✠verse 19 And this he said signifying by vvhat death he should glorifie God ⊢ And vvhen he had said this he saith to him Folovv me ✠verse 20 Peter turning savv that disciple vvhom IESVS loued folovving * vvho also leaned at the supper vpon his breast and said Lord vvho is he that shal betray thee ✠verse 21 Him therfore vvhen Peter had seen he saith to IESVS Lord and this man vvhat ✠verse 22 IESVS saith to him So I vvil haue him to remaine til I come vvhat to thee folovv thou me ✠verse 23 This saying therfore vvent abrode among the brethren that that disciple dieth not And IESVS did not say to him he dieth not but So I vvil haue him to remaine til I come vvhat to thee ✠verse 24 This is that disciple vvhich giueth testimonie of these things and hath vvritten these things and vve knovv that his testimonie is true ⊢ ✠verse 25 But there are * many other things also vvhich IESVS did vvhich if they vvere vvritten in particular neither the vvorld it self I thinke vvere able to conteine those bookes that should be vvritten ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXI 17. Feede my sheepe As it was promised him Mat. 16 that the Church should be builded vpoÌ„ him and that the keies of heauen should be giuen to him so here it is performed he is actually made the general Pastor and Gouerner of al Christs sheepe For though the other ten as Matthias and Paul also afterward were Apostles Bishops Priests aud had authoritie to binde and loose to remitte and reteâ—ne to preach baptize and such like as wel as he Yet in these things and al other gouernement Christ would haue him to be their head and they to depend of him as head of their College and consequently of the whole flocke of Christ no Apostle nor no Prince in earth if he acknowledge him self to be a sheepe of Christ exempted from his charge And that Christ maketh a difference betwixt Peter and the rest and giueth him some greater preeminence and regiment then the rest it is plaine by that he is asked whether he loue our Lord more then the other Apostles do where for equal charge no difference of loue had bene required To Peter saith S. Cyprian our Lord after his Resurrection said Feede my sheepe and buildâ—d his Church vpon him alone and to him he giueth the charge of feeding his sheepe For although after his Resurrection he gaue his povver alike to al saying As my Father sent me so I send you take the Holy Ghost if you remitte to any their sinnes they shal be remitted c. Yet to manifest vnitie he coÌ„stituted one Chaire so disposed by his authoritie that vnitie should haue origine of one The rest of the Apostles vvere that Peter vvas in equal fellovvship of honour and povver but the beginning coÌ„meth of vnitie the Primacie is giuen to Peter that the Church of Christ may be shewed to be one one Chaire S. Chrysostome also saith thus Why did our Lord shede his bloud truely to redeeme those sheepe the cure of vvhich he committed both to Peter and also to his Successors And a litle after Christ vvould haue Peter indued vvith such authoritie and to be far aboue al his other Apostles for he saith Peter dost thou loue me more then al these do Wherevpon our Maister might haue inferred If thou loue me Peter vse much fasting sleepe on the hard floure vvatch much be patrone to the oppressed father to the orphans and husband to the vvidovves but omitting al these things he saith Feed my sheepe For al the foresaid vertues certes may be done easily of many subiects not onely men but vvomen but vvhen it commeth to the gouernement of the Church and committing the charge of so many soules al vvoman kind must needes vvholy giue place to the burden and greatnes thereof and a great number of men also So writeth he And because Protestants would make the vnlearned thinke that S. Gregorie deemeÌ„d the Popes Supremacie to be wholy vnlawful and Antichristian for that he condemneth Iohn of Constantinople for vsurping the name of vniuersal Bishop resembling his insolence therein to the pride of Antichrist note wel the wordes of this holy father in the very same place and Epistle against the B. of Constantinople by which you shal easily see that to deny him to be vniuersal Bishop is not to deny Peter or the Pope to be head of the Church or supreme Gouerner of the same as our Aduersaries fraudulently pretend It is plaine to al men saith he that euer read the Gospel that by our Lordes mouth the charge of the vvhole Church vvas committed to S. Peter Prince of the Apostles for to him it vvas said Feed my sheepe for him vvas the prayer made that his faith should not faile to him vvere the keies of heauen giuen and authoritie to binde and loose to him the cure of the Church and principality vvas deliuered and yet he vvas not called the vniuersal Apostle This title in deed vvas offered for the honour of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles to the Pope of Rome by the holy Councel of Chalcedon but none of that See did euer vse it or consent to take it Thus much S. Gregorie who though he both practised iurisdictioÌ„ through out al Christendom as other of that See haue euer done and also acknowledged the Principality and Soueraintie to be in Peter and his Successors yet would he not for iust causes vse that title subiect to vanitie misconstructioÌ„ But both he al the Popes since haue rather called them selues Seruos seruorum Dei the Seruants of Gods seruants Though the word vniuersal Bishop in that sense wherein the holy Councel of Chalcedon offered it to the See of Rome was true and Lawful For that Councel would not haue giuen any Antichristian or vniust title to any man Onely in the B. of Constantinople and other which in no sense had any right to it and who vsurped it in a very false and tyrannical meaning it was insolent vniust and Antichristian See also the Epistles of S. Leo the Great concerning his practise of vniuersal iurisdiction though he refused the title of vniuersal Bishop And S. Bernard that you may better perceiue that the general charge of Christs sheepe was not onely giuen to Peters person but also to his successors the Popes of Rome as S. Chrysostom also before alleaged doth testifie writeth thus to Eugenius Thou art he to whom the keies of heauen are deliuered to whom the sheepe are coÌ„mitted there be other Porters of heaueÌ„ other Pastors of flockes but thou hast inherited in more glorious differeÌ„t sort For they haue euery one their particular flocke but to thee al vniuersally as one flocke to one maÌ„ are credited being not onely the Pastor of the sheepe but the one Pastor of al the
a crovvne correspondent in heauen S. Augustine vpon these vvordes of the Apostle expresseth both breifely thus Hovv should be repay as a iust iudge vnles he had first giuen as a merciful father 〈◊〉 de grat lib. arbit c. 6. And vvhen you heare or read any thing in the Scriptures that may seeme to derogate from mans vvorkes in this case it is alvvaies meant of vvorkes considered in their ovvne nature and valure not implying the grace of Christ by vvhich grace it coÌ„meth not of the vvorke in it self that vve haue a right to heauen deserue it vvorthily vvhich the Apostle in the 6 to the Hebrues more then insinuateth saying these vvordes God is not vniust to forget your vvorke loue vvhich you haue shovved in his name c. As though he vvould say that he vvere vniust if he did forget to recompense their vvorkes * The parable also of the men sent into the vineyard proueth that heauen is our ovvne right bargained for and vvrought for and accordingly paid vnto vs as our hire at the day of iudgement for that is 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vvhereby the Scripture so often calleth it It is the goale the marke the price the hire of al striuing running labouring due both by promis and by couenant and right dette See a notable place in S. Augustine in Psal 83 in fine and 100 in initie ho. 14 c. 2. li. 50 hom S. Cyprian also and namely the later end of his booke de opere â—â—â—mosyna and thou shalt easily contemne the contrarie falshod vvhich doth not so much derogate from mans vvorkes as from Gods grace vvhich is the cause and ground of al vvorthines in mans merites S. Augustines vvordes be these Marke that he to vvhom our Lord gaue grace hath our Lord also his detter He found him a giuer in the time of mercie he hath him his detter in the time of iudgement See the place and the rest her coted vvhere he examineth and explicateth the matter at large THE ARGVMENT OF THE EPISTLE OF S. PAVL TO TITVS THAT Titus vvas a Gentil and not a Ievv and that he vvas in S. Paules traine at the least the 14 yere after his conuersion if not before vve vnderstand by the Epistle to the Galatians c. 2. And that he continued vvith him to the very end appeareth in the second to Timothee c. 4. Vvhere he maketh mention that he sent him from Rome into Dalmatia vvhen him self vvas shortly after to be put to death And therefore although S. Luke neuer name him in the Actes as neither him self yet no doubt he comprehendeth him commonly vvhen he speaketh thus in the first person plurall Forthvvith vve sought to goe into Macedonia Act 16. For S. Paul also sent him to Corinth betvvene the vvriting of his 1 2 to the Corinthians vvhich time concurreth vvith Act. 19 by occasion vvhereof he maketh much and honorable mention of him in the said second Epistle c 2. c. 7. and againe * he sent him vvith the same Epistle both times about great matters so that no doubt he vvas euen then also a Bishop and receiued accordingly of the Corinthians vvith feare and trembling 2. Cor. 7 v. 15. But the same is plainer in this Epistle to him self c. 1. v. 5. Vvhere the Apostle saith for this cause I left thee at Crete c. By vvhich vvordes it is manifest also that this Epistle vvas not vvritten during the storie of the Actes seing that no mention is there of S. Paules being in the I le of Crete but after his dismission at Rome out of his first trouble and before his second or last trouble there as is euident by these vvordes Vvhen I shall send to thee Artemas or Tychicus make hast to come to me to Nicopolis for there I haue determined to vvinter Tit. 3. Therefore he instructeth him and in him all Bishops much like as he doth Timothee vvhat qualities he must require in them that he shall make priests and Bishops in vvhat sort to preach and to teach al sortes of men to commend good vvorkes vnto them finally him self to be their example in all goodnes THE EPISTLE OF PAVL TO TITVS CHAP. I. Of vvhat qualitie the Priests and Bishops must be 9 namely learned considering the Iudaical seducers of that time 12 That the Cretensians must be roughly vsed 10 haue them continue sound in faith verse 1 PAVL the seruant of God and an Apostle of IESVS Christ according to the faith of the elect of God and knowledge of the truth vvhich is according to pietie ✠verse 2 into the hope of life euerlasting vvhich he promised that lieth not God * before the secular times ✠verse 3 but hath manifested in due times his vvord in preaching vvhich is coÌ„mitted to me according to the precept of our Sauiour God ✠verse 4 to Titus my beloued sonne according to the coÌ„mon faith grace and peace from God the father and Christ IESVS our Sauiour ✠verse 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest reforme the things that are vvanting and shouldest ″ ordaine priestes by cities as I also appointed thee ✠verse 6 * if any be vvithout crime the husband ″ of one vvife hauing faithful children not in the accusation of riote or not obedient ✠verse 7 For a Bishop must be vvithout crime as the stevvard of God not proud not angrie not giuen to vvine no striker not couetous of filthy lucre ✠verse 8 but giuen to hospitalitie gentle sober iust holy continent ✠verse 9 embracing that faithful vvord vvhich is according to doctrine that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine to reproue them that gainesay it ✠verse 10 For there be many disobedient vaine-speakers and seducers especially they that are of the Circumcision ✠verse 11 vvho must be controuled vvho subuert vvhole houses teaching the things they ought not for filthie lucre ✠verse 12 One of them said their ovâ—ne proper prophete The Cretensians alvvaies lierâ— naughtie beastes slouthful bellies ✠verse 13 This testimonie is true For the vvhich cause rebuke them sharpely that they may be sound in the faith ✠verse 14 not attending to Ievvish fables and commaundements of men auerting them selues from the truth ✠verse 15 * Al things are cleane to the cleane but to the polluted and to infidels nothing is cleane but polluted are both their minde and conscience ✠verse 16 They confesse that they knovv God but in their vvorkes they deny vvhereas they be abominable and incredulous and to euery good vvorke reprobate ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 5. Ordaine Priests Though Priests or Bishops may be nominated and elected by the Princes people or Patrons of places according to the vse of the time and diuersitie of Countries and fashions yet they can not be ordered and consecrated but by a Bishop vvho vvas him self rightly ordered or consecrated
were litle children presented to him that he should ″ impose hands vpon them pray And the disciples rebuked them ✠verse 14 But IESVS said to them Suffer the litle children and stay them not from comming vnto me for the kingdom of heauen is for such ✠verse 15 And when he had imposed hands vpon them he departed from thence ✠verse 16 And * behold one came and said to him Good Maister vvhat good shal I doe that I may haue life euerlasting ✠verse 17 Who said to him what askest thou me of good One is good God But if thou vvilt enter into life keepe the commaundements ✠verse 18 He saith to him which And IESVS said Thou shalt not murder Thou shalt not committe aduoutrie Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt not beare false vvitnes ✠verse 19 Honour thy father and thy mother Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy self ✠verse 20 The yong man saith to him Al these haue I kept from my youth vvhat is yet vvanting vnto me ✠verse 21 IESVS said to him ″ If thou vvilt be perfect goe sel the things that thou hast giue to the poore and thou shalt haue treasure in heauen and come ″ folovv me ✠verse 22 And vvhen the yong man had heard this vvord he vvent avvay sad for he had many possessions ✠verse 23 And IESVS said to his disciples ✠Amen I say to you that a rich man shal hardely enter into the kingdom of heauen ✠verse 24 And againe I say to you it is easier for a camel to passe through the eye of a nedle then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heauen ✠verse 25 And vvhen they had heard this the disciples marueled very much saying who then can be saued ✠verse 26 And IESVS beholding said to them With men this is impossible but vvith God ″ al things are possible ✠verse 27 Then Peter ansvvering said to him Behold vve haue ″ left al things haue folovved thee ″ vvhat therfore shal vve haue ✠verse 28 And IESVS said to them Amen I say to you that you vvhich haue folovved me in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shal sitte in the seate of his maiestie you ″ also shal sitte vpon tvvelue seates iudging the tvvelue tribes of Israel ✠verse 29 And euery one that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or vvife or children or landes for my names sake shal receiue an hundred fold and shal possesse life euerlasting ⊢ ✠verse 30 And * many shal be first that are last and last that are first ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIX 6. Not man separate This inseparability betwixtman and wife riseth of that that wedlocke is a Sacrament Aug. li. 2. de pec origine c. 34. to 7. Deâ—upt concupis li. 1. c. 10. 9. But for fornication For aduoutrie one may dimisse an other Mat. 5. But neither party can marry againe for any cause during life Aug. li 11. de adult coniug c. 21. 22. 24. for the which vnlawful act of marrying agayne Fabiola that noble matrone of Rome albeit shee was the innocent part did publike penance as S. Hierom writeth in her high commendation therefore And in S. Paul Ro. 7. it is plaine that shee which is with an other man her husband yet liuing shal be called an aduouteresse contrary to the doctrine of our Aduersaries 11. Not al take Whosoeuer haue not this gift geuen them it is either for that they wil not haue it or for that they fulfil not that which they wil and they that haue this gift or attayne to this word haue it of God and their owne free wil. Aug. li. de grat lib. arbit c. 4. So that it is euident no man is excluded from this gift but as Origen here saith it is geuen to al that aske for it contrarie to our Aduersaries that say it is impossible and that for excuse of breaking their vowes wickedly say they haue not the gift 12. Gelded them selues They geld them selues for the kingdom of heauen which vow chastity Aug. de virginitate c. 24. which proueth those kind of vowes to be both lawful and also more meritorious and more sure to obtaine life euerlasting then the state of wedlocke contrarie to our Adu in al respectes 14. He that can It is not said of the Precepts keepe them who can for they be necessarie vnder paine of damnation to be kept but of Counsels only as of virginity abstaining from flesh and wine and of geuing al a mans goods away to the poore it is said He that can attaine to it let him doe it which is counsel only not a commaundement Contrary to our Adu that say there are no Counsels but only precepts 13. Impose They knew the valour of Christes blessing and therfore brought their children to him as good Christian people haue at al times brought their children to Bishops to haue their blessing See Annotation before Chap. 10 12. And of Religious mens blessing see Russin li. 2. c. 1. hist S. Hierom in Epitaph Paulae c. 7. in vit Hilarionis Theodoret in historia sanctoruÌ„ Patrum num 8. 21. If thou wilt be perfect Loe he maketh a plaine difference betwene keeping the commaundements which is necessary for euery man and being perfect which he counseleth only to them that wil. And this is the state of greate perfection which Religious men doe professe according to Christes counsel here leauing al things and folowing him 21. Folow me Thus to folow Christ is to be without wife and care of children to lacke propriety and to liue in common and this hath great reward in heauen about other states of life which S. Augustine saith the Apostles folowed and him self and that he exhorted others to it as much as lay in him Aug. ep 19. in fine in ps 103 Conc 3. post med 26. Al things possible This of the camel through a nedels eye being possible to God although he neither hath done it nor by like wil doe it maketh against the blasphemous infidelity of our Aduersaries that say God can do no more then he hath done or wil doe We see also that God can bring a camel through a nedels eye and therfore his body through a doore and our of the sepulchre shut and out of his mother a virgin and generally aboue nature and contrary to nature do with his body as he list 27. Left al. This perfection of leauing al things the Apostles vowed Aug. li. 17. de Ciu. Dei c. 4. 27. What shal we haue They leaue al things in respect of reward and Christ doeth wel allow it in them by his answer 28. You also shal sitte Note that not only Christ who is the principal and proper iudge of the liuing and the dead but with him the Apostles and al perfect
or Peter so bouÌ„d to the Ievves only that he could not meddle vvith the Gentiles seing he vvas * the man chosen of God by whom the Gentils should first beleeue vvho first baptized them and first gaue order concerning them Therfore the treacherie of Caluin is intolerable that vpon this distinction of the Apostles charge vvould haue the simple suppose that S. Peter could not be Bishop of Rome so might he barre â— Iohn from Ephesus also nor deale among the Gentiles as a thing against Gods ordinance and the appointment betvvene him and S. Paul as though thereby the one had bound him self to the other not to preach or meddle vvithin his fellovves compasse And vvhich is further most seditious he exhorteth al men to keepe fast the foresaid compact and rather to haue respect to S. Paules Apostleship then to S. Peters as though the preaching authoritie and Apostleship of both vvere not a like true and al of one holy Spirit vvhether they preached to Iewes or Gentiles as both did preach vnto both peoples as is already proued and at length partly by the daily decay of the Ievvish state and their incredulitie and partly for that in Christianitie the distinction of Iew Gentil ceased after a season both vvent to the cheefe citie of the Gentiles and there founded the Church common to the Hebrues and al nations Peter first and Paul aftervvard And therfore Tertullian saith de prâ—script nu 14. O happie Church to vvhich the Apostles povvred out al doctrine vvith their bloud Where Peter suffereth like to our Lordes passion vvhere Paul is â—rovvned vvith Iohn Baptists death 9. Gaue the right handes of societie There is and alwaies ought to be a common fellowship and fraternitie of al Pastores and preachers of the Church Into vvhich societie who so euer entereth not but sandeth in Schisme and separation from Peter and the cheefe Apostolike Pastors what pretence so euer he hath or vvhence so euer he chalengeth authoritie he is a vvolfe and no true Pastor Vvhich vnion and communion together was so necessarie euen in S. Paules case that notvvithstanding his special calling of God yet the Holy Ghost caused him to go vp to his elder Apostles to be receiued into their fellovvship or brotherhod for it is to be noted that SS Peter Iames and Iohn vvere not sent to S. Paul to ioyne vvith him or to be tried for their doctrine and calling by him but contrariewise he vvas sent to them as to the cheefe and knovven ordinarie Apostles They therfore gaue Paul their handes that is to say tooke him into their societie and not he them And S. Hieroms rule concerning this shal be found true to the vvorldes end speaking of S. Peters successor He that gathereth not vvith thee scattereth Ep. 17. And in an other place for the same cause he calleth Rome tutissimum Communionis portum the most safe and sure hauen of communion or Societie Ep. 16. 6. â— And vvhereas the Heretikes by this also vvould proue that Peter had no preemineÌ„ce aboue Paul being his fellovv Apostle it is ridiculous As though al of one fellowship or brotherhod he alvvaies equal or as though there vvere not order and gouernement superioritie and inferioritie in euery societie vvel appointed And they might perceiue by this vvhole passage that Peter vvas the special and in more singular sort the Apostle of the Ievves though Iames and Iohn vvere also as S. Paul is also called in more singular sort the Apostle and doctor of the Gentiles then S. Barnabas and yet they vvere both alike taken here into this societie as they were both at once and alike segregated into this ministerie and ordered together Act. 13. It is a poore reason then to say or thinke S. Peter not to be aboue S. Barnabas neither because of this societie and fellovvship vnto vvhich he vvas receiued together vvith S. Paul 11. I resisted him Vvicked Porphyrie as S. Hierom vvriteth chargeth S. Paul of enuie and malâ—part boldnes and S. Peter of errour Proâ—m Comment in Galat. Euen so the like impious sonnes of Cham for this and for other things gladly charge S. Peter as though he had committed the greatest crimes in the vvorld for it is the propertie of Heretikes and il men to be glad to see the Saincts reprehended and their faultes discouered as vve may learne in the vvritings of S. Augustine against Faustus the Manichee vvho gathered out al the actes of the holy Patriarches that might seeme to the people to be vvorthy blame Vvhom the said holy Doctor defendeth at large against him as both he and before him S. Cyprian finde here vpon this Apostles reprehension much matter of praising both their vertues S. Paules great zeale and S. Peters vvonderful humilitie that the one in the cause of God vvould not spare his Superior and that the other in that excellent dignitie vvould not take it in il part nor by allegation of his Supremaâ—iâ— disdaine or refuse to be controvvled by his iunior vvhich of the tvvo they count the greater grace and more to be imitated For neither Peter saith S. Cyprian Whom our Lord chose the first and vpon vvhom he built the Church vvhen Paul disputed vvith him of circumcision chalâ—vged insolently or arrogantly tooke any thing to him self saying that he had the Primacie and therfore the later Disciples ought rather to obey him ep 71 ad Quintum nu 2. And S. Augustine ep 19. c 2 in fine That saith he vvhich vvas done of Paul profitably by the libertie of charitie the same Peter tooke in good part by holy and benigne godlines of humilitie and so he gaue vnto posteritie a more rare and holy example if at any time perhaps they did amis to be content to be corrected of their iuniors then Paul for to be bold and confident yea the inferiors to resist their betters for defending the truth of the Gospel brotherly charitie alvvaies preserued By vvhich notable speaches of the Doctors vve may also see how friuolously the Heretikes argue herevpon that S. Peter could not be Superior to S. Paul being so reprehended of him vvhereas the Fathers make it an example to the Superiors to beare vvith humilitie the correption or controulement euen of their inferiors Namely by this example S. Augustine li. 2 de bapt 6. 1. excellently declareth that the B. Martyr S. Cyprian vvho vvalked avvry touching the rebaptizing of them that vvere christened of Heretikes could not nor vvould not haue been offended to be admonished reformed in that point by his fellovves or inferiors much lesse by a vvhole Councel We haue learned saith he that Peter the Apostle in vvhom the Primacie of the Apostles by excellent grace is so preeminent vvhen he did othervvise concerning circumcision then the truth required vvas corrected of Paul the later Apostle I thinke vvithout any reproch vnto him Cyprian the Bishop may be compared to Peter the Apostle hovvbeit I ought rather
degentes is bold to call the Emperour Constantius being an Arian Heretike Antichrist for making him self Principem Episcoporum Prince ouer the Bishops and President of Ecclesiastical iudgements c. The other cause is for impugning Christes Priesthod vvhich is only or most properly exercised in earth by the sacrifice of the holy Masse instituted for the commemoration of his death for the external exhibition of godly honour to the B. Trinitie vvhich kinde of external vvorship by sacrifice no lavvful people of God euer lacked And by these tvvo things you may easily perceiue that the Heretikes of these daies do more properly and neerely prepare the vvay to Antichrist and to extreme desolation then euer any before their special heresie being against the spiritual Primacie of Popes and Bishops and against the sacrifice of the altar in vvhich tvvo the soueraintie of Christ in earth consisteth 6. What letteth S. Augustine li. 20 c. 19 de ciuit del professeth plainely that he vnderstandeth not these vvordes not that that folovveth of the mysterie of iniquitie and least of al that vvhich the Apostle addeth Only that he vvhich holdeth novv do hold c. Vvhich may humble vs al and stay the confident rashnes of this time namely of Heretikes that boldly feine hereof vvhatsoeuer is agreable to their heresie and phantasie The Apostle had told the Thessalonians before by vvord of mouth a secret point vvhich he vvould not vtter in vvritting and therfore referreth them to his former talke The mysterie of iniquitie is coÌ„monly referred to Heretikes vvho vvorke to the same and do that that Antichrist shal do but yet not openly but in couert and vnder the cloke of Christes name the Scriptures the vvord of the Lord shevv of holines c. Vvhereas Antichrist him self shal openly attempt and atchieue the foresaid desolation and Satan novv seruing his turne by Heretikes vnderhand shal tovvard the last end vtter reueale bring him forth openly and that is here to be reuealed that is to appeare in his ovvne person These other vvordes Only that he vvhich novv holdeth hold Some expound of the Emperour during vvhose continuance in his state God shal not permit Antichrist to come meaning that the very Empire shal be vvholy desolate destroied and taken avvay before or by his comming vvhich is more then a defection from the same vvhereof vvas spoken before for there shal be a reuolt from the Church also but it shal not be vtterly destroied Others say that it is an admonition to al faithful to hold fast their faith and not to be beguiled by such as vnder the name of Christ or Scriptures seeke to deceiue them til they that novv pretend religion and the Gospel end in a plaine breach reuolt and open apostasie by the appearance of Antichrist vvhom al Heretikes serue in mysterie that is couertly and in the Diuels meaning though the vvorld seeth it not nor them selues at the beginning thought it as novv euery day more more al men perceiue they tend to plaine Atheisme and Antichristianisme 9. In al povver Satan vvhose povver to him is abridged by Christ shal then â—e let loose and shal assist Antichrist in al maner of signes vvonders and false miracles vvhereby many shal be seduced not only Ievves But al such as be deceiued and caried avvay by vulgar speache only of Heretikes that can vvorke no miracles much more shal folovv this man of sinne doing so great vvonders And such both novv do solovv Heretikes and then shal receiue Antichrist that deserue so to be forsaken of God by their forsaking of the vnitie and happie fellovvship of Saincts in the Catholike Church vvhere onely is the Charitie of truth as the Apostle here speaketh 15. Traditions Not onely the things vvritten and set dovvne in the holy Scriptures but al other truthes and pointes of religion vttered by vvord of mouth and deliuered or giuen by the Apostles to their scholers by tradition be so here approued and els vvhere in the Scripture it self that the Heretikes purposely guilfully and of il coÌ„science that belike reprehendeth them refraine in their translations from the Ecclesiastical and most vsual vvord Tradition euer-more vvhen it is taken in good part though it expresse most exactly the signification of the Greeke vvord but vvhen it soundeth in their fond phantasie against the traditions of the Church as in deede in true sense it neuer doth there they vse it most gladly Here therfore and in the like places that the reader might not so easily like of Traditions vnvvritten here commended by the Apostle they translate it Instructions Constitutions Ordinances and vvhat they can inuent els to hide the truth from the simple or vnvvarie Reader vvhose translations haue no other end but to beguile such by art and conueiance But S. Chrysostom ho. 4 in 1 Thes 2. and the other greeke scholies or commentaries say herevpon both vvritten and vnvvritten precepts the Apostles gaue by tradition and both be vvorthy of obseruation S. Basil De Sp. Sancto c. 29 in principio thus I account it Apostolike to continevv famely euen in vnvvritten traditions and to proue this he alleageth this place of S. Paul In the same booke c. 17 he saieth If vve once go about to reiect vnvvritten customs as things of no importance vve shal are vve be avvare doe damage to the principal partes of the faith and bring the preaching of the Gospel to a naked name And for example of these necessarie traditions he nameth the signe of the Crosse praying tovvards the east the vvords spoken at the eleuatioÌ„ of sheavving of the holy Eucharist vvith diuerse cerimonies vsed before after the consecration the halovving of the sont the blessing of the oile the anointing of the baptized vvith the same the three immersions into the font the vvordes of abrenuntiatioÌ„ and exorcismes of the partie that is to be baptised c. Vvhat scripture saith he taught these and such like none truly al comming of secret and silent tradition vvherevvith our fathers thought it meete to couer such mysteries S. Hierom Dialog cont Lucif c. 4. et ep 28 ad Liâ—iniuÌ„ reckeneth vp diuers the like traditioÌ„s vvilling men to attribute to the Apostles such customs as the Church hath receiued in diuers christian countries S. Augustine esteemeth the Apostolike traditions so much that he plainely affirmeth in sundrie places not onely the obseruation of certaine festiuities fastes ceremonies whatsoeuer other solemnities vsed in the Catholike Church to be holy profitable and Apostolike though they be notvvritten at al in the scriptures but he often also vvriteth that many of the articles of our religion and pointes of highest importance are not so much to be proued by scriptures as by tradition namely auouching that in no vvise vve could beleeue that children in their infancie should be baptized if it vvere not an Apostolical tradition De Gen. ad lit li.
mans perdition but hath prouided a general medicine redemption to saue al from perishing that vvil accept it or that haue it applied vnto them by his Sacraments and other meanes by him ordained and so vvould haue al saued by his conditional vvil and ordinance that is if men vvil them selues by accepting doing or hauing done vnto them al things requisite by Gods lavv for God vseth not his absolute vvil or povver tovvardes alâ—â—â— this case But he that list see the manifold senses al good and true that these vvordes may beare let him see S. Augustine Ad articul sibi false impos resp â— to 7. Eâ—ch c. 103. Ep. 107. De cor grat c. 15. and S. 〈◊〉 li. 2. de orthod fide â— 29. 5 One mediator The Protestants are to peuish and pitifully blind that charge the Catholike Church Catholikes vvith making moe Mediators then one vvhich is Christ our Sauiour in that they desire the Saincts to pray for them or to be their patrones and intercessors before God Vve tel them therfore that they vnderstand not vvhat it is to be a Mediator in this sense that S. Paul taketh the vvord and in vvhich it is properly and onely attributed to Christ For to be thus a Mediator is by nature to be truely both God and man to be that one eternal Priest and Redeemer vvhich by his sacrifice and death vpon the Crosse hath reconciled vs to God and paied his bloud as a full and sufficient raunsom for al our sinnes him self vvithout neede of any redemption neuer subiect to possibilitie of sinning againe to be the singular Aduocar and Patrone of mankind that by him self alone and by his ovvne merites procureth al grace mercie to mankind in the sight of his â—ather none making any intercession for him nor geuing any grace or force to his praiers but he to al none asking or obtaining either grace in this life or glorie in the next but by him In this sort then as S. Augustine truely saith Cont. ep Parm. li. 2. c. 8. neither Peter nor Paul no nor our B. Lady nor any creature vvhatsoeuer can be our Mediator The aduersaries thinke to basely of Christes mediation if they imagine this to be his onely prerogatiue to pray for vs or that vve make the saincts our Mediators in that sort as Christis vvhen vve desire them to pray for vs. vvhich is so far inferior to the singular mediation of him that no Catholike euer can or dare thinke or speake so basely vnto him as to desire him to pray for vs but vve say Lord haue mercie vpoÌ„ vs Christ haue mercie vpon vs not Christ pray for vs as vve say to our Ladie and the rest Therfore to inuocate Saincts in that sort as the Catholike Church doth can not make them our Mediators as Christ is vvhom vve must not inuocate in that sort And as vvel make vve the faithful yet liuing our Mediators by the Aduersaries arguments vvhen vve desire their praiers as the departed Saincts But novv touching the vvord Mediator though in that singular sense proper to our Sauiour it agreeth to no mere creature in heauen or earth yet taken in more large and common sort by the vse of Scriptures doctors and vulgar speach not onely the Saincts but good men liuing that pray for vs and help vs in the vvay of saluation may and are rightly called Mediators As S. Cyril li. 22 Thesaur c. 10 proueth that Moyses according to the Scriptures and Ieremie and the Apostles and others be Mediators Read his ovvne wordes for they plainely refute al the Aduersaries cauillations in this case And if the name of * fauiour and redeemer be in the Scriptures giuen to men vvithout derogation to him that is in a more excellent and incomparable maner the onely Sauiour of the vvorld vvhat can they say vvhy there may not be many Mediators in an inferior degree to the only and singular Mediator S. Bernard saith Opus est mediatore ad Mediatorem Christum nec alter nobis vtilior quam Maria. that is We haue neede of a mediator to Christ the Mediator and there is none more for our profite then our Ladie Bernard Ser. qui incipit Signum magnum apparuit c. post Ser. 5 de Assumpt S. Basil also in the same sense vvriting to Iulian the Apostata desireth the mediation of our Ladie of the Apostles Prophets and Martyrs for procuring of Gods mercie and remission of his sinnes His vvordes are cited in Conc. Nic. 2. act 4. pag. 110 111. Thus did and thus beleeued al the holy fathers most agreably to the Scriptures and thus must al the children of the Church do be the Aduersaries neuer so importunate and vvilfully blinde in these matters 12. I permit not In times of licentiousnes libertie and heresie vvomen are much giuen to reading disputing chatting and langling of the holy Scriptures yea and to teach also if they might be permitted but S. Paul vtterly forbideeth it and the Greeke Doctors vpon this place note that the vvoman taught but once that vvas vvhen after her reasoning vvith Satan she persuaded her husband to transgression and so she vndid al mankind And in the Ecclesiastical vvriters vve find that vvomen haue been great promoters of euery sort of heresie vvhereof see a notable discourse in S. Hierom ep ad Ctâ—siph cont Pelag. c. 2. vvhich they vvould not haue done if they had according to the Apostles rule folovved pietie and good vvorkes and liued in silence and subiection to their husbands CHAP. III. Of vvhat qualitie they must be vvhom he ordaineth Bishops â— and Deacons 14 and the cause of his vvriting to be the excellencie of the Catholike Church and of Christ vvho is the obiect of our religion verse 1 A Faithful saying If a man desire a Bishops office he desireth ″ a good worke ✠verse 2 * It behoueth therfore ″ a Bishop to be irreprehensible the husband ″ of one vvife sobre vvise comely chast a man of hospitalitie a teacher ✠verse 3 not giuen to vvine no fighter but modest no quareler not couetous ✠verse 4 vvel ruling his ovvne house hauing his children subiect vvith al chastitie ✠verse 5 But if a man knovv not to rule his ovvne house hovv shal he haue care of the Church of God ✠verse 6 ″ Not a neophyte lest puffed into pride he fall into the iudgment of the Deuil ✠verse 7 And he must haue also good testimonie of them that are vvithout that he fall not into reproch and the snare of the Deuil ✠verse 8 Deacons in like maner chast not double tonged not giuen to much vvine not folovvers of filthie lucre ✠verse 9 hauing the mysterie of faith in a pure coÌ„science ✠verse 10 And let these also be proued first so let them minister hauing no crime ✠verse 11 The vvomen in like maner
good might be not as it vvere of necessitie but voluntarie ✠verse 15 For perhaps therfore he departed for a season from thee that thou mightest take him againe for euer ✠verse 16 novv not as a seruant but for a seruant a most deere brother especially to me but hovv much more to thee both in the flesh and in our Lord ✠verse 17 If therfore thou take me for thy fellovv receiue him as my self ✠verse 18 And if he hath hurt thee any thing or is in thy dette that impute to me ✠verse 19 I Paul haue vvritten vvith mine ovvne hand I vvil repay it not to say to thee that thou ovvest me thine ovvne self also ✠verse 20 Yea brother God graunt I may enioy thee in our Lord. Refresh my bovvels in our Lord. ✠verse 21 Trusting in thy obedience I haue vvritten to thee knovving that thou vvilt doe aboue that also vvhich I do say ✠verse 22 And withal prouide me also a lodging for I hope by your praiers that I shal be giuen to you ✠verse 23 There salute thee Epaphras my fellovv-prisoner in Christ IESVS ✠verse 24 Marke Aristarchus Demas and Luke my coadiutors ✠verse 25 The grace of our Lord IESVS Christ be with your spirit Amen ANNOT. 5. Tovvard al the sainctes The Apostle sticketh not to say Charitie and faith in Christ and al his Saincts vvhich our captious Aduersaries count in Catholike mens speaches and vvritings very absurd feining that in al such vve make no difference betvvixt the loue vve beare to Christ and the loue vve owe to our neighbours betvvixt the trust or beleefe vve haue in God and that vvhich vve haue in his holy Saincts Malice and contention doth so blinde al Heretikes THE ARGVMENT OF THE EPISTLE OF S. PAVL TO THE HEBREVVES THAT the Hebrevves vvere not all the Ievves but only a part of them it is manifest Act 6 vvhere the primitiue Church of Hierusalem although it consisted of Ievves only as vve reade Act. 2 yet is said to consist of tvvo sortes Greekes Hebrues Vvhich againe is manifest Phil. 3. vvhere S. Paul coÌ„paring him self with the Iudaical false-Apostles saith that he also is an Hebrue of Hebrues Finally they seeme to haue been those Ievves vvhich vvere borne in Iurie vvhich for the most part dwelled also there Therefore to the Christian Ievves in Hierusalem and in the rest of Iurie S. Paul vvriteth this Epistle out of Italic saying therevpon The brethreÌ„ of Italie salute you Heb. 13. By vvhich vvordes by these other in the same place Knovv ye our brother Timothee to be dimissed vvith vvhom if he come the sooner I vvil see you it is euident that he vvrote this not only after he vvas brought prisoner to Rome vvherein S. Luke endeth the Actes of the Apostles but also after he vvas set at libertie there againe Many causes are giuen of the Doctors vvhy vvriting to the Ievves he doth not put his name in the beginning Paul an Apostle c. as he doth lightly in his Epistles to the Churches and Bishops of the Gentils The most likely cause is for that he vvas the preacher and Apostle and Maister of the Gentils And againe in an other place he saith that himself vvas appointed the Apostle of the Gentils at Peter of the Ievves Gal. 2. Only S. Peter therfore vvriting to the Ievves doth vse this stile Peter an Apostle of IESVS Christ c. because he vvas more peculiarly their Apostle as being the vicar of Christ vvho vvas also himself more specially the minister of the Circumcision that is as him self speaketh not senâ— but to the sheepe vvhich vvere lost of the house of Israël Mat. 15. The Argument of the Epistle S. Paul him self doth tell vs in tvvo vvordes calling it verbum solatij the vvord of solace and comfort Vvhich also is plaine in the vvhole course of the Epistle namely in the tenth chapter v. 32. c. Vvhere he exhorteth them to take great comfort and confidence in their manifold tribulations sustained of their ovvne countrie men the Ievves vvhereof the Apostle also maketh mention to the Thessalonians 1. Thess 2. v. 14. Those persecutions then of the obstinate incredulous Ievves their countrie men vvas one great tentation vnto them An other tentation vvas the persuasions that they brought vnto them out of Scriptures to cleaue vnto the Lavv and not to beleeue in IESVS the dead man And vvhereas the Ievves did magnifie their lavv by the Prophetes and by the Angels by vvhom it vvas giuen and by Moyses and by their land of promise into vvhich Iosue brought them and by their father Abraham and by their Aaronicall or Leuitical priesthâ—d and sacrifices by their Tabernaâ—le by their Testament he shevveth that our Lord IESVS as being the natural sonne of God passeth incomparably the Prophetes the Angels and Moyses that the Rest or quietnes vvhich God promised vvas not in their earthly land but in heauen that his figure Melchisedec far passed Abraham and that his priesthod Sacrifice Tabernacle and testament far passed theirs In al vvhich he shooteth often at these three markes to take avvay the scandal of Christes death by giuing them sundrie good reasons testimonies of it to erect their mindes from visible and earthly promises to vvhich only the Ievves vvere vvholy bent to inuisible and heauenly and to insinuate that the Ceremonies should novv cease the time of their correction by Christ being novv come The Epistle may be deuided into these partes the first Of Christes excellencie aboue the Prophetes Angels Moyses and Iosue c. 1. 2. 3. 4. The second of his priesthod and excellencie thereof aboue the priesthod of the old Testament c. 5. vnto the middest of the 10. The last part is of exhortation c. 10. v. 9. to the end of the Epistle THE EPISTLE OF PAVL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREVVES Let the Christian Reader note the corruption and impudent boldnes of our Aduersaries that vpon a false priuate persuasion of their ovvne that S. Paul vvas not the author of this Epistle leaue out his name in the title of the same contrarie to the authentical copies both Greeke and Latin In old time there vvas some doubt vvho should be the vvriter of it but then vvhen it vvas no lesse doubted vvhether it vvere Canonical Scripture at al. Aftervvard the vvhole Church by vvhich onely vve knovv the true Scriptures from other vvritings held it and deliuered it as novv she doth to the faithful for Canonical and for S. Paules Epistle Notvvithstanding the Aduersaries vvould haue refused the Epistle as vvel as they do the Author but that they falsely imagine certaine places thereof to make against the Sacrifice of the Masse CHAP I. God spake to their fathers by the Prophets but to them selues by his ovvne Sonne 14 vvho incomparably passeth al the Angels verse 1 DIVERSELY and many vvaies in times past God speaking to the
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
in state of saluation and being chastised for their fault in the next life vvere deliuered by Christs descending thither and not they onely but al others in the like conditioÌ„ For the Apostle giueth these of Noes time but for an example 21. Of the like forme The vvater bearing vp the Arke from sinking and the persons in it from drowning vvas a figure of Baptisme that likewise saueth the vvorthie receiuers from euerlasting perishing As Nee saith S. Augustine vvith his vvas deliuered by the vvater and the vvood so the familie of Christ by Baptisme signed vvith Christs Passion on the Crosse Li. 12. Cont. Faustum c. 14. Againe he saith that as the vvater saued none out of the Arke but vvas rather their destruction so the Sacrament of Baptisme receiued out of the Catholike Church at Heretikes or Schismatikes hands though it be the same vvater and Sacrament that the Catholike Church hath yet profiteth none to saluation but rather vvorketh their perdition Vvhich yet is not meant in case of extreme necessitie vvhen the partie should die vvithout the said Sacrament except he tooke it at an Heretikes or Schismatikes hand Neither is it meant in the case of infants to vvhom the Sacrament is cause of saluation they being in no fault for receiuing it at the hands of the vnfaithful though their parents and frendes that offer them vnto such to be baptized be in no small fault S. Hierom to Damasus Pope of Rome compareth that See to the Arke them that communicate vvith it to them that vvere saued in the Arke al other Schismatikes and Heretikes to the rest that vvere drowned 21. The examination of a good conscience The Apostle seemeth to allude here to the very forme of Catholike Baptisme conceining certaine interrogatories and solemne promises made of the articles of the Christian faith and of good life and of renouncing Satan and al his pompes and vvorkes vvhich no doubt hovvsoeuer the Caluinists esteeme of them are the very Apostolike ceremonies vsed in the ministration of this Sacrament See S. Denys in fine Ec. hierarchia S. Cyril li. 12 in 〈◊〉 c. 64. S. Augustine ep 23. S. Basil de Sp. sancto c. 12 and 15. S. Ambrose de ijs qui mysterijs initiantur 6. 2. 3. 4. CHAP. IIII. That they arme them selues to sinne no more after Baptisme against the tentations of the Heathen considering that the general and novv approcheth 8 specially tovvard their euen-Christians to shevv their charitie hospitalitie and grace doing al to the glorie of God 1â— And as for being persecuted because they are Christians to reioyce considering the revvard that they shal haue vvith Christ and damnation that they avoid thereby verse 1 CHRIST therfore hauing suffered in the flesh be you also armed vvith the same cogitation because he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sinnes ✠verse 2 that novv not after the desires of men but according to the vvil of God he liue the rest of his time in the flesh ✠verse 3 For the time past sufficeth to accomplish the vvil of the Gentiles them that haue vvalked in riotousnes desires excesse of wine banketings porations and vnlavvful seruices of Idols ✠verse 4 Vvherein they maruel blaspheming you not concurring into the same confusion of riotousnes ✠verse 5 vvho shal render account to him vvhich is ready to iudge the liuing and the dead ✠verse 6 For for this cause also vvas it euangelized to the dead that they may be iudged in deede according to men in the flesh but may liue according to God in the Spirit ✠verse 7 And the end of al â—shal approche ' ✠Be vvise therfore and vvatch in praiers ✠verse 8 But before al things hauing mutual charitie coÌ„tinual among your selues because * â— charitie couereth the multitude of sinnes ✠verse 9 * Vsing hospitalitie one tovvard an other vvithout murmuring ✠verse 10 * Euery one as he hath receiued grace ministring the same one tovvard an other as good dispensers of the manifold grace of God ✠verse 11 If any man speake as the vvordes of God if any man minister as of the povver vvhich God administreth that in al things God may be honoured by IESVS Christ ⊢ to vvhom is glorie and empire for euer and euer Amen ✠verse 12 My deerest thinke it not strange in the feruour vvhich is to you for a teÌ„tation as though some nevv thing happened to you ✠verse 13 but communicating vvith the passions of Christ be glad that in the reuelation also of his glorie you may be glad reioycing ✠verse 14 * If you be reuiled in the name of Christ you shal be blessed because that vvhich is of the honour glorie and vertue of God and the Spirit vvhich is his shal rest vpon you ✠verse 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a theefe or a railer or a coueter of other mens things ✠verse 16 But if as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God in this name ✠verse 17 for * the time is â— that iudgement begin of the house of God And if first of vs vvhat shal be the end of them that beleeue not the Gospel of God ✠verse 18 And * â— if the iust man shal scarse be saued where shal the impious and sinner appeare ✠verse 19 Therfore they also that suffer according to the vvil of God let them commend their soules to the faithful creator in good deedes ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 9. Charitie couereth Faith onely cannot iustifie seeing that charitie also doth cause remission of sinnes And saying charitie he meaneth loue and charitable vvorkes tovvard our neighbours vnto vvhich vvorkes of mercie the Scriptures do specially attribute the force to extinguish al sinnes See S. Augustine c. 69 Eâ—chiridij and tract 1. in ep 1. Io. â— 1. and venerable Bede vpon this place And in the like sense the holy Scriptures commonly commend vnto vs almes and deedes of mercie for redemption of our sinnes Prouerb c. 10. Ecclesiastici 12. v. 2. Danielis â— 4. v. 24. 17. That iudgement begin In this time of the new Testament the faithful and al those that meane to liue godly specially of the Clergie must first and principally be subiect to Gods chastisement and temporal afflictions vvhich are here called iudgement Vvhich the Apostle recordeth for the comfort and confirmation of the Catholike Christians vvho vvere at the time of the vvriting hereof excedingly persecuted by the heathen Princes people 18. If the iust Not that a man dying iust and in the fauour of God can afterward be in doubt of his saluation or may be reiected of God but that the iust being both in this life subiect to assaults tentations troubles and dangers of falling from God and losing their state of iustice also oftentimes to make a straite count to
is here cōmended in them thirdly vvisedom diligence in trial of false Apostles and preachers comming in sheepe-skinnes vvhere is signified the vvatchful prouidence that ought to be in them that Heretikes enter not into their flockes 5. Vvil moue Note that the cause vvhy God taketh the truth from certaine countries and remoueth their Bishops or Churches into captiuitie or desolation is the sinne of the Prelates and people And that is the cause no doubt that Christ hath taken avvay our golden candlesticke that is our Church in England God graunt vs to remember our fall to doe penance and the former vvorkes of charitie vvhich our first Bishops and Church vvere notable and renovvmed for 6. Because thou hatest Vve see here that of al things Christian people specially Bishops should haue great zeale against Heretikes and hate them that is their vvicked doctrine and conditions euen as God hateth them for vvhich onely zeale our Lord saith here that he beareth vvith some Churches and Prelates and saueth them from perishing 6. Of the Nicolaites Heretikes haue their callings of certaine persons as is noted at large Act. 11 26. These had their name of Nicolas one of the 7 first Deacons that vvere chosen Act. 6. Vvho is thought to haue taught communitie of vvomen or vviues and that it vvas lavvful to eate of meates offered to idols Vvhich later point is such a thing as if one should hold it lavvful to receiue the bread or vvine of the nevv Communion vvhich is a kinde of Idolothytae that is idolatrous meates for though such creatures be good by creation yet they be made execrable by profane blessings of Heretikes or Idolaters And concerning the name of Nicolaites giuen here by our Lord him self to those Heretikes it is a very paterne and marke vnto the faithful for euer vvhat kinde of men they should be that should be called after the like sort Arians Macedonians Nestorians Lutherans Zuinglians c. See S. Hierom cont Lucifer in fine 14. To cast a scandal Iosephus vvriteth that vvhen Balaam could not curse Gods people nor othervvise anoy them he taught Balaca vvay hovv to ouerthrovv them to vvit by presenting vnto them their Heathen vvomen very beautiful and delicate dishes of meate offered to Bel-phego◠that so being tempted they might fall to heathenish maners and displease God To vvhich craftie counsel of Balaam the Apostle resembleth Heretikes fraude vvho by offering of libertie of meate vvomen Church goodes breache of vovves and such other licentious allurements cause many moe to fall then by their preaching 20. The vvoman Iezabel He vvarneth Bishops to be zelous and stout against false Prophets and Heretikes of vvhat sort soeuer by alluding couertly to the example of holy Elias that in zeale killed 450 false prophets of Iezabel and spared not Achab nor Iezabel them selues but told them to their faces that they troubled Israel that is the faithful people of God And vvhether there vvere any such great vvoman then a furtherer and promotour of the Nicolaites vvhom the Prophete should here meane it is hard to say 21. She vvil not repent See free vvil here most plainely and that God is not the proper cause of obduration or impenitence but man him self onely Our Lord giueth sinners so long life specially to expect their amendment but Iezabel to vvhom the Apostle here alludeth vvould neuer repent 22. They that cōmit aduoutrie vvith her Such as communicate vvith Heretikes shal be damned alas vvith them for not onely such as vvere in their hartes of Iezabels religion or invvardly beleeued in Baal but such as externally for feare vvorshipped him vvhich the Scriptures call bovving of their knees to Baal are culpable as novv many bovv their knees to the Communion that bovv not their hartes 26. I vvil giue him povver Obserue that not onely Angels haue povver and regiment ouer Countries vnder God but novv for the honour of Christ humane nature and for his ministerie in the vvorld the Saincts deceased also being in heauen haue gouernement ouer men and Prouinces and therfore haue to doe vvith our affaires in the vvorld Vvhich is against the Heretikes of these daies that to take avvay our praiers to Saincts vvould spoile them of many soueraine dignities vvherein the Scriptures make them equal vvith Angels CHAP. III. He is commaunded to vvrite to the Churches of Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicia recalling them that erre to penance by threatening but praising the rest and promising revvard to him that ouercommeth 15 detesting also the cold indifferent Christian 20 He saith that God knocketh at the doore of mens hartes by offering his grace for to enter in to him that vvil open vnto him by consent of free vvil verse 1 ANd to the Angel of the Church of Sardis write Thus saith he that hath the seuē Spirites of God and the seuen starres I know thy vvorkes that thou hast the name that thou liuest and thou art dead ✠verse 2 Be vigilant and confirme the rest of the things vvhich vvere to die For I finde not thy vvorkes ful before my God ✠verse 3 Haue in minde therfore in vvhat maner thou hast receiued and heard and keepe and doe penance If therfore thou vvatch not * I vvil come to thee as a theefe thou shalt not knovv vvhat houre I vvil come to thee ✠verse 4 But thou hast a fevv names in Sardis vvhich haue not defiled their garments and they shal vvalke vvith me in vvhites because they are vvorthy ✠verse 5 ″ He that shal ouercome shal thus be vested in vvhite garmentes and I vvil not put his name out of the booke of life and I vvil confesse his name before my father and before his Angels ✠verse 6 He that hath an eare let him heare vvhat the Spirit saieth to the Churches ✠verse 7 And to the Angel of the Church of Philadelphia vvrite Thus saith the Holy one and the True one he that hath the * key of Dauid he that openeth and no man shutteth shutteth and no man openeth ✠verse 8 I know thy vvorkes Behold I haue giuen before thee a doore opened vvhich no man can shut because thou hast a litle povver and hast kept my vvord and hast not denied my name ✠verse 9 Behold I vvil giue of the synagogue of Satan vvhich say they be Ievves and are not but doe lie Behold I vvil make them come and ″ adore before thy feete and they shal knovv that I haue loued thee ✠verse 10 because thou hast kept the vvord of my patience and I vvil keepe thee from the houre of tentation vvhich shal come vpon the vvhole vvorld to tempt the inhabitants on the earth ✠verse 11 Behold I come quickely hold that vvhich thou hast ″ that no man take thy crovvne ✠verse 12 He that shal ouercome I vvil make him a piller in the temple of my God and he
and in others that are partakers of the merite as of a sacrifice vvhich name it hath by a Metaphore Col. 4 14 ` â—vvil deliuer 2 Timo. 1 16. c This Linus vvas coadiutor with vnder â— Peter so counted secoÌ„d in the number of Popes The Apostle prophecied of our nevv delicate preachers Esa 30. v. 10. Vvorkes meritorious How heauen is due both of iustice and mercie It is not of vs but of Gods grace that vvorkes be meritorious Mat. 20. To such good vvorkes heaueÌ„ is due to say the contrarie is to derogate from Gods grace In Ps 100 2 Corinth 8. 2. Tim. 1 9. 1. Tim. 3 2. Epimenides ⸬ He speaketh not of the Churches abstaining from meates some times vvhich is not for any vncleannes in the creatures but for chastening their bodies but he meaneth the Ievvish superstition vvho novv being Christians vvould not cease to put difference of cleane and vncleane according to their old lavv See S. Augustine Cont. Faust li. 31. c. 4. Rom. 14 20. Priests must be consecrated by Bishops only The popular election of the Cleargie taken avvay The preemineÌ„ce of a Bishop aboue a Priest To put no differeÌ„ce betvvene them is Aërius heresie Heret translation Bigami excluded from holy Orders and the causes thereof The notable men of both TestameÌ„ts that liued coÌ„tineÌ„tly from vviues Only the Protestants complaine that they haue not the gift of chastitie c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pudicos Eph. 6 5. Col. 3 22. 1. Pet. 2 18. The Epistle at the first Masse on Christmas day and vpon the Circumcision of our Lord. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ⸬ Bishops must be stout and coÌ„maund in Gods cause and the people must in no vvise disobey or contemne them b The Epistle at the 2 Masse on Christmas day and in the Votiue Masse of our B. Lady betvvene Christmas and Candlemas c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 1 9. ⸬ As before in the Sacrament of holy Orders 1. Tim. 4. and 2 Tim. 1 so here it is plaine that Baptisme giueth grace that by it as by an instrumental cause we be saued 1 Tim. 4. 2. Tim. 2 23. ⸬ These admonitions or correptions must be giuen to such as erre by our Spiritual Gouernours and Pastors to vvhom if they yeld not Christian men must auoid them c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praesse Vvho is proprely an Heretike vvho is not Description or markes hovv to knovv an Heretike vit Aug. c. 1â— The former markes agree to the Protestants Their bookes seruice preaching must be auoided Ep. 52. nu 7. The Church seeketh the amendement of the most obstinate Heretikes Heretikes cut them selues froÌ„ the Church ⸬ Faith and charitie commeÌ„ded alwais together both necessarie to make a complete ChristiaÌ„ man and to iustification saluation ⸬ The dueties of charitie and mercie done to Christes prisoners are exceding acceptable to God and al good men Col. 4 9. ⸬ Al Spiritual men ought to be exceding propense and ready to procure mens pardon and recoÌ„ciliation to al penitents ⸬ The great debt duetie that vve owe to such as be our spiritual parents in Christ c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faith and beleefe in Saincts 2. Tim. 1. 1. Tim. 2. 1. Pet. 1. * Yet vvas Christ head of the Gentils also So likevvise his vicar S. Peter notwithstaÌ„diÌ„g his more peculiar Apostleship ouer the Iewes Rom. 5. Heb. 1â— Heretical corruption * In the English Bible of the yerâ— 2579. The Epistle to the Hebrues is S. Paules The Epistle at the third masse on Christmas day Sap. 7 26. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The excellencie of Christ aboue Angels Ps 2 7. 2. reg 7 14. Ps 96 8. Ps 103 4. Ps 44 7. Ps 101 26. Ps 109 1 1. Cor. 15 25. ⸬ The holy Angels saith S. Augustine to the societie of vvhom vve aspire in this our peregrination as they haue eternitie to continue so also facilitie to knovv and felicitie to rest for they do helpe vs vvithout al difficultie because vvith their spiritual motions pure and free they labour or trauel not De Ciuis li. 11. c. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The B. Sacrament a figure and yet the true body The adoratioÌ„ of Christ in the B. Sacrament c As that vvhich runneth out of a broken vessel or that ruÌ„neth by is lost c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mar. 16 20. Ps 8 5. 1 Cor. 15 Eph. 1. Pâ—ilip 2 8. ⸬ This proueth against the Caluinists that Christ by his PassioÌ„ merited his owne glorification which they would not for shame deny of Christ but that they are at a point to deny al meritorious workes yea eueÌ„ in Christ also and therfore they translate also this senteÌ„ce heretically by transposing the wordes In the Bible printed the yere 1579. Ps 21 23 Ps 17 3. Es 8 18. Ose 13 14. 1 Cor. 15 54. c The dignitie of man in that Christ tooke our nature vnto his person in Deitie and not the nature of Angels The excellencie of Christ aboue Moyses Nu. 12 7 Ps 94 8 ⸬ Faith is the ground worke of our creatioÌ„ in Christ which if we hold not fast al the building is lost Nu. 14 37. 21 23. Ps 94 11 ⸬ If the Apostle had not euideÌ„tly here shewed that the Sabboths rest was a figure of the eternal repose in heauen who durst to haue applied that Scripture of Gods rest the seuenth day to that purpose Or hovv can our Aduersaries now reprehend the like applicatioÌ„ manifoldly vsed in al holy auncient writers to the like end Gen. 2 2. Heb. 3 7. c So Iosue is called in Greeke ⸬ Whatsoeuer God threateneth by his vvord concerning the punishment of sinne and incredulitie shal be executed be the offense neuer so secrete deepe or hidden in our harts because Gods speach passeth easily and searcheth throughly euery part power and facultie of mans soul The Epistle in a Masse for the election of the Pope Scripture abused against inuocation of Saincts The Epistle for a Bishop that is a Confessor and for S. Thomas of Canterburie 2 Par. 26 18. 1 Par. 23 13. Ps 2 7. Ps 109 4. The descriptioÌ„ of a Priest and his office 3 Reg. 13. 2 Par. 26. 1 Reg. 13. The Princes temporal authoritie how far it extendeth There is a peculiar order calling of Priests of the new Testament Priests and sacrifice necessarie in the new Testament nothing derogatorie to Christs priesthod or sacrifice The difference and excellencie of Christs Priesthod Al true priests and preachers must be lawfully called thereto The dignitie function of Priesthod is not to be vsurped Christ both Priest king but his Priesthod more excellent of the two Psal 2. 109. Christ a Priest as he is man not as he is God 〈◊〉 pag. 89. The sacrifice on the Crosse vvas the principal acte of Christs priesthod Luc. 23. 46. Priests praiers more effectual Christs Priestly actions Notorious Heretical
but in spirit I beheld the similitudes of the thinges folovving b The I GENERAL VISION of the 7 according to S. Ambrose ⸬ It seemeth not to be Christ him self but an Angel bearing Christes person vsing diuers speaches proper to Christ c podére Sap. 18 24. Esa 41 4. 44 6. ⸬ S. Irenaeus alluding to this saith The Church euery vvhere preacheth the truth and this is the seuenfold candlesticke bearing the light of Christ c. Li. 5. aduersâ—haer An admonition to the reader concerning the difficultie of this booke Numbers mystical The number of Seuen mystical specially in this booke Grace peace from God the holy Angels God and our Ladie saue vs and the like Hovv al Christians be both kings Priests Difference of holy daies and vvorkedaies Sunday made holiday by the Apostles the Churches authoritie Other feastes ordained by the Church As Saturday was in memorie of the creation so Sunday of Christs resurrection The Church vseth not the Heathenish names of daies but Dies Dominicus feriae Sabbatum God giueth greater grace at holy times of praier fasting Priestly garments The true religioÌ„ manifest as the light on a candlesticke Mat. 5. 15 Angels Protectors Bishops Priests are called Angels Malach. 2 7. ⸬ That vvhich before he vvilled him to vvrite to the church he now vvilleth to be vvritten to the Angels or Bishops of the same onely vvhere vve see it is al one to the Church and to the head or gouernour therof ⸬ By this vve see is plainely refuted that vvhich some Heretikes hold that a man once in grace or charitie can neuer fall from it Apoc. 1 17. ⸬ This Church representeth the state of them that are spoiled of their goodes emprisoned manifoldly afflicted for the catholike faith ⸬ The singular revvard of Martyrdom ⸬ The death of the body is the first death the death of the soule the secoÌ„d vvhich Martyrs are surest to escape of al men ⸬ The special residence of Satan is vvhere the faithful are persecuted for Christes truth vvhere not to deny the Cath. faith for feare is much here commended Nu. 24 14. 25 2. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 calculâ—Ì„ ⸬ None of these are any thing vvorth vvithout the other 3 Reg. 18. 1 Reg. 16. ⸬ Vvho 〈◊〉 nor here that good vvorkes deserue al utioÌ„ as il workes damnation and that it is not faith alone that God revvardeth but that faith vvhich vvorketh by charitie Ps 7 10 Ier. 11 20. ` depthes Ps 2 9. ⸬ This great priuilege of Saâ—cts riseth of the povver and preeminence of Christ vvhich his father gaue him according to his humanitie and therfore to deny it to Saincts is to deny it to Christ him self Christs care of his Church Special vertues required in a Bishop Sinne is the cause that God taketh the Cath. faith from couÌ„tries Zeale against Heretikes Nicolaites the first Heretikes so called as a paterne of Arians Lutherans and the like peculiar callings Balaam ouercomming Gods people by persuasion of lecherie and bellicheere vvas a type of Heretikes li. 4. Antiq c. 6. 2. Pet. 2 15. Iuda v. 11. Zeale against Heretikes 3 Reg. 18. Achab and Iezabel Free vvil God is not author of euil They that communicate vvith Heretikes shal be daÌ„ned vvith them 3 Reg. 19. v. 18. Ro. 11. Saincts also are Patrones not only Angels 1 Thes 5 2. 2 Pet. 3 10. Apo. 16 15. c Such as haue not coÌ„mitted deadly sinne after baptisme ⸬ Note that there is in maÌ„ a vvorthinesse of the ioyes of heauen by holy life this is a coÌ„moÌ„ speache in holy Scripture that man is worthy of God of heaueÌ„ of saluatioÌ„ Esa 22 22. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ecclesiastici 24 9. 14. Col. 1 15. Prou. 3 12. Heb. 12 6. ⸬ God first calleth vpoÌ„ man and knocketh at the doore of his hart that is to say offereth his grace and it lieth in man to giue coÌ„sent by free wil holpen also by his grace Doing vvel in respect of revvard Adoration of creatures called Dulia Perseuêrance in good continuing to the end Neuters of indifferents in religion The 2 part first the booke with 7 seales secoÌ„dly 7 Angels with trumpets THE 2 VISION In which is represented vnto vs the glorie and maiestie of God in heauen and the incessant honour praises of al Angels and Saincts assisting him Vvhich is resembled in the daily honour done to him by al orders and sortes of holy men in the Church militant also ⸬ These foure beastes and the like described Ezaech 1 by the iudgement of the holy Doctors signifie the 4 Euangelistes and in them al true preachers the man Mathevv the lioÌ„ Marke the calle Luke the egle Iohn See the causes hereof in the Summe of the 4 Euangelist pag. 1. S. Gregoin 1. Ezech. Es 6 3. The Sanctus thrise repeated THE 3 VISION ⸬ S. Gregorie taketh it to be the booke of holy Scripture li. 4. Dialog c. 42. ⸬ He speaketh not of the damned in Hel of vvhom there could be no question but of the faithful in Abrahams bosome in Purgatorie c So did Iacob Gen. 49. call Christ for his kingly fortitude in subduing the vvorld vnto him Gen. 49 9. b The Epistle vpon al-Hallovves eue ⸬ So Christ is called for that he is the immaculate host or sacrifice for our sinnes ⸬ This maketh against the Caluinistes vvho are not coÌ„tent to say that vve merite not but that Christ merited not for him self Calu. Philip 2. v. 9. 1 Pet. 2. ` kinges The Epistle in a votiue Masse of the holy Angels Dan. 7. 10. ` riches ⸬ Al the said creatures are bound to giue honour not onely to God but to Christ as man and our redeemer so they here doe Apoc. 4 11. The Saincts in heauen offer our praiers to God Spiritual kings and Priests Limbus Patrum and Purgatorie ⸬ This one stole signifieth the glorie or blisse of the soule onely but at the day of iudgement they shal haue it doubled by adding the glorie of their body also c The tribulation that shal fall in the time of Antichrist Osâ—e 10. Lu. 23 50. Consecration of altars vvith Sainctâ— relikes Saincts be present at their tombes and relikes The Caluinistes heresie concerning the Saincts consuted by S. Hierom long agoe Apoc. 14. They vnlearnedly accuse S. Hierom aâ— an Vbiquiste Hovv S. HieroÌ„ saith Christ his Saincts are euery vvhere Iob. 1. That Saincts pray for vs S. Hierom proueth against the Heretike Vigilantius Hovv Martyrs crie for reuenge b The Epistle vpon Al hallovves day ⸬ It is an allusion to the signe of the Crosse vvhich the faithful beare in their foreheads to shevv they be not ashamed of Christ S. August tract 43. in Io. c Of al the tribes put together so many 144000. He signifieth by these thousands and the multitude folowing al the elect but the elect of the Ievves to be in a certaine number the elect of