternal life which beleeue in the name of the sonne of God ✠verse 14 And this is the confidence which vve haue toward him that * vvhat soeuer vve shal aske according to his vvill he heareth vs. ✠verse 15 And vve knovv that he heareth vs vvhatsoeuer vve shal aske vve knovv that vve haue the petitions vvhich vve request of him ✠verse 16 He that knoweth his brother to sinne a sinne not to death let him aske and life shal be giuen him sinning not to death There is ″ a sinne to death ″ for that I say not that any man aske ✠verse 17 Al iniquitie is sinne And there is a sinne to death ' ✠verse 18 Vve know that euery one vvhich is borne of God sinneth not but the generation of God preserueth him and the vvicked one toucheth him not ✠verse 19 Vve knovv that vve are of God and the vvhole vvorld is set in vvickednesse ✠verse 20 And vve knovve that the sonne of God commeth and he * hath giuen vs vnderstanding that vve may knovv the true God may be in his true sonne This is the true God life euerlasting ✠verse 21 My litle children keepe your selues ″ from Idols Amen ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V. 5. His commaundements are not heauie Hovv can the Protestants say that Gods commaundements can not possibly be fulfilled or kept in this life seing the Apostle saith they be not heauie and Christ saith his yoke is svveete and his burden light See for the ful vnderstanding of this place S. Augustine de perfectione iustitia c. 10. The Heretikes in fauour of their foresaid errour rather translate His commaundements are not greuous then are not heauie 7. Three vvhich giue testimonie An expresse place for the distinction of three persons the vnitie of nature and essence in the B. Trinitie against the Arians and other like Heretikes vvho haue in diuers ages found them selues so pressed vvith these plaine Scriptures that they haue as it is thought altered and corrupted the text both in Greeke and Latin many vvaies euen as the Protestants handle those textes that make against them But because vve are not novv troubled vvith Arianisme so much as vvith Caluinisme vve neede not stand vpon the varietie of readings or expositions of this passage See S. Hierom in his epistle put before the 7 Canonical or Catholike Epistles 16. A sinne to death A sinne to death is an other thing then a mortal sinne for it is that mortal sinne onely vvhereof a man is neuer penitent before his death or in vvhich he continueth til death and dieth in it I affirme saith S. Augustine de correp grat c. 12 that a sinne to death is to leaue faith vvorking by charitie euen til death So likevvise in the vvordes before a sinne not to death is not that vvhich vve call a venial sinne but any that a man committeth and continueth not therin til death 16. For that I say not If the sinne to death vvhere of he speaketh be the sinne vvherein a man dieth vvithout repentance according to S. Augustines vvordes before rehearsed then the praier vvhich he speaketh of must needes be praier for the dead because he speaketh of praying or not praying for them that died in deadly sinne exhorting vs to pray and encouraging vs to doe it vvith confidence to be heard if vve pray for them that departed this life not in deadly sinne and contrarivvise in maner dissuading discouraging vs from praying for such as continued in vvickednes euen til their liues end And S. Augustine setteth dovvne the Churches practise agreable to the Apostles meaning li. 21 c. 24. de Ciuit. Dei if there be any saith he that persist til death in impenitence of hart doth the Church novv pray for them that is for the soules of them that so are departed So saith he And this is the cause that Concilium Bracharense primum sap 34 forbiddeth to pray for such as die in desperation or kil them selues and the reason vvhy the Church forbeareth to pray for Heretikes that die in their heresie or mainteine heresie vnto death and by their death And that the place is most properly or onely meant of praying for the departed this conuinceth that neither the Church nor any man is dehorted here from praying for any sinner yet liuing not for he remission of any sinne in this life al sinnes of vvhat sort soeuer being pardonable so long as the committers of them be in case and state to repent as they be so long as they be in this vvorld And vve see that the Church praieth and is often heard for Heretikes Ievves Turkes Apostataes and vvhat other infidels or il men soeuer during their liues And it is great blasphemie that the Caluinistes vtter vpon this place to vvit that Apostasie and certaine other sinnes of the reprobate can not be forgiuen at al in this life Vvhich they hold onely to auoid the sequele of praying for the dead vpon these vvordes of S. Iohn besides that they must take vpon them presumptuously to knovv and discerne of Gods secretes vvho be reprobate and vvho be not and according to that pray for some and not for othersome al vvhich is most vvicked and absurd presumption As for their allegation that S. Ieremie the Prophet vvas forbidden to pray for the Ievves and vvarned that he should not be heard Chap. 7. 11. 14 there is great difference first he had a reuelation by the vvordes of God that they vvould continue in their vvickednes as vve haue not of any certaine person vvhereof S. Iohn here speaketh secondly Ieremie vvas not forbidden to pray for the remission of their sinnes nor had denial to be heard therein for any mans particular case vvhereof the Apostle here speaketh but he vvas told that they should not escape the temporal punishment and affliction vvhich he had designed for them and that he vvould not heard him therein 21. From idols It is so knovven a treacherie of Heretikes to trāslate idola images as here and in a