and iustly ansvvering to the time and vveight of his trauels and vvorkes in vvhich sense the Scripture saith Dignus est operarius mercede sua the vvorkeman is vvorthy of his hire rather then a free gift though because faithful men must acknovvledge that their merites be the giftes and graces of God they rather vse the vvord revvard then hire stipend or repaiment though in deede it be al one as you may see by diuers places of holy vvrite as * My merces revvard is vvith me to render to euery one * according to his vvorkes And Our Lord vvil â—ender vnto me according to my iustice Ps 1â— And the very vvord it self merite equiualent to the Greeke is vsed thus Mercie shal make a place to euery one * according to the merite of workes Ecclâ—i 16 15. And If you doe your iustice before men you shal not haue reward in heauen Mat. 6 1. Vvhere you see that the revvard of heauen is recompense of iustice And the euasion of the Heretikes is friuolous and euidently false as the former and like vvordes do conuince for they say heauen is our Merces or revvard not because is is due to our vvorkes but to the promes of God vvhere the vvordes be plaine According to euery mans vvorkes or labours vpon vvhich vvorkes and for vvhich vvorkes conditionally the promes of heauen vvas made 12. Vpon this foundation The foundaion is Christ and faith in him vvorking by charitie The vppes building may be either pure and perfect matter of gold siluer and pretious stone vvhich according to the most authentical and probable exposition be good vvorkes of charitie and al Christian iustice done by Gods grace or els vvood hay stubble vvhich signifie the manifold actes of mans infirmitie and his venial sinnes Vvhich more or lesse mixed and medled vvith the better matter aforesaid require more or lesse punishmeÌ„t or purgation at the day of our death At vvhich day if by penance or other meanes in the Church the said venial sinnes be before hand cleansed there shal neede no purgiug at al but they shal straight receiue the reward due to them 13. Shal be manifest Vvhether our life and workes be pure and neede no cleansing novv in this vvorld is hard to iudge but the day of our Lord vvhich is at our death vvil make it plaine in vvhat termes euery mans life is tovvards God for then Purgatorie fire shal reueale and proue it for vvhosoeuer hath any impure matter of venial sinnes or such other dettes to Gods iustice paiable and purgable must into that fire and after due paiment and cleansing be saued through the same Vvhere the vvorkes of the perfect men and such as died vvith al dettes paied cleansed or forgiuen are quitted from the fire and neuer incurre damage paine or losse thereby The places of fathers expounding this for Purgatorie be very many most euident vvhich are cited in the last Annotation folovving 1â— The day of our Lord shal declare That this purgation rather signifieth the place of Gods iustice after our death then any affliction in this life the Apostles precise specifying of fire declareth and of reuealing and notifying the difference of mens vvorkes by the same vvhich is not done euidently euer in this life and namely the vvord day of our Lord vvhich commonly and properly signifieth in Scripture and namely in this Apostle 1 Cor. 3 5. 2 Cor. 1 1â— Philip. 1 10. 6. 1 Thes â— 2. 2 Thes 2 2. either the particular or the general iudgement and therfore that the trial spoken of is not properly nor litterally meant any affliction or aduersitie of this life as Caluin also coÌ„fesseth coyning a folish nevv construction of his ovvne Vvhere you may note also in that mans Commentarie that this vvord dies Domini vvas so preiudicial against him and al other expositions of the trial to be made in this vvorld that he vvould gladly haue Domini ouâ— reading thus A day shal â—â—me vvhich shal open c. Vvhere vnderstand that if it vvere only Dies as * in the Greeke yet thereby also the Scripture is vvont to signifie the self same thing as 2 Tim. 1 12. 28. and 2 Tim. 4 8. and Heb. 10 25 the day as in this place vvith the greeke article only vvhich is al one vvith Dies illa or Dies Domini 15. As by fire S. Augustine vpon these vvordes of the Psalme 37. Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation nor amend me in thy vvrath For it shal come to passe saith he that some be amended in the vvrath of God and be rebuked in his indignation And not al perhaps that are rebuked shal be amended but yet some there shal be saued by amending It shal be so surely because amending it â—amed yet so as by fire but some there shal be that shal be rebuked and not amended to vvhom he shal say Goe ye into euerlasting fire Fearing therfore these more greuous paines he desireth that he may neither be rebuked in indignation by eternal fire nor amended in his vvrath that is to say Purge me in this life and make me such an one as shal not neede the amending fire being for them vvhich shal be saued yet so as by fire Wherfore but because here they build vpon this foundation vvood hay stubble for if they did build gold siluer and pretious stones they should be secure from both fires not onely from that eternal vvhich shal torment the impious eternally but also from that vvhich shal amend them that shal be saued by fire for it is said he shal be safe yet so as by fire And because it is said he shal be safe that fire is coÌ„temned Yea verely though safe by fire yet that fire shal be more greuous then vvhatsoeuer a man can suffer in this life And you knovv hovv great euils the vvicked haue suffered and may suffer yet they haue suffered such as the good also might suffer for vvhat hath any malefactor suffered by the lavves that a Martyr hath not suffered in the confession of Christ These euils therfore that are here be much more easie and yet see hovv men not to suffer them doe vvhatsoeuer thou coÌ„maundest Hovv much better doe they that vvhich God commaundeth that they may not suffer thâ—se greater paines Thus far S. Augustine See S. Ambr. vpon this place 1 Cor. 3. Ser. 20 in Psal â—18 Hiero. li. 2 c. 13 adu Iouinianum Gieg. li. 4. Dialog c. â—9 in Psal 1. Pâ—nit in principie Origen 〈◊〉 â— in c. 15. Exod. and bâ— 14 in c. 24. Leuit. CHAP. IIII. He requireth to be esteemed for his office but regardeth not to be praised of man for his vertue considering that neither his ovvne conscience is a sufficient iudge thereof but onely God vvho seeth al. 8 He toucheth them for contemning in their pride the Apostles them selues as miserable 18 threatening to come to those proude Falseapostles vvho vvere the
more infirme and ignorant sort of Christian men be called sensual or carnal also vvho being occupied in secular affaires and giuen to sensual ioy and vvorldlines haue no such sense nor feeling of these great gifts of God as the perfecter sort of the faithful haue Vvho trying these high pointes of religion not by reason and sense but by grace faith and Spirit be therfore called spiritual The spiritual then is he that iudgeth and discerneth the truth of such things as the carnal can not attaine vnto that doth by the spirit of the Church vvhereof he is partaker in the vnitie of the same not onely see the errours of the carnal but condemneth them and iudgeth euery povver resisting Gods spirit and vvord the carnal Ievv Heathen or Heretike hauing no meanes nor right to iudge of the said spiritual man For vvhen the spiritual is said to be iudged of none the meaning is not that he should not be subiect or obedient to his Pastors and spiritual Povvers and to the vvhole Church specially for the trial or examination of al his life doctrine and faith but that a Catholike man and namely a teacher of Catholike doctrine in the Church should not be any vvhit subiect to the iudgement of the Heathen or the Heretike nor care vvhat of ignorance or infidelitie they say against him for such carnal men haue no iudgement in such things nor can attaine to the Churches vvisedom in any ceremonie mysterie or matter vvhich they condemne Therfore S. Irenaeus excellently declaring that the Church and query spiritual childe thereof iudgeth and condemneth al false Prophets and Heretikes of vvhat sort so euer at length he concludeth vvith these notable vvordes The spiritual shal iudge also all that make schismes vvhich be cruel not hauing the loue of God and respecting their ovvne priuate more then the vnitie of the Church mangle deuide and as much as in them lieth kill for smal causes the great and glorious body of Christ speaking peace and seeking battaile He shal iudge also them that be out of the truth that is to say out of the Church vvhich Church shal be vnder no mans iudgement for to the Church are al things knovven in vvhich is perfect faith of the Father and of al the dispensation of Christ and firme knovvledge of the Holy Ghost that teacheth all truth CHA. III. If they vvil not be carnal stil they must boast in God only not in their preachers which are but his ministers 10 and neede to looke vvel hovv they preach 12 because not al preaching though it be Catholike is meritorious but rather it buildeth matter to be purged by fire vvhen it is vaine and vnfruitful as also any other like vvorkes of other Catholikes marie if it be heretical destroying the temple of God then it vvorketh damnation 18 The remedie is to humble them selues and referre al to God verse 1 AND I brethren could not speake to you as to spiritual but as to carnal As it vvere to litle ones in Christ ✠verse 2 I gaue you milke to drinke not meate for you could not as yet but neither can you novv verely for yet you are carnal ✠verse 3 For vvhereas there is among you emulation and contention are you not carnal and vvalke according to man ✠verse 4 For vvhen one saith I certes am Paules an other I Apollos are you not â—men ' Vvhat is Apollo then and vvhat is Paul ✠verse 5 The ministers of him vvhom you haue beleeued to euery one as our Lord hath giuen ✠verse 6 I planted Apollo vvatered but God gaue the increase ✠verse 7 Therfore neither he that planteth is any thing nor he that vvatereth but he that giueth the increase God ✠verse 8 And he that planteth and he that vvatereth are one And â— euery one shal receiue his owne reward according to his ovvne labour ✠verse 9 For vve are Gods coadiutors you are Gods husbandrie you are Gods building ✠verse 10 According to the grace that is giuen me as a vvise vvorkemaster haue I laid the foundation and an other buildeth therevpon but let euery one looke hovv he buildeth thereon ✠verse 11 For other foundation no man can lay beside that vvhich is laid vvhich is Christ IESVS ✠verse 12 And if any man build â— vpon this foundation gold siluer pretious stones vvood hay stubble ✠verse 13 the vvorke of euery one â— shal be manifest for â— the day of our Lord vvil declare because it shal be reuealed in fire and the vvorke of euery one of vvhat kinde it is the fire shal trie ✠verse 14 If any mans vvorke abide vvhich he built therevpon he shal receiue revvard ✠verse 15 If any mans vvorke burne he shal suffer detriment but him self shal be saued yet so â— as by fire ✠verse 16 Knovv you not that you are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dvvelleth in you ✠verse 17 But if any violate the temple of God God vvil destroy him For the temple of God is holy vvhich you are ✠verse 18 Let no man seduce him self if any man seeme to be vvise among you in this world let him become a foole that he may be vvise ✠verse 19 For the vvisedom of this vvorld is folishnes vvith God For it is vvritten I vvil compasse the vvise in their subteltie ✠verse 20 And againe Our Lord knovveth the cogitations of the vvise that they be â—aine ✠verse 21 Let no man therfore glorie in men For al things are yours ✠verse 22 vvhether it be Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the vvorld or life or death or things present or things to come for al are yours ✠verse 23 and you are Christs and Christ is Gods ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III. 8. Euery man shal receiue according A most plaine text for proofe that men by their labours and by the diuersities thereof shal be diuersly revvarded in heauen and therfore that by their vvorkes proceding of grace they do deserue or merite heauen and the more or lesse ioy in the same for though the holy Scripture coÌ„monly vse not this vvord merite yet in places innumerable of the old and nevv Testament the very true sense of merite is conteined and so often as the vvord merces and the like be vsed they be euer vnderstood as correlatiues or correspondent vnto it for if the ioy of heauen be â—erribution repaiment hire vvages for vvorkes as in infinite places of holy Scripture then the vvorkes can be none other but the valure deseit price vvorth and merite of the same And in deede this vvord revvard vvhich in our English tonge may signifie a volutary or bountiful gift doth not so vvel expresse the nature of the * Latin vvord or the Greeke vvhich are rather the very stipend that the hired vvorkeman or iournieman couenanteth to haue of him vvhose vvorke he doth and is a thing equally
of the bridegrome This my ioy therfore is filled ✠verse 30 He must increase and I diminishe ✠verse 31 ″ He that coÌ„meth from aboue is aboue al. He that is of the earth of the earth he is and of the earth he speaketh He that commeth from heauen is aboue al. ✠verse 32 And vvhat he hath seen and heard that he testifieth and his testimonie no man receiueth ✠verse 33 He that hath receiued his testimonie hath signed that God is true ✠verse 34 For he vvhom God hath sent speaketh the vvordes of God for God doth not giue the spirit by measure ✠verse 35 The Father loueth the Sonne he hath giuen al things in his hand ✠verse 36 He that beleeueth in the Sonne hath life euerlasting but he that is incredulous to the Sonne shal not see life but the vvrath of God remaineth vpon him ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III. 5. Bornâ— againe of water As no man can enter into this world not haue his life an I being in the same except he be borne of his carnal parents no more can a maÌ„ enter into the life state of grace which is in Christ or attaine to life euerlasting vnles he be borne and baptized of water and the Holy Ghost whereby we see first this Sacrament to be called our regeneration or second birth in respect of our natural and carnal which was before Secondly that this Sacrament consisteth of an external element of water and internal vertue of the Holy Spirit wherein it excelleth Iohns Baptisme which had the external element but nor the spiritual grace thirdly that no man can enter into the kingdom of God not into the fellowship of Holy Church without it Whereby the * Pelagians and Caluinists be condemned that promisse life euerlasting to yong children that die without Baptisme and al other that thinke onely faith to serue or the external element of water superfluous or not necessarie our Sauiours wordes being plaine and general Though in this cafe God which hath not bound his grace in respect of his owne freedom to any Sacrament may and doth accept them as baptized which either are martyred before they could be baptized or els depart this life with vow and desire to haue that Sacrament but by some remedilesse necessirie could not obtaine it Lastly it is proued that this Sacrament giueth grace ex opere operato that is of the worke itself which al Protestants denie because it so breedeth our spiritual life in God as our carnal birth giueth the life of the world 18. It iudged already He that beleeueth in Christ with faith which worketh by charitie as the Apostle speaketh shal not be condemned at the later day nor at the houre of his death but the infidel be he Iew Pagan or Heretike is already if he die in his incredulitie by his owne profession and sentence condemned and shal not come to iudgement either particular or general to be discussed according to his workes of mercie done or omitted In which sense S. Paul faith that the obstinate Heretike is condemned by his owne iudgement preuenting in him self of his owne free wil the sentence both of Christ and of the Church 31. He that commeth from aboue As though he should say No maruel that men resort to Christ so fast and make lesse account of me for his baptisme and his preaching and his person are al from heauen immediatly He bringeth al from the very bosome mouth and substance of God his Father Whatsoeuer is in me is but a litle drop of his grace His spirit and graces are aboue al measures or mens gifts euen according to his Manhod and al power temporal and spiritual the kingdom and the Priesthod and al soueraintie in heauen and earth are bestowed vpon him as he is man also CHAP. IIII. Leauing Ievvrie because of the Pharisees in the vvay to Galilee he talketh vvith a Samaritane vvoman telling her that he vvil giue vvater of euerlasting life 16 shevving him self to knovv mens secretes 19 preferring the Ievves religion before the Samaritanes but ours the Christian Catholike religion before them both 25 and vttering vnto her that he is Christ 28 vvhich by her testimonie and his preaching very many Samaritanes do beleeue he in the meane time fore telling his Disciples of the haruest he vvil send them in to 45 The Galilaans also receiue him vvhere againe he vvorketh his second miracle verse 1 WHEN IESVS therfore vnderstoode that the Pharisees heard that IESVS maketh mo Disciples and baptizeth theÌ„ Iohn ✠verse 2 hovvbeit IESVS did not baptize but his Disciples ✠verse 3 he left Ievvrie and vvent againe into Galilee ✠verse 4 and he had of necessitie to passe through Samaria ✠verse 5 He commeth therfore into a citie of Samaria vvhich is called Sichar * beside the maner that Iacob gaue to Ioseph his sonne ✠verse 6 And there vvas there the fountaine of Iacob IESVS therfore vvearied of his iourney saâ—e so vpon the fountaine It vvas about the sixt houre ✠verse 7 There commeth a vvoman of Samaria to dravv vvater IESVS saith to her Giue me to drinke ✠verse 8 For his Disciples vvere gone into the citie to bie meates ✠verse 9 Therfore that Samaritane vvoman saith to him Hovv doest thou being a Ievve aske of me to drinke vvhich am a Samaritane vvomaÌ„ For the Ievves do not communicate vvith the Samaritanes ✠verse 10 IESVS ansvvered and said to her If thou didst knovv the gift of God and vvho he is that saith vnto thee Giue me to drinke thou perhaps vvouldest haue asked of him and he vvould haue giuen thee liuing vvater ✠verse 11 The vvoman saith to him Sir neither hast thou vvherein to dravv and the vvel is deepe vvhence hast thou the liuing vvater ✠verse 12 art thou greater then our father Iacob vvho gaue vs the vvel and him self dranke of it and his children and his cattel ✠verse 13 IESVS ansvvered and said to her Euery one that drinketh of this vvater shal thirst againe but he that shal drinke of the vvater that I vvil giue him shal not thirst for euer ✠verse 14 but the vvater that I vvil giue him shal become in him a fountaine of vvater springing vp vnto life euerlasting ✠verse 15 The vvoman saith to him Lord giue me this vvater that I may not thirst nor come hither to dravv ✠verse 16 IESVS saith to her Goe call thy husband and come hither ✠verse 17 The vvoman ansvvered and said I haue no husband IESVS saith to her Thou hast said vvel that I haue no husband ✠verse 18 For thou hast had fiue husbands and he vvhom thou novv hast is not thy husband this thou hast said truely ✠verse 19 The vvoman saith to him Lord I perceiue that thou art a Prophet ✠verse 20 ″ Our father 's adored in this mountaine and you say * that at Hierusalem is
Pauls vvritings hold this for a certaintie as the Apostles ovvne defense vvhatsoeuer he seeme to say hereafter sounding in their sense that sinne commeth of God or may therfore be committed that he may vvorke good thereof that the Apostle him self condemneth that sense as slaunderous and blasphemous 10. Not any iust These general speaches that both Ievv and Gentile be in sinne and none at al iust are not so to be taken that none in neither sort vvere euer good the Scriptures expresly saying that Iob Zacharie Elisabeth and such like vvere iust before God it vvere blasphemie to say that these vvordes alleaged out of the 13 Psalme vvere meant in Christes mother in S. Iohn the Baptist in the Apostles c. For this only is the sense that neither by the lavv of nature nor lavv of Moyses could any man be iust or auoid such sinnes as here be reckened but by faith and the grace of God by vvhich there vvere a number in al ages specially among the Ievves that vvere iust and holy vvhom these vvordes touch not being spoken only to the multitude of the vvicked vvhich the Prophet maketh as it vvere a seueral body conspiring against Christ and persecuting the iust and godly of vvhich il companie he saith that none vvas iust nor feared God 20. By the vvorkes of the Lavv. S. Hierom and S. Chrysostom expound this of the ceremonial vvorkes only and in that sense the Apostle specially prosecuteth this proposition in his Epistle to the Galatians but it is true also of al mans moral vvorkes done vvithout faith the grace of God vvhich can not be acceptable or auailable in Gods sight to iustifie any man And so S. Augustine taketh it de Sp. lit c. â— to â— 22. Iustice of God Bevvare of the vvicked and vaine commentarie of the Caluinistes glosing the iustice of God to be that vvhich is resident in Christ apprehended by our faith and so that imputed to vs vvhich vve in deede haue not Vvherein at once they haue forged them selues against Gods manifest vvord a nevv no iustice a phantastical apprehension of that vvhich is not a false faith and vntrue imputation vvhereas the iustice of God here is that vvherevvith he endueth a man at his first conuersion and is novv in a man and therfore mans iustice but yet Gods Iustice also because it is of God Of this iustice in vs vvhereby vve be truely iustified and in deede made iust S. Augustine speaketh thus The grace of Christ doth vvorke our illumination and iustification invvardly also And againe He giueth to the faithful the most secrete grace of his Spirit vvhich seâ—retly he povvreth into infants also And againe They are iustified in Christ that beleeue in him through the secrete communication and inspiration of spiritual grace vvhereby euery one leaneth to our Lord. And againe Hemaketh iust â—eâ—evving by the Spirit and regeneration by grace 28. By faith vvithout vvorkes This is the place vvherevpon the Protestants gather falsly their only faith and vvhich they commonly auouch as though the Apostle said that only faith doth iustifie Vvhere he both in vvordes and meaning excepteth only the vvorkes of the Lavv done vvithout Christ before our conuersion neither excluding the Sacraments of Baptisme or Penance not hope and charitie or other Christian vertues al vvhich be the iustice of faith as the good vvorkes proceding thereof be likevvise the lavv and iustice of faith Al vvhich the Aduersaries vvould exclude by foisting in the terâ—e only Of vvhich kind of men S. Augustine vpon this place faith thus Men not vnderstanding that vvhich the Apostle saith vve counte a man to be iustified by faith vvithout the vvorkes of the Lavv did thinke that he said faith vvould suffise a man though he liued il and had no good vvorkes Which God forbid the vessel of election should thinke vvho in a certaine place after he had said * In Christ IESVS neither circumcision nor prepuce auaileth any vvhit he straight added but faith vvhich vvorketh by loue CHAP. IIII. That Abraham vvas not iustified by his ovvne povver but by Gods grace in vvhom he beleeued 6 vvhich is a vvay for the sinner also to come to iustice 9 And that seing he vvas not as then circumcised not only the circumcised lovv but also the vncircumcised Gentil may by beleeuing the Christian faith come to iustice as Abraham did 〈◊〉 specially considering also that Abraham vvas promised to be Father of the vvhole vvorld and not only of the Ievves to vvhom onely the Lavv vvas giuen and that not to fulfil the promise but for an other cause verse 1 VVHAT shal vve say then that ″ Abraham did finde our father according to the flesh ✠verse 2 For if Abraham vvere iustified ″ by vvorkes he hath glorie but not vvith God ✠verse 3 For vvhat saieth the Scripture Abraham beleeued God and it vvas reputed him to iustice ✠verse 4 But ″ to him that vvorketh the revvard is not imputed according to grace but according to dette ✠verse 5 But ″ to him that vvorketh not yet beleeueth in him that iustifieth the impious his faith is reputed to iustice according to the purpose of the grace of God ✠verse 6 ″ As Dauid also termeth the blessednes of a man to vvhom God reputeth iustice vvithout vvorkes ✠verse 7 Blessed are they vvhose iniquities be forgiuen and vvhose sinnes be ″ couered ✠verse 8 Blessed is the man to vvhom our Lord hath not imputed sinne ✠verse 9 This blessednes then doth it abide in the circumcision or in the prepuce also For vve say that vnto Abraham faith vvas reputed to iustice ✠verse 10 Hovv vvas it reputed in circumcision or in prepuce Not in circumcision but in prepuce ✠verse 11 And * he receiued the signe of circumcision ″ a seale of the iustice of faith that is in prepuce that he might be the father of al that beleeue by the prepuce that vnto them also it may be reputed to iustice ✠verse 12 and might be father of circumcision not to them only that are of the circumcision but to them also that folovv the steppes of the faith that is in the prepuce of our father Abraham ✠verse 13 For not by the Lavv vvas the promisse to Abraham or to his seede that he should be heire of the vvorld but by the iustice of faith ✠verse 14 For if they that are of the Lavv be heires faith is made voide the promisse is abolished ✠verse 15 For the Lavv vvorketh vvrath For vvhere is no lavv neither is there preuarication ✠verse 16 Therfore of faith that according to grace the promisse may be firme to al the seede not to that only vvhich is of the Lavv but to that also vvhich is of the faith of Abraham vvho is the father of vs al as it is vvritten ✠verse 17 For a
that vve may fructifie to God ✠verse 5 For vvhen vve vvere in the flesh the passions of sinnes that vvere by the Lavv did vvorke in our members to fructifie vnto death ✠verse 6 but novv vve are loosed from the lavv of death vvherein vve vvere deteined in so much vve serue in nevvnesse of spirit and not in the oldnes of the letter ✠verse 7 Vvhat shal vve say then is the Lavv sinne God forbid But sinne I did not knovv but by the Lavv. for concupisceÌ„ce I knevv not vnlesse the lavv did say ″ Thou shalt not couet ✠verse 8 But ocoasion being taken sinne by the commaundement vvrought in me al coÌ„cupiscence For vvithout the Lavv sinne vvas dead ✠verse 9 And I liued vvithout the Lavv sometime But vvhen the commaundement vvas come sinne reuiued ✠verse 10 And I vvas dead and the commaundement that vvas vnto life the same to me vvas found to be vnto death ✠verse 11 For sinne taking occasion by the commaundement seduced me and by it killed me ✠verse 12 Therfore * the Lavv in deede is holy and the commaundement holy and iust and good ✠verse 13 That theÌ„ vvhich is good to me vvas it made death God forbid but sinne that it may appeare sinne by the good thing vvrought me death that sinne might become sinning aboue measure by the coÌ„maundemeÌ„t ✠verse 14 For vve knovv that the Law is spiritual but I am carnal sold vnder sinne ✠verse 15 For ″ that which I vvorke I vnderstand not for ″ not that vvhich I vvil the same do I but vvhich I hate that I doe ✠verse 16 And if that vvhich I vvil not the same I doe I coÌ„sent to the Lavv that it is good ✠verse 17 But novv not I vvorke it any more but the sinne that dvvelleth in me ✠verse 18 For I know that there dvvelleth not in me that is to say in my flesh good For to vvil is preseÌ„t vvith me but to accomplish that vvhich is good I finde not ✠verse 19 For ″ not the good vvhich I vvil that doe I but the euil ″ vvhich I vvil not that I doe ✠verse 20 And if that vvhich I vvil not the same I doe novv not I vvorke it but the sinne that dvvelleth in me ✠verse 21 I finde therfore the Lavv to me hauing a vvil to doe good that euil is present vvith me ✠verse 22 For I am delighted vvith the lavv of God according to the invvard man ✠verse 23 but I see an other lavv in my members repugning to the lavv of my minde and captiuing me in the lavv of sinne that is in my members ✠verse 24 Vnhappie man that I am vvho shal deliuer me from the body of this death ✠verse 25 The grace of God by IESVS Christ our Lord. ⊢ Therfore I my self ″ vvith the minde serue the lavv of God but vvith the flesh the lavv of sinne ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VII â— Thou shalt not â—â—uet It is not the habitual concupiscence or infirmitie of our nature or sénsual desire or inclination to euil coueting against the spirit that is forbidden properly in this precept but the consent of our reason and minde vnto it to obey and folovv the lustes thereof that is a sinne and prohibited 15. That vvhich I vvorke This being vnderstood of S. Paul himself or any other iust person the sense is that the flesh and inferiour part stirreth vp diuerse disordered motions and passions or perturbations against the minde and vpon such a soden sometimes inuadeth the same that before it atteÌ„deth or reason can gather it self to deliberate maÌ„ is in a sort though vnvvittingly entangled Vvhich as soone as it is perceiued being of the iust condemned reiected and resisted neuer maketh him a sinner 15. Not that vvhich I vvil He meaneth not that he can do no good that he vvilleth or desireth or that he is euer forced to do that vvhich his vvill agreeth not vnto but that by reason of the forciblenesse of concupiscence vvhere of he can not rid him self during life he can not accomplish al the desire of his spirit and minde according as he saith to the Galatians The flesh coueâ—eth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh that not vvhatsoeuer you vvill you can do 19. Not the good vvhich I vvill So may the iust also be forced by the rage of concupiscence or sensual appetite to do or suffer many things in his inferiour part or external members vvhich his vvill consenteth not vnto And so long it is so farre from sinne that as * S. Augustine faith he neede neuer say to God forgiue vs our sinnes for the same for sinne is voluntarie and so be not these passions 19. Which I vvil not It maketh not any thing against free vvill that the Apostle saith that good men do or suffer sometimes in their bodies that vvhich the â—vill agreeth not vnto but it proueth plainely free vvil because the proper act thereof that is to vvill or nill to consent or dissent is euer as you may see here free in it self though there may be internal or external force to stay the members of a man that they obey not in euery act that vvhich the vvill commaundeth or prescribeth And therfore that is neuer imputed to maÌ„ vvhich he doth in his external or internal faculties vvhen vvil concurreth not Yea aftervvard v 20 the Apostle saith Noâ— ego opâ—ror man doeth not that vvhich is not done by his vvill vvhich doth most euidently proue free vvill â—5 With the minde vvith the flesh Nothing done by concupiscence vvhich the Apostle here calleth sinne vvherevnto the spirit reason or minde of man consenteth not can make him guilty before God Neither can the motions of the flesh in a iust man euer any vvhit deâ—file the operatioÌ„s of his spirit as the Lutherans do hold but make them often more meritorious for the continual combat that he hath vvith them for it is plaine that the operations of the flesh and of the spirit do not concurre together to make one acte as they imagine the Apostle concluding cleane contrarie That in minde he serueth the Lavv of God in flesh the lavv of sinne that is to say concupiscence CHAP. VIII That novv after Baptisme vve are no more in state of damnation because by the grace vvhich vve haue receiued vve are able to fulfil the Lavv vnles vve do vvilfully giue the dominion againe to concupisâ—ence 1â— Then because of the persecutions that then vvere he comforteth and exhorteth them vvith many reasons verse 1 THERE is novv therefore no damnation to them that are in Christ IESVS that walke not according to the flesh ✠verse 2 For the lavv of the spirit of life in Christ IESVS hath deliuered me from the lavv of sinne and of death ✠verse 3 For that vvhich vvas impossible to the Lavv in that it vvas vveakened by the
that perish is folishnes but to them that are saued that is to vs it is the povver of God ✠verse 19 For it is vvritten I vvil destroy the vvisedom of the vvise and the prudence of the prudent I vvil reiecte ✠verse 20 Vvhere is the vvise vvhere is the Scribe vvhere is the disputer of this vvorld Hath not God made the vvisedom of this vvorld folish ✠verse 21 For because in the vvisedom of God the vvorld did not by vvisedom knovv God it pleased God by the folishnes of the preaching to saue them that beleeue ✠verse 22 For both the Ievves aske signes and the Greekes seeke vvisedom ✠verse 23 but vve preach Christ crucified to the Ievves certes a scandal and to the Gentiles folishnes ✠verse 24 but to the called Ievves Greekes Christ the povver of God and the vvisedom of God ✠verse 25 For that vvhich is the folish of God is vviser then men and that vvhich is the infirme of God is stronger then men ✠verse 26 For see your vocation brethren that not many vvise according to the flesh not many mightie not many noble ✠verse 27 but the folish things of the vvorld hath God chosen that he may confound the vvise and the vveake things of the vvorld hath God chosen that he may confound the strong ✠verse 28 and the base things of the vvorld and the contemptible hath God chosen and those things vvhich are not that he might destroy those things vvhich are ✠verse 29 that no flesh may glorie in his sight ✠verse 30 And of him you are in Christ IESVS â— vvho is made vnto vs vvisedom from God iustice sanctificatioÌ„ and redemption ✠verse 31 that as it is vvritten He that doth glorie may glorie in our Lord. ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 5. In al knovvledge Obserue that the Apostles neuer vvrote their letters but to such as vvere conuerted to Christes faith before for men can not lightly learne the Christian religion by reading Scriptures but by hearing and by the presence of their teachers which may instruct them at large and particularly of euery Article as clerely breefely by letters they could not doe Neither doth novv any man learne his faith first but by hearing of his parents and Maisters for if vve should vvhen vve come to yeres of discretion â—e set to picke our faith out of the Scriptures there vvould be a madde vvorke and many faithes among vs. 30. Who is made He meaneth not as our Aduersaries captiously take it that vve haue no iustice sapience nor sanctity of our ovvne other then Christes imputed to vs but the sense is that he is made the author giuer and meritorious cause of al these vertues in vs for so the Apostle interpreteth him self plainely in the 6 Chapter folovving vvhen he vvriteth thus You be vvashed you be iustified you be sanctified in the name of our Lord IESVS CHRIST and in the Spirit of our God CHAP. II. That his ovvne preaching among them vvas in humble maner in the sight of man 3 Hovvbeit it is most profound vvisedom as they should and vvould perceiue if they vvere not carnal vvhich is taught in the Church of Christ verse 1 AND I brethren vvhen I came to you I came not in loftinesse of speache or of vvisedom preaching to you the testimonie of Christ ✠verse 2 For I iudged not my self to knovv any thing among you but IESVS Christ and him crucified ✠verse 3 And * I vvas vvith you in infirmitie and feare and much trembling ✠verse 4 and my speache and my preaching vvas not in the persuasible vvordes of humane vvisedom but in shevving of spirit and povver ✠verse 5 that your faith might not be in the vvisedom of men but in the povver of God But vve speake vvisedom among the perfect ✠verse 6 but the vvisedom not of this vvorld neither of the princes of this vvorld that come to naught ✠verse 7 but vve speake the vvisedom of God in a mysterie which is hid vvhich God did predestinate before the worlds vnto our glorie ✠verse 8 which none of the princes of this vvoâ—ld did knovv for if they had knovven they vvould neuer haue crucified the Lord of glorie ✠verse 9 But as it is vvritten That vvhich eie hath not seen nor eare hath heard neither hath it ascended into the hart of maÌ„ vvhat things God hath prepared for them that loue him ✠verse 10 but to vs God hath reuealed by his Spirit For the Spirit searcheth al things yea the profoundities of God ✠verse 11 For vvhat man knovveth the things of a man but â— the spiâ—it of a man that is in him so the things also that are of God no man knovveth but the spirit of God ✠verse 12 And vve haue receiued not the spirit of this vvorld but the spirit that is of God â— that vve may knovv the things that of God are giuen to vs. ✠verse 13 vvhich also vve speake not in learned vvordes of humane vvisedom but in the doctrine of the Spirit comparing spiritual things to the spiritual ✠verse 14 But â— the sensual man perceiueth not those things that are of the spirit of God for it is folishnes to him and he can not vnderstand because he is spiritually examined ✠verse 15 But the spiritual man iudgeth al things and him self is iudged of no man ✠verse 16 For * vvho hath knovven the sense of our Lord that may instructe him But vve haue the sense of Christ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 11. But the spirit of man One man can not knovv an others cogitations naturally but God giueth to Prophets and other euen in this vvorld oftentimes by extraordinary grace to knovv mens secretes As he did to S. Peter to knovv the fraude of Ananias and Sapphira and to Eliseus his seruants bribery in his absence and vvhat vvas done in the king of Syria his chamber and as he giueth to al Angels and Saincts so far as is conuenient to our necessities and their heauenly glorie to vnderstand not onely our vocal praiers but our invvard repentance and desires 12. That vve may knovv The Protestants that chalenge a particular spirit reuealing to eche one his ovvne predestination iustification and saluation vvould dravv this text to that purpose Vvhich importeth nothing els as is plaine by the Apostles discourse but that the holy Ghost hath giuen to the Apostles by them to other Christian men to knovv Gods ineffable gifts bestovved vpon the beleeuers in this time of grace that is Christes Incarnation Passion presence in the Sacrament the incomprehensible ioyes of heauen vvhich Pagans Ievves and Heretikes deride 14. The sensual man The sensual man is he specially that measureth these heauenly mysteries by natural reason humane prudence external sense and vvorldly affection as the Ievv Pagane and Heretike doe and sometime both here and els vvhere the
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
10 c. 23. Tradition caused him to beleeue that the baptized of heretikes should not be rebaptized notvvithstanding S. Cyprians authoritie and the manifold scriptures alleaged by him though they seemed neuer so pregnant De bap li. 2. c. 7. By tradition onely he and others condemned Heluidius the heretike for denying the perpetual virginitie of our Lady And vvithout this be the Scriptures neuer so plaine no Arian no Macedonian no Eutychian no Pelagian no Zuinglian vvil yeld We must vse tradition saith S. Epiphanius â—har 61 Apostolicorum For the Scripture hath not al things and therfore the Apostles deliuered certaine things in vvriting certaine by tradition and for that he alleageth this place also of S. Paul And againe haer 55. Melchised There be boundes set dovvne for the foundation and building vp of our faith the tradition of the Apostles and holy Scriptures and succession of doctrine so that truth is euery vvay â—insed S. Irenaeus li. 3. c. 4. hath one notable chapter that in al questions vve must haue recourse to the traditions of the Apostles teaching vs vvithal that the vvay to trie an Apostolical tradition and to bring it to the fountaine is by the Apostolike succession of Bishops but specially of the Apostolike See of Rome declaring in the same place that there be many barbarous people simple for learning but for constancie in their faith most vvise vvhich neuer had Scriptures but learned onely by tradition Tertullian li. de corona militis nu â— reckeneth vp a great number of Christian obseruations or customs as S. Cyprian in many places doth in maner the same vvhereof in fine he concludeth Of such and such if thou require the rule of Scriptures thou shalt finde none Tradition shal be alleaged the author custom the confirmer and faith the obseruer Origen also of this matter vvriteth in plaine termes that there be many thinges done in the Church vvhich he there nameth vvhereof there is no easier reason to be giuen then tradition from Christ and the Apostles ho. 5. in Numer S. Dionysius Areopagita referreth the praying and oblation for the dead in the Liturgie or Masse to an Apostolical tradition in fine Eâ— Hierarch c. 7. parte 3. So doth Tertullian De coron militit S. Augustine De â—ura pro mortuis c. 1. S. Chrysostom ho. 3. in ep ad Philip. in Moral S. Damascene Sâ—r. de defunctis in initio Vve might adde to al this that the Scriptures them selues euen al the bookes and partes of the holy Bible be giuen vs by tradition els vve should not nor could not take them as they be in deede for the infallible vvord of God no more then the vvorkes of S. Ignatius S. Clement S. Denys and the like The true sense also of the Scriptures vvhich Catholikes haue heretikes haue not remaineth stil in the Church by tradition The Crede is an Apostolike traditioÌ„ Ruffin in expo Symb. in principio Hiero. ep 61. c. 9. Ambros Ser. 38. Aug. de Symb. ad Catechum li. 3. c. 1. And vvhat Scriptures haue they to proue that vve must accept nothing not expresly vvritten in Scriptures Vve haue to the contrarie plaine Scriptures al the fathers most euident reasons that vve must either beleeue traditions or nothing at al. And they must be asked vvhether if they vvere assured that such and such things vvhich be not expressed in Scriptures vvere taught and deliuered by vvord of mouth from the Apostles they vvould beleeue them or no If they say no then they be impious that vvil not trust the Apostles preaching if they say they vvould if they vvere assured that the Apostles taught it then to proue vnto them this point vve bring them such as liued in the Apostles daies and the testimonies of so many fathers before named neere to those daies and the vvhole Churches practise and asseueratioÌ„ descending dovvne from man to man to our time vvhich is a sufficient proofe at least for a matter of fact in al reasonable mens iudgement specially vvhen it is knovven that S. Ignatius the Apostles equal in time vvrote a booke of the Apostles traditions as Eusebius vvitnesseth li. 3. Ec. hist c. 30. And Tertullians booke of prescriptioÌ„ against Heretikes is to no other effect but to proue that the Church hath this vantage aboue Heretikes that she can proue her truth by plaine Apostolike tradition as none of them can euer do CHAP. III. He desireth their praiers 4 and inculcateth his precepts and traditions namely of vvorking quietly for their ovvne liuing commaunding to excommunicate the disobedient verse 1 FOR the rest brethren pray for vs that the vvord of God may haue course and be glorified as also vvith you ✠verse 2 and that vve may be deliuered from importunate and naughtie men for al men haue not faith ✠verse 3 But our Lord is faithful vvho vvil confirme and keepe you from euil ✠verse 4 And vve haue confidence of you in our Lord that the things vvhich vve commaund both you doe and vvil doe ✠verse 5 And our Lord direct your hartes in the charitie of God and patience of Christ ✠verse 6 And vve denounce vnto you brethren in the name of our Lord IESVS Christ that you vvithdravv your selues froÌ„ euery brother vvalking inordinarly and not according to the traditioÌ„ vvhich they haue receiued of vs. ✠verse 7 For your selues knovv hovv you ought to imitate vs for vve haue not been vnquiet among you ✠verse 8 * neither haue vve eaten bread of any man gratis but in labour in toile night and day vvorking lest vve should burden any of you ✠verse 9 * Not as though vve had not authoritie but that vve might giue our selues a paterne vnto you for to imitate vs. ✠verse 10 For also vvhen vve vvere vvith you this vve denounced to you that if any vvil not vvorke â— neither let him eate ✠verse 11 For vve haue heard of certaine amoÌ„g you that vvalke vnquietly vvorking nothing but curiously meddling ✠verse 12 And to them that be such vve denounce beseeche them in our Lord IESVS Christ that vvorking vvith silence they eate their ovvne bread ✠verse 13 But you brethren * fainte not vvel-doing ✠verse 14 And if any â— obey not our vvord â— note him by an epistle ✠verse 15 and do not companie vvith him that he may be confounded and do not esteeme him as an enemie but admonish him as a brother ✠verse 16 And the Lord of peace him self giue you euerlasting peace in euery place Our Lord be vvith you al. ✠verse 17 The saluation vvith mine ovvne hand Paules vvhich is a signe in euery epistle so I vvrite ✠verse 18 The grace of our Lord IESVS Christ be vvith you al. Amen ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III. 10. Neither let them eate It is not a general precept or rule that euery man should liue by this handvvorke
booke to be Canonical Scripture But Caluin and his companions disagreing vvith their Maisters confesse it to be holy Scripture but their shiftes and fond gloses for ansvver of so plaine places be as impudent as the denying of the Epistle vvas in the other vvho vvould neuer haue denied the booke thereby to shevv them selues Heretikes if they had thought those vulgar euasions that the Zuinglians and Caluinists do vse vvhereof they vvere not ignorant could haue serued In both sortes the Christian Reader may see that al the Heretikes vaunting of expresse Scriptures the vvord of God is no more but to delude the vvorld vvhereas in deede be the Scriptures neuer so plaine against them they must either be vvrested to sound as they say or els they must be no Scriptures at all And to see Luther Caluin Beza their fellovves sitte as it vvere in iudgement of the Scriptures to allovv or disallovv at their pleasures it is the most notorious example of Heretical pride miserie that can be See their prefaces and censures vpon this Canonical Epistle the Apocalypse the Machabees and other 21. Abraham vvas he not iustified by vvorkes It is much to be noted that S. Augustine in his booke de fide operibus c. 14. vvriteth that the heresie of onely faith iustifying or sauing vvas an old Heresie euen in the Apostles time gathered by the false interpretation of some of S. Paules profound disputation in the Epistle to the Romans vvherein he commended so highly the faith in Christ that they thought good vvorkes vvere not auilable adding further that the other three Apostles Iames Iohn and Iude did of purpose vvrite so much of good vvorkes to correct the said errour of onely faith gathered by the misconstruction of S. Paules vvordes Yea vvhen S. Peter Ep. 2 c. 3. vvarneth the faithful that many things be hard in S. Paules vvritings and of light vnlearned men mistaken to their perdition the said S. Augustine affirmeth that he meant of his disputation concerning faith vvhich so many Heretikes did mistake to condemne good vvorkes And in the preface of his commentarie vpon the 31 Psalme he vvarneth al men that this deduction vpon S. Paules speache Abraham vvas iustified by faith therfore vvorkes be not necessarie to saluation is the right vvay to the gulfe of Hel and damnation And lastly vvhich is in it self very plaine that vve may see this Apostle did purposely thus commend vnto vs the necessitie of good vvorkes and the inanity aud insufficiencie of onely faith to correct the errour of such as misconstrued S. Paules vvordes for the same the said holy Doctor noteth that of purpose he tooke the very same example of Abraham vvhom S. Paul said to be iustified by faith and declareth that he vvas iustified by good vvorkes specifying the good vvorke for vvhich he vvas iustified and blessed of God to vvitte his obedience and immolation of his onely sonne But hovv S. Paul saith that Abraham vvas iustified by faith see the Annotations vpon that place Ro. 4. v. 1. 22. Faith did vvorke vvith Some Heretikes hold that good vvorkes are pernicious to saluation and iustification other that though they be not hurtful but required yet they be no causes or vvorkers of saluation much lesse meritorious but are as effectes and fruites issuing necessarily out of faith Both vvhich fictions falshods and flightes from the plaine truth of Gods vvord are refuted by these vvordes vvhen the Apostle saith That faith vvorketh together vvith good vvorkes making faith to be a coadiutor or cooperator vvith vvorkes and so both ioyntly concurring as causes and vvorkers of iustification yea aftervvard he maketh vvorkes the more principal cause vvhen he resembleth faith to the body and vvorkes to the spirit or life of man 23. The frend of God By this also an other false and friuolous euasion of the Heretikes is ouertaken vvhen they feine that the Apostle here vvhen he saith vvorkes do iustifie meaneth that they shew vs iust before men and auaile not to our iustice before God For the Apostle euidently declareth that Abraham by his vvorkes vvas made or truely called the freend of God and therfore vvas not as the Heretikes say by his vvorkes approued iust before man onely 24. Not by faith onely This proposition or speache is directly opposite or contradictorie to that vvhich the Heretikes hold For the Apostle saith Man is iustified by good workes and not by faith only but the Heretikes say Man is not iustified by good vvorkes but by faith only Neither can they pretend that there is the like contradiction or contrarietie betwixt S. Iames speache and S. Paules for though S. Paul say man is iustified by faith yet he neuer saith by faith onely nor euer meaneth by that faith vvhich is alone but alvvaies by that faith vvhich vvorketh by charitie as he expoundeth him self Though concerning vvorkes also there is a difference betwixt the first iustification vvhereof S. Paul specially speaketh and the second iustification vvhereof S. Iames doth more specially treate Of vvhich thing els vvhere there is ynough said The fathers in deede vse sometimes this exclusiue sola onely but in far other sense then the Protestants For some of them thereby exclude only the vvorkes of Moyses law against the Iewes some the vvorkes of nature and moral vertues vvithout the grace or knowledge of Christ against the Gentiles some the necessitie of external good vvorkes vvhere the parties lacke time and meanes to doe them as in the case of the penitent theefe some the false opinions sectes and religions contrarie to the Catholike faith against Heretikes and miscreants some exclude reason sense and arguing in matters of faith and mysterie against such as vvil beleeue nothing but that they see or vnderstand some the merite of vvorkes done in sinne before the first iustification some the arrogant Pharisaical vaunting of mans ovvne proper vvorkes and iustice against such as referre not their actions and good deedes to Gods grace To these purposes the holy Doctors say sometimes that only faith saueth and serueth but neuer as the Protestants vvould haue it to exclude from iustification and saluation the cooperation of mans free vvil dispositions and preparations of our hartes by praiers penance and sacraments the vertues of hope and charitie the purpose of vvel-vvorking and of the obseruation of Gods commaundements much lesse the vvorkes and merites of the children of God proceding of grace and charitie after they be iustified and are now in his fauour vvhich are not only dispositions and preparations to iustice but the meritorious cause of greater iustice and of saluation 25. Rahab This Apostle alleageth the good vvorkes of Rahab by vvhich she vvas iustified and S. Paul 11 Hebr. saith she vvas iustified by faith Vvhich are not contrarie one to the other for both is true that she vvas saued by faith as one faith and that she vvas saued by her vvorkes as the
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
my beloued sonne in vvhom I haue pleased my self heare him ✠verse 18 And this voice vve heard brought from heauen vvhen vve vvere vvith him in the holy mounte ✠verse 19 And we haue the prophetical vvord more sure vvhich you doe vvel attending vnto as to a candel shining in a darke place vntil the day davvne and the day starre arise in your hartes ⊢ ✠verse 20 vnderstanding this first that no prophecie of scripture is made by ◠priuate interpretation ✠verse 21 For * not by mans vvil vvas prophecie brought at any time but the holy men of God spake inspired vvith the holy Ghost ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 10. By good vvorkes Here vve see that Gods eternal predestination and election consisteth vvith good vvorkes yea that the certainty and effect thereof is procured by mans free vvill and good vvorkes and that our vvel doing is a meane for vs to attaine to the effect of Gods predestination that is to life euerlasting and therfore it is a desperate folly and a great signe of reprobate persons to say If I be predestinate doe vvhat I vvil I shal be saued Nay the Apostle saith If thou hope to be one of the predestinate for knovv it thou canst not do vvel that thou maist be the more assured to attaine to that thou hopest or make it sure by good vvorkes The Protestāts in such cases not much liking these vvordes by good vvorkes though the latin haue it vniuersally and some Greeke copies also as Beza confesseth leaue them out in their translations by their vvonted pollicie 15. After my decease also These vvordes though they may be easily altered by cōstruction into diuers senses not vntrue yet the correspondēce of the partes of the sentēce going before and folovving giue most plaine this meaning that as during his life he vvould not omit to put them in memorie of the things he taught them so after his death vvhich he knew should be shortly he vvould not faile to endeuour that they might be mindeful of the same Signifying that his care ouer them should not cease by death that by his intercession before God after his departure he vvould doe the same thing for them that he did before in his life by teaching and preaching This is the sense that the * Greeke Scholies speake of and this is most proper to the text and consonant to the old vse of this Apostle and other Apostolike Saincts and fathers of the primitiue Church S. Clement in his Epistle to S. Iames our Lordes brother vvitnesseth that S. Peter encouraging him to take after his decease the charge of the Apostolike Romane See promised that after his departure he vvould not cease to pray for him his flocke thereby to ease him of his Pastoral burden To. 1 Concil ep 1. S. Clem. in initio And S. Leo the Great one of his successors in the said See often attributeth the good administration and gouernement thereof to S. Peters praiers and assistance namely in these goodly vvorkes Ser 3 in anniuers 〈◊〉 assumpt ad Pontif. We are much bound saith he to giue thankes to our Lord and Redeemer Iesus Christ that hath giuen so great povver to him vvhom he made the Prince of the vvhole Church that if in our time also any thing be done vvel be rightly ordered by vs it is to be imputed to his vvorkes and his geuernement to vvhom it vvas said And thou being conuerted confirme thy brethren and to vvhom our Lord after his resurrection said thrise leede my sheepe Which novv also vvithout doubt the godly Pastor doth execute confirming vs vvith his exhortations and not ceasing to pray for vs that vve be euercome vvith no tentation c. Yea it vvas a common thing in the primitiue Church among the auncient Christians and alvvaies since among the faithful to make couenant in their life time that vvhether of them vvent to heauen before the other he should pray for his frende and fellovv yet aliue See the Ecclesiastical historie of the holy virgin and Martyr Potamiaena promising at the houre of her Martyrdom that after her death she vvould procure mercie of God to Basilides one of the souldiars that ledde her to execution and so she did Euseb li. 6. c. 4. Also S. Cyprian ep 57 in fine Let vs saith he pray mutually one for an other and vvhether of vs tvvo shal by Gods elemencie be first called for let his loue continue and his praier not cease for his brethren and sisters in the vvorld So said this holy Martyr at that time vvhen Christiās vvere so far from Caluinisme vvhich abhorreth the praiers of Saincts praying to them that to be sure they bargained before hād to haue the martyrs other Saincts to pray for them The same S. Cyprian also in his booke De disciplina habitu virginum in fine after a godly exhortation made to the holy Virgins or Nonnes in his time speaketh thus vnto them Tantum tunc mementote nostri cùm incipiet in vobis virginitas honorari that is Onely then haue vs in remembrance vvhen your virginitie shal begin to be honoured that is after their departure Vvhere he insinuateth the vse of the Catholike Church in keeping the festiual daies and other dueties tovvard the holy Virgins in heauen S. Hierom also in the same manner speaketh to Heliodorus saying that vvhen he is once in heauen then he vvil pray for him that exhorted and incited him to the blessed state of the Monastical life Ep. 1. c. 2. And so doth he speake to the vertuous matrone Paula after her death desiring her to pray for him in his old age affirming that she shal the more easily obtaine the neeres she is novv ioyned to Christ in heauen in Epitaph Paule in fine It vvere to long to report hovv S. Augustine desireth to be holpen by S. Cyprians praiers then and long before a Sainct in heauen to the vnderstanding of the truth concerning the peace and regiment of the Church li. 5 de Bapt. cont Donatistas c. 17. And in an other place the same holy Doctor alleageth the said S. Cyprian saying that great numbers of our parents brethren children frendes and other expect vs in great solicitude and carefulnes of our saluation being sure of their ovvne li. 1 de praedest Sanctorum c. 14. S. Gregorie Nazianzene in his orations of the praise of S. Cyprian in fine and of S. Basil also in fine declareth hovv they pray for the people vvhich tvvo Saincts he there inuocateth as al the auncient fathers did both generally al Saincts and as occasion serued particularly their special Patrones Among the rest see hovv holy Ephrem in orat de laud. S. Deipara praied to our B. Ladie vvith the same termes of Aduocatt Hope Reconciliatrix that the faithful yet vse and the Protestants can not abide S. Basil ho. de 40 Martyribus in fine S. Athanasius Ser. in Euang. de
Epistle vpoÌ„ the a Sunday after Easter ` you ` vs Es 53 9. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Es 53 4. Mt. 8 17. Spiritual hostes and Priests Obedience to temporal princes Ro. 〈◊〉 God instituted the Spiritual gouernemeÌ„s in more excelleÌ„t maner then the temporal Act. 1. Act. 20 Eph. 4. Hebr. 13. Heret translation The Kings excellencie of power is in respect of the nobilitie and lay magistrates vnder him ChristiaÌ„ Princes haue no more right to be supreme heads in spiritual causes then the Heathen Libertines Deadly sinnes of Princes or Superiors exempt not the subiectes froÌ„ obedience as Wicleffe held Hovv vviues should behaue them selues tovvard their husbands Eph. 5 28. Col. 3 18. 1 Tim. 2 9. Against the proud curious and costly attire of vvomeÌ„ vvhere in this il time of ours excedeth Gen. 18. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hovv husbands should behaue them selues tovvard their vviues ` in faith Pro. 17 13. Mat. 5 44. Ps 33 13 Mat. 5 10. The Epistle vpon friday in Easter vveeke ` those spirites Gen. 6. Mat. 24 Gen. 7 7 ` vs Christ in soule desceÌ„ded vnto hel vvhiles his body lay in the graue The Caluinists denying the same are by S. Augustines iudgement infidels Certaine difficulties whereof S. Augustine doubteth Purgatorie Vvhat vvere the incredulous persons of vvhom the Apostle here speaketh Noës Arke the vvater a figure of christs Crosse Baptisme Ibid. c. 17. Baptisme receiued of Heretikes or Schismatikes vvhen damnable vvhen not Ep. 57. The ceremonies of Baptisme namely Abrâ—â—â—ntio c. ⸬ It hath the same difficulty and sense that the other like wordes haue before Chap. 3. See the annotation there v. 19. and S. Aug. ep 69. Oecumenius vpon this place â—is at hand The Epistle vpon Sunday next after the Ascension Prou. 10 Ro. 12 Heb. 13. Ro. 12 6. The Epistle for a Martyr Mt. 5 11. Hier. 25 29. Prou. 11 31. Not only faith Vvorkes of mercie The better meÌ„ most afflicted in this life The iust man him self is hardly saued Against the vaine securitie of only faith The Epistle for S. Apollinaris Iul. 23. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ⸬ Desire of Iucre or to exercise holy functions for gaine is a filthy fault in the Clergie and therfore much to be auoided The Epistle vpon the 3 SuÌ„day after Pentecost Prou 3. Iac. 4. Iac. 4. Psa 54 Mt. 6 25 Ro. 16 16. 1 Cor. 16 20. 2 Cor. 1â— 12. Senior in the vulgar translation is often Priest or Bishop See Act. â—5 Not Superioritie but tyrannie and lordlines is forbidden in the Clergie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 20. v. 25. Heret translation The name of Clergie and Clerke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Priests crownes The heauenly crowne of Doctors and preachers S. Peter vvriteth from Babylon that is Rome Vvhy Rome vvas called Babylon The ProtestaÌ„ts vvil haue Babylon to signifie Rome in other places but not here The Protestants vvraÌ„gle about the time of Peters being at Rome Many things most true euen in the Scriptures are not agreed vpon concerning the time The Epistle in the Transifiguration of our Lord Aug. 6. â—prescience c By this it is plaine that either Iohn Iames or Peter must be the author of this epistle for these three onely vvere present at the TraÌ„sfiguration Mat. 17â— Mt. 17 5 ⸬ You see that places are made holy by Christs presence that al places be not alike holy See Annot. Act. 7 33. 2 Tim 3 17. Good vvorkes must concurre vvith Gods predestination to the effecte thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The heretikes according to their custom exclude this sense altogether by their false translation Oecum in hunc lâ—â— Gagn. S. Peters Pastoral care protection of the Church after his death Luc. 22. Io. 21. The Saincts in heauen pray for the liuing Feastes of holy Virgins Inuocation of Saincts Priuate phantastical interpretationâ— 1 Tim. 4. Iude. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ⸬ Heretikes of whom he prophecieth here do gaine scholers by preaching libertie and by their owne licentious life which is specially ioyned to the heresie of these daies c Al the sweete wordes of heretikes speaking much of the vvord of the Lord the Gospel IESVS CHRIST c. are but termes of art to bie and sel poore mens soules Gen 7. Gen. 19. Gen. 19 16. The special properties of heretikes * from our Lord ⸬ So heretikes blaspheme the highest mysteries of our faith through ignorance b coinquinationes maecula Nu. 22 23. ⸬ Vvho euer promised more libertie to their folowers then Luther Caluin the like taking away penance fasting continencie or chastitie keeping of vowes necessitie of good vvorkes because faith doeth al obedience to Ecclesiastical pastors and CouÌ„cels and such like Io. 8 34. Ro. 6 16. Mt. 12. 45. Pro. 26 11. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c in quibus 2 Tim. 3 1. Iude 18. Ps 89 4 Ezec. 33. 1 Tim. 2. Mt. 24. 1 Thes 5. Apoc. 3. Esa 65 17. Apo. 21 1. Ro. 2 4. The heretical proud spirit of priuate interpretation of Scriptures The Scriptures be hard namely S. Paules epistles specially vvhere he speaketh of iustificatioÌ„ by faith * De fid op c. 14 The ProtestaÌ„ts idle distinctioÌ„ betvvene difficultie in the Epistles and difficultie in the things The Greeke copies haue both some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in vvhich things some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in vvhich epistles Not only the matter but the style of the Scriptures is hard Ps 118. Act. 8. Luc. 24. v. 45. * Higinus ep 2. to 1. CoÌ„cil August li. 2. Euang. quaest q. 39. 1. Ioh. 2. v. 24. De fid op c. 14. 1. Ioh. â— 5. Io. 8 12. Heb. 9. 1 Pet. 1. Apo. 1. 3 Reg. 8 46. 2 Par. 6 36. No saluatioÌ„ but in the Societie of the Church Many meanes instruments of remitting sinne but al by the force merite of Christs bloud applied by them Al remission of sinnes is by the PassioÌ„ of Christ though by secuÌ„darie meanes also Some sinnes venial A man may be truely iust notvvithstanding venial sinnes S. Augustine excepteth our B. Ladie from sinners * c. 3â— Examples of venial sinnes * de 〈◊〉 perseueraÌ„s c. 2. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Io. 13 34 15 12. â— Io. 3 14. ⸬ Hovv al sinne tentation procede of these three see S. Thomas Summe 1. 2. quaest 77. art 5. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ⸬ They vvere of vs for the time that is of and in the Church otherwise they could not haue gone out but they vvere not of the coÌ„staÌ„t sort or of the elect predestinat for then they had taried within or returned before their death c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrisma whereof Christ ChristiaÌ„s ⸬ Keepe that firmely constantly vvhich you haue heard euen from the beginning by the mouth of the Apostles not that only vvhich you haue receiued by vvriting c or in it ⸬ Vve see
Spirit of IESVS Christ ✠verse 20 according to my expectation hope because in nothing shal I be confounded but in al confidence as alvvaies novv also shal Christ be magnified in my body vvhether it be by life or by death ✠verse 21 For vnto me to liue is Christ and to die is gaine ✠verse 22 And if to liue in the flesh this vnto me be the fruit of the vvorke and vvhat I shal choose I knovv not ✠verse 23 And I am straitened of the tvvo hauing desire to be dissolued to be vvith Christ a thing much more better ✠verse 24 but to abide in the flesh necessarie ' for you ✠verse 25 And trusting this I know that I shal abide and continue vvith you al vnto your furtherance and ioy of the faith ✠verse 26 that your gratulation may abound in Christ IESVS in me by my comming againe to you ✠verse 27 Only * conuerse ye vvorthie of the Gospel of Christ that vvhether vvhen I come and see you or els be absent I may heare of you that you stand in one Spirit of one minde labouring together to the faith of the Gospel ✠verse 28 And in nothing be ye terrified of the aduersaries vvhich to them is cause of perdition but to you of saluation this of God ✠verse 29 for to you it is giuen for Christ not only that you beleeue in him but also that you suffer for him ✠hauing the same combat like as you haue seen in me and novv haue heard ' of me ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 2. Bishops and deacons Vviclesse and other Heretikes vvould proue by this that Priests are not here named and for that there could not be many Bishops of this one tovvne that there is no difference betvvixt a Bishop and a Priest vvhich vvas the old heresie of Aërius of vvhich matter in other places for this present it is ynough to knovv that in the Apostles time there vvere not obserued alvvaies proper distinct names of either function as they vvere quickly aftervvard though they vvere alvvaies diuers degrees distinct functions See S. Chrysostom Occupâ—enius Theophylactus and the rest of the Gracians vpon this place CHAP. II. He exhorieth them must instantly to keepe the vnitie of the Church and to humble them selues for that purpose one to an other â— by the example of the maruelous humilitie of Christ â— specially seing hovv maruelously he is novv exalted for it 13 Item to obedience feare and perseuerance 17 Insinuating left is should aftervvardes trouble them that be may be martyred at this time 19 Timothee he hopeth to send vvhom he highly commendeth 25 as also Epaphroditus vvhom he presently sendeth verse 1 IF therfore there be any consolation in Christ if any solace of charitie if any societie of spirit if any bovvels of commiseration ✠verse 2 fulfil my ioy that you be of one meaning hauing the same charitie of one minde agreing in one ✠verse 3 nothing by contentioÌ„ neither by vaine glorie but in humilitie * eche couÌ„ting other better then them selues ✠verse 4 * euery one not coÌ„sidering the things that are their owne but those that are other mens ✠verse 5 For this thinke in your selues vvhich also in Christ IESVS ✠verse 6 vvho vvhen he vvas in the forme of God thought it no robberie him self to be equal to God ✠verse 7 but he exinanited him self taking the forme of a seruant made into the similitude of men and in shape found as man ✠verse 8 He * humbled him self made obedieÌ„t vnto death euen the death of the crosse ✠verse 9 ″ For the vvhich thing God also hath exalted him and hath giuen him a name which is aboue al names ✠verse 10 that * in the ″ name of IESVS euery knee bovve of the celestials terrestrials and infernals ✠verse 11 and euery tongue coÌ„fesse that our Lord IESVS Christ is in the glorie of God the Father ⊢ ✠verse 12 Therfore my deerest as you haue alvvaies obeied not as in the presence of me only but much more novv in my absence ″ vvith feare and trembling vvorke your saluation ✠verse 13 For it is God that ″ vvorketh in you both to vvil and to accomplish according to his good vvil ✠verse 14 And doe ye al things vvithout murmurings and staggerings ✠verse 15 that you may be vvithout blame and the simple children of God vvithout reprehension in the middes of a crooked and peruerse generation among vvhom you shine as lightes in the vvorld ✠verse 16 conteining the vvord of life to my glorie in the daie of Christ because I haue not runne in vaine nor in vaine laboured ✠verse 17 But and if I be immolated vpon the ″ sacrifice and seruice of your faith I reioyce and congratulate vvith you al. ✠verse 18 And the self same thing doe you also reioyce and congratulate vvith me ✠verse 19 And I hope in our Lord IESVS to send Timothee vnto you quickly that I also may be of good comfort when I knovv the things pertaining to you ✠verse 20 For I haue no maÌ„ so of one minde that vvith sincere affection is careful for you ✠verse 21 For al seeke the things that are their ovvne not the things that are IESVS Christs ✠verse 22 And knovv ye an experiment of him that as a sonne the father so hath he serued vvith me in the Gospel ✠verse 23 This man therfore I hope to send vnto you immediatly as I shal see the things that concerne me ✠verse 24 And I trust in our Lord that my self also shal come to you quickly ✠verse 25 But I haue thought it necessarie to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and coadiutor and fellovv souldiar but your Apostle and minister of my necessitie ✠verse 26 Because in deede he had a desire tovvard you al and vvas pensife for that you had heard that he vvas sicke ✠verse 27 For in deede he vvas sicke euen to death but God had mercie on him and not only on him but on me also lest I should haue sorovv vpon sorovv ✠verse 28 Therfore I sent him the more spedily that seeing him you may reioyce againe and I may be vvithout sorovv ✠verse 29 Receiue him therfore vvith al ioy in our Lord and such intreate vvith honour ✠verse 30 because for the vvorke of Christ he came to the point of death yelding his life that he might fulfil that vvhich on your part vvanted tovvard my seruice ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 9. For the vvhich Caluin doth so abhorre the name of merite in Christian men tovvard their ovvne saluation that he vvickedly and vnlearnedly denieth Christ him self to haue deserued or merited any thing for him self though these vvordes vvhich he shamefully vvritheth from the proper and plaine sense to signifie a sequele and not a cause of his exaltation
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