He prophecieth that certaine should depart from the Catholike faith vvilling Timothee therfore to inculcate to the people those articles of the said faith 7 Item to exercise him self in spiritual exercise 12 to gette authoritie by example of good life 13 to studie to teach to increase in the grace giuen him by holy orders verse 1 AND the Spirit manifestly saith that in the last times certain â— shal depart from the faith attending to spirites of errour and doctrines of diuels ✠verse 2 speaking lies in hypocrisie and hauing their conscience seared ✠verse 3 â— forbidding to marie to abstaine from meates vvhich God created to receaue vvith thankes-giuing for the faithful and them that haue knovven the truth ✠verse 4 For euery creature of God is good and nothing to be reiected that is receiued â— vvith thankes-giuing ✠verse 5 For it is â— sanctified by the vvord of God and praier ✠verse 6 These things proposing to the brethren thou shalt be a good minister of Christ IESVS nourished in the vvordes of the faith and the good doctrine vvhich thou hast attained vnto ✠verse 7 But folish and old vviues fables auoid and exercise thy self to pietie ✠verse 8 For corporal exercise is profitable to litle but pietie is profitable to al things hauing promisse of the life that novv is and of that to come ✠verse 9 A faithful saying and vvorthie of al acceptation ✠verse 10 For to this purpose vve labour and are reuiled because vve hope in the liuing God vvhich is the Sauiour of al men especially of the faithful ✠verse 11 Commaund these things and teach ✠verse 12 Let no man contemne thy youth but be an example of the faithful in vvord in conuersation in charitie in faith in chastitie ✠verse 13 Til I come attend vnto reading exhortation doctrine ✠verse 14 Neglect not ″ the grace that is in thee vvhich is giuen thee by prophecie vvith imposition of the handes ″ of priesthod ✠verse 15 These things doe thou meditate be in these things that thy profiting may be manifest to al. ✠verse 16 Attend to thy self and to doctrine be earnest in them For this doing thou shalt ″ saue both thy self and them that heare thee ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 1. Shal depart It is the proper description of Heretikes to forsake their former faith and to be Apostataes as the Greeke vvord importeth to giue care to particular spirites of error deception rather then to the Spirit of Christ in his Church to folovv in hypocrisie and shevv of vertue the pernicious doctrine of Diuels vvho are the suggesters and prompters of al Sectes and are lying spirites in the mouthes of al Heretikes and false preachers men that haue put their conscience to silence and made it senses to the holy hurches admonition the Apostle noting * once before also in this same Epistle that Heretikes haue no conscience vvhich is the cause both of their fall and of their obduration in heresie â— Forbidding to marrie He speaketh saith S. Chrysostom of the Manichees Encratites and Marcionistes hâ— 12 in 1 Tim. S. Ambrose vpon this place addeth to these the Patritians also S. Irenaeus li. 1 c. 30. S. Epiphanius har 45. 26. 61. 30. S. Hierom 1 cont louin c. 1. ep 50 c. 1 3. S. Augustine har 25. 40. and generally al antiquitie affirme the same both of them and also of the Heretikes called Apostolici Ebionitae and the like Their heresie about mariage vvas that to marrie or to vse the act of matrimonie is of Satan as S. Irenaeus vvitnesseth li. 1 c. 22 and that the distinction of male and femal and the creation of man and vvoman for generation came of an il God They taught their hearers saith S. Augustine that if they did vse vvomen they should in any vvise prouide that they might not conceiue or beare children Clemens Alexandrinus li. 3. Strom in principie vvriteth that such admit no mariage nor procreation of children lest they should bring into the vvorld creatures to suffer miserie and mortalitie And this is the damnable opinion concerning mariage noted here by the Apostle For the second point consisting in the prohibition of meates or vse of certaine creatures made to be eaten the said Heretikes or diuers of them for they vvere not al of one sect touching these points taught that men might not eate certaine sortes of meates specially of beastes and liuing creatures for that they vvere not made say they of the good God but of the euil And vvine they called the gall of the Prince of darkenes and not to be drunke at al and the Vine vvhereof it came to be of the Diuels creation And diuers other creatures they coÌ„demned as things by nature and creation polluted and abominable August har Manich. 46. har 25 Tatian toto libro de mâ—r Manich. to 1. Lo these vvere the Heretikes and their heresies vvhich S. Paul here prophecieth of that forbid mariage and meates as you haue heard for vvhich they and their folovvers vvere condemned in diuers Councels Is it not novv an intolerable impudencie of the Protestants vvho for a smal similitude of vvordes in the eares of the simple apply this text to the fastes of the Church and the chastitie of Priests and Religious As though either by appointing or vsing some daies of abstinence from certaine meates the Church or any Catholike man condemned the said meates vnles the Rechabites Hierom. 35. or the Nazarites Num. 6. or the Niniuites Ion. 3. or Moyses Exod. 34. or Elias 3 Reg. 19. or holy Anna the vvidow Luc. 2 or Iohn Baptist Mat. 3 9. or Christ him self Mâ— 4. commending vsing and folovving a prescript number of fasting daies or God him self that in the very beginning in Paradise prescribed abstinence from the fruite of one certaine tree and after appointed so many fastes in the Lavv vnles he therfore condeÌ„ned his ovvne creatures the rest those creatures from vvhich they abstained No there be many good and lavvful causes to forbid some or to abstaine froÌ„ some meates as for obedience as in Paradise for significatioÌ„ as the Ievves for that they haue been offered to Idols as in the Epistle to the Corinthians for chastening the bodie and penance for health also and onely those causes are vnlavvful for vvhich the Manichees and other Heretikes abstained Concerning mariage likewise they may as vvel charge God or the Church for forbidding the father to marrie the daughter or the brother the sister or other prohibited persons in the Lavv as vvel might they charge Christ and the Apostle for prohibiting the man to marrie during his vviues life and appointing vvidowes that serue the Church to liue vnmaried and not admitting a maried woman as vvel as vvidovv nor her that hath had moe husbands as vvel as her that hath beeÌ„ maried but once as they
Reward for relieuing Catholike prisoners 27 m. 28. nu 21. 587 m. 588. for visiting them in prison 587 m. for confessing of Christ openly 27. for al workes of mercie 181 m. for forsaking and losing ought for Gods sake 116. 191 marg 202. m. Rome called Babylon and vvhy 654. 665. 730. 731. The Church there neuer called Babylon 654. 665. 731. The Protestants sometime wil not haue Babylon to signifie Rome 665. 730. Their malice in expounding the 7 hilles of Rome when the Angel him self expoundeth it othervvise 731. The cōmendation of the Church of Rome and the faith thereof 381. 384. The Gospel transported from Hierusalem thither 287. 348 marg The Romane faith and the Catholike faith al one 384. The Priuilege of that See not to erre 66. 67. 206. 250. nu 3. Gods prouidence tovvards the same more then to al other states 370. 556. That See is the rocke of the Church and S. Peters chaire and See Apostolike 46. 47. 67. It standeth vnmoueable against all Turkes Tyrants Heretikes Schismatikes 556. Princes and Emperours stand in awe thereof 364 marg The auncient fathers of al Countries sought vnto it for resolution of doubtes 206. So ought al true preachers 499. Heretikes only refuse so to doe 499. They hate this See 423. They barke about it in vaine 47. They place Antichrist there in S. Paules time 557. The great Apostasie vvhich S. Paule speaketh of 2 Thes 2 shal be from this See of Rome 556. The Romans deuotion in visiting the Churches and Martyrs Relikes in their Stations and Pilgrimages is a signe of greater faith 384. S SAcraments seuen 506. 259. See Confirmation Penance Orders Mariage Extreme vnction Few and easie in respect of the Ievves Sacramēts 506. More effectual and beneficial ibidem 446. 623. 619 marg 627. 228. External elements in the same not burdenous not Iudaical nor Heathenish 506. 228. Christ vsed external elemēts 247. what is to adore in spirit 228. S. Augustine falsely alleaged for tvvo Sacraments only 506. Grace is giuen in by the Sacraments 224. 228. 276. 313. 357 marg 393. 39◠marg 504. 577. 586 marg 598 marg 523. 627. 652. 653. 262 marg 586 marg They flovved out of Christs side thence haue their vertue 273. Contempt of the Sacraments damnable 157 marg 321. 316 marg Vve may not the lesse esteeme the Sacraments because of the ministers of them pag. 4. nu 3. pag. 89. nu 9. The Sacraments first to be called for in sicknes 92. The B. SACRAMENT of the altar 236. The great mysterie and institution thereof by our Sauiour 78. 79. 125. 128. 201. 204. 449. 451. The Catholikes imitate Christes institution thereof and the Apostles traditon the Protestants do not 451. 452. 454. The Protestants haue taken avvay the B. Sacrament altogether 452. 237. nu 58. The real presence 78. 79. 128. 204. 205. 236. 237. nu 55. pag. 238. 291. 446. nu 16. pag. 447. 453. 624. 628. 466 m. The Gospel so plaine for the real presence the Beza controuleth it 205. 201 marg Transubstantiation 79. 128. 238. nu 66. pag. 220 marg Christs miraculous supernatural dealing with his body many vvaies and that it is not to be measured by sense and natural reason 40. nu 26. pag. 49. nu 2. pag. 55. nu 26. p. 121. nu 24. pag. 132. 148. 236. nu 52. pag. 238. 275. 276. 315 marg 540. 632. Faith necessarie in this Sacrament 128. The Protestants iudge thereof by sense and reason 238. They are like the grosse Capharnaites 238. To aske hovv it may be is a Ievvish vvord 238. Their scoffing at it 38. nu 55. pag. 83. 103. nu 3. 129 marg The real presence is by consecration 79. 128. 446. not by receiuing or in the receiuing only ibidem and 452. The Heretikes arguments ansvvered 124 and 254 marg Adoration of the B. Sacrament p. 6. 21. nu 8. pag. 453. 604. The honour thereof by solemne processions 61. by costly altars chalices ornaments 78. 128. by cleane corporals 84. by many other meanes 453. 116 marg The Angels are present 707. nu 8. It sanctifieth the altar 67. 309. nu 33. It is the supersubstantial and daily bread specially desired in the PATER NOSTER 15. 16. The preeminēces thereof aboue Manna 236. The wōderful effectes thereof in the receiuers 237. 447. In what sense it is called sometime a figure 79. nu 26. Hovv it is both a figure and yet the thing it self 205. 604. How it is called bread after the consecration 79. 236. Vvhether S. Paul saying the supper of our Lord meane the B. Sacrament 451. Receiuing in one kinde 57 125 marg 213. 236. 237 at large The authoritie of Scriptures and primitiue Church for the same 237. 295 marg 351 marg It is indifferent in one or both kindes according to the Churches ordinance 237. 259. The causes vvhy the Church appointed one kind 237. The whole grace in one kinde therfore the people not defrauded 237. The Heretikes arguments answered ibid. 125 marg Priests saying Masse must receiue both kindes 237. The puritie and preparation required to the worthie receiuing thereof 222. 258. 453. nu 27. 28. 29. Cōfession of euery mortal sinne necessarie before we receiue 453. Euil men receiue the true body bloud though vnworthily 453. The danger and punishement of vnworthie receiuing 453. nu 27. pag. 454. nu 30. 31. pag. 449 marg It is both a Sacrament and a Sacrifice and vvhy 78. 184. The SACRIFICE of the altar 21. nu 4. 204 and 447 and 616. 617. 623. 627. 628 at large 228. nu 23. 332. nu 12. 638. Christ sacrificed his body and bloud at his last supper 79. nu 28. 204. 205. The sacrifice of the altar is the self same that was vpon the Crosse 624. 628. Christ is often offered and in many places 628. It is a commemoratiue sacrifice yet a true sacrifice 205. It succeded in the place of al the sacrifices of the old Law 447. num 21. 617. 628. Christ did not take away al sacrifice by the new Testament but change them into a better 617. 623. 628. The external religion of the new Testament is principally in the Sacrifice of the altar 205. Christs eternal priesthod consisteth in this sacrifice 617. The fathers cal it the vnbloudy sacrifice 625. they call it the Masse 447. Vvhy it is called the Eucharist 638. The general redemption vpon the Crosse particularly applied in this sacrifice 629. The Caluinists argumēt against this sacrifice maketh no lesse against the sacrifices of Moyses 624. 205. nu 19. Their argument against Christs body often offered and in many places was answered by the fathers long agoe 628. It is offered to God only 332. in the memorie and honour of Saincts 332. 454. 726. for the liuing and the dead 454. 447. nu 21. pag. 726. See Masse Sacrilege Taking away of holy things or profaning them 303. 222. 92 n. 25. In what cases holy Ievvels and ornamēts
effectual blessing of the bread and working the multiplication thereof Exo. 16 4. 14. ⸬ why we keepe the hebrue word Amen translate it not See the Annot. c. 8. vers 34. Ps 77 24. The Gospel in the AnÌ„iuersarie of the dead The Gospel vpoÌ„ Imber vvenesday in vvhitson-vveeke Esa 54 13. The Gospel in a daily Masse for the dead Mt. 26 26. Mr. 14 22. Lu. 12 19. 1. Cor. 11 24. The Gospel vpoÌ„ CORâ—VS CHRISTI day Io. 3 13. Why Christ is called bread beleeuing eating Ierem. 11 19. Gen. 49. 11. What signifieth The true bread Lu. 24 35. The B. Sacrament called bread Act. 2 42. 20 7. 1 Cor. 10. God draweth vs vvith our free wil. Aug. cont duas Ep. Pelag. li. 1 c. 19. Ser. 2 de verb. Ap. c. 2. The manifold preemineÌ„ces of the B. SacrameÌ„t aboue Manna In the B. Sacrament Hovv is a Iewish word The real presence Ser. 6 de ieiun 7. mens Receiuing in both kindes not necessarie The Sacramental receiuing of Christs body not alwaies necessarie to saluation Li. 1 de pec merit c. â— The true morning of S. Augustin vvordes touching infants receiuing of the B. Sacrament CoÌ„â— Trid. Ses 21 c. 4. Cyril li. 4 c. 14 15. The effects of the B. SacrameÌ„t both in our body and soule Tertul. de resur â—ar nu 7. Li 4 c. 34. Nyss in orat catech magna The B. Sacrament is the true Manna vvater of the rocke CoÌ„â— Trid. Ses 21 c. 1. The vvhole grace and effect thereof in one kinde and therfore the people not defrauded ReceiuiÌ„g in one or both kindes iÌ„differeÌ„t according to the holy Churches appointment Ep. 118 c. 6 ad Ianuarium Authoritie of Scriptures and the Primitiue Church for receiuing in one kinde Lu. 24 35. The causes of the Churches practise ordinaÌ„ce coÌ„cerning one kinde The Priests that say Masse must receiue both kindes Lu. 22 19. 1 Cor. 11. 1 Cor. 10 18. Christ insinuateth that faithles meÌ„ shal not beleeue his presence in the B. Sacrament because he is asceÌ„ded The Capharnaites grosse vnderstanding of Christs flesh to be giuen or eaten And hovv his flesh doth profit and not profit August de Doct. Chr. li. 3 c. 13. Christs flesh giueth life because it is the flesh of God man Li. 4 c. 23 in Io. Ignatius apud Theodor dial 3. Iudas the cheefe of them that beleeue not the real presence * vers 64. Heretikes beleeue nor the real presence because they see bread and wine as the Iewes beleeued not his Godhead because of the shape of a poore man The disciples reuoltiÌ„g at Christs wordes proue that he spake not metaphorically as at other â—imes As Iudas of al vnbeleeuing heretikes so Peter beareth the person of al beleeuing Catholikes namely in the B. Sacrament * Cypr. ep 55. nu 3. Tract 27 in Euang. Io. ` in Galilee The Gospel vpoÌ„ Tuesday in Passion weeke ` in Iurie ⸬ Scenopégia Leu. 23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the feast of Tabernacles which the Iewes kept froÌ„ the 7 octob for eight daies together by Gods commaundement for a memorie that their fathers dwelt by Gods protectioÌ„ fourtie yeres in tabernacles or tentes and not in houses comming out of AEgypt See Leuit. 23 34. Leu. 23 34. ` I vvil not yet goe vp The Gospel vpoÌ„ Tuesday in the 4 weeke of Lent ⸬ The vvay to come to knovv the truth is to liue vvel ⸬ It is spoken of Antichrist specially and it is true in al Heretikes August tract 29. in Euang Io. Io. 5 18. ⸬ No maruel vvhen these speake thus to Christ him self if Heretikes call his vicar Antichrist Leu. 12 3. Gen. 17 10. ` cheefe Priests The Gospel vpoÌ„ MuÌ„day in Passion vveeke Io. 13 33. Leu. 23 36. Ioel. 2 28. * Act. 2 1. ⸬ This was fulfilled on whitsunday Act. 2 afterward alvvaies by imposition of hands in the Sacrament of Confirmation visibly in the primitiue Church and inuisibly to the end of the world Ps 131 11. Mich. 5 2. ⸬ Christ hath some good alwaies euen amoÌ„g the vvicked which secretly serue him and by vvise delaies auert the execution of vniust lawes against him and his people as Nicodemê° and Gamaliel Io. 3 2. The Gospel vpoÌ„ Saturday the 3 Weeke of Lent Leu. 20 10. ⸬ We can not conueniently reprehend or coÌ„demne other mens faults if our selues be guilty of the same or other greater Cyril in Io. See Annot. Mt. 7 1. ⸬ S. Augustine by this example of our Maister proueth that Clergie men specially should be giuen much to mercie and that they ought ofteÌ„ as the cause and time require to get pardoÌ„ of the secular Magistrates for offenders that be peniteÌ„t Ep. 54. b The Gospel vpon Saturday the 4 weeke in Lent Deu. 17 6. 19 15. The Gospel vpoÌ„ Munday in the 2 weeke of LeÌ„t ⸬ So read S. Cyril S. Ambrose S. Augustine expounding it of Christes person that he is the beginning or cause of al creatures ⸬ Onely faith is not sufficient without perseuêrance or abiding in the keeping of his coÌ„maundements Ro. 6 16 2 Pet. 2 19. ⸬ Man was neuer without free wil but hauiÌ„g the grace of Christ his wil is truely made free as S. Augustine saith from seruitude of sinne also tract 41 in Euang. Io. ⸬ Not onely faith but good workes also make men the childreÌ„ of Abraham according as S. Iames also speaketh of Abrahams workes c. 2. ⸬ S. Augustine compareth Heretikes in their spiritual murder by driuiÌ„g Christian men out of the Church to the Diuel that droue our parents out of Paradise Cont. lit Petil. li. 2. c. 11. The Gospel vpoÌ„ PASSION Sunday ⸬ He denieth not that he is a Samaritane because he is our keeper or protector as the word signifieth and because he is in deede that merciful SamaritaneÌ„ in the parable of the vvounded man Luc. 10 33. Aug. tract 41 in Ioan. Why Amen amen is not translated * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * See the preface Annot. in Apocal. â— 19 4. The Gospel vpoÌ„ wenesday in the 4 weeke of Leâ—t ⸬ Though many infirmities fall for sinne yet not al some coÌ„ming for probation and some sent that God by the cure thereof may be glorified ⸬ The time of working and meriting iâ— in this life after death we can deserue no more by our deedes but must onely receiue good or il according to the difference of workes here c This was a figure of Baptisme to which al men borne in sinne and blindnes are sent for health sight Ambr. li. â— c. 2 de Sacramentis ⸬ So say the Heretikes wheÌ„ they derogat froÌ„ miracles done by Saincts or their Relikes pharisaically pretending the glorie of God As though it were not Gods glorie wheÌ„ his Saincts do it by his power and vertue yea his greater glorie that doeth such things by his seruants by the meanest things belonging to them as Peters shadow Act. 5. Paules napkin Act.
not * Manichaeus Choose vvhether thou vvilt If thou wilt say Beleeue the Catholike loe they vvarne me that I giue no credite vnto you and therefore beleeuing them I must needes not beleeue thee If thou say Beleeue not the Catholikes it is not the right vvay by the Gospel to driue me to the faith of Manichaeus because I beleeued the Gospel it self by the preaching of Catholikes Againe li. de vtilit credend cap. 14. I see the concerning Christ him self I haue beleeued none but the confirmed and assured opinion of peoples and nations and that these peoples haue on euey side possessed the mysteries of the CATHOLIKE CHVRCH Vvhy should I not therfore most diligently require specially among them what Christ commaunded by vvhose authoritie I vvas moued to beleeue that Christ did commaund some profitable thing Vvilt thou oÌ„ Heretike tel me better vvhat he said vvhom I vvould not thinke to haue been at al or to be if I must beleeue because thou saiest it Vvhat grosse madnes is this to say Beleeue the Catholikes the Christ is to be beleeued and learne of vs vvhat he said Againe cont Faustum li. II. cap. 1. Thou seest then in this matter what force the authoritie of the CATHOLIKE CHVRCH hath vvhich euen from the most grounded and founded seates of the Apostles is established vntil this day by the line of Bishops succeding one an other by the consent of so many peoples Vvhereas thou saiest This is Scripture or this is such an Apostles that is not because this soundeth for me and the other against me Thou then art the rule of truth vvhatsoeuer is against thee is not true 3 No heretikes haue right to the Scriptures but are vsurpers the Catholike Church being the true ovvner and faithful keeper of them Heretikes abuse them corrupt them and vtterly seeke to abolish them though they pretend the contrarie Tertullianli De praescriptionibus bringeth in the CATHOLIKE CHVRCH speaking thus to all Heretikes Vvho are you vvhen and from vvhence came you vvhat doe you in my possession that are none of mine by vvhat right Marcion doest thou cut dovvne my wood vvho gaue the licence ô Valentine to turne the course of my fountaines by vvhat authoritie Apelles doest thou remoue my boundes and you the rest vvhy do yovv sovv and seede for these companions at your pleasure It is my possession I possesse it of old I haue assured origins thereof euen from those authors vvhose the thing vvas I am the heire of the Apostles As they prouided by their Testament as they comitted it to my credite as they adiured me so doe I hold it You surely they disherited alvvaies and haue cost you of as forainers as enemies Againe in the same booke Encountering vvith such by Scriptures auaileth nothing but to ouerturne a mans stomake or his braine This heresie receiueth not certaine Scriptures and if it do receiue some yet by adding and taking avvay it peruerteth the same to serue their purpose and if it receiue any it doth not receiue them vvholy and if after a sort it receiue them vvholy neuertheles by diuising diuers expositions it turneth them cleane an other vvay c. 4 Yet do they vaunt them selues of Scriptures excedingly but they are neuer the more to be trusted for that S. Hierom aduersus Luciferianos in fine Let them not flatter them selues if they seeme in their ovvne conceite to affirme that vvhich they say out of the chapters of Scripture vvhereas the Diuel also spake some thinges out of the Scriptures and the Scriptures consist not in the reading but in the vnderstanding Vincentius Lirinensis li. cont prophanas haeresâ—â—â— Nouationes Here perhaps some man may aske vvhether heretikes also vse not the testimonies of diuine Scripture Yet in deede do they and that vehemently For thou shalt see them flie through euery one of the sacred bookes of the Lavv through Moyses the bookes of the kings the Psalmes the Apostles the Gospels the Prophets For vvhether among their ovvne fellowes or strangers vvhether priuatly or publikely vvhether in talke or in their bookes vvhether in bankets or in the streates they I say alleage nothing of their ovvne which they endeuour not to shadow vvith the wordes of Scripture also Read the vvorkes of Paulus Samosatenus of Priscillian of Eunomian of Iouinian of the other plagues pestilences thou shalt finde an infinite heape of examples no page in a manner omitted or voide which is not painted and coloured with the sentences of the new or old testament But they are so much the more to be taken heede of to be feared the more secretly they lurke vnder the shadowes of Gods diuine law For they knovv their stinkes vvould not easily please any man almost if they were breathed out nakedly simply them selues alone therfore they sprinkle them as it vvere vvith certaine pretious spices of the heauenly vvord to the end that he vvhich would easely despise the errour of man may not easely contemne the oracles of God So that they doe like vnto them vvhich vvhen they vvil prepare certaine bitter potionâ— for children do first anoint the brimmes of the cup vvith honie that the vnwarie age vvhen it shal first feele the svvetnes may not feare the bitternes 5 The cause vvhy the Scriptures being perfit yet vve vse other Ecclesiastical vvritings and tradition Vincentius Lirinensis in his golden booke before cited aduersus prophanas haeresâ—â— Nouationes Here some man perhaps may aske for asmuch as the Canon of the Scriptures is perfit and in all pointes very sufficient in it self vvhat neede is there to ioyne therevnto the authoritie of the Ecclesiastical vnderstanding for this cause surely for that all take not the holy Scripture in one and the same sense because of the deepenes thereof but the speaches thereof some interpret one vvay some an other vvay so that there may almost as many senses be picked out of it as there be men for Nouatian doth expound it one vvay and Sabellius an other vvay othervvise Donatus othervvise Arîus Eunomius Macedonius othervvise Photinus Apollinaris Priscillianus othervvise Iouinian Pelagius Celestius lastly othervvise Nestorius And therfore very necessarie it is because of so great vvindinges and turninges of diuers errours that the line of Prophetical and Apostolical interpretation be directed according to the rule of the Ecclesiastical and Catholike sense or vnderstanding S. Basil li. de Spiritu sancto cap. 27. Of such articles of religion as are kept and preached in the Church some vvere taught by the vvritten vvord other some vve haue receiued by the tradition of the Apostles deliuered vnto vs as it vvere from hand to hand in mysterie secretly both vvhich be of one force to Christian religion and this no man vvil deny that hath any litle skill of the Ecclesiastical rites or customes for if vve goe about to reiect the customes not conteined in Scripture as being of smal force vve shal vnvvittingly and
come of only fayth or imputation of Christes iustice 23. Hel of fyre Here is a playne difference of sinnes some mortal that bring to Hel some lesse and lesse punished called venial 24. Gift at the altar Beware of coming to the holy altar or any Sacrament out of charitie But be first reconciled to thy brother and much more to the Catholike Churche which is the whole brotherhod of Christian men Heb. 1◠◠〈◊〉 Excepting the cause of fornication This exception is onely to shew that for this one cause a man may put away his wife for euer but not that he may marrie another as it is most plaine in S. Marke and S. Luke who leaue out this exception saying * Whosoeuer dimisseth his Wife and marieth an other committeth aduouâ—rie See the Annot. Luc. 19 9. But if both parties be in one and the same fault then can neither of them not so much as diuorce or put away the other 〈◊〉 Committeth aduontrie The knot of Mariage is a thing of so great a Sacrament that not by separation it self of the parties it can be loosed being not lawful neither for the one part nor the other to marie agayne vpon diuorce Aug. de bo Coniug c. 7. 15. Not to sweare The Anabaptists here not folowing the Churches iudgement but the bare letter as other Heretikes in other cases hold that there is no othe lawful no not before a iudge whereas Christ speaketh agaynst rashe and vsual swearing in common talke when there is no cause 19. Not to Resist euil Here also the Anabaptists gather of the letter that it is not lawful to goe to law for our right as Luther also vpon this place held that Christians might not resist the Turke whereas by this as by that which foloweth patience only is signified and a wil to suffer more rather then to reuenge For neither did Christ not S. Paule folow the letter by turning the other cheeke Io. 1â— Act. 23. CHAP. VI. In this second chapter of his Sermon he Controwleth the Pharisees iustice that is their almes prayer and fasting for the scope and intention therof which was vaine glorie 1â— Their end also was to be riche but ours must not be so much as in necessaries verse 1 TAKE good heede that you doe not your ″ iustice before men to be seen of them otherwise reward you shall not haue with your father which is in heauen ✠verse 2 Therfore when thou doest an almes-deede sound not a trompet before thee as the hypocrites doe in the Synagogues and in the streetes that they may be honoured of men Amen I say to you they haue receiued their reward ✠verse 3 But when thou doest an almes-deede let not thy left hand know vvhat thy right hand doeth ✠verse 4 that thy almes-deede may be in secrete and thy father vvhich seeth in secrete vvil ″ repay the. ⊢ ✠verse 5 And vvhen ye pray you shal not be as the ″ hypocrites that loue to stand pray in the Synagogs and corners of the streetes that they may be seen of men Amen I say to you they haue receiued their revvard ✠verse 6 But thou vvhen thou shalt pray enter into thy chamber hauing shut the doore pray to thy father in secrete and thy father vvhich seeth in secrete vvil repay thee ✠verse 7 And vvhen you are praying speake not much as the heathen For they thinke that in their ″ much-speaking they may be heard ✠verse 8 Be not you therefore like to them for your father knovveth vvhat is needeful for you before you aske him ✠verse 9 Thus therefore shal you pray * OVR FATHER which art in heauen sanctified be thy name ✠verse 10 Let thy Kingdom come Thy wil be done as in heauen in earth also ✠verse 11 Giue vs to day our supersubstential bread ✠verse 12 And forgiue vs our dettes as we also forgiue our detters ✠verse 13 And ″ leade vs not into tentation But deliuer vs from euil Amen ✠verse 14 For ″ if you vvil * forgiue men their offenses your heauenly father vvil forgiue you also your offenses ✠verse 15 But if you vvil not forgiue men neither vvil your father forgiue you your offenses ✠verse 16 And vvhen you fast be not as the hypocrites sad For they disfigure their faces that they may appeare vnto men to fast Amen I say to you that they haue receiued their revvard ✠verse 17 But thou vvhen thou doest fast anoynte thy head and vvash thy face ✠verse 18 that thou appeare not to men to fast but to thy father vvhich is in secrete and thy father vvhich seeth in secrete vvil repay thee ✠verse 19 * Heape not vp to your selues treasures on the earth vvhere the rust mothe do corrupt vvhere theeues digge through steale ✠verse 20 But heape vp to your selues treasures in heauen vvhere neither the rust nor mothe doth corrupt and vvhere theeues do not digge through not steale ✠verse 21 For vvhere thy treasure is there is thy hart also ⊢ ✠verse 22 * The candel of thy body is thine eye If thine eye be simple thy vvhole body shal be lightsome ✠verse 23 But if thine eye be naught thy vvhole body shal be darkesome If then the light that is in thee be darkenes the darkenes it self hovv great shal it be ✠verse 24 No man can * serue ″ tvvo masters For either he vvil hate the one and loue the other or he vvil sustayne the one and contemne the other You cannot serue God and Mammon ✠verse 25 Therfore I say to you * be not ″ careful for your life vvhat you shal eate neither for your body vvhat rayment you shal put on Is not the life more then the meate and the body more then the rayment ✠verse 26 Behold the foules of the ayre that they sovv not neither reape nor gather into barnes and your heauenly father feedeth them Are not you much more of price then they ✠verse 27 And vvhich of you by caring can adde to his stature one cubite ✠verse 28 And for rayment vvhy are you careful Consider the lilies of the field hovv they grovv they labour not neither do they spinne ✠verse 29 But I say to you that neither Salomon in al his glorie vvas arayed as one of these ✠verse 30 And if the grasse of the field vvhich to day is and to morovv is cast into the oueÌ„ God doth so clothe hovv much more you O ye of very smal fayth ✠verse 31 Be not careful therefore saying vvhat shal vve eate or vvhat shal vve drinke or vvherevvith shal vve be couered ✠verse 32 for al these thinges the Heathen do seeke after For your father knovveth that you neede al these things ✠verse 33 Seeke therefore first the Kingdom of God the iustice of him and
many other vvomen that came vp together vvith him to Hierusalem ✠verse 42 And vvhen euening vvas come because it vvas the Parasceue vvhich is the Sabboth-eue ✠verse 43 came Ioseph of Arimathaea a noble Senatour vvho him self also vvas expecting the kingdom of God and he vvent in boldly to Pilate and asked the body of IESVS ✠verse 44 But Pilate marueled if he vvere novv dead And sending for the Centurion asked him if he vvere novv dead ✠verse 45 And vvhen he vnderstoode by the Centurion he gaue the body to Ioseph ✠verse 46 And Ioseph ″ bying sindon and taking him dovvne vvrapped him in the sindon and laid him in a monument that vvas hevved out of a rocke And he rolled a stone to the doore of the monument ✠verse 47 And Marie Magdalene and Marie of Ioseph beheld vvhere he vvas laid ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XV. 11. Cheefe Priests Heretikes abuse the ignorant people with these naughtie Priests of the old Testament to make that name odious and to discredite the Priests of Christ in the new Testament But for these Priests thou maist not maruel that they are so busy against Christ * partly because they were such as were intruded by the secular power of the Roman Emperour and from yere to yere by bribery and frendship not by succession according to the Law of Moyses partly because the time was now come when the old Priesthod of Aaron should cease and the new begin according to the order of Melchife dec and for these causes cod suffered their former priueleges of wisedom and iudgemeÌ„t and discretion to decay in these later vsurpers and that according to the Prophet saying The Law shal perish from the Priest and counsel from the Ancients But the Priesthod of the new Testament is to continew vnto the end of the world and hath as being the principal part of the Church the assistaÌ„ce of the Holy Ghost for euer promised to teach it al truth and for Peter the cheefe Priest thereof vnder Christ our Sauiour praied That his faith should not faile and to the rest he said He that heareth you heareth me â—â— To satisfie the people Pilate should haue suffered death rather then by other mens prouocation or commaundement haue executed an innocent as a Christian iudge should rather suffer al extremitie then giue sentence of death against a Catholike man for his faith â—6 Bying sindon This dutie done to Christes body after his departure was exceding meritorious and is therfore by holy write so often commended for an example to faithful men to vse al honour and deuotion towards the bodies of Saincts and holy persons CHAP. XVI The third day to three vvomen at his Sepulcher an Angel telleth that he is risen and vvil as he promised Mar. 14 28. shevv him self in Galileâ— 9 The same day he appeareth to Marie Magdalene aftervvard to tvvo Disciples yet the Eleuen vvil not beleeue it vntil to them also he appeareth 15 To vvhom hauing giuen commission into al nations vvith povver also of Miracles he ascendeth and they plant his Church euery vvhere verse 1 AND vvhen the Sabboth vvas past Marie Magdalene and Marie of Iames and Salôme ″ bought spices that comming they might anoint IESVS ✠verse 2 And very early the first of the Sabboths they come to the monument the sunne being novv risen ✠verse 3 And they said one to an other Vvho shal roll vs backe the stone from the doore of the monument ✠verse 4 And looking they savv the stone rolled backe for it vvas very great ✠verse 5 And entring into the monument they savv a yong man sitting on the right hand couered vvith a vvhite robe and they vvere astonied ✠verse 6 Vvho saith to them Be not dismaied you seeke IESVS of Nazareth that vvas crucified he is risen he is not here behold the place vvhere they laid him ✠verse 7 But goe tel his Disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee there you shal see him * as he told you ⊢ ✠verse 8 But they going forth fled from the monument for trembling and feare had inuaded them and they said nothing to any body for they vvere afraid ✠verse 9 And he rising early the first of the Sabboth * appeared first to Marie Magdalene * out of vvhom he had cast seuen deuils ✠verse 10 She vvent and told them that had been vvith him that vvere mourning and vveeping ✠verse 11 And they hearing that he vvas aliue and had been seen of her did not beleeue ✠verse 12 And * after he appeared in an ″ other shape to tvvo of them vvalking as they vvere going into the countrie ✠verse 13 and they going told the rest neither them did they beleeue ✠verse 14 Last * he appeared to those eleuen as they sate at the table and he exprobrated their incredulity and hardnes of hart because they did not beleeue them that had seen him risen againe ✠verse 15 And he said to them * Going into the vvhole vvorld preach the Gospel to al creatures ✠verse 16 He that ″ beleeueth and is baptized shal be saued but he that beleeueth not shal be condemned ✠verse 17 And them that beleeue ″ these signes shal folow In my name shal they cast out deuils They shal speake vvith nevv tonges ✠verse 18 Serpents shal they take avvay And if they drinke any deadly thing it shal not hurt them They shal impose hands vpon the sicke and they shal be vvhole ✠verse 19 And so our Lord IESVS after he spake vnto them * vvas assumpted into heauen and sate on the right hand of God ✠verse 20 But they going forth preached euery vvhere our Lord working vvithal and confirming the vvord vvith signes that folovved ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVI 1. Bought spices As she did bestow and consume a costly ointment vpon his body being yet aliue c. 14 3 Christ him self defending and highly commending the fact against Iudas and other who accounted it to be superfluous and better to be bestowed otherwise So not without great deuotion and merite she and these other women seeke to anoint his body dead though Heretikes or other simple persons may pretend such things to be better bestowed vpon the poore and therfore * she first before al other * and they next saw him after his Resurrection 12. In an other shape Christ though he haue but one corporal shape natural to his person yet by his omnipotencie he may be in whatsoeuer forme and appears in the likenesse of any other man or creature as he list Therfore let no man thinke it strange that he may be vnder the forme of bread in the B. Sacrament 16. He that beleeueth Note wel that whereas this Euangelist mentioneth only faith and baptisme as though to beleeue and to be baptized were
things one of the ministers staÌ„ding by gaue IESVS a blovv saying Ansvverest thou the high priest so ✠verse 23 IESVS ansvvered him If I haue spoken il giue testimonie of euil but if vvel vvhy strikest thou me ✠verse 24 And Annas sent him bound to Caiphas the high priest ✠verse 25 And Simon Peter vvas standing and vvarming him self They said therfore to him Art not thou also of his disciples He denied and said I am not ✠verse 26 One of the seruants of the high priest saith to him his cosin vvhose eare Peter did cut of Did not I see thee in the garden vvith him ✠verse 27 Againe therfore Peter denied and forth vvith the cocke crevve ✠verse 28 * They therfore bring IESVS from Caiphas into the Palace And it vvas morning and they vvent not in into the Palace that they might not be contaminated but that they might eate the Pasche ✠verse 29 Pilate therfore vvent forth to them vvithout and said Vvhat accusation bring you against this man ✠verse 30 They ansvvered and said to him If he vvere not a malefactour vve vvould not haue deliuered him vp to thee ✠verse 31 Pilate therfore said to them Take him you and according to your lavv iudge him The Ievves therfore said to him It is not lavvful for vs to kil any man ✠verse 32 * That the vvord of IESVS might be fulfilled vvhich he said signifying what death he should die ✠verse 33 * Pilate therfore vvent into the Palace againe and called IESVS and said to him Art thou the king of the Ievves ✠verse 34 IESVS ansvvered Saiest thou this of thy self or haue others told it thee of me ✠verse 35 Pilate answered Vvhy am I a Iewe Thy nation and the cheefe priests haue deliuered thee vp to me vvhat hast thou done ✠verse 36 IESVS ansvvered My kingdom is not of this vvorld if my kingdoÌ„ vvere of this vvorld my ministers verily vvould striue that I should not be deliuered to the Ievves but novv my kingdom is not from heÌ„ce ✠verse 37 Pilate therfore said to him Art thou a king then IESVS ansvvered Thou saiest that I am a king For this vvas I borne and for this came I into the vvorld that I should giue testimonie to the truth Euery one that is of the truth heareth my voice ✠verse 38 Pilate saith to him Vvhat is truth And vvhen he had said this he vvent forth againe to the Ievves and saith to them I finde no cause in him ✠verse 39 * But you haue a custome that I should release one to you in the Pasche vvil you therfore that I relâ—ase vnto you the king of the Ievves ✠verse 40 They al therfore cried againe saying Not him but Barabbas And Barabbas vvas a theefe CHAP. XIX The Ievves are not satisfied vvith his scourging and irrision â— Pilate hearing them say that he made him self the Sonne of God is more afraid 〈◊〉 Yet they vrging him vvith his loialty tovvard Caesar and professing that them selues vvil no king but Caesar he yeldeth vnto them 17 And so Christ carying his ovvne Crosse is crucified betvvene tvvo theeues 19 Pilate vvriting notoriously the onely cause of his death to be for that he is their king or Christ 〈◊〉 His garments be so vsed euen as the Scriptures foretold 25 He hath special care of his mother to the end 28 He signifieth al that vvas vvritten of his Passion to be fulfilled and so yeldeth vp his ghost 31 Then by the levves meanes also other Scriptures about his legges and side are fulfilled 38 And finally he is honorably buried verse 1 THEN therfore Pilate tooke IESVS and scourged him ✠verse 2 And the souldiars platting a crovvne of thornes put it vpon his head and they put about him a purple garment ✠verse 3 And they came to him and said Haile king of the Ievves and they gaue him blovves ✠verse 4 Pilate vvent forth againe and saith to them Behold I bring him forth vnto you that you may knovv that I finde no cause in him ✠verse 5 IESVS therfore vvent forth carying the crovvne of thornes and the purple vestiment And he saith to them Loe the man ✠verse 6 Vvhen the cheefe priests therfore and the ministers had seen him they cried saying Crucifie crucifie him Pilate saith to them Take him you and crucifie him for I finde no cause in him ✠verse 7 The Ievves ansvvered him Vve haue a Law and according to the Law he ought to die because he hath made him self the sonne of God ✠verse 8 VvheÌ„ Pilate therfore had heard this saying he feared more ✠verse 9 And he entred into the Palace againe and he saith to IESVS Vvhence art thou But IESVS gaue him no ansvver ✠verse 10 Pilate therfore saith to him Speakest thou not to me knovvest thou not that I haue povver to crucifie thee and I haue povver to release thee ✠verse 11 IESVS ansvvered Thou shouldest not haue any povver against me vnles it vvere giuen thee from aboue Therfore he that hath betraied me to thee hath the greater sinne ✠verse 12 From thence forth Pilate sought to release him But the Ievves cried saying If thou release this man thou art not Caesars frend euery one that maketh him self a king speaketh against Caesar ✠verse 13 But Pilate vvhen he had heard these vvordes brought forth IESVS and he sate in the iudgemeÌ„t seate in the place that is called Lithóstrotos and in Hebrevv Gábbatha ✠verse 14 And it vvas the Parasceue of Pasche about the sixt houre and he saith to the Ievves Loe your king ✠verse 15 But they cried Avvay avvay vvith him crucifie him Pilate saith to them Shal I crucifie your king The cheefe priests ansvvered Vve haue no king but Caesar ✠verse 16 Then therfore he deliuered him vnto them for to be crucified And they tooke IESVS and led him forth ✠verse 17 * And bearing his ovvne ″ crosse he vvent forth into that vvhich is called the place of Caluarie in Hebrevv Gólgotha ✠verse 18 vvhere they crucified him and vvith him two others on the one side and on the other and in the middes IESVS ✠verse 19 And Pilate vvrote a title also and he put it vpon the crosse And it vvas vvritten IESVS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE IEVVES ✠verse 20 This title therfore many of the Ievves did reade because the place vvhere IESVS vvas crucified vvas nigh to the citie and it vvas vvritten in Hebrevv in Greeke and in Latin ✠verse 21 The cheefe priests therfore of the Ievves said to Pilate Vvrite not The king of the Ievves but that he said I am king of the Ievves ✠verse 22 Pilate ansvvered That vvhich I haue vvritten I haue vvritten ✠verse 23 The souldiars therfore vvhen they had crucified him tooke his garments and they made foure partes to euery souldiar a part
and Icónium and persvvading the multitudes and * stoning Paul they drevv him out of the citie thinking him to be dead ✠verse 19 But the disciples compassing him round about he rising vp entred into the citie and the next day he vvent forth vvith Barnabas vnto Derbè ✠verse 20 And vvhen they had euangelized to that citie and had taught many they returned to Lystra and Icónium and to Antioche ✠verse 21 confirming the hartes of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and that by many tribulations vve must enter into the kingdom of God ✠verse 22 And vvhen they ″ had ordained to them ″ Priests in euery Church and had praied vvith fastings they commended them to our Lord in vvhom they beleeued ✠verse 23 And passing through Pisidia they came into Pamphylia ✠verse 24 and speaking the vvord of our Lord in Pergé they vvent dovvne into Attalia ✠verse 25 and from theÌ„ce they sailed to Antioche * vvhence they had been deliuered to the grace of God vnto the vvorke vvhich they accomplished ✠verse 26 And vvhen they vvere come and â—ad assembled the Church they reported vvhat great things God had done vvith them that he had opened a doore of faith to the Gentils ✠verse 27 And they abode no litle time vvith the disciples ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIIII 12. They vvould sacrifice This loe is the diuine vvorship consisting in external sacrifice and in acknovvledging the parties vvorshipped to be gods vvhich * may be done to no man nor creature and therfore the Apostles refuse it vvith al possible diligence and al the Angels and Saincts in heauen refuse that adoration by sacrifice The Catholike Church suffereth no Priest nor other so to vvorship any Sainct in heauen or earth She hath but one external Sacrifice vvhich is in the holy Masse of Christs body and bloud that she offereth to God alone and neither to Peter nor to Paul saith S. Augustine though the Priest that sacrificeth standeth ouer their bodies and offereth in their memories But other kindes of honours and dueties inferior vvithout al comparison hovv great so euer they be to this vve do as the Scriptures and Nature teache vs to al Superiors in heauen and earth according to the degrees of grace honour and blessednes that God hath called them vnto from our B. Ladie Christs ovvne mother to the lest seruant he hath in the vvorld for vvhich the Heretikes vvould neuer accuse Christian people of Idolatrie if they had either grace learning faith or natural affection â—â— Had ordained The Heretikes to make the vvorld beleeue that al Priests ought to be chosen by the voices of the people and that they neede no other Ordering or Consecration by Bishops pressing the proâ—ane vse of the * Greeke vvord more then the very natural signification requireth and Ecclesiastical vse beareth translate thus Ordained by election Vvhereas in deede this vvord in Scripture signifieth Ordering by imposition of hands as is plaine by other vvordes equiualent Act. 6 13. 1 Tim. 4. â— 2 Tim. 1. Vvhere the Ordering of Deacons Priests and others is called * Imposition of hands not of the people but of the Apostles And this to be the Ecclesiastical vse of the vvord appeareth by S. Hierom saying as is before alleaged that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iâ— the Ordering of Clerkes or Clergie men by praier of voice and imposition of hand â—â— Priests Euen so here also as before fleing from the proper apt knovven vvord vvhich is most precisely correspondent to the very Greeke in our tongue and al nations they translate for Priest Elder that is for a calling of Office a vvord of age for a terme of art and by consent of al the Church and Apostolike authoritie and Fathers appropriated to holy Order a vulgar common and profane terme Vvith as litle grace as if they should translate Pontificem a bridgemaker the Maior of London the Bigger of London And thus you see vvithin three vvordes compasse they flee guilefully from the Latin to the Greeke and againe guilefully from the Greeke to the vulgar English Such corruption of Scriptures their hatred of Priesthod driueth them vnto If they had translated it so vvhen the Scriptures vvere first vvritten at vvhich time the vvord vvas but nevvly receiued into the special and Ecclesiastical signification and vvhen it vvas yet taken sometimes in common profane sort as 1 Tim. 5. or there only vvhere our auÌ„cient Latin version turneth Presbyter into Senior because the vvord vvas not yet vvholy and only appropriated to holy Orders as aftervvard by vse of many hundred yeres it vvas and is their dealing might haue had some colour of honestâ—e and plainesse vvhich novv can not be but of plaine falshod and corruption and that of further purpose then the simple can see Vvhich is to take avvay the office of Sacrificing and other functions of Priests proper in the nevv TestameÌ„t to such as the Apostles often and the posteritle in maner altogether call Priests Presbyteros Vvhich vvord doth so certainely imply the authoritie of sacrificing that it is by vse made also the onely English of Sacerdos the Aduersaries them selues as vvel as vve so translating it in al the old and nevv Testament though they can not be ignorant that Priest commeth of Presbyter and not of Sacerdos and that antiquitie for no other cause applied the signification of Presbyter to Sacerdos but to shevv that Presbyter is in the nevv Lavv that vvhich Sacerdos vvas in the old the Apostles abstaining from this and other like old names at the first and rather vsing the vvordes Bishops Pastors and Priests because they might be distinguished from the Gouernours and sacrificers of Aarons order vvho as yet in the Apostles time did their old functions still in the Temple And this to be true and that to be a Priest is to be a man appointed to sacrifice the Heretikes them selues calling Sacerdos alvvaies a Priest must needes be driuen to confesse Although their folly is therein notorious to apply vvillngly the vvord Priest to Sacerdos and to take it from Presbyter vvhereof it is properly deriued not only in English but in other languages both french and Italian Vvhich is to take avvay the name that the Apostles and fathers gaue to the Priests of the Church to giue it vvholy onely to the order of Aaron vvhich neuer had it before our Priesthod began Neuer did there Heretikes stand so much vpon doubtful deriuations and descant of vvordes as these Protestants do and yet neuer men behaued them selues more fondly in the same as vvhosoeuer marketh the distinction of their Elders Ministers Deacons and such like shal perceiue CHAP. XV. Some of those Ievves also that vvere Christians do fall and are authors of the Heresie of Iudaizing 2 They referre the matter to Councel 7 Wherein after great disputation Peter striking the stroke
tribunal of Pope Councels Bishops Synodes but eche man to his ovvne phantastical spirit his ovvne sense of Scriptures and his ovvne vvilful obdurate rebellion against Gods Church and his Superiors in the same But here vve see S. Paul and Barnabas men that vvere Apostles and ful of the Spirit of God and the other parties though neuer so much partial to the ceremonies of their Lavv by their former long vse and education therein yet not to stand stifly to their ovvne opinion on either side but to condescend to referre the vvhole controuersie and the determination thereof to the Apostles Priests or Auncients of Hierusalem that is to say to commit the matter to be tried by the heads and Bishops and their determination in Councel This is Gods holy and vvise prouidence among other iudgements in his Church to keepe the Christian people in truth and vnitie and to condemne sectes and false teachers and troublers of the Church By vvhich iudgements and order vvhosoeuer vvil not or dare not be tried in al their doctrine and doings they shevv them selues to mistrust their ovvne cause and to flee from the light and ordinance of God Vvithout vvhich order of appeasing al differences in faith and constructions of the Scriptures the Church had beene more defectual and insufficient then any Commonvvealth or Societie of men in the vvorld none of vvhich euer vvanteth good meanes to decide al discordes and dissension arising among the subiects citizens of the same 6. Apostles and Auncients The Heresies of our Protestants vvhich vvould haue al men to giue voice or to be present in Councels and of others that vvould haue none but the holy or elect to be admitted are refuted by this example vvhere vve see none but Apostles Priests or Ancients assembled to dispute of the matter though many deuout people vvere in the citie the same time Neither did euer any other in the Auncient Councels of the Church assemble to debate and define the matter but such though many other for other causes be euer present Secular men or vvomen be their gifts neuer so great can not be iudges in causes of faith and religion If any thing saith God â—e hard and doubtful thou shalt come to the Priests of the Leuitical stocke and thou shalt folovv their sentence Againe The lippes of the Priest shal keepe knovvledge and the Lavv thou shalt require of his mouth Againe Aske the Lavv of the Priest Much more must vve referre al to our Bishops and Pastors vvhom God hath placed in the regiment of the Church vvith much larger priuilege then euer he did the old Priests ouer the Synagogue to vvhom it is said He that despiseth you despiseth me And it is to be noted that the Bishops so gathered in Councel represent the vvhole Church haue the authoritie of the vvhole Church and the Spirit of God to protect them from error as the vvhole Church SS Paul and Barnabas come hither for the definition of the vvhole Church The sentence of a plenarie or general Councel saith S. Augustine is the consent of the vvhole Church And so it must needes be in the Church because the Magistrates Senate Councel or deputies of al commonvvealthes represent the vvhole body and to haue it othervvise as the Churches Rebels vvish vvere to bring al to hel and horrour and them selues to be perpetually by the seditious and popular persons vpholden against Lavv reason and religion in their vvickednes â— Assembled A Councel vvas called to discusse the matter vvhich Councel vvas the more easily gathered because the Christian Bishops and countries vvere not yet so many but that the principal Gouernours of the Church being not far dispersed and as many learned men as vvere necessarie might be in Hierusalem or easily called thither And it vvas not a Prouincial Councel or Synode only but a general Councel consisting of the cheefe Apostles and Bishops that then vvere though the number vvas nothing so great as aftervvard vsed to assemble vvhen the Church vvas spred into al nations 7. Peter rising vp S. Peter as the head of the Church speaketh first as his Successors haue euer had not only in their personal presence but in their absence by their legates and substitutes the cheefe voice in al Councels general none euer receiued into authoritie and credite in the Church vvithout their Confirmation And therefore the Councels of the Arians and of other Heretikes vvere they neuer so great vvanting the Popes assent assistance or Confirmation did shamfully erre as Ariminense for the Arians and Ephesinum secundum for the Nestorians and such like condemned Assemblies 7. Chose that by my mouth Though Paul vvere called and appointed specially to be the Apostle of the Gentils yet that vvas S. Peters special priuilege by Gods ovvne choise that the first Gentils should be called by his mouth and that he first should vtter to the Church that truth of the admission of the Gentils him self for that he vvas Christes Vicar being notvvithstanding as his Maister vvas Minister Circuncisionis that is Apostle of the Ievves Christ deferring al preeminence vnto him in that point also 1â— Iames. S. Iames because he vvas an Apostle and also Bishop of Hierusalem gaue his sentence next for the speache interposed of SS Paul and Barnabas vvas but for their better information in the decision of the matter and for confirmation of S. Peters sentence though they being Apostles and Bishops had voices in the Councel also as many mâ— had though their sentences be not heare reported And vvhere S. Iames in his speach saith I iudge it is not meant that he gaue the principal definitiue sentence for he as al the rest folovved and allovved the senteÌ„ce of S. Peter as it is plaine in the text the vvhole assembly for reuerence of his person and approbation of his sentence holding their peace Al the multitude saith S. Hierom held their peace and into his sentence Iames the Apostle al the Priests did passe together For though S. Iames did particularise certaine points incident to the question debated as of eating strangled meates c. yet the proper controuersie for vvhich the Councel assembled vvas Vvhether the Gentils conuerted vvere bound to obserue the Lavv of Moyses and it vvas concluded that they vvere not bound nor ought not to be charged vvith Moyses Lavv or the Sacraments and ceremonies of the same this is the substance and principal purpose of this Councels decree vvhich doth binde for euer and Peter saith S. Hierom in the same place vvas Prince or author of this decree the matter of fornication and Idolothytes being but incident to the question or resolution and the forbidding of eating strangled and bloud but a temporal prohibition vvhich by the consent of the Church or othervvise aftervvard vvas abrogated the Church of God hauing the true sense of difference of times place persons vvhen and
for he is gods minister vnto thee for good But if thou doe euil feare for he ″ beareth not the svvord without cause For he is Gods minister a reueÌ„ger vnto vvrath to him that doeth euil ✠verse 5 Therfore be subiect of necessitie not only for vvrath but also for conscience sake ✠verse 6 For therfore ″ you giue tributes also for they are the ministers of God seruing vnto this purpose ✠verse 7 Render therfore to al men their devv * to vvhom tribute tribute to vvhom custom custom to whom feare feare to vvhoÌ„ honour honour ✠verse 8 Ovve no man any thing but that you loue one an other For he that loueth his neighbour hath fulfilled the lavv ✠verse 9 For Thou shalt not commit aduoutrie Thou shalt not kil Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt not beare false vvitnes Thou shalt not couet and if there be any other commaundement it is comprised in this vvord Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy self ✠verse 10 The loue of thy neighbour vvorketh no euil Loue therfore is the fulnesse of the lavv ⊢ ✠verse 11 And that knovving the season that it is novv the houre for vs to rise from sleepe For novv our saluation is neerer then vvhen vve beleeued ✠verse 12 The night is passed and the day is at hand Let vs therfore cast of the vvorkes of darknesse and doe on the armour of light ✠verse 13 As in the day let vs vvalke honestly not in banketings and drunkennes not in chamberings and impudicities not in contention and emulation ✠verse 14 but doe ye on our Lord IESVS Christ ⊢ and make not prouision for the flesh in concupiscenees ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIII 1. Euery soul be subiect Because the Apostles preached libertie by Christ from the yoke of the Law and seruitude of sinne and gaue al the faithful both example and commaundement to obey God more then men and withal euer charged them expresly to be obedient and subiect to their Prelates as to them which had cure of their soules and were by the Holy Ghost placed ouer the Church of God there were many in those daies newly conuerted that thougt them solues free from al temporal Botestats carnal Lordes and humane creatures or powers wherevpon the bondman tooke him self to be loose from his seruitude the subiect from his Soueraine were he Emperour King Duke or what other secular Magistrate so euer specially the Princes of those daies being Heathens and persecutors of the Apostles and of Christes religion for which cause and for that the Apostles were vntruely charged of their Aduersaries that they withdrevvâ— men from order and obedience to Ciuil lavves and Officers S. Paul here as S. Peter doth 1 Chap. 2. cleereth him self and expresly chargeth euery man to be subiect to his temporal Prince and Superior Not euery man to al that be in Office or Superiority but euery one to him whom God hath put in authoritie ouer him by that he is his Maister Lord king or such like 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either to them in matters of religion or regiment of their soules for most part vvere Pagans whom the Apostle could not vvill men to obey in matters of faith but to them in such things onely as 〈…〉 and what other causes so euer consist vvith Gods holy vvill and ordinance for * against God no power may be 〈◊〉 1. No povver but of God S. Chrysostome here noteth that power 〈◊〉 Superioritie is Gods ordinance but not ofâ—somes al Princes because to any may vsur 〈◊〉 who reigne by his permission onely and not by his appointment nor al actions that euery one doeth in and by his soueraine povver as Iuâ—ians apostaste and 〈◊〉 of Catholikes 〈…〉 oppression of the Israelites Achaâ—s persecution of the Prophets Neros executing of the Apostles Herods and Pilats condemning of Christ al which things God permitted them by he abuse of their power to accomplish 〈◊〉 they vvere out of the compasse of his causing and ordinance 2. They that resist Vvhosoeuer resisteth or obeieth not his lavvful Superior in those causes vvherein he is subiect vnto him withstandeth Gods appointment sinneth â—oadly and is vvorthy to be punished both in this vvorld by his Superior and by God in the next life for in temporal gouernement and causes the Christians vvere bound in conscience to obey their Heathen Imperours though on the other side they were bound vnder paine of deâ—â—ation to obey their Apostles and Prelates and not to obey their kings or Emperours in matters of religion Vvhereby it is cleere that vvhen vve be commaunded to obey our Superiors it is meant alvvaies and onely in such things as they may lawfully commaund and in respect of such matters Vvherein they be our Superiors 4. Beareth not the sword That the Apostle meaneth here specially of temporal povvers vve may see by the svvord tribute external compulsion vvhich he here attributeth to them And the Christian men then had no doubt vvhether they should obey their Spiritual povvers but novv the disease is cleane contrarie for al is giuen to the secular povver and nothing to the spiritual vvhich expresly is ordained by Christ and the Holy Ghost and al the faithful are commaunded to be subiect there vnto as to Christs ovvne vvord and vvill There vvere Heretikes called Begardi that tooke avvay al rule and Superioritie The wâ—â—lefists vvould obey nor Prince nor Prelate if he vvere once in deadly sinne The Protestants of our time as vve may see in al Countrieâ— vvhere the secular svvord is dravven against their Sectes care neither for the one nor for the other though they extol onely the secular vvhen it maketh for them The Catholikes onely most humbly obey both euen according to Gods ordinance the one in temporal causes and the other in Spiritual in vvhich order both these States haue blessedly florished in al Christian countries euer since Christeâ— time and it is the very vvay to preserue both as one day al the vvorld shal confesse vvith vs. 6. Ten giue tributes Though euery man ought to be ready to serue his temporal Prince vvith his goods by tributes of vvhat other lavvful taxes and subsidies so euer yet they may exempt by priuileges vvhom they thinke good As in al countries Christian Priests for the honour of Christ whose Ministers they be haue by the grauntes and auncient charters or kings be he excepted and exempted Notvvithstanding they vvere neuer vnready to serue voluntarely their soueraine in al common causes vvith vvhatsoeuer they had See Annot. in Mat. 17 26. â—â— Not in 〈◊〉 This vvas the very place vvhich S. Augustine that glorious Doctor vvas by a voice from heauen directed vnto at his first miraculous and happy conuersion not only to the Catholike faith but also to perpetual continencie by this voice comming from heauen Tolle lege Tolle lege Take vp and read take vp
Irenaeus li. 3. c. 2. 3. 4. tried truth from falsehod and condemned old Heretikes prouing Marcion Valentine Cerdon Menander and such like false Apostles because they came in with their nouelties long after the Church was settled in former truth Sixthly This curse or execration pronounced by the Apostle toucheth not onely the Galatians or those of the Apostles time that preached othervvise then they did but it perteineth to al times preachers and teachers vnto the worldes end and it concerneth then as Vincentius Lirinensis saith that preach a new faith or change that old faith which they receiued in the vnitie of of the Catholike Church To preach any thing to Christian Catholike men saith he besides that vvhich they haue receiued neuer vvas it lavvful neuer is it nor neuer shal it be lavvful to say anathema to such it hath been and is and shal be alvvaies behooful So S. Augustine by this place holdeth al accursed that draw a Christian man from the societie of the whole Church to make the seueral part of any one sect that call to the hidden conuenticles of Heretikes from the open and knovven Church of Christ that allure to the priuate from the common finally al that draw with chatting curiositie the children of the Catholike Church by teaching any thing besides that they found in the church ep 48. Psal 103. Con. 2. mentioning also that a Donatist feined an Angel to haue admonished him to call his frende out of the Communion of the Catholike Church into his sect and he saith that if it had been an Angel in deede yet should he not haue heard him Lastly S. Hierom vseth this place wherein the Apostle giueth the curse or anáthema to al false teachers not once but tvvise to proue that the zeale of Catholike men ought to be so great tovvard al Heretikes and their doctrines that they should giue them the anáthema though they vvere neuer so deere vnto them In which case saith this holy Doctor I would not spare mine ovvne parents Ad Pammach c. 3. cont Io. Hieros 18. To see Peter In what estimation S. Peter was with this Apostle it appeareth seing for respect and honour of his person and of duety as Tertullian de praescript saith notvvithstanding his great affaires Ecclesiasticall he vvent so farre to see him not in vulgar maner but as S. Chrysostom noteth the Greeke word to import to behold him as men behold a thing or person of name excellencie and maiestie for vvhich cause and to fill him self with the perfect vew of his behauiour he abode with him fiftene daies See S. Hierom ep 10◠ad Paulinum to ◠who maketh also a mysterie of the number of daies that he taried with S. Peter See S. Ambrose in Comment huius loci and S. Chrysostome vpon this place and ho. 87 in Ioan. CHAP. II. He telleth furth the storie begonne in the last chapter and hovv he reprehended Peter 15 and then specially vrgeth the ensample of the Christian Ievves vvho sought vnto Christ for iustification and that by vvarrant also of their Lavv it self as also because othervvise Christs death had been needles verse 1 THEN after fourtene yeres I vvent vp againe to Hierusalem vvith Barnabas taking Titus also vvith me ✠verse 2 And I vvent vp according to reuelation and ″ cōferred with them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles but apart with thē that seemed to be something lest perhaps ″ in vaine I should runne or had runne ✠verse 3 But neither Titus which vvas with me vvhereas he vvas a Gentil vvas compelled to be circumcised ✠verse 4 but because of the false brethren craftely brought in vvhich craftely came in to espie our libertie that vve haue in Christ IESVS that they might bring vs into seruitude ✠verse 5 To vvhom vve yelded not subiection no not for an houre that the truth of the Gospel may remaine vvith you ✠verse 6 But of them that seemed to be something vvhat they vvere sometime it is nothing to me * God accepteth not the person of man for to me they that seemed to be something ″ added nothing ✠verse 7 But contrarievvise vvhen they had seen that to me vvas committed the Gospel of the prepuce as ″ to Peter of the circumcision ✠verse 8 for he that vvrought in Peter to the Apostleship of the circumcision vvrought in me also among the Gentils ✠verse 9 and vvhen they had knovven the grace that vvas giuen me Iames and Cephas and Iohn vvhich seemed to be pillers ″ gaue to me and Barnabas the right handes of societie that vve vnto the Gentiles they vnto the circumcision ✠verse 10 only that vve should be mindeful of the poore the vvhich same thing also I vvas careful to doe ✠verse 11 And vvhen Cephas vvas come to Antioche ″ I resisted him in face because he vvas ″ reprehensible ✠verse 12 For before that certaine came from Iames he did eate vvith the Gentiles but vvhen they vvere come he vvithdrevv and separated him self fearing them that vvere of the circumcision ✠verse 13 And to his simulation cōsented the rest of the Ievves so that Barnabas also vvas ledde of them into that simulation ✠verse 14 But vvhen I savv that they vvalked not rightly to the veritie of the Gospel I said to Cephas before them al If thou being a Ievve liuest Gentile-like not Iudaically hovv doest thou compel the Gentils to Iudaize ✠verse 15 Vve are by nature Ievves and not of the Gentils sinners ✠verse 16 But knovving that * man is not iustified by the vvorkes of the Lavv but by the faith of IESVS Christ we also beleeue in Christ IESVS that we may be iustified by the faith of Christ and not by the vvorkes of the Lavv for the vvhich cause by the workes of the Law no flesh shal be iustified ✠verse 17 But if seeking to be iustified in Christ our selues also be found sinners is Christ then a minister of sinne God forbid ✠verse 18 For if I build the same things againe vvhich I haue destroied I make my self a preuaricatour ✠verse 19 For I by the Lavv am dead to the Law that I may liue to God vvith Christ I am nailed to the crosse ✠verse 20 And I liue novv not I but Christ liueth in me And that that I liue novv in the flesh I liue in the faith of the sonne of God who loued me deliuered him self for me ✠verse 21 I cast not avvay the grace of God For if iustice be by the Lavv then Christ died in vaine ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. ◠Conferred vvith them Though S. Paul vvere taught his Gospel of God and not of man and had an extraordinarie calling by Christ him self yet by reuelation he vvas sent to Hierusalem to conferre the said Gospel which he preached vvith his elders the ordinarie Apostles and Rulers of the Church to put both
to feare lest I be iniurious to Peter for vvho knovveth not that the principalitie of Apostleship it to be preferred before any dignitie of Bishop vvhatsoeuer but if the grace of the Chaires or Sees differ yet the glorie of the Martyrs is one And vvho is so dull that can not see that the inferior though not by office and iurisdiction yet by the law of brotherly loue and fraternal correption may reprehend his superior Did euer any man vvonders that a good Priest or any vertuous person should tell the Pope or any other great Prelate or greatest Prince in earth their faultes Popes may be reprehended and are iustly admonished of their faultes and ought to take it in good part so they do and euer haue done vvhen it commeth of zeale loue as of S. Paul Irenaeus Cyprian Hierom Augustine Bernard but of Simon Magus Nouatus Iulian Wicleffe Luther Caluin Beza that do it of malice raâ—le no lesse at their vertues then their vices of such I say Gods Prelates must not be taught nor corrected though they must patiently take it as our Sauiour did the like reproches of the malitious Ievves and as Dauid did the malediction of Semel 2 Reg. 16. 11. Reprehensible The Heretikes hereof againe inferre that Peter then did erre in faith and therfore the Popes may faile therein also To vvhich vve ansvver that hovvsoeuer other Popes may erre in their priuate teachings or vvritings vvhereof vve haue treated before in the Annotation vpon these vvordes That thy faith faile not it is certaine that S. Peter did not here faile in faith nor erre in doctrine or knovvledge for it vvas conuersation is non prâ—dicationis vitium as Tertullian saith de praescript nu 7. It vvas a default in conuersation life or regiment which may be committed of any man be he neuer so holy and not in doctrine S. Augustine and vvhosoeuer make most of it thinke no othervvise of it But S. Hierom and many other holy fathers deâ—râ—e it to haue been no fault at all nor any other thing then S. Paul him self did vpon the like occasion that this vvhole combat vvas a set thing agreed vpon betvvene them It is a schoole point much debated betvvixt S. Hierom and S. Augustine ep 9. 11. 19. apud August CHAP. III. By their ovvne conuersion at the first 6 and by the example of Abraham and promise made to him he shevveth that the vvay to obtaine the benediction is to seeke vnto God by faith in Christ 10 Seing also that the Lavv curseth euery one that hath not euermore kept the Lavv. 15 And that the Lavv vvas not giuen to alter Gods testament 19 but to conuince the Iovves of sinne 2â— and so to be their padagogue or leader vnto Christ 25 and then to cease verse 1 O Sensles Galatians vvho hath bevvitched you not to obey the truth before vvhose eies IESVS Christ vvas proscribed being crucified among you ✠verse 2 This only I vvould learne of you By the vvorkes of the Lavv did you receiue the Spirit or by the hearing of the faith ✠verse 3 Are you so foolish that vvhereas you began vvith the spirit now you vvil be consummate vvith the flesh ✠verse 4 Haue you suffered so great things vvithout cause if yet vvithout cause ✠verse 5 He therfore that giueth you the Spirit and vvorketh miracles among you by the vvorkes of the Lavv or by the hearing of the faith doeth he it ✠verse 6 As Abraham beleeued God and it vvas reputed to him vnto iustice ✠verse 7 Knovv ye therfore that they that are of faith the same are the children of Abraham ✠verse 8 And the Scripture foreseing that God iustifieth the Gentils by faith shevved vnto Abraham before That in thee shal al nations be blessed ✠verse 9 Therfore they that are of faith shal be blessed vvith the faithful Abraham ✠verse 10 For vvhosoeuer are of the vvorkes of the Lavv are vnder curse For it is vvritten ″ Cursed be euery one that abideth not in al things that be vvritten in the booke of the Lavv to doe them ✠verse 11 But that in the Lavv no man is iustified vvith God it is manifest because The iust ″ liueth by faith ✠verse 12 But the Lavv is not by faith but He that doeth those things shal liue in them ✠verse 13 Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Lavv being made a curse for vs because it is vvritten Cursed is euery one that hangeth on a tree ✠verse 14 that on the Gentiles the blessing of Abraham might be made in Christ IESVS that vve may receiue the promisse of the Spirit by faith ✠verse 15 Brethren I speake according to man yet a mans testameÌ„t being confirmed no man despiseth or further disposeth ✠verse 16 To Abraham vvere the promises said and to his seede He saith not And to seedes as in many but as in one And to thy seede vvhich is Christ ✠verse 17 And this I say the restament being confirmed of God the Lavv vvhich vvas made after foure hundred and thirtie yeres maketh not void to frustrate the promise ✠verse 18 For if the inheritance be of the Lavv novv not of promise But God gaue it to Abraham by promise ✠verse 19 Vvhy vvas the Lavv then It vvas put for transgressions vntil the seede came to vvhom he had promised ordeined by Angels in the hand of a mediatour ✠verse 20 And a mediatour is not of one but God is one ✠verse 21 Vvas the Lavv then against the promises of God God forbid For if there had been a Lavv giuen that could iustifie vndoubtedly iustice should be of the Lavv. ✠verse 22 But the Scripture * hath concluded al things vnder sinne that the promise by the faith of IESVS Christ might be giuen to them that beleeue ⊢ ✠verse 23 But before the faith came vnder the Lavv we vvere kept shut vp vnto that faith which vvas to be reuealed ✠verse 24 Therfore the Lavv vvas our Pedagogue in Christ that vve may be iustified by faith ✠verse 25 But vvheÌ„ the faith came novv vve are not vnder a paedagogue ✠verse 26 For you are al the children of God by faith in Christ IESVS ✠verse 27 For as many of you as are baptized in Christ ″ haue put on Christ ✠verse 28 There is not Ievve nor Greeke there is not bond nor free there is not male nor femal For al you are one in Christ IESVS ✠verse 29 And if you be Christs then are you the seede of Abraham heires according to promise ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III. 1â— Cursed be By this place the Heretikes vvould proue that no man is iust truely before God al being guiltie of damnation and Gods curse because they keepe not euery iote of the Lavv. Vvhere in deede the Apostle meaneth not such as offend venially
✠verse 5 So Christ also ″ did not glorifie him self that he might be made a high priest but he that spake to him My Sonne art thou I this day haue begotteÌ„ thee ✠verse 6 As also in an other place he saith Thou art ″ a priest for euer according to the order of Melchisedec ⊢ ✠verse 7 Vvho in the daies of his flesh ″ vvith a strong crie and teares offering praiers and supplications to him that could faâ—e him from death vvas heard ″ for his reuerence ⊢ ✠verse 8 And truely vvhereas he was the Sonne he learned by those things vvhich he suffered obedience ✠verse 9 and being consummate ″ vvas made to al that obey him cause of eternal saluation ✠verse 10 called of God a high priest according to the order of Melchisedec ✠verse 11 Of vvhome vve haue great speache and ″ inexplicable to vtter because you are become vveake to heare ✠verse 12 For vvhereas you ought to be maisters for your time you neede to be taught againe your selues vvhat be the elements of the beginning of the vvordes of God and you are become such as haue neede of milke not of strong meate ✠verse 13 For euery one that is partaker of milke is vnskilful of the vvord of iustice for he is a childe ✠verse 14 But strong meate is for the perfect them that by custome haue their senses exercised to the discerning of good euil ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V. 1. Euery high Priest By the description of a Priest or high Priest for to this purpose al is one matter he proueth Christ to be one in most excellent sort First then a Priest must not be an Angel or of any other nature but mans Secondly euery man is not a Priest but such an one as is specially chosen out of the rest and preferred before other of the community seuered assumpted and exalted into a higher state and dignitie then the vulgar Thirdly the cause and purpose vvhy he is so sequestred and piked out from the residue is to take charge of Diuine things to deale as a mediator betvvixt God and the people to be the Deputie of men in such things as they haue to craue or to receiue of God and to present or giue to him againe Fourthly the most proper and principal part of a Priests office is to offer oblations giftes and sacrifices to God for the sinnes of the people vvithout vvhich kind of most soueraine dueties no person people or Commonvvealth can appertaine to God and vvhich can be done by none of vvhat other dignitie or calling soeuer he be in the vvorld that is not a Priest diuers Princes as vve read in the Scriptures punished by God and king Saul deposed from his kingdom specially for attempting the same And generally vve may learne here that in ijs qua sunt ad Deum in an matters touching God his seruice and religion the Priest hath onely charge and authority as the Prince temporal is the peoples gouernour guider and so retaine in the things touching their vvorldly affaires Vvhich must for al that by him be directed and manneged no othervvise but as is agreable to the due vvorship and seruice of God against vvhich if the terrene Povvers commit any thing the Priests ought to admonish them from God Vve learne also hereby that euery one is not a Priest and that the people must alvvaies haue certaine persons chosen out from among them to deale in their sutes and causes vvith God to pray to minister Sacraments and to sacrifice for them And vvhereas the Protestants vvil haue no Priest Priesthod nor sacrifice but Christ and his death pretending these vvordes of the Apostle to be verified onely in the Priesthod and Seruice of the old lavv and Christes person alone and after him of no moe therein they shevv them selues to be ignorant of the Scriptures and of the state of the nevv Testament and induce a plaine Atheisme and Godlesnesse into the vvorld for so long as man hath to doe vvith God there must needes be some deputed and chosen out from among the rest to deale according to this declaration of the Apostle in things pertaining to God and those must be Priests for els if men neede to deale no more but immediatly vvith Christ vvhat doe they vvith their Ministers Vvhy let they not euery man pray and minister for him self and to him self Vvhat doe they vvith Sacraments seing Christes death is as vvel sufficient vvithout them as vvithout sacrifice Vvhy standeth not his death as vvel vvith Sacrifice as vvith Sacraments as vvel vvith Priesthod as vvith other Ecclesiastical functioÌ„ There is no other cause in the vvorld but that Sacrifice being the most principal act of religion that man ovveth to God both by his Lavv and by the lavv of nature the Diuel by these his ministers vnder pretence of deferring or artributing the more to Christes death vvould abolish it This definition of a Priest and his function vvith al the properties thereto belonging holdeth not onely in the lavv of Moyses and order of Aarons Priesthod but it vvas true before in the lavv of nature in the Patriarches in Melchisedec and novv in Christ and all his Apostles and Priests of the nevv Testament sauing that it is a peculiar excellencie in Christ that he onely offered for other mens sinnes and not at all for his ovvne as all other doe 4. Taketh to him self A special prouiso for all Priests preachers and such as haue to deale for the people in things pertaining to God that they take not that honour or office at their ovvne hands but by lavvful calling and consecration euen as Aaron did By vvhich clause if you examine Luther Caluin Beza and the like or if al such as novv a daies intrude them selues into sacred functions looke into their consciences great and foul matter of damnation vvil appeare 5. Did not glorifie him self The dignity of Priesthod must needes be passing high and soueraine vvhen it vvas a promotion and pereferment in the sonne of God him self according to his manhod and vvhen he vvould not vsurpe nor take vpon him the same vvithout his fathers expresse commission and calling therevnto An eternal example of humility and an argument of condemnation to al mortal men that arrogate vniustly any function or povver spiritual that is not giuen them from aboue and by lavvful calling and commission of their superiors 6. A Priest for euer In the 109 Psalme from vvhence this testimonie is taken both Christes kingdom and Priesthod are set fourth but the Apostle vrgeth specially his Priesthod as the more excellent and preeminent state in him our Redemption being vrought atchieued by sacrifice vvhich vvas an act of his Priesthod and not of his kingly povver though he vvas properly a king also as Melchisedec vvas both Priest and king being a resemblance of Christ in both but much more in his
the king ✠verse 18 Seruants be subiect in al feare to your maisters not only to the good modest ″ but also to the vvaivvard ✠verse 19 For this is thanke if for coÌ„science of God a man sustaine sorovves suffering vniustly ✠verse 20 For vvhat glorie is it if sinning and buffeted you suffer but if doing vvel you sustaine patiently this is thanke before God ✠verse 21 For vnto this are you called because Christ also suffred for vs ' leauing you ' an example that you may folovv his steppes ✠verse 22 vvho did no sinne neither vvas guile found in his mouth ✠verse 23 vvho vvhen he vvas reuiled did not reuile vvhen he suffred he threatened not but deliuered him self to him that iudged him vniustly ✠verse 24 vvho him self * bare our sinnes in his body vpon the tree that dead to sinnes we may liue to iustice by vvhose stripes you are healed ✠verse 25 For you vvere as sheepe straying but you be conuerted novv to the Pastor and Bishop of your soules ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. â— Spiritual hostes Here vve see that as he speaketh of spiritual hostes vvhich euery Christian man offereth so he speaketh not properly of priesthod vvhen he maketh al Priests but of a spiritual priesthod Which spiritual priesthod vvas also in al the Iewes but the priesthod properly so called vvas onely in the sonnes of Aaron and they offered the sacrifices properly so called vvhich none besides might offer 13. Be subiect Not onely our Maister Christ but the Apostles and al Christians vvere euer charged by such as thought to bring them in hatred vvith Princes vvith disobedience to kings and temporal Magistrates therfore both * S. Paul and this Apostle do specially vvarne the faithful that they giue no occasioÌ„ by their il demeanure to secular Princes that the Heathen should count them disobedient or seditious vvorkers against the States of the vvorld 13. To euery humans creature So he calleth the temporal Magistrate elected by the people or holding their Souerainty by birth carnal propagation ordained for the vvorldly vvealth peace and prosperitie of the subiects to put a difference betvvixt that humane Superiority and the spiritual Rulers and regiment guiding and gouerning the people to an higher end and instituted by God him self immediatly for Christ did expresly constitute the forme of regiment vsed euer since in the Church He made oue the cheese placing Peter in the Supremacie he called the Apostles and Disciples giuing them their seueral authorities Aftervvared * God guided the lot for choise of S. Marthias in Iudas place and the Holy Ghost expresly and namely seuered and chose Paul and Barnabas vnto their Apostolical function and generally the Apostle faith of al spiritual Rulers The holy Ghost hath placed you to rule the Church of God And although al povver be of God and kings rule by him yet that is no othervvise but by his ordinarie concurrence and prouidence vvhereby he procureth the earthly coÌ„modity or vvealth of men by maintaining of due superiority and subiection one tovvards an other and by giuing povver to the people and Commonvvealth to choose to them selues some kinde or forme of Regiment vnder vvhich they be content to liue for their preseruation in peace and tranquillity But Spiritual superiority is far more excellent as in more excellent â—ort depending not of mans ordinance election or as this Apostle speaketh creation but of the Holy Ghost vvho is alvvaies resident in the Church vvhich is Christs body mystical and therfore an other manner of Commonwealth then the earthly concurring in singular sort to the creation of al necessarie Officers in the said Church euen to the vvorlds end as S. Paul vvriteth to the Ephesians Lest therfore the people being then in so precise sort alvvaies vvarned of the excellencie of their Spiritual gouernours * and of their obedience tovvard them might neglect their dueties to Temporal Magistrates specially being infidels and many times tyrants and persecutors of the faith as Nero and other vvere then therfore S. Peter here vvarneth them to be subiect for their bodies and goods and other temporal things euen to the vvorldly Princes both infidels and Christians vvhom he calleth humane creatures 13. To the king as excelling Some simple heretikes other also not vnlearned at the begining for lacke of better places vvould haue proued by this that the king vvas head of the Church and aboue al Spiritual rulers and to make it â—ound better that vvay they falsely translated it To the king as to the cheefe head In the Bible of the yere 1562. But it is euident that he calleth the king the precellent or more excellent in respect of his Vicegerents vvhich he calleth Dukes or Gouernours that be at his appointment and not in respect of Popes Bishops or Priests as they haue the rule of mens soules vvho could not in that charge be vnder such kings or Emperours as the Apostle speaketh of no more then the kings or Emperours then could be heads of the Church being Heathen men and no members thereof much lesse the cheefe members See a notable place in S. Ignatius ep ad Smyrnenses vvhere he exhorteth them first to honour God next the Bishop then the king This is an inuincible demoÌ„stration that this text maketh not for any spiritual claime of earthly kings because it giueth no more to any Prince then may and ought to be done and graunted to a Heathen Magistrate Neither is there any thing in al the nevv Testament that proueth the Prince to be head or cheefe gouernour of the Church in spiritual or Ecclesiastical causes more then it proueth any heathen Emperour of Rome to haue been for they vvere bound in temporal things to obey the heathen being lavvful kings to be subiect to them euen for conscience to keepe their temporal lavves to pay them tribute to pray for them and to doe al other natural duties and more no scriptures binde vs to doe to Christian kinges 16. Not as hauing There vvere some Libertines in those daies as there be novv that vnder pretence of libertie of the Gospel sought to be free from subiection and lawes of men as now vnder the like vvicked pretence Heretikes refuse to obey their spiritual rulers and to obserue their lawes 18. But also the vvaivvard The Vviclefistes and their folovvers in these daies sometimes to moue the people vnto sedition hold and teach that maisters and magistrates lose their authoritie ouer their seruants and subiects if they be once in deadly sinne and that the people in that case neede not in conscience obey them Vvhich is a pernicious and false doctrine as is plaine by this place vvhere vve be expresly commaunded to obey euen the il-conditioned vvhich must be alvvaies vnderstood if they commaund nothing against God for then this rule is euer to be folovved Vve must obey God