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
in Christmas vnto Septuagesme The Epistle vpoÌ„ Christmas eue Act. 13. 2. â— Faith must not be subiect to sense reason arguing or vnderstaÌ„ding but must coÌ„maund be obeied in humilitie and simplicitie c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ⸬ S. Augustine vseth this place and the like agaiÌ„st Heretikes vvhich vvould dravv the common Catholike faith of al natioÌ„s to some certaine countries or corners of the world Aug. ep 161. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ⸬ He praieth without intermission that omitteth no day certaine times of praier Aug. here 's 57. ⸬ The Romanes vvere conuerted and taught by S. Peter before therefore he vseth that speach to confirme them in their saith Author Com. apud Hierony Theodoret in 16. Rom. Chrys ⸬ He meaneth not Gods owne iustice in him self but that iustice vvhervvith God endueth man vvhen he iustifieth him Aug. de Sp. lit c. 9. Whereby you may gather the vanitie of the Heretical imputatilue iustice Abac. 2 4. c Lo these and the like are the Images or Idolâ— so often condeÌ„ned in the scriptures and not the holy Images of Christ and his Saincts ⸬ Eph. 4 19. he saith They haue deliuered or giuen vp them selues to al vncleannesse By vvhich coÌ„fereÌ„ce of scripturâ— vve learne that them selues are the cause of their ovvne sinne and damnation God of his iustice permitting leauing them to their ovvne vvil and so giuing them vp into passions c. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apostolical salutation or blessing Epiph. hâ—res 6â— The same vsed of Heretikes The Romane faith highly coÌ„mended Luc. 22. It can not false not be corrupted Proâ—â— li. 2. Com. in ep ad Gal. The Romane statioÌ„s a token of greater faith and deuotion The Catholike and Romane faith al one Hovv God is serued in spirit Praies for conuersion of soules The Gospel is not only the written word Mat. 28. The Apostles vvriting and preaching vvhether more necessarie and hovv The Catholike or Christian â—aith with good vvorkes iustifieth vvithout this faith no vvorkes whatsoeuer Not only faith God is not the author of sinne God punisheth sinne by permitting men to fall further and further Sinnes mortal and venial Good men also according to the merits of their good vvil shal haue their reward Aug. â—p 4â— Ps 61 13 c That is the Gentile Deu. 10 17. Act. 10. 34. Mt. 7 21 Ia. 1 22 ⸬ It is a shameful and damnable thing for preachers teachers or other guides of mens life to commit the same things them selues which they reproue in other Es 52 5. Ez. 36 20. c It is a great sinne that by the iâ— life of the faithful our Lordes name should be il spoken of amoÌ„g the misbeleuers many vvithdravven from the true religioÌ„ thereby ⸬ Prepuce is the foreskinne not circumcised therfore signifieth the Gentiles or the state and conditioÌ„ of the Gentiles as circumcisioÌ„ the Ievves and their state Iudging other men Gods long suffering is for our repentance Good vvorkes meritoriouâ— Li. de grat lib. arb c. 8. Aug. de Sp. lit c. 16. to 3. The first iustification vvithout vvorkes the second by vvorkes S. Paul speaketh of the first specially S. Iames of the second Against imputatiue iustice True inherent iustice more for Gods glorie for the commendation of Christs merites True iustice both in Ievv and Gentile is by keeping the Lavv. The letter and the spirit The carnal and spiritual Ievve de sp lit to 3. Io. 3 33. ⸬ â—od only by nature is true al mere men by nature may lie deceiue and be deceiued yet God by his grace spirit may and doth preserue the Apostles and principal Gouerners of his people the Church and Councels in al truth though they vvere and are mere men Ps 115 11. Ps 50 6. Ps 13 1. 52 3. Ps 5 11. Ps 139 4 c Aspidum A kinde of litle serpents Ps 9 7. Es 19 7. Pro. 1 16 Ps 35 2. Gal. 2 16. c To beleeue in him here compriseth not only the act of faith but of hope charitie as the Apostle explicateth him self Galat. 5 6. ⸬ No man atteineth his first iustification by the merites either of his faith or workes but merely by Christes grace and mercie though his faith workes procedâ—g of grace be dispositioÌ„s preparations therevnto ` propitiatour 2. â—et 3. S. Paules speaches mistaken of the vvicked Ro. 5 2â— Ro. 3 4. The sense of the places that sound as if God caused sinne Iob. 1. Hovv it is said none iust * Luc. 1â— No vvorkes auaile vvithout faith and grace The Heretikes phantastical or imputatiue iustice De pâ—â—mer li. 1 â— 9. 10. True inhaerent iustice Vvhat vvorkes are excluded from iustification de grat lib. arb c. 7. Gal. 1. Gen. 5 6. Gal. 3 6. Ia. 2 23. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ps 31 1. ⸬ The vvord Reputed doth not diminish the truth of the iustice as though it vvere reputed for iustice being not iustice in deede but signifieth that as it vvas in it self so God esteemed reputed it as the same greeke vvord must needes be taken v. 4. next going before 1 Cor. 4 â— and els where c Our Sacraments of the nevv Lavv giue ex opere operato that grace and iustice of faith vvhich here is commended vvhereas circuÌ„cisioÌ„ vvas but a signe or marke of the same Gen. 17 10. Gen. 17 4. ` he beleeued Gen. 15 5. Abrahams Workes before faith Iustice before men and iustice before God Not vvorkes but mere grace is cause of our first iustificatioÌ„ c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heretical translation Vvhat is Sinnes couered or not imputed Io. 1 29 2 Cor. 6 11. Apoc. 1 5. The SacrameÌ„ts are not mere markes but causes of iustification By vvhat faith vve are iustified Luc. 1 45. The Epistle on Imber Saturday in vvhitsonweeke And for many Martyrs ⸬ Christian meÌ„ do not vaunt theÌ„ selues of the certaiÌ„tie of their saluatioÌ„ but glorie in the hope thereof onely vvhich hope is here insinuated to be giuen in our iustificatioÌ„ is aftervvard to be coÌ„firmed by probation in tribulation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c The Heretikes falsely translate of no strength to take avvay al free vvil No. Test. 15â—0 ` sinner ⸬ Here vve may see against the Heretikes that they vvhich be borne of Christ and iustified by him be made constituted iust in deede not by imputation only as al that be borne of Adam be vniust and sinners in truth not by imputation Against the Heretikes special faith and securitie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IustificatioÌ„ attributed much to faith as to the fâ—ndation Our hope is strengthened by vvel doing Charitie is a qualitie in vs. Conc. Tri. sess sâ— decr de peâ— orig Al by Adam borne in original sinne Christ only not conceiued in sinne and as it is thought our B. Lady The Lavv did not cause more sinne though that vvere the sequele
Pauls vvritings hold this for a certaintie as the Apostles ovvne defense vvhatsoeuer he seeme to say hereafter sounding in their sense that sinne commeth of God or may therfore be committed that he may vvorke good thereof that the Apostle him self condemneth that sense as slaunderous and blasphemous 10. Not any iust These general speaches that both Ievv and Gentile be in sinne and none at al iust are not so to be taken that none in neither sort vvere euer good the Scriptures expresly saying that Iob Zacharie Elisabeth and such like vvere iust before God it vvere blasphemie to say that these vvordes alleaged out of the 13 Psalme vvere meant in Christes mother in S. Iohn the Baptist in the Apostles c. For this only is the sense that neither by the lavv of nature nor lavv of Moyses could any man be iust or auoid such sinnes as here be reckened but by faith and the grace of God by vvhich there vvere a number in al ages specially among the Ievves that vvere iust and holy vvhom these vvordes touch not being spoken only to the multitude of the vvicked vvhich the Prophet maketh as it vvere a seueral body conspiring against Christ and persecuting the iust and godly of vvhich il companie he saith that none vvas iust nor feared God 20. By the vvorkes of the Lavv. S. Hierom and S. Chrysostom expound this of the ceremonial vvorkes only and in that sense the Apostle specially prosecuteth this proposition in his Epistle to the Galatians but it is true also of al mans moral vvorkes done vvithout faith the grace of God vvhich can not be acceptable or auailable in Gods sight to iustifie any man And so S. Augustine taketh it de Sp. lit c. â— to â— 22. Iustice of God Bevvare of the vvicked and vaine commentarie of the Caluinistes glosing the iustice of God to be that vvhich is resident in Christ apprehended by our faith and so that imputed to vs vvhich vve in deede haue not Vvherein at once they haue forged them selues against Gods manifest vvord a nevv no iustice a phantastical apprehension of that vvhich is not a false faith and vntrue imputation vvhereas the iustice of God here is that vvherevvith he endueth a man at his first conuersion and is novv in a man and therfore mans iustice but yet Gods Iustice also because it is of God Of this iustice in vs vvhereby vve be truely iustified and in deede made iust S. Augustine speaketh thus The grace of Christ doth vvorke our illumination and iustification invvardly also And againe He giueth to the faithful the most secrete grace of his Spirit vvhich seâ—retly he povvreth into infants also And againe They are iustified in Christ that beleeue in him through the secrete communication and inspiration of spiritual grace vvhereby euery one leaneth to our Lord. And againe Hemaketh iust â—eâ—evving by the Spirit and regeneration by grace 28. By faith vvithout vvorkes This is the place vvherevpon the Protestants gather falsly their only faith and vvhich they commonly auouch as though the Apostle said that only faith doth iustifie Vvhere he both in vvordes and meaning excepteth only the vvorkes of the Lavv done vvithout Christ before our conuersion neither excluding the Sacraments of Baptisme or Penance not hope and charitie or other Christian vertues al vvhich be the iustice of faith as the good vvorkes proceding thereof be likevvise the lavv and iustice of faith Al vvhich the Aduersaries vvould exclude by foisting in the terâ—e only Of vvhich kind of men S. Augustine vpon this place faith thus Men not vnderstanding that vvhich the Apostle saith vve counte a man to be iustified by faith vvithout the vvorkes of the Lavv did thinke that he said faith vvould suffise a man though he liued il and had no good vvorkes Which God forbid the vessel of election should thinke vvho in a certaine place after he had said * In Christ IESVS neither circumcision nor prepuce auaileth any vvhit he straight added but faith vvhich vvorketh by loue CHAP. IIII. That Abraham vvas not iustified by his ovvne povver but by Gods grace in vvhom he beleeued 6 vvhich is a vvay for the sinner also to come to iustice 9 And that seing he vvas not as then circumcised not only the circumcised lovv but also the vncircumcised Gentil may by beleeuing the Christian faith come to iustice as Abraham did 〈◊〉 specially considering also that Abraham vvas promised to be Father of the vvhole vvorld and not only of the Ievves to vvhom onely the Lavv vvas giuen and that not to fulfil the promise but for an other cause verse 1 VVHAT shal vve say then that ″ Abraham did finde our father according to the flesh ✠verse 2 For if Abraham vvere iustified ″ by vvorkes he hath glorie but not vvith God ✠verse 3 For vvhat saieth the Scripture Abraham beleeued God and it vvas reputed him to iustice ✠verse 4 But ″ to him that vvorketh the revvard is not imputed according to grace but according to dette ✠verse 5 But ″ to him that vvorketh not yet beleeueth in him that iustifieth the impious his faith is reputed to iustice according to the purpose of the grace of God ✠verse 6 ″ As Dauid also termeth the blessednes of a man to vvhom God reputeth iustice vvithout vvorkes ✠verse 7 Blessed are they vvhose iniquities be forgiuen and vvhose sinnes be ″ couered ✠verse 8 Blessed is the man to vvhom our Lord hath not imputed sinne ✠verse 9 This blessednes then doth it abide in the circumcision or in the prepuce also For vve say that vnto Abraham faith vvas reputed to iustice ✠verse 10 Hovv vvas it reputed in circumcision or in prepuce Not in circumcision but in prepuce ✠verse 11 And * he receiued the signe of circumcision ″ a seale of the iustice of faith that is in prepuce that he might be the father of al that beleeue by the prepuce that vnto them also it may be reputed to iustice ✠verse 12 and might be father of circumcision not to them only that are of the circumcision but to them also that folovv the steppes of the faith that is in the prepuce of our father Abraham ✠verse 13 For not by the Lavv vvas the promisse to Abraham or to his seede that he should be heire of the vvorld but by the iustice of faith ✠verse 14 For if they that are of the Lavv be heires faith is made voide the promisse is abolished ✠verse 15 For the Lavv vvorketh vvrath For vvhere is no lavv neither is there preuarication ✠verse 16 Therfore of faith that according to grace the promisse may be firme to al the seede not to that only vvhich is of the Lavv but to that also vvhich is of the faith of Abraham vvho is the father of vs al as it is vvritten ✠verse 17 For a
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
Catholike Church in the captiuitie of schisme heresie Lastly vve might aske them vvhether it be al one to say Mat. 21 Hosanna Saue vs vve beseeche thees vvhereas Hosanna is vvithal aâ—vvord of exceding congratulation and ioy vvhich they expressed tovvard out Sauiour euen so Alleluia hath an other maner of sense and signification in it then can expressed by Praise ye the Lord. 8. Iustifications of Saincts Here the Heretikes in their translations could not alter the vvord iustifications into ordinances or constitutions as they did falsely in the first of S. Luke vvhereof see the AnnotatioÌ„ there vers 6. but they are forced to say in Latin iustificationes as Beza and in English righteousnes for iustifications they vvil not say in any case for feaâ—e of inconuenience yea and they can not deny but these iustifications be the good vvorkes of saincts but vvhere * they make this glose that they be so called because are the fruites of effect of faith and of the iustice vvhich vve haue by onely faith it is most euidently false against the very text and nature of the word for there is no cause vvhy any thing should be called a mans iustification but for that it maketh him iust so that iustifications be the vertues of faith hope charitie and good deedes iustifying or making a man iust and not effectes of iustification neither faith onely but they al together be the very ornaments and invvard garments beauty and iustice of the soule as here it is euident 10. And I fel. The Protestants abuse this place and the example of the Angels forbidding Iohn to adore him being but his fellow seruant and appointing him to adore God against al honour reuerence and adoration of Angels Saincts or other sanctified creatures teaching that no religious vvorship ought to be done vvto them But in truth it maketh for no such purpose but only vvarneth vs that Diuine honour and the adoration due to God alone may not be giuen to any Angel or other creature S. August de vera relig cap. vltimo And vvhen the Aduersaries replie that so great an Apostle as Iohn vvas could not be ignorant of that point not vvould haue giuen diuine honour vnto an Angel for so he had been an Idolater and therfore that he vvas not reprehended for that but for doing any religious reuerence or other honour vvhatsoeuer to his fellovv-seruant 〈◊〉 ve ansvver that by the like reason S. Iohn being so great an Apostle if this later kinde of reuerence had been vnlavvful and to be reprehended as the Protestants hold it is no lesse then the other could not haue been ignorant thereof not vvould haue done it Therfore they might much better haue learned of S. Augustine q. 61 in Genes hovv this facte of S. Iohn vvas corrected by the Angel and vvherein he errour vvas In effect it is thus That the Angel being so glorious and ful of maiestie presenting Christs person and in his name vsing diuers vvordes proper to God as I am the first and the last and aliue and vvas dead and such like might vvel be taken of S. Iohn by errour of his person to be Christ him self and that the Apostle presuming him to be so in deede adored him vvith Diuine honour vvhich the Angel correcting told him he vvas not God but one of his fellovves and therfore that he should not so adore him but God Thus then vve see Iohn vvas neither so ignorant to thinke that any vndue honour might be giuen to any creature not so il to commit idolatrie by doing vndue vvorship to any Angel in heauen and therfore vvas not culpable at al in his facte but onely erred materially as the Scholemen call it that is by mistaking one for an other thinking that vvhich vvas an Angel to haue been our Lord because he knevve that our Lord him self is also * called an Angel and hath often appeared in the visions of the faithful And the like is to be thought of the Angel appearing in the 22 of the Apocalypse vvhether it vvere the same or an other for that also did so appeare that Iohn not tell vvhether it vvere Christ him self or no til the Angel told him Once this is certaine that Iohn did not formally as they say commit idolatrie not sinne at al herein knovving al dueties of a Christian man no lesse then an Angel of heauen being also in as great honour vvith God yea and in more then many Angels Vvhich perhaps may be the cause and consequently an other explication of this place that the Angel knovving his great greaces and merites before God vvould not accept any vvorship or submission at his handes though Iohn againe of like humilitie did it as also immediatly aftervvard chap. 22. vvhich belike he vvould not haue done if he had been precisely aduised by the Angel but a moment before of errour vnduetifulnes in the facte Hovvsoeuer that be this is euident that this the Angels refusing of adoration taketh not avvay the due reuerence and respect vve ought to haue to Angels or other sanctified persons and creatures and so these vvordes See thou doe it not signifie rather an earnest refusal then any signification of crime to be committed thereby And maruel it is that the Protestants making them selues so sure of the true sense of euery doubtful place by conference of other Scriptures folow not here the conference and comparing of Scriptures that them selues so much of onely require Vve vvil giue them occasion and a methode so to doe thus He that doubteth of this place findeth out three things of question vvhich must be tried by other Scriptures The first vvhether there ought to be or may be any religious reuerence or honour done to any creatures taking the vvord religion or religious vvorship not for that special honour vvhich is properly and onely due to God as S. Augustine sometimes vseth it but for reuerence due to any thing that is holy by sanctification or application to the seruice of God The second thing is vvhether by vse of Scriptures that honour be called adoration in latin or by a vvord equiualent in other languages Hebrue Greeke or English Lastly vvhether vve may by the Scriptures fall downe prostrate before the things or at the feete of the persons that vve so adore â—or of ciuil duetie done to our Superiors by capping kneeling or other courtesie I thinke the Protestants vvil not stand vvith vs though in deede their arguments make as much against the one as the other But for religious vvorship of creatures vvhich vve speake of let them see in the Scriptures both old and nevv first vvhether the Temple the tabernacle the Arke the propitiatorie the Cherubins the altar the bread of proposition the Sabboth and al their holies vvere not reuerenced by al signes of deuotion and religion vvhether the Sacraments of Christ the Priests of
verse 41 And his parents vvent euery yere vnto Hierusalem * at the solemne day of Pasche ✠verse 42 And vvhen he vvas tvvelue yeres old they going vp into Hierusalem according to the custome of the festiual day ✠verse 43 and hauing ended the daies vvhen they returned the childe IESVS remained in Hierusalem and his parents knew it not ✠verse 44 And thinking that he vvas in the companie they came a daies iourney and sought him among their kinsfolke and acquaintance ✠verse 45 And not finding him they returned into Hierusalem seeking him ✠verse 46 And it came to passe after three daies they found him in the temple sitting in the middes of the Doctors hearing them and asking them ✠verse 47 And al vvere astonied that heard him vpon his vvisedom and ansvvers ✠verse 48 And seeing him they vvondered And his mother said to him Sonne vvhy hast thou so done to vs behold thy father and I sorovving did seeke thee ✠verse 49 And he said to them Vvhat is it that you sought me did you not knovv that I must be about those things vvhich are my fathers ✠verse 50 And they vnderstood not the vvord that he spake vnto them ✠verse 51 And he vvent dovvne vvith them and came to Nazareth and vvas ″ subiect to them And his mother kept al these vvordes in her hart ✠verse 52 And IESVS proceeded in vvisedom and age and grace vvith God and men ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 14. Men of good wil. The birth of Christ giueth not peace of minde or saluation but to such as be of good will because he worketh not our good against our willes but our willes concurring Aug. quaest ad Simpli◠li. 1. q. 2. to 4. 19. Kept al. Our Lady though litle he spoken of her concerning such matters in the Scriptures because she was a woman and not admitted to teach or dispute in publike of high mysteries yet she knew al these mysteries and wisely noted and contemplated of al those things that were done and said about Christ from the first houre of his Conception til the end of his life and his Ascension 34. To the ruine Therfore to the ruine of some because they would not beleeue in him and so vvere the cause of their owne ruine as he is els where called A stumbling stone because many would stumble at him and so fall by their owne fault other some he raised by his grace from sinne to iustice and so he was the resurrection of many The Apostle vseth the like speache saying We are to some the odour of life vnto life to others the odour of death vnto death Not that their preaching was to cause death but because they that would not beleeue their preaching wilfully incurred deadly sinne and damnation 38. A vvidow Marke that widowhod is here mentioned to the commendation thereof euen in the old Testament also and the fruite and as it were the profession thereof is here commended to vvitte fasting praying being continually in the Temple euen as S. Paul more at large for the state of the new Testament speaketh of widowhod and virginitie as being professions more apt and commodious for the seruice of God 37. By fastings and praiers seruing Seruing in the Greeke is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is doing diuine worship vnto God as by praier so also by fasting so that fasting is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is an act of religion whereby we doe worship God as we doe by praier and not vsed only to subdew our flesh much lesse as Heretikes would haue it as a matter of poliIcie 61. Subiect to them Al children may learne hereby that great ought to be their subiection and obedience to their Parents when Christ him self being God would be subiect to his parents being but his creatures CHAP. III. Iohn to prepare al to Christ as Esay had prophecied of him baptizeth them to penance 7 insinuating their reprobation and the Gentils vocation 10 teaching also and exhorting ech sort to doe their dutie 15 That him self is not Christ vvil also iudge his baptized 19 Iohns imprisonment 21 Christ being him self also baptized of Iohn hath testimonie from heauen 23 as he vvhose generation reduceth vs againe to God verse 1 AND in the fiftenth yere of the empire of Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate being Gouernour of Ievvrie and Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee and Philip his brother Tetrarch of Ituréa and the countrie Trachonîtis and Lysanias Tetrarch of Abilina ✠verse 2 vnder the high Priests Annas and Caiphas the vvord of our Lord vvas made vpon Iohn the sonne of Zacharie in the desert ✠verse 3 And * he came into al the countrie of Iordan preaching the baptisme of penance vnto remission of sinnes as it is vvritten in the booke of the sayings of Esay the Prophet ✠verse 4 A voice of one crying in the desert prepare the vvay of our Lord make straight his pathes ✠verse 5 Euery valley shal be filled and euery mountaine and hil shal be made lovv and crooked things shal become straight and rough vvaies plaine ✠verse 6 and al flesh shal see the SALVATION of God ✠verse 7 He said therfore to the multitudes that vvent forth to be baptized of him * Ye viper broodes vvho hath shevved you to flee from the vvrath to come ✠verse 8 Yeld therfore fruites vvorthie of penance and doe ye not begin to say Vve haue Abraham to our father For I tel you that God is able of these stones to raise vp children to Abraham ✠verse 9 And novv the axe is put to the roote of the trees Euery tree therfore that yeldeth not good fruite shal be ' cut dovvne and cast into fire ✠verse 10 And the multitudes asked him saying Vvhat shal vve doe then ✠verse 11 And he ansvvering said vnto them He that hath tvvo coates let him giue to him that hath not and he that hath meate let him doe likevvise ✠verse 12 And the Publicans also came to be baptized and said to him Maister vvhat shal vve doe ✠verse 13 But he said to them Doe nothing more then that vvhich is appointed you ✠verse 14 And the souldiars also asked him saying Vvhat shal vve also doe And he said to them Vexe not neither calumniate any man and be content vvith your stipends ✠verse 15 And the people imagining and al men thinking in their harts of Iohn lest perhaps he vvere Christ ✠verse 16 Iohn ansvvered saying vnto al * I in deede baptize you vvith vvater but there shal come ' a mightier then I vvhose latchet of his shoes I am not vvorthie to vnloose he shal baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire ✠verse 17 vvhose fanne is in his hand and he vvil purge his floore and vvil gather the vvheate into his barne but
the coÌ„mission of my father for preaching working miracles and other graces I must not be tied to flesh and bloud which vvas not a repreheÌ„sion of our Lady or significatioÌ„ that he vvould not heare her in this or other things pertaining to Gods glorie or the good of men for the euent shovveth the contrarie but it vvas a lesson to the companie that heard it and namely to his Disciples that respect of kinred should not dravv them to doe any thing against reason or be the principal motion vvhy they doe their dueties but Gods glorie 5. Whatsoeuer he shal say By this you see our Lady by her diuine prudence and entiere familiaritie and acquaintance with al his maner of speaches knew it was no checke to her but a doctrine to others and that she had no repulse though he seemed to say his time was not yet come to worke miracles not doubting but he would begin a litle before his ordinary time for her sake as S. Cyril thinketh he did and therfore she admonisheth the waiters to marke wel to execute whatsoeuer Christ should bid them doe 1â— Cast them out By this chastising corporally the defilers and abusers of the Temple he doth not onely shew his power that being but one poore man he could by force execute his pleasure vpon so many sturdy fellowes but also his soneralne authoritie ouer al offenders and that not vpon their soules onely as by excommunication and spiritual penalties but so far as is requisite for the execution of spiritual iurisdiction vpon their bodies and goods also That the Spiritualtie may learne how far and in what cases for iust zeale of Christs Church they may vse and exercise both spiritually and temporally their forces and faculties against offenders specially against the prophaners of Gods Church according to the Apostles allusion 1 Cor. 3. If any defile the Temple of God him vvil God destroy â—4 IESVS committed not him self S. Augustine applieth this their first faith and beleefe in Christ sodenly raised vpon the admiration of his wonders but yet not fully formed or established in them vnto the faith of Nouices or Catechumen in the Church and Christs not committing his Person to them as yet to the Churches like warinesse and wisedom in not opening not giuing to them our Lord in the B. SacrameÌ„t because al were not to be trusted with that high point without ful trial of their faith CHAP. III. He teacheth Nicodemus that to come to the kingdom of God Baptisme is necessarie as being our Regeneration 10 Vvhich point Nicodemus as then not vnderstaÌ„ding 11 he shevveth that they must beleeue him and vvhat good cause there is for them so to doe â—3 After this he also baptizeth and Iohn likevvise at the same time 25 Wherevpon a question being moued Whether Baptisme is better 25 Iohn ansvvereth it by saying that he is so far inferiour to Christ as a mere man to God most high verse 1 AND there vvas a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus a prince of the Ievves ✠verse 2 This man came to IESVS by night and said to him Rabbi vve knovv that thou art come from God a maister for no man can doe these signes vvhich thou doest vnles God be vvith him ✠verse 3 IESVS ansvvered and said to him Amen Amen I say to thee Vnles a man be borne againe he can not see the kingdom of God ✠verse 4 Nicodemus said to him Hovv can a man be borne vvhen he is old can he enter into his mothers vvombe againe and be borne ✠verse 5 IESVS ansvvered Amen Amen I say to thee Vnles a man be ″ borne againe of vvater and the Spirit he can not enter into the kingdom of God ✠verse 6 That vvhich is borne of the flesh is flesh that vvhich is borne of the spirit is spirit ✠verse 7 Marueil not that I said to thee You must be borne againe ✠verse 8 The spirit breatheth vvhere he vvil and thou hearest his voice but thou knovvest not vvhence he commeth and vvhither he goeth so is euery one that is borne of the Spirit ✠verse 9 Nicodemus ansvvered said to him Hovv can these things be done ✠verse 10 IESVS ansvvered and said to him Thou art a maister in Israel and art thou ignorant of these things ✠verse 11 Amen Amen I say to thee that vve speake that vvhich vve knovv and that vvhich vve haue seen vve testifie and our testimonie you receiue not ✠verse 12 If I haue spoken to you earthly things and you beleeue not hovv if I shal speake to you heauenly things vvil you beleeue ✠verse 13 And no man hath ascended into heauen but he that descended from heauen the Sonne of man vvhich is in heauen ✠verse 14 And as * Moyses exalted the serpent in the desert so must the Sonne of man be exalted ✠verse 15 that euery one vvhich beleeueth in him perish not but may haue life euerlasting ✠verse 16 For so God loued the vvorld that he gaue his only-begotten sonne that euery one that beleeueth in him perish not but may haue life euerlasting ⊢ ✠verse 17 For God sent not his sonne into the vvorld to iudge the vvorld but that the vvorld may be saued by him ✠verse 18 He that beleeueth in him is not iudged but he that doeth not beleeue ″ is already iudged because he hath not beleeued in the name of the only-begotten sonne of God ✠verse 19 And this is the iudgment because the light is come into the vvorld and men haue loued the darkenesse rather then the light for their vvorkes vvere euil ✠verse 20 For euery one that doeth il hateth the light and commeth not to the light that his vvorkes may not be controuled ✠verse 21 But he that doeth veritie commeth to the light that his vvorkes may be made manifest because they vvere done in God ⊢ ✠verse 22 After these things IESVS came and his Disciples into the countrie of Ievvrie and there he abode vvith them and baptized ✠verse 23 And Iohn also vvas baptizing in Aenon beside Salim because there vvas much vvater there and they came and vvere baptized ✠verse 24 For Iohn vvas not yet cast into prison ✠verse 25 And there rose a question of Iohns disciples vvith the Ievves concerning purification ✠verse 26 And they came to Iohn and said to him Rabbi he that vvas vvith thee beyond Iordan to vvhom * thou didst giue testimonie behold he baptizeth and al come to him ✠verse 27 Iohn ansvvered and said A man can not receiue any thing vnlesse it be giuen him from heauen ✠verse 28 Your selues doe beare me vvitnesse * that I said I am not CHRIST but that I am sent before him ✠verse 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegrome but the frende of the bridegrome that standeth and heareth him reioyceth vvith ioy for the voice
that perish is folishnes but to them that are saued that is to vs it is the povver of God ✠verse 19 For it is vvritten I vvil destroy the vvisedom of the vvise and the prudence of the prudent I vvil reiecte ✠verse 20 Vvhere is the vvise vvhere is the Scribe vvhere is the disputer of this vvorld Hath not God made the vvisedom of this vvorld folish ✠verse 21 For because in the vvisedom of God the vvorld did not by vvisedom knovv God it pleased God by the folishnes of the preaching to saue them that beleeue ✠verse 22 For both the Ievves aske signes and the Greekes seeke vvisedom ✠verse 23 but vve preach Christ crucified to the Ievves certes a scandal and to the Gentiles folishnes ✠verse 24 but to the called Ievves Greekes Christ the povver of God and the vvisedom of God ✠verse 25 For that vvhich is the folish of God is vviser then men and that vvhich is the infirme of God is stronger then men ✠verse 26 For see your vocation brethren that not many vvise according to the flesh not many mightie not many noble ✠verse 27 but the folish things of the vvorld hath God chosen that he may confound the vvise and the vveake things of the vvorld hath God chosen that he may confound the strong ✠verse 28 and the base things of the vvorld and the contemptible hath God chosen and those things vvhich are not that he might destroy those things vvhich are ✠verse 29 that no flesh may glorie in his sight ✠verse 30 And of him you are in Christ IESVS â— vvho is made vnto vs vvisedom from God iustice sanctificatioÌ„ and redemption ✠verse 31 that as it is vvritten He that doth glorie may glorie in our Lord. ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 5. In al knovvledge Obserue that the Apostles neuer vvrote their letters but to such as vvere conuerted to Christes faith before for men can not lightly learne the Christian religion by reading Scriptures but by hearing and by the presence of their teachers which may instruct them at large and particularly of euery Article as clerely breefely by letters they could not doe Neither doth novv any man learne his faith first but by hearing of his parents and Maisters for if vve should vvhen vve come to yeres of discretion â—e set to picke our faith out of the Scriptures there vvould be a madde vvorke and many faithes among vs. 30. Who is made He meaneth not as our Aduersaries captiously take it that vve haue no iustice sapience nor sanctity of our ovvne other then Christes imputed to vs but the sense is that he is made the author giuer and meritorious cause of al these vertues in vs for so the Apostle interpreteth him self plainely in the 6 Chapter folovving vvhen he vvriteth thus You be vvashed you be iustified you be sanctified in the name of our Lord IESVS CHRIST and in the Spirit of our God CHAP. II. That his ovvne preaching among them vvas in humble maner in the sight of man 3 Hovvbeit it is most profound vvisedom as they should and vvould perceiue if they vvere not carnal vvhich is taught in the Church of Christ verse 1 AND I brethren vvhen I came to you I came not in loftinesse of speache or of vvisedom preaching to you the testimonie of Christ ✠verse 2 For I iudged not my self to knovv any thing among you but IESVS Christ and him crucified ✠verse 3 And * I vvas vvith you in infirmitie and feare and much trembling ✠verse 4 and my speache and my preaching vvas not in the persuasible vvordes of humane vvisedom but in shevving of spirit and povver ✠verse 5 that your faith might not be in the vvisedom of men but in the povver of God But vve speake vvisedom among the perfect ✠verse 6 but the vvisedom not of this vvorld neither of the princes of this vvorld that come to naught ✠verse 7 but vve speake the vvisedom of God in a mysterie which is hid vvhich God did predestinate before the worlds vnto our glorie ✠verse 8 which none of the princes of this vvoâ—ld did knovv for if they had knovven they vvould neuer haue crucified the Lord of glorie ✠verse 9 But as it is vvritten That vvhich eie hath not seen nor eare hath heard neither hath it ascended into the hart of maÌ„ vvhat things God hath prepared for them that loue him ✠verse 10 but to vs God hath reuealed by his Spirit For the Spirit searcheth al things yea the profoundities of God ✠verse 11 For vvhat man knovveth the things of a man but â— the spiâ—it of a man that is in him so the things also that are of God no man knovveth but the spirit of God ✠verse 12 And vve haue receiued not the spirit of this vvorld but the spirit that is of God â— that vve may knovv the things that of God are giuen to vs. ✠verse 13 vvhich also vve speake not in learned vvordes of humane vvisedom but in the doctrine of the Spirit comparing spiritual things to the spiritual ✠verse 14 But â— the sensual man perceiueth not those things that are of the spirit of God for it is folishnes to him and he can not vnderstand because he is spiritually examined ✠verse 15 But the spiritual man iudgeth al things and him self is iudged of no man ✠verse 16 For * vvho hath knovven the sense of our Lord that may instructe him But vve haue the sense of Christ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 11. But the spirit of man One man can not knovv an others cogitations naturally but God giueth to Prophets and other euen in this vvorld oftentimes by extraordinary grace to knovv mens secretes As he did to S. Peter to knovv the fraude of Ananias and Sapphira and to Eliseus his seruants bribery in his absence and vvhat vvas done in the king of Syria his chamber and as he giueth to al Angels and Saincts so far as is conuenient to our necessities and their heauenly glorie to vnderstand not onely our vocal praiers but our invvard repentance and desires 12. That vve may knovv The Protestants that chalenge a particular spirit reuealing to eche one his ovvne predestination iustification and saluation vvould dravv this text to that purpose Vvhich importeth nothing els as is plaine by the Apostles discourse but that the holy Ghost hath giuen to the Apostles by them to other Christian men to knovv Gods ineffable gifts bestovved vpon the beleeuers in this time of grace that is Christes Incarnation Passion presence in the Sacrament the incomprehensible ioyes of heauen vvhich Pagans Ievves and Heretikes deride 14. The sensual man The sensual man is he specially that measureth these heauenly mysteries by natural reason humane prudence external sense and vvorldly affection as the Ievv Pagane and Heretike doe and sometime both here and els vvhere the
″ faith in the same Spirit to an other the grace of doing cures in one Spirit ✠verse 10 to an other the vvorking of miracles to an other prophecie to an other discerning of spirites to an other kindes of tonges to an other interpretation of languages ✠verse 11 And al these things vvorketh one and the same Spirit diuiding to euery one according as he vvil ⊢ ✠verse 12 For * as the body is one and hath many members and al the members of the body vvhereas they be many yet are one body so also Christ ✠verse 13 For in one Spirit vvere vve al baptized into one ' vvhether Ievves or Gentiles or bondmen or free and in one Spirit vve vvere al made to drinke ✠verse 14 For the body also is not one member but many ✠verse 15 ″ If the foote should say because I am not the hand I am not of the body is it therfore not of the body ✠verse 16 And if the eare should say because I am not the the eie I am not of the body is he therfore not of the body ✠verse 17 If the vvhole body vvere the eie vvhere is the hearing If the vvhole vvere the hearing vvhere is the smelling ✠verse 18 But novv God hath set the members euery one of them in the body as he vvould ✠verse 19 And if al vvere one member vvhere vvere the body ✠verse 20 But novv there are many members in deede yet one body ✠verse 21 And the eie can not say to the hand I neede not thy helpe or againe the head to the feete You are not necessarie for me ✠verse 22 But much more those that seeme to be the more vveake members of the body are more necessarie ✠verse 23 and such as vve thinke to be the baser members of the body vpon them vve put more aboundant honour and those that are our vnhonest partes haue more aboundant honestie ✠verse 24 And our honest partes neede nothing but God hath tempered the body giuing to it that vvanted the more aboundant honour ✠verse 25 that there might be no ″ schisme in the body but the members together might be careful one for an other ✠verse 26 And if one member suffer any thing al the members suffer vvith it or if one member do glorie al the members reioyce vvith it ✠verse 27 And you are the body of Christ and members of member ✠verse 28 And * some verily God hath set in the Church first Apostles secondly prophets thirdly doctors next miracles thē the graces of doing cures helpes gouernements kindes of tonges ✠verse 29 Are al Apostles are al prophets are al doctors are al miracles ✠verse 30 haue al the grace of doing cures do al speake vvith tonges do al interpret ✠verse 31 But pursue the better giftes And yet I shevv you a more excellent vvay ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XII 9. Faith in the same This faith is not an other in substance then the common faith in Christ but is of an other accidental qualitie onely that is of more seruor deuotiō zeale and confident trust specially for doing of miracles 13. If the foote The Church is of exceding great distinctiō of members giftes orders and offices yet of great concord concurrence mutual communion and participation in al actions of her members among them selues and vvith Christ the head of the Body 25. Schisme in the body As Charitie and vnitie of spirit is the proper bond and vveale of the common Body so is diuision or Schisme vvhich is the interruption of peace and mutual Societie-betvvene the partes of the same the special plague of the Church and as odious to God as rebellion to the temporal Soueraine CHAP. XIII That aboue al other Giftes they should seeke after Charitie as that vvithout vvhich nothing profiteth 4 and vvhich doth al as 〈◊〉 to be done and remaineth also in heauen verse 1 IF I speake vvith the tonges of men and of Angels and haue ″ not charitie I am become as sounding brasse or a tinkling cymbal ✠verse 2 And if I should haue prophecie and knevv al mysteries and al knovvledge and if I should haue al faith so that I could remoue mountaines and haue not charitie I am nothing ✠verse 3 And if I should distribute al my goods to be meate for the poore and if I should ″ deliuer my body so that I burne and haue not charitie it doth profit me nothing ✠verse 4 Charitie is patient is benigne Charitie enuieth not dealeth not peruersly is not puffed vp ✠verse 5 is not ambitious seeketh not her ovvne is not prouoked to anger thinketh not euil ✠verse 6 reioyceth not vpon iniquitie but reioyceth vvith the truth ✠verse 7 suffereth al things beleeueth al things hopeth al things beareth al things ✠verse 8 Charitie neuer falleth avvay vvhether prophecies shal be made voide or tonges shal cease or knovvledge shal be destroied ✠verse 9 For in part vve knovv and in part vve prophecie ✠verse 10 But vvhen that shal come that is perfect that shal be made voide that is in part ✠verse 11 Vvhen I vvas a litle one I spake as a litle one I vnderstood as a litle one I thought as a litle one But vvhen I vvas made a man I did avvay things that belōged to a litle one ✠verse 12 Vve see novv by a glasse in a darke sort but then face to face Novv I knovv in part but then I shal knovv as also I am knovven ✠verse 13 And novv there remaine faith hope charitie ″ these three but the greater of these is charitie ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIII 1. Not Charitie Vvithout Charitie both tovvard euery particular person and specially tovvard the common body of the Church none of al the giftes and graces of God he profitable 1. Deliuer my body Beleeue saith S. Augustine assuredly and hold for certaine that no Heretike and Schismatike that vniteth not him self to the Catholike Church againe hovv great almes so euer he giue yea or shede his bloud for Christes name can possibly be saued For many Heretikes by the cloke of Christes cause deceiuing the simple suffer much But vvhere true faith is not there is no iustice because the iust liueth by faith So it is also of Schismatikes because vvhere charitie is not iustice can there be none vvhich if they had they vvould neuer plucke in peetes the body of Christ vvhich is the Church Aug. seu Pulg de sid ad Pet. c. 39. So saith S. Augustine in diuers places not onely of Heretikes that died directly for defense of their heresie as the Anabaptistes and Caluinists novv a daies do for that is more damnable but of some Heretikes and Schismatikes that may die among the Heathen or Turkes for defense of truth or some Article of Christes religion Aug. de verb. D◠ser 50 c. 2. in
But vve haue this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellencie may be of the povver of God and not of vs. ✠verse 8 In al things vve suffer tribulation but are not in distresse vve vvant but are not destitute ✠verse 9 vve suffer persecution but are not forsaken vve are cast dovvne but vve perish not ✠verse 10 alvvaies bearing about in our body the mortification of IESVS that the life also of IESVS may be manifested in our bodies ✠verse 11 For vve that liue are alvvaies deliuered vnto death for IESVS that the life also of IESVS may be manifested in our mortal flesh ✠verse 12 Death then vvorketh in vs but life in you ✠verse 13 And hauing the same spirit of faith as it is vvritten I beleeued for the vvhich cause I haue spoken vve also beleeue for the vvhich cause vve speake also ✠verse 14 knovving that he vvhich raised vp IESVS vvil raise vp vs also vvith IESVS and set vs vvith you ⊢ ✠verse 15 For al things are for you that the grace abounding by many in giuing of thankes may abound vnto the glorie of God ✠verse 16 For vvhich cause vve faile not but although that our man vvhich is vvithout corrupte yet that vvhich is vvithin is renevved from day to day ✠verse 17 For that our tribulation vvhich presently is momentanie light ″ vvorketh aboue measure excedingly an eternal vveight of glorie in vs ✠verse 18 we not coÌ„sidering the things that are seen but that are not seen For the things that be seen are temporal but those that be not seen are eternal ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. â— Adulterating He giueth often vvarning of false teachers whose special and proper studie is to falsifie and adulterate by deceitful constructions interpretations and applications the word of God hauing no other end but to make their aduantage of the Scriptures and to gaine glorie and estimation among the sinful and simple by new deuised expositions Vvherein the Protestants do excel the auncient Heretikes none euer more impuâ—ely handeling the vvord of God then they do Origen calleth such Scripturarum fures adulteros theeues and adulterers of the Scriptures S. Cyprian de vnit Ec. nu 7. calleth them corrupters of the Gospel false interpreters artificers and craftesmasters in corrupting the truth On the other side for special reuerence and sinceritie of dealing in those matters the fathers and al Catholike preachers or Expositors vvere of old called according to S. Paules vvordes to Timothee Rectè tractantes verbum Dei right handlers of the vvord of God 17. Worketh The temporal and short tribulations vvhich vve patiently and willingly suffer for Christ do winne vs euerlasting ioy and glorie And it is here to be noted against the Heretikes that tribulations do vvorke or cause the said saluation which they deny to be giuen for such thinges but for or by faith onely S. Augustine maketh such tribulations for Christ so much the meritorious cause of euerlasting life and rest that he saith it is salable and bought thereby And it is written Sap. 10 God rendreth or repaieth to iust men the hire of their labours CHAP. V. That after death of the body the soule may to heauen therfore although naturally vve abhorre death by grace he desireth it rather 9 in consideration of Christes iust iudgement liuing as in the sight of God yea and of their consciences 12 Which he speaketh not to praise him self but because of his Aduersaries vvho did glorie in carnal respectes but he and the other Apostles regard nothing but their reconciliation vnto God by Christ and to reconcile others also as being his legates for that purpose verse 1 FOR vve knovv that if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolued that vve haue a building of God a house not made vvith hand eternal in heauen ✠verse 2 For in this also do vve grone desirous to be ouerclothed with our habitation that is from heauen ✠verse 3 yet so if vve be found clothed not naked ✠verse 4 For vve also that are in this tabernacle grone being burdened because vve would not be spoiled but ouerclothed that that vvhich is mortal might be svvallovved vp of life ✠verse 5 And he that maketh vs to this same is God vvho hath giuen vs the pledge of the Spirit ✠verse 6 Being bold therfore alvvaies and knovving that vvhile vve are in the body vve are pilgrimes from God ✠verse 7 for vve vvalke by faith and not by sight ✠verse 8 but vve are bold and haue a good vvil to be pilgrimes rather from the body to be present vvith our Lord. ✠verse 9 And therfore vve endeuour vvhether absent or present to please him ✠verse 10 For * vve must al be manifested before the iudgemeÌ„t seate of Christ that euery one may receiue ″ the proper things of the body according as he hath done ″ either good or euil ✠verse 11 Knovving therfore the feare of our Lord vve vse persuasion to men but to God vve are manifest ✠And I hope also that in your consciences vve are manifest ✠verse 12 Vve commend not ourselues againe to you but giue you occasion to glorie for vs that you may haue against them that glorie in face and not in hart ✠verse 13 for vvhether vve excede in minde to God or vvhether vve be sober to you ✠verse 14 For the charitie of Christ vrgeth vs iudging this that if one died for al then al vvere dead ✠verse 15 and Christ died for al that they also vvhich liue may not novv liue to them selues but to him that died for them and rose againe ✠verse 16 Therfore vve from hence forth knovve no man according to the flesh And if vve haue knovven Christ according to the flesh but novv vve know him no more ✠verse 17 If then any be in Christ a nevv creature the old are passed behold * al things are made nevv ✠verse 18 but al of God vvho hath reconciled vs to him self by Christ and hath giuen ″ vs the ministerie of reconciliation ✠verse 19 For God in deede vvas in Christ reconciling the vvorld to him self not imputing to them their sinnes and hath put in vs the vvord of reconciliation ✠verse 20 For Christ therfore vve are legates God as it vvere exhorting by vs. For Christ vve beseeche you be reconciled to God ✠verse 21 Him that knevv no sinne for vs he made sinne that vve might be made ″ the iustice of God in him ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V. 10. The proper things of his body S. Augustine Enchirid. â— no. obiecteth this speach of the Apostle as in the person of such as deny the praiers almes and sacrifices of the liuing to be auailable for the dead and he ansvvereth as folovveth This practise saith he of Gods Church in the commendation of the dead in nothing repugnant to
prone to their old lavv and voluntarily after the knovvledge and profession of the Christian faith by Baptisme commit this sinne of incredulitie and apostasie they can neuer haue that aboundant remission applied vnto them by Baptisme vvhich can neuer be ministred to them againe And that general full pardon he calleth here oblation and aftervvard in the 26 verse hostiam pro peccato an host for sinne 26. If vve sinne vvillingly As the Caluinists abuse other like places against the holy sacrifice of the Masse so they abuse this as the Nouatians did before them to proue that an Heretike Apostata or any that vvilfully forsaketh the truth can neuer be forgiuen Vvhich as is before declared in the 6 chapter is most vvicked blasphemie the meaning hereof being as is there said onely to terrifie the Hebrues that falling from Christ they can nor so easily haue the host of Christes death applied vnto them because they can not be baptized any more but must passe by sacramental penance and satisfaction and other hard remedies vvhich Christ hath prescribed after Baptisme in the Churches discipline Therfore S. Cyril saith li. 5 in Io. cap. 17. Penanâ—e is not excluded by these vvordes of Paul but the renevving by the lauer of regeneration He doth not here take avvay the second or third remission of sinnes for he is not such an enemy to our saluation but the host vvhich is Christ he denieth that it is to be offered againe vpon the Crosse So saith this holy Doctor And by this place the like you see hovv perilous a thing it is for Heretikes ignorant persons to read the Scriptures Vvhich by folovving their ovvne fantasie * they peruert to their damnation 29. The bloud of the Testament Vvhosoeuer maketh no more account of the bloud of Christes sacrifice either as shed vpon the Crosse or as in the holy Chalice of the altar for our Sauiour calleth that also * the bloud of the nevv Testament then he doth of the bloud of calues and goates or of other common drinkes is vvorthy death and God vvil in the next life if it be not punished here reuenge it vvith greuous punishment 31. It is horrible Let al Christian people do satisfaction and penance for their sinnes in this life for the iudgemeÌ„ts of God in the next life done by God him self of vvhat sort soeuer vvhether temporall as in Purgatorie or eternal as in Hell be exceding greuous 34. You had compassion To be merciful to the afflicted for religion to be partakers of their miseries is a very meritorious vvorke and giueth great confidence before God in the day of repaiment or remuneration for the same 34. With ioy If all Christian men vvould consider this they vvould not thinke it so great a matter to lose their land or goods for defense of the Catholike faith 38. Liueth of faith Faithful men afflicted in this life haue their comfort in their assured faith and hope of Christes comming to deliuer them once from all these miseries so by that faith and comfort they liue vvhereas othervvise this miserable life vvere a death CHAP. XI He exhorteth them by the definition of faith to sticke vnto God though they see not yet his revvard shevving that all the Saincts aforetime did the like being all constant in faith though not one of them receiued the promis that is the inheritance in heauen but they and vve novv after the comming of Christ receiue it together verse 1 AND ″ faith is the substance of things to be hoped for the argument of things ″ not appearing ✠verse 2 For in this the old men obtained testimonie ✠verse 3 * By faith vve vnderstand that the vvorldes vvere framed by the vvord of God that of inuisible things visible things might be made ✠verse 4 * By faith Abel offered a greater hoste to God theÌ„ Cain * by vvhich he obtained testimonie that he vvas iâ—st God giuing testimonie to his giftes by it he being dead yet speaketh ✠verse 5 * By faith Henoch vvas translated that he should not see death and he vvas not found because God translated him for before his translation he had testimonie that he had pleased God ✠verse 6 But vvithout faith it is impossible to please God For ″ he that commeth to God must beleeue that he is and is a revvarder to them that seeke him ✠verse 7 * By faith Noë hauing receiued an ansvver concerning those things vvhich as yet vvere not seen seating framed the arke for the sauing of his house by the vvhich he condemned the vvorld and vvas instituted heire of the iustice vvhich is by faith ✠verse 8 * By faith he that is called Abraham obeied to goe forth into the place vvhich he vvas to receiue for inheritaÌ„ce and he vvent forth not knovving vvhither he vvent ✠verse 9 By faith he abode in the land of promise as in a straÌ„ge laÌ„d dvvelling in cottages vvith Isaac Iacob the coheires of the same promise ✠verse 10 For he expected the citie that hath foundations vvhose artificer and maker is God ✠verse 11 * By faith Sara also her self being barren receiued vertue in conceauing of seede yea past the time of age because she beleeued that he vvas faithful which had promised ✠verse 12 For the vvhich cause euen of one and him quite dead there rose as the starres of heauen in multitude as the sand that is by the sea shore innumerable ✠verse 13 According to faith died al these not hauing receiued the promises but beholding them a farre of and saluting them and coÌ„fessing that they are pilgrimes strangers vpon the earth ✠verse 14 for they that say these things doe signifie that they seeke a countrie ✠verse 15 And in deede if they had been mindeful of the same from vvhence they came forth they had time verely to returne ✠verse 16 but novv they desire a better that is to say a heauenly Therfore God is not confounded to be called their God for he hath prepared them a citie ✠verse 17 * By faith Abraham offered Isaac vvhen he vvas tempted and his onlie-begotten did he offer vvho had receiued the promises ✠verse 18 to vvhom it vvas said That in Isaac shal seede be called to thee ✠verse 19 accounting that God is able to raise vp euen from the dead wherevpoÌ„ he receiued him also for a parable ✠verse 20 * By faith also of things to come Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau ✠verse 21 * BY faith Iacob dying blessed euery one of the sonnes of Ioseph * and ″ adored the toppe of his roddo ✠verse 22 * By faith Ioseph dying made mention of the going forth of the children of Israël and gaue commaundement concerning his bones ✠verse 23 * By faith Moyses being borne vvas
booke to be Canonical Scripture But Caluin and his companions disagreing vvith their Maisters confesse it to be holy Scripture but their shiftes and fond gloses for ansvver of so plaine places be as impudent as the denying of the Epistle vvas in the other vvho vvould neuer haue denied the booke thereby to shevv them selues Heretikes if they had thought those vulgar euasions that the Zuinglians and Caluinists do vse vvhereof they vvere not ignorant could haue serued In both sortes the Christian Reader may see that al the Heretikes vaunting of expresse Scriptures the vvord of God is no more but to delude the vvorld vvhereas in deede be the Scriptures neuer so plaine against them they must either be vvrested to sound as they say or els they must be no Scriptures at all And to see Luther Caluin Beza their fellovves sitte as it vvere in iudgement of the Scriptures to allovv or disallovv at their pleasures it is the most notorious example of Heretical pride miserie that can be See their prefaces and censures vpon this Canonical Epistle the Apocalypse the Machabees and other 21. Abraham vvas he not iustified by vvorkes It is much to be noted that S. Augustine in his booke de fide operibus c. 14. vvriteth that the heresie of onely faith iustifying or sauing vvas an old Heresie euen in the Apostles time gathered by the false interpretation of some of S. Paules profound disputation in the Epistle to the Romans vvherein he commended so highly the faith in Christ that they thought good vvorkes vvere not auilable adding further that the other three Apostles Iames Iohn and Iude did of purpose vvrite so much of good vvorkes to correct the said errour of onely faith gathered by the misconstruction of S. Paules vvordes Yea vvhen S. Peter Ep. 2 c. 3. vvarneth the faithful that many things be hard in S. Paules vvritings and of light vnlearned men mistaken to their perdition the said S. Augustine affirmeth that he meant of his disputation concerning faith vvhich so many Heretikes did mistake to condemne good vvorkes And in the preface of his commentarie vpon the 31 Psalme he vvarneth al men that this deduction vpon S. Paules speache Abraham vvas iustified by faith therfore vvorkes be not necessarie to saluation is the right vvay to the gulfe of Hel and damnation And lastly vvhich is in it self very plaine that vve may see this Apostle did purposely thus commend vnto vs the necessitie of good vvorkes and the inanity aud insufficiencie of onely faith to correct the errour of such as misconstrued S. Paules vvordes for the same the said holy Doctor noteth that of purpose he tooke the very same example of Abraham vvhom S. Paul said to be iustified by faith and declareth that he vvas iustified by good vvorkes specifying the good vvorke for vvhich he vvas iustified and blessed of God to vvitte his obedience and immolation of his onely sonne But hovv S. Paul saith that Abraham vvas iustified by faith see the Annotations vpon that place Ro. 4. v. 1. 22. Faith did vvorke vvith Some Heretikes hold that good vvorkes are pernicious to saluation and iustification other that though they be not hurtful but required yet they be no causes or vvorkers of saluation much lesse meritorious but are as effectes and fruites issuing necessarily out of faith Both vvhich fictions falshods and flightes from the plaine truth of Gods vvord are refuted by these vvordes vvhen the Apostle saith That faith vvorketh together vvith good vvorkes making faith to be a coadiutor or cooperator vvith vvorkes and so both ioyntly concurring as causes and vvorkers of iustification yea aftervvard he maketh vvorkes the more principal cause vvhen he resembleth faith to the body and vvorkes to the spirit or life of man 23. The frend of God By this also an other false and friuolous euasion of the Heretikes is ouertaken vvhen they feine that the Apostle here vvhen he saith vvorkes do iustifie meaneth that they shew vs iust before men and auaile not to our iustice before God For the Apostle euidently declareth that Abraham by his vvorkes vvas made or truely called the freend of God and therfore vvas not as the Heretikes say by his vvorkes approued iust before man onely 24. Not by faith onely This proposition or speache is directly opposite or contradictorie to that vvhich the Heretikes hold For the Apostle saith Man is iustified by good workes and not by faith only but the Heretikes say Man is not iustified by good vvorkes but by faith only Neither can they pretend that there is the like contradiction or contrarietie betwixt S. Iames speache and S. Paules for though S. Paul say man is iustified by faith yet he neuer saith by faith onely nor euer meaneth by that faith vvhich is alone but alvvaies by that faith vvhich vvorketh by charitie as he expoundeth him self Though concerning vvorkes also there is a difference betwixt the first iustification vvhereof S. Paul specially speaketh and the second iustification vvhereof S. Iames doth more specially treate Of vvhich thing els vvhere there is ynough said The fathers in deede vse sometimes this exclusiue sola onely but in far other sense then the Protestants For some of them thereby exclude only the vvorkes of Moyses law against the Iewes some the vvorkes of nature and moral vertues vvithout the grace or knowledge of Christ against the Gentiles some the necessitie of external good vvorkes vvhere the parties lacke time and meanes to doe them as in the case of the penitent theefe some the false opinions sectes and religions contrarie to the Catholike faith against Heretikes and miscreants some exclude reason sense and arguing in matters of faith and mysterie against such as vvil beleeue nothing but that they see or vnderstand some the merite of vvorkes done in sinne before the first iustification some the arrogant Pharisaical vaunting of mans ovvne proper vvorkes and iustice against such as referre not their actions and good deedes to Gods grace To these purposes the holy Doctors say sometimes that only faith saueth and serueth but neuer as the Protestants vvould haue it to exclude from iustification and saluation the cooperation of mans free vvil dispositions and preparations of our hartes by praiers penance and sacraments the vertues of hope and charitie the purpose of vvel-vvorking and of the obseruation of Gods commaundements much lesse the vvorkes and merites of the children of God proceding of grace and charitie after they be iustified and are now in his fauour vvhich are not only dispositions and preparations to iustice but the meritorious cause of greater iustice and of saluation 25. Rahab This Apostle alleageth the good vvorkes of Rahab by vvhich she vvas iustified and S. Paul 11 Hebr. saith she vvas iustified by faith Vvhich are not contrarie one to the other for both is true that she vvas saued by faith as one faith and that she vvas saued by her vvorkes as the