abominable table CHAP. IX To them that so vaunted their libertie about Idolothyta he bringeth his ovvne example to vvit that he also had libertie to liue by the Gospel but yet that he vsed it not so to auoid scandal of the infirme and because it vvas more meritorious 24 Declaiming against their securitie and shevving them by similitudes and examples 24 both of him self 1 And of the Israelites that saluation is not so lightly come by 14 and so concludeth againe against eating of Idolothyta because it is also to commit idolatrie 22 and not onely to giue il example to the infirme verse 1 AM I not free Am I not an Apostle Haue I not seen Christ IESVS our Lord Are not you ″ my vvorke in our Lord ✠verse 2 And if to others I be not an Apostle but yet to you I am for you are the seale of my Apostleship in our Lord. ✠verse 3 my defense to them that examine me is this ✠verse 4 Haue not vve povver to eate and drinke ✠verse 5 Haue vve not povver to lead about ″ a vvoman a sister as also the rest of the Apostles and our Lordes brethren and Cephas ✠verse 6 Or I only and Barnabas haue not vve povver to doe this ✠verse 7 ″ Vvho euer plaieth the souldiar at his ovvne charges Vvho planteth a vine and eareth not of the fruite thereof Vvho feedeth a flocke and eateth not of the milke of the flocke ✠verse 8 Speake I these things according to man Or doth not the Lavv also say these things ✠verse 9 For it is vvritten in the Lavv of Moyses Thou shalt not moosel the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne Vvhy hath God care of oxen ✠verse 10 Or for vs certes doth he say it For they are vvritten for vs because he that eareth ought to eare in hope and he that treadeth in hope to receiue fruite ✠verse 11 If vve haue sovven vnto you spiritual things is it a great matter if vve reape your carnal things ✠verse 12 If other be partakers of your povver vvhy not vve rather Hovvbeit vve haue not vsed this povver but vve beare al things lest vve should giue any offence to the Gospel of Christ ✠verse 13 Knovv you not * that they which vvorke in the holy place eate the things that are of the holy place and they that serue the altar participat with the altar ✠verse 14 So also our Lord ordained for them that preach the Gospel to liue of the Gospel ✠verse 15 But I haue vsed none of these Neither haue I vvritten these things that they should be so done in me for it is good for me to die rather then that any man should make my glorie void ✠verse 16 For and ″ if I euangelize it is no glorie to me for necessitie lieth vpon me for vvoe is to me if I euangelize not ✠verse 17 For if I doe this vvillingly I haue revvard but if against my vvil a charge is committed to me ✠verse 18 Vvhat is my revvard then That preaching the Gospel I yeld the Gospel vvithout cost that I abuse not my povver in the Gospel ✠verse 19 For vvhereas I vvas free of al I made my self the seruant of al that I might gaine the moe ✠verse 20 And I became to the Ievves as a Ievv that I might gaine the Ievves ✠verse 21 to them that are vnder Lavv as though I vvere vnder the Lavv vvhereas my self vvas not vnder the Lavv that I might gaine them that vvere vnder the Lavv. to them that vvere vvithout the Lavv as though I vvere vvithout the Lavv vvhereas I vvas not vvithout the lavv of God but vvas in the lavv of Christ that I might gaine them that vvere vvithout the Lavv. ✠verse 22 To the vveake I became weake that I might gaine the weake To al men I became al things that I might saue al. ✠verse 23 And I doe al things for the Gospel ″ that I may be made partaker thereof ✠verse 24 Knovv you not that they that runne in the race al rūne in deede but one receiueth the price ″ So runne that you may obteine ✠verse 25 And euery one that striueth for the maistrie refraineth him self from al things and they certes that they may receiue a corruptible crovvne but vve an incorruptible ✠verse 26 I therfore so runne not as it vvere at an vncertaine thing so I fight not as it vvere beating the aire ✠verse 27 but ″ I chastise my body and bring it into seruitude ″ lest perhaps vvhen I haue preached to others my self become reprobate ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IX 1. My vvorke As he called him self before Gods coadiutor so here he boldly also chalengeth the Corinthians conuersion to be his handy worke in our Lord nothing derogating thereby frō Christ as the Protestants rudely charge the Fathers Catholike men vnder pretense of Gods honour for vsing such phrases or speaches in the Apostles sense of the Saincts or Sacraments 5. A vvoman a sister The Heretikes peruersely as they do al other places for the aduantage of their Sect expound this of the Apostles wiues and for vvoman translate vvife al belles founding vvedding to them Vvhere the Apostle meaneth plainely the deuout vvomen that after the maner of Ievvrie * did serue the preacher of necessaries of vvhich sort many folovved Christ and sustained him and his of their substance So doth S. Chrysostome Theodorete and al the Greekes Oecu in collect super hunc lo. take it So doth S. Augustine De op Monach. c. 4. and S. Hierom li. 1 adu Iouinianum c. 14. both disputing and prouing it by the very vvordes of the text S. Ambrose also vpon this place And the thing is most plaine for to vvhat end should he talke of burdening the Corinthiā vvith finding his vvife vvhen him self c. 7 7. 8. clerely saith that he vvas single 7. Who plaieth the souldiar He proueth by the Scriptures and natural reasons that Preachers and Pastors may chalenge their finding of their flocke though him self for causes had not nor intended not to vse his right and libertie therein 16. If I Euangelize If I should preach either of compulsion and seruil feare or mere necessitie not hauing othervvise to liue and sustaine my self in this vvorld I could not looke for revvard in heauen but novv doing it not onely as enioyned me but also as of loue and charitie and freely vvithout putting any man to cost and that voluntarely and of very desire to saue my hearers I shal haue my revvard of God yea and a revvard of Supererogation vvhich is giuen to them that of aboundant charitie do more in the seruice of God then they be commaunded as S. Augustine expoundeth it De op Mon. c. 5. 23. That I may be partaker A singular place to conuince the Protestants that vvil not haue men vvorke
the vvay vvith their vviues and children til vve vvere out of the citie and falling vpon our knees on the shore vve praied ✠verse 6 And vvhen vve had bid one an other farevvel vve vvent vp into the ship and they returned vnto their ovvne ✠verse 7 But vve hauing ended the nauigation from Tyre came dovvne to Prolomáis and saluting the brethren vve taried one day vvith them ✠verse 8 And the next day departing vve came to Caesarêa And entring into the house of * Philip the Euangelist vvho vvas one of the seuen vve taried vvith him ✠verse 9 And he had foure daughters virgins that did prophecie ✠verse 10 And as vve abode there for certaine daies there came a certaine prophet from Ievvrie named Agabus ✠verse 11 He vvheÌ„ he vvas come to vs tooke Paules girdle and binding his ovvne handes feete he said Thus saith the holy Ghost The man vvhose girdle this is so shal the Ievves binde in Hierusalem shal deliuer him into the handes of the Gentiles ✠verse 12 Vvhich when vve had heard vve they that vvere of the same place desired him that he would not goe vp to Hierusalem ✠verse 13 Then Paul ansvvered and said Vvhat doe you vveeping and afflicting my hart for I am ready not only to be bound but to die also in Hierusalem for the name of our Lord IESVS ✠verse 14 And vvhen vve could not persuade him we ceased saying The vvil of our Lord be done ✠verse 15 And after these daies being prepared vve vvent vp to Hierusalem ✠verse 16 And there came also of the disciples from Caesarêa vvith vs bringing vvith them one Iason a Cyprian vvith vvhom vve should lodge an old disciple ✠verse 17 And vvhen vve vvere come to Hierusalem the brethren receiued vs gladly ✠verse 18 And the day folovving Paul vvent in vvith vs to Iames and al the Auncients vvere assembled ✠verse 19 Vvhom vvhen he had saluted he told particularly vvhat God had done among the Gentiles by his ministerie ✠verse 20 But they hearing it magnified God and said to him Thou seest brother hovv many thousands there are among the Ievves that haue beleeued and al are zelátours of the Lavv. ✠verse 21 But they haue heard of thee that thou doest teach those Ievves that are among the Gentiles to depart from Moyses saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor vvalke according to the custome ✠verse 22 Vvhat is it then needes must the multitude assemble for they vvil heare that thou art come ✠verse 23 Doe this therfore vvhich vve tel thee There are vvith vs foure men that haue a vovve on them ✠verse 24 Taking these vnto thee sanctifie thy self vvith them and bestovv on them that they may * shaue their heads and al shal knovv that the things vvhich they heard of thee are false but that thy self also vvalkest â— keeping the Lavv. ✠verse 25 But concerning them that beleeue of the Gentils * vve haue written decreâ—ing that they should refraine them selues from the immolated to Idols and bloud and suffocated and fornication ✠verse 26 Then Paul taking the men vnto him the next day being purified vvith them entred into the temple shevving the accomplishment of the * daies of the purification vntil an oblation vvas offered for euery one of them ✠verse 27 But vvhiles the seuen daies vvere a finishing those Ievves that vvere of Asia vvhen they had seen him in the temple stirred vp al the people and laid handes vpon him ✠verse 28 crying Ye men of Israël this is the man that against the people the Lavv and this place teaching al men euery vvhere hath also moreouer brought in Gentiles into the temple and hath violated this holy place ✠verse 29 For they had seen TroÌ„phimus the Ephesian in the citie vvith him vvhom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple ✠verse 30 And the vvhole citie vvas in an vproare and there vvas made a concourse of the people And apprehending Paul they drevve him forth of the temple and immediatly the doores vvere shut ✠verse 31 And as they sought to kil him it vvas told the Tribune of the band That al Hierusalem is in a confusion ✠verse 32 Vvho forthvvith taking vnto him souldiars Centurions ranne dovvne to them Who vvheÌ„ they had seen the Tribune and the souldiars ceased to strike Paul ✠verse 33 Then the Tribune comming neere apprehended him and commaunded him to be bound vvith tvvo chaines and he demaunded vvho he vvas and vvhat he had done ✠verse 34 And some cried one thing some an other in the multitude And vvhereas he could not knovv the certaintie for the tumult he commaunded him to be led into the castel ✠verse 35 And vvhen he vvas come to the staires it chaunced that he vvas caried of the souldiars because of the violence of the people ✠verse 36 For the multitude of the people folovved crying Avvay vvith him ✠verse 37 And vvhen Paul began to be brought into the castel he saith to the Tribune Is it lavvful for me to speake something to thee Vvho said Canst thou speake Greeke ✠verse 38 Art not thou the Aegyptian that before these daies did raise a tumult and didst lead forth into the desert foure thousand men that vvere murderers ✠verse 39 And Paul said to him * I am a man truely a Ievvâ— of Tarsus a citizen not of an obscure citie of Cilicia And I desire thee permit me to speake to the people ✠verse 40 And vvhen he had permitted him Paul staÌ„ding on the staiers beckened with his hand to the people and great silence being made he spake vnto them in the Hebrevv tongue saying ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXI 9. Virgins S. Luke noteth specially that his daughters vvere Virgins meaning no doubt that they vvere of the state profession or purpose of perpetual virginitie not only that they vvere yong maides vnmaried and that they vvere the rather for that endued vvith the gift of prophecie as S. Hierom saith li. 1 adu Iouin c. 24. See Oecum c. 29 in hunc locum â—4 Keeping the Lavv. Al the obseruations of the Lavv vvere novv in them selues dead and vnprofitable yet til further propagation of the Gospel they vvere not damnable to the keepers nor offensiuâ— to God but might be obserued euen of the Christian Ievves and for feare of scandalizing the vveake of that nation nevvly conuerted or prone to receiue the faith the Apostles by Gods suggestion did thinke it good to obserue them as occasion required CHAP. XXII Being licensed by the Tribune to speake to the people he shevveth them that he vvas once as earnest on that side as they novv be 6 and hovv strange and miraculous his conuersion vvas 17 They heare him quietly vntil he began to make mention of a vision that sent him avvay from them to the Gentils 22 Then they crie out
and read as him self telleth li. 8 Confesâ—e 12. CHAP. XIIII Like a moderator and peacemaker betvvene the firme Christians vvho vvere the Gentils and the infirme vvho vvere the Christian Ievves hauing yet a scruple to cease from keeping the ceremonial meâ—tes and daies of Moyses Lavv be exhorteth the Ievv 〈◊〉 to condemne the Gentil vsing his libertie and the Gentil againe 〈◊〉 to condemne the â—â—rupulous â—ew but rather to abstaine from vsing his libertie and them offending the Ievv 〈◊〉 be an occasions vnto him of aposting verse 1 AND him that is vveake in faith take vnto you not in disputations of cogitatioÌ„s ✠verse 2 For one beleeueth that he may ″ eate al things but he that is vveake let him eate ' herbes ✠verse 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not and he that eateth not let him not iudge him that eateth for God hath taken him to him ✠verse 4 Vvho art thou that iudgest an other mans seruant To his ovvne Lord he standeth or falleth and he shal stand for God is able to make him stand ✠verse 5 For one iudgeth ″ betvveene day and day and an other iudgeth euery day let euery one abound ″ in his ovvne sense ✠verse 6 He that respecteth the day respecteth to our Lord. And he that eateth eateth to our Lord for he giueth thankes to God And he that eateth not to our Lord he eateth not and giueth thankes to God ✠verse 7 For none of vs liueth to him self no man dieth to him self ✠verse 8 For whether vve liue we liue to our Lord or vvhether we die we die to our Lord. Therfore vvhether vve liue or vvhether vve die vve are our Lords ✠verse 9 For to this end Christ died and rose againe that he may haue dominion both of the dead and of the liuing ✠verse 10 But thou vvhy iudgest thou thy brother or thou vvhy doest thou despise thy brother For * vve shal al stand before the iudgement seate of Christ ✠verse 11 For it is vvritten Liue I saith our Lord that euery knee shal bovve to me and euery tongue shal confesse to God ✠verse 12 Therfore euery one of vs for him self shal render account to God ✠verse 13 Let vs therfore no more iudge one an other but this iudge ye rather that you put not a stumbling blocke or a scandal to your brother ✠verse 14 I knovv and am persuaded in our Lord IESVS Christ that nothing is coÌ„mon of it self but to him that supposeth any thing to be coÌ„mon to him it is common ✠verse 15 For if because of meate thy brother be greeued novv thou vvalkest not according to charitie * Do not vvith thy meate destroy him for vvhom Christ died ✠verse 16 Let not then our good be blasphemed ✠verse 17 For the kingdom of God is ″ not meate and drinke but iustice and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost ✠verse 18 for he that in this serueth Christ pleaseth God and is acceptable to men ✠verse 19 Therfore the things that are of peace let vs pursue and the things that are of edifying one tovvard an other let vs keepe ✠verse 20 Destroy not the vvorke of God for meate * Al things in deede are cleane but it is il for the man that eateth by giuing offence ✠verse 21 It is good not to eate flesh and not to drinke vvine nor that vvherein thy brother is offended or scandalized or vveakened ✠verse 22 Hast thou faith ″ haue it vvith thy self before God Blessed is he that iudgeth not him self in that vvhich he approueth ✠verse 23 But ″ he that discerneth if he eate is damned because not of faith for ″ al that is not of faith is sinne ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIIII 2. Eate al things By similitude of vvordes the simple are soone deceiued and Heretikes make their vauntage of any thing to seduce the vnlearned There vvere diuers meates forbidden in the Lavv of Moyses and for signification made and counted vncleane vvhereof the Ievves might not eate aâ— al as porke hare conny and such like both of fishes foules and beasts a great number Christ discharged al them that became Christians after his Passion of that obseruance and al other ceremonies of the old Lavv Notvvithstanding because diuers that vvere brought vp in the Lavv had a religion and conscience sodenly to foresake their former maner the Apostle here admonisheth such as bestronger and 〈◊〉 instructed in the case to heare vvith the vveaker sort that being Christians could not yee finde in their hartes to eate and vse the meates forbidden by God in the Lavv as on the other side he vvarneth the vveake that vvould not eate not to take offence or scandal at them that did eate vvithout scruple any of the irregular or forbidden meates in the Lavv nor in any vvise to iudge or condemne the eater but to commit that to God and finally that neither nother should condemne the other for eating or not eating Now the Protestants foÌ„ndly apply al this to the fastes of the Church and differences of meates in the same as though the Church did forbid any meate vvholy neuer to be eaten or touched or made any creatures vncleane or othervvise prescribed any abstinence then for chastising of mens bodies and seruice of God It is a great blindnesse that they can put no difference betvvixt Christes fast of fourtie daies Mat. 4. Iohns abstaining from al delicate meates and drinkes Mat. 11. the vvidovv Annes Luc. â— 1â— the Nazareites Num. 6. the Recabites Ierem. 15 14. the Niniuities Ion. 3. S. Paules 2 Cor. 11 27. S. Timothees 1 Tim. 5 23. Iohns Disciples and Christs Disciples fast Mat. 9 14. 15. which he said they should keepe after his departure from them and the ceremonial distinction of creatures and meates cleane and vncleane in the old Lavv. of vvhich it is euident the Apostle treateth in al this chapter of none other at al. Therfore vvhen the Protestants by the vvordes of this place vvould proue that vve be either made free from fasting and from obeying the Churches commaundement or folovving Christes example in that matter or that the obseruers of Christian fastes be vveake in faith ought not in any vvise coÌ„demne of sinne the breakers of the prescribed fastes of the holy Church they doe abuse ignorantly or vvilfully the Apostles vvordes and discourse 5. Betvvene day and day By the like deceite they abuse this place against the Holy-daies of Christ and his B. mother and Saincts vvhich concerneth onely the Ievves festiuities and obseruation of times vvhereof in the Epistle to the Galatians c 4. 10. 6. Euery one in his ovvne sense The Apostle doth not giue freedom as the Churches enemies vvould haue it that euery man may doe or thinke vvhat he list but in this matter of Iudaical obseruation of daies and meates that for a time onely til the
And he spake the vvord openly And Peter taking him began to rebuke him ✠verse 33 Who turning and seeing his Disciples threatened Peter saying Goe behind me Satan because thou sauourest not the things that are of God but that are of men ✠verse 34 And calling the multitude together vvith his Disciples he said to them If any man vvil folovv me let him deny him self and take vp his crosse and folovv me ✠verse 35 For he that vvil saue his life shal lose it and he that shal lose his life ″ for me and the Gospel shal saue it ✠verse 36 For vvhat shal it profit a man if he ″ gaine the vvhole vvorld and suffer damage of his soule ✠verse 37 Or vvhat permutation shal a man giue for his soule ✠verse 38 For he that shal be ashamed of me and of my vvordes in this aduouterous and sinful generation the Sonne of man also vvil be ashamed of him vvhen he shal come in the glorie of his father vvith the holy Angels ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VIII 6. Gaue to his disciples He serueth the people not immediatly him self but by the Apostles ministerie to teach vs that we must receiue Christes Sacraments and doctrine not at our owne hand but of his Priests and our Pastours 7. Blessed them So is it in some ancient Greeke copies agreable to our Latin and in S. Luke expresly in the common Greeke text that he blessed the fiue loaues and the two fishes which must be alwaies marked against the Heretikes which denie this blessing to pertaine to the creatures but â—eine it alwaies to be referred to God for thanks giuing For if it were so he would haue said grace but once for that whole refection but he did seuerally blesse both the bread first and afterward the fishes also multiplying them by his said blessing as * he did mankind and other creatures in the beginning by blessing them and so working effectually some change or alteration in the very creatures them selues 35. For me and the Gospel By the Gospel is signified not only the foure Euangelistes but al Scriptures and whatsoeuer Christ said that is not in Scripture for he saith in this very place He that shal be ashamed of my wordes the Sonne of man wil be ashamed of him c. Neither his owne wordes only but whatsoeuer the Apostles taught in word or writing for our Sauiour saith He that despiseth you despiseth me For defence of any of al these and of euery Article of the Catholike faith we ought to die and this is to lose our life for Christ and his Gospel 36. Gaine the whole world Let such note this that for feare or flattery of the world coÌ„descend to obey the vniust lawes of men touching religion against their owne consciences and be content for the rest of a few daies of this life and for sauing their temporal goods to lose their soule and the ioyes of heauen CHAP. IX The more to confirme them he giueth them in his Transfiguration a sight of his glorie wherevnto Suffering doth bring 9 and then againe doth inculcate his Passion 14 A Diuel also he casteth out which his Disciples vpon whom therfore the peruerse Scribes triumphed in his absence could not for lacke of fasting and praying 30 Being yet in Galilee he reuealeth more about his Passion 33 And because in the way to Capharnaum they contended for the Primacie he teacheth them that humility is the way to Primacie before God 38 bidding them also not to prohibit such as be not against them nor to giue scandal to any one of the faithful and on the other side the faithful to auoid them by whom they may be scandalized and fall be they neuer so neere vnto them verse 1 AND he said to them Amen I say to you that there be some of them that stand here vvhich shal not tast of death vntil they see the kingdom of God comming in povver ✠verse 2 And after six daies IESVS â—aketh Peter and Iames and Iohn and bringeth them alone into a high mountaine apart and vvas transfigured before them ✠verse 3 And his garments vvere made glistering and vvhite excedingly as snovv the like vvhereof a fuller cannot make vvhite vpon the earth ✠verse 4 And there appeared to them Elias vvith Moyses and they vvere talking vvith IESVS ✠verse 5 And Peter ansvvering said to IESVS Rabbi it is good for vs to be here and let vs make three tabernacles one for thee and one for Moyses and one for Elias ✠verse 6 For he knevv not vvhat he said for they vvere frighted vvith feare ✠verse 7 and there vvas a cloude ouershadovving them and a voice came out of the cloude saying This is my Sonne most deere heare ye him ✠verse 8 And immediatly looking about they savv no man any more but IESVS only vvith them ✠verse 9 And as they desceÌ„ded from the mountaine he commaunded them that they should not tel any man vvhat things they had seen but vvhen the Sonne of man shal be risen againe from the dead ✠verse 10 And they kept in the vvord vvith them selues questioning together vvhat that should be when he shal be risen from the dead ✠verse 11 And they asked him saying What say the Pharisees then and the Scribes that * Elias must come first ✠verse 12 Who ansvvering said to them Elias vvhen he commeth first shal restore al things and hovv ' it is vvritten of the Sonne of man that he shal suffer many things and be contemned ✠verse 13 But I say to you that ″ Elias also is come and they haue done to him vvhatsoeuer they vvould as it is vvritten of him ✠verse 14 And * coÌ„ming to his Disciples he savv a great multitude about them and the Scribes questioning vvith them ✠verse 15 And forth vvith al the people seeing IESVS vvas astonied and much afraid and running to him saluted him ✠verse 16 And he asked them What do you question of among you ✠verse 17 And one of the multitude ansvvering said Maister I haue brought my sonne to thee hauing a dumme spirit ✠verse 18 who vvheresoeuer he taketh him dasheth him and he fometh and gnasheth vvith the teeth and vvithereth and I spake to thy Disciples to cast him out and they could not ✠verse 19 Who ansvvering them said O incredulous generation hovv long shal I be vvith you hovv long shal I suffer you bring him vnto me ✠verse 20 And they brought him And vvhen he had seen him immediatly the spirit troubled him and being throvven vpon the ground he tumbled foming ✠verse 21 And he asked his father Hovv long time is it since this hath chaunced vnto him But he said From his infancie ✠verse 22 and often times hath he cast him into fire and into vvaters to destroy him but if thou canst any thing helpe vs hauing compassion
Christian religion should be perfectly established he would haue no restrainte made but that euery one should be borne vvithal in his ovvne sense yet so that they should not condemne one an other nor make necessitie of saluation in the obseruation of the Iudaical rites of meates daies c. 17. Not meate and drinke The substance of religion or the kingdom of God standeth not in meate or drinke and therfore the better might they vse indifferencie and toleration in that point for a time for peace sake and to auoid scandal but if the precept of Moyses Lavv had bound still as before then not for the meates sake but for the disobedience it had been damnable to haue eaten the vncleane meates 22. Haue it vvith thy self Thou that art perfect and bleeuest or knovvest certainely that thou art free from the Lavv concerning meates and festiuities yet to the trouble and hinderance of the feeble that can not yet be brought so far be discrete vtter not thy self out of season 23. He that discerneth If the vveake haue a conscience and should be driuen to eate the things vvhich in his ovvne hart he thinketh he should not doe he committeth deadly sinne because he doth against his conscience or against his ovvne pretensed knovvledge â—â— Al this is not of faith The proper sense of this speach is that euery thing that a man doeth against his knovvledge or conscience is a sinne for so by the circumstance of the letter faith must here be taken though S. Augustine sometimes applieth it also to proue that al the actions of infidels meaning those vvorkes vvhich directly procede of their lacke of faith be sinnes But in any vvise take heede of the Heretikes commentarie vvho hereby vvould proue that the infidel sinneth in honouring his parents fighting for his countrie tilling his ground and in al other vvorkes And no maruel that they so hold of infidels vvho maintaine * that Christian men also offend deadly in euery good deede CHAP. XV. He procedeth to make peace betvvene the Christian Gentils and Ievves 8 vvith this resolution that the Ievves vocation is of promis in deede but the Gentils also of mercie and foretold by the Scriptures 14 Then dravving to his ende he excuseth him self to the Romanes for vvriting thus vnto them 21 hoping novv at length to see them after that he hath been at Hierusalem â—9 vvherevnto also he requesteth their praiers verse 1 AND vve that are the stroÌ„ger must susteine the infirmities of the vveake not please our selues ✠verse 2 Let euery one of you please his neighbour vnto good to edification ✠verse 3 For Christ did not please him self but as it is vvritten The reproches of them that reproched thee fel vpon me ✠verse 4 For vvhat things soeuer haue been vvritten to our learning they are vvritten that by the patience and consolation of the Scriptures vve may haue hope ✠verse 5 And the God of patience and of comfort giue you to be of one minde one tovvard an other according to IESVS Christ ✠verse 6 that of one minde vvith one mouth you may glorifie God and the Father of our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 7 For the vvhich cause receiue one an other as Christ also hath receiued you vnto the honour of God ✠verse 8 For I say Christ IESVS to haue been minister of the circumcision for the veritie of God to confirme the promisses of the fathers ✠verse 9 But the Gentils to honour God for his mercie as it is vvritten Therfore vvil I confesse to thee in the Gentils ô Lord and vvil sing to thy name ✠verse 10 And againe he saith Reioyce ye GeÌ„tils vvith his people ✠verse 11 And againe Praise al ye Gentils our Lord and magnifie him al ye peoples ✠verse 12 And againe Esaie saith There shal be the roote of Iesse and he that shal rise vp to rule the Gentils in him the Gentils shal hope ✠verse 13 And the God of hope replenish you vvith al ioy and peace in beleeuing that you may abound in hope and in the vertue of the holy Ghost ⊢ ✠verse 14 And I my self also my brethren am assured of you that you also are ful of loue replenished vvith al knowledge so that you are able to admonish one an other ✠verse 15 But I haue vvritten to you brethren more boldly in part as it were putting you in remembrance for the grace vvhich is giuen me of God ✠verse 16 to be the minister of Christ IESVS in the GeÌ„tils sanctifying the Gospel of God that the oblation of the Gentils may be made acceptable and sanctified in the holy Ghost ✠verse 17 I haue therfore glorie in Christ IESVS tovvard God ✠verse 18 For I dare not speake any of those things vvhich Christ vvorketh not by me for the obedience of the Gentils by vvord and deedes ✠verse 19 in the vertue of signes and vvoÌ„ders in the vertue of the holy Ghost so that from Hierusalem round about vnto Illyâ—icum I haue replenished the Gospel of Christ ✠verse 20 And I haue so preached this Gospel not vvhere Christ vvas named lest I should build vpon an other mans foundation ✠verse 21 but as it is vvritten They to vvhom it hath not been preached of him shall see and they that haue not heard shal vnderstand ✠verse 22 For the vvhich cause also I vvas hindred very much from comming vnto you ✠verse 23 But novv hauing no longer place in these 〈◊〉 and hauing a desire to come vnto you these many yeares novv passed ✠verse 24 vvhen I shal begin to take my iourney into a paine I hope that as I passe I shal see you and be brought thither of you if first in part I shal haue enioyed you ✠verse 25 Novv therfore I vvil goe vnto Hierusalem to minster to the saincts ✠verse 26 For Macedonia and Achaia haue liked vvel to make some contribution vpon the poore saincts that are in Hierusalem ✠verse 27 For it hath pleased them and they are their detters For if the Gentiles be made partakers of their spiritual things they ought also in carnal things to minister vnto them ✠verse 28 This therfore vvhen I shal haue accoÌ„plished and signed them this fruite I vvil goe by you into Spaine ✠verse 29 And I knovv that comming to you I shal come in aboundance of the blessing of Christ ✠verse 30 I beseeche you therfore brethren by our Lord IESVS Christ and by the charitie of the holy Ghost that you helpe me in your praiers for me to God ✠verse 31 that I may be deliuered from the infidels that are in Ievvrie and the oblation of my seruice may become acceptable in Hierusalem to the saincts ✠verse 32 that I may come to you in ioy by the vvil of God that I may be refreshed vvith you ✠verse 33
and diuers other in holy vvrite proue that he merited for him self according to al learned mens iudgement As Apoc 5. The lambe that vvas slaine is vvorthie to receiue povver and Diuinitie And Heb. 2. We see IESVS for the passion of death crowned vvith glorie and honour See S. Augustine vpoÌ„ these vvordes of the Psalme 109. propterea exaltabit caput 10. Name of IESVS By the like vvickednes they charge the faithful people for capping or kneeling vvhen they heare the name of IESVS as though they vvorshipped not our Lord God therein but the syllables or letters or other material elemeÌ„ts vvhereof the vvord vvritten or spoken consisteth and al this by sophistications to dravv the people from due honour and deuotion tovvard CHRIST IESVS vvhich is Satans drift by putting scruples into poore simple mens mindes about his Sacraments his Saincts his Crosse his name his image such like to abolish al true religioÌ„ out of the vvorld and to make them plaine Atheists But the Church knovveth Satans cogitations and therfore by the Scriptures and reason vvarranteth and teacheth al her children to do reuerence vvhen so euer IESVS is named because Catholikes do not honour these things nor count them holy for their matter colour sound and syllables but for the respect and relation they haue to ouâ— Sauiour bringing vs to the remembrance and apprehension of Christ by sight hearing or vse of the same signes els vvhy make vve not reuerence at the name of Iesus the sonne of â—irach as vvel as of IESVS CHRIST And it is a pitieful case to see these prophane subtelties of Heretikes to take place in religion vvhich vvere ridiculous in al other trade of life Vvhen vve heare our Prince or Soueraine named vve may vvithout these scruples doe obeisance but tovvardes Christ it must be superstitious 12. With feare and trembling Against the vaine presumption of Heretikes that make men secure of their predestination and saluation he vvilleth the Philippians to vvorke their saluation vvith feare and trembling according to that other Scripture Blessed is the man that alvvaies iâ— fearful Prouerb 28 v. 14. 13. Worketh in you Of this thus saith S. Augustine Not because the Apostle saith it is God that vvorketh in you both to vvil and vvorke must vve thinke he taketh avvay our free vvill For if it vvere so then vvould he not a litle before haue vvilled them to vvorke their ovvne saluation vvith feare and trembling For vvhen they be commaunded to vvorke their free vvil is called vpon but vvith trembling and feare is added lâ—st by attributing their vvel vvorking to them selues they might be proud of their good deedes as though they vvere of them selues August de gratia lib. arbit c. 9. 17. The sacrifice The obedience of faith and matryrdom be so acceptable actes to God vvhen they be voluntarily referred to his honour that by a metaphore they be called sacrifice and pleasant hostes to God CHAP. III. He vvarnâ—th them of the False-apostles * shevving that him self had much more to bragge of in Iudaisme then they but that he maketh price of nothing but only of Christ and of Christian iustice and of suffering vvith him 12 vvherein yet he acknovvledgeth his imperfection 17 exhorting them to beare Christes Crosse vvith him and not to imitate those bellygods verse 1 FROM hence forth my brethren reioyce in our Lord. To vvrite the same things vnto you to me surely it is not tedious and to you it is necessarie ✠verse 2 See the dogges see the euil vvorkers see the concisioÌ„ ✠verse 3 For vve are the circumcision vvhich in spirit serue God and vve glorie in Christ IESVS and not hauing confidence in the flesh ✠verse 4 albeit I also haue confidence in the flesh ✠If any other man seeme to haue confidence in the flesh I more ✠verse 5 circumcised the eight day of the stocke of Israël of the tribe of Beniamin * an Hebrevv of Hebrevves * according to the Lavv a Pharisee ✠verse 6 according to emulation persecuting the Church of God according to the iustice that is in the Lavv conuersing vvithout blame ✠verse 7 But the things that vvere gaines to me those haue I esteemed for Christ detriments ✠verse 8 Yea but I esteeme al things to be detriment for the passing knovvledge of IESVS Christ my Lord for vvhom I haue made al things as detriment and do esteeme them as dung that I may gaine Christ ✠verse 9 and may be found in him not hauing ″ my iustice vvhich is of the Lavv but that vvhich is of the faith of Christ vvhich is of God iustice in faith ✠verse 10 to knovv him and the vertue of his resurrection and the societie of his passions configured to his death ✠verse 11 if by any meanes I may come to the resurrection vvhich is from the dead ✠verse 12 ″ Not that novv I haue receiued or novv am perfect but I pursue if I may comprehend vvherein I am also comprehended of Christ IESVS ⊢ ✠verse 13 Brethren I do not account that I haue comprehended Yet one thing forgetting the things that are behinde but stretching forth my self to those that are before ✠verse 14 I pursue to the marke to the price of the supernal vocation of God in Christ IESVS ✠verse 15 Let vs therfore as many as are perfect be thus minded and if you be any ″ othervvise minded this also God hath reuealed ' to you ✠verse 16 Neuerthelesse vvherevnto we are come that vve be of the same minde let vs continue in the same rule ✠verse 17 Be folovvers of me brethren obserue them that vvalke so as you haue our forme ✠verse 18 For * many vvalke vvhom often I told you of and novv vveeping also I tel you the enemies of the crosse of Christ ✠verse 19 vvhose end is destruction vvhose God is the belly and their glorie in their confusion vvhich minde vvorldly things ✠verse 20 But our conuersation is in heauen vvhence also vve expect the Sauiour our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 21 vvho vvil reforme the body of our humilitie configured to the body of his glorie according to the operation vvhereby also he is able to subdue al things to him self ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III. 9. My iustice Diuers Lutherans in their translations do shamfully mangle this sentence by transposing the vvordes and false poluting of the partes hereof to make it haue this sense that the Apostle vvould haue no iustice of his ovvne but onely that iustice vvhich is in Christ Vvhich is a false and heretical sense of the vvordes and not meant by S. Paul vvho calleth that a mans ovvne Iustice vvhich he chalengeth by the vvorkes of the Lavv or nature vvithout the grace of Christ and that Gods iustice as S. Augustine expoundeth this place not vvhich is in God or by vvhich God is