″ much more the ministerie of iustice aboundeth in glorie ⊢ ✠verse 10 For neither vvas it glorified vvhich in this part vvas glorious by reasō of the excelling glorie ✠verse 11 For if that which is made void is by glorie much more that vvhich abideth is in glorie ✠verse 12 Hauing therfore such hope vve vse much confidence ✠verse 13 and not * as Moyses put a vele vpon his face that the children of Israël might not behold his face vvhich is made voide ✠verse 14 but their senses vvere dulled For vntil this present day ″ the self same vele in the lecture of the old testament remaineth vnreuealed because in Christ it is made voide ✠verse 15 but vntil this present day vvhen Moyses is read a vele is put vpō their hart ✠verse 16 But vvhen he shal be conuerted to our Lord the vele shal be taken avvay ✠verse 17 And * our Lord is a Spirit And vvhere the Spirit of our Lord is there is ″ libertie ✠verse 18 But vve al beholding the glorie of our Lord vvith face reuealed are transformed into the same image from glorie vnto glorie as of our Lordes Spirit ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III. 1. The Epistle of Christ S. Paul and other holy vvriters of Scriptures did set dovvne many thinges in vvriting by penne inke and paper al vvhich be of the Holy Ghost but the special and proper booke of Christes truth and Gospel is not the external vvriting in those dead creatures but in the hartes of the faithful being the proper subiecte of these truthes and graces preached in the nevv Testament and the habitacle of the Holy Ghost In the vvhich booke of faithful mens hartes S. Paul vvrote diuers thinges not vttered in any Epistle as sundrie of the Apostles vvrote the Christian religion in the hartes of their hearers onely and in other material bookes not at all Vvhereof S. Irenaeus li. 3. ◠4. saith What and if the Apostles also had left no Scriptures ought vve not to folovv the order of the tradition vvhich they deliuered vnto them to vvhom they committed the Churches◠to the vvhich ordinance many nations of those barbarous people that haue beleeued in Christ do consent vvithout letter or inke hauing saluation vvritten in their hartes and keeping diligently the tradition of the elders And S. Hierom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hiero◠c. 9. ad Pa◠In the Greede of our faith and hope vvhich being deliuered by tradition from the Apostles is not vvritten in paper and inke but in the tables camal of the hart And this is the Churches booke also vvhereby and vvherein she keepeth faithfully al truth vvritten in the hartes of those to vvhom the Apostles did preach vvith the like diligence as she keepeth and preserueth the other booke vvhich is of holy Scriptures from al corruption of Heretikes and other iniuries 5. Of our selues This maketh first against the Heretikes called Pelagians that hold our meritorious actions or cogitations to be of free vvil onely and not of Gods special grace Secondly against the Protestantes vvho on the contrarie side referre al to God and take avvay mans freedom and proper motion in his thoughtes and doings the Apostle confessing our good cogitations to be our ovvne but not as comming of our selues but of God 6. The letter killeth As the letter of the old Lavv not truely vnderstood nor referred the Christ commaunding and not giuing grace and spirit to fulfil that vvhich vvas commaunded did by occasiō kill the carnal Iew so the letter of the nevv Testamēt not truely taken nor expounded by the Spirit of Christ vvhich is onely in his Church killeth the Heretike vvho also being carnal and void of spirit gaineth nothing by the external precepts or good lessons of the Scriptures but rather taketh hurt by the same See S. Augustine to 〈◊〉 Ser. 70 1000 de tempore li. de Sp. lit c. 5. 6. seq 9. Much more The preeminence of the new Testament and of the priesthod or Ministerie thereof before the old is that the nevv by al her Sacraments and Priests as ministers immediate of grace and remission of sinnes doth so ex opere operato giue the spirit of life and charitie into the hartes of the faithful as the old did giue the letter or external act of the Lavv. 14. The self same vele As the Ievves reading the old Testament by reason of their blindnes vvhich God for the punishment of their incredulitie suffereth to remaine as a couer vpon their eies and hartes can not see Christ in the Scriptures vvhich they daily heare read in their Synagogs but shal vvhen they beleeue in him and haue the couer remoued perceiue al to be most plainely done and spoken of him in their law Scriptures euen so Heretikes hauing as S. Augustine noteth a farre greater couer of blindnes and incredulitie ouer their hartes in respect of the Catholike Church vvhich they impugne then the Iewes haue concerning Christ can not see though they read or heare the Scriptures read neuer so much the maruelous euidence of the Catholike Church and truth in al pointes but vvhen they shal returne againe to the obedience of the same Church they shal finde the Scriptures most cleere for her and her doctrine and shal vvonder at their former blindnes 17. Libertie The Spirit and grace of God in the nevv Testament dischargeth vs of the bondage of the Lavv and sinne but is not a vvarrant to vs of fleshly licence as S. Peter vvriteth nor dischargeth Christians of their obedience to order lavv and power of Magistrates spiritual or temporal as some Heretikes of these daies do seditiously teach CHAP. IIII. That according as so glorious a ministerie requireth he liueth and preacheth sincerely 〈◊〉 the vvhich glorie his Aduersaries can not count vaine considering his persecutions because persecution is to Gods glorie and to our humilitie and hope and meritorious of increase of grace in this life and of most glorious bodies and soules aftervvard verse 1 THERFORE hauing this ministration according as vve haue obteined mercie vve faile not ✠verse 2 but vve renounce the secrete things of dishonestie not walking in crastines nor ″ adulterating the vvord of God but in manifestation of the truth commending our selues to euery conscience of men before God ✠verse 3 And if our Gospel be also hidde in them that perish it is hidde ✠verse 4 in vvhom the God of this vvorld hath blinded the mindes of the infidels that the illumination of the Gospel of the glorie of Christ vvho is the image of God might not shine to them ✠verse 5 For vve preache nor our selues but IESVS Christ our Lord and vs your seruants by IESVS ✠verse 6 because God that commaunded light to shine of darkenes he hath shined in our hartes to the illumination of the knovvledge of the glorie of God in the face of Christ IESVS ✠verse 7
and they receiue you eate such things as are set before you ✠verse 9 and cure the sicke that are in it and say to them The kingdom of God is come nigh vpon you ⊢ ✠verse 10 And into vvhatsoeuer citie you enter and they receiue you not going forth into the streates thereof say ✠verse 11 The dust also of your citie that cleaueth to vs vve doe vvipe of against you yet this knovv ye that the kingdom of God is at hand ✠verse 12 I say to you it shal be more tolerable for Sodom in that day then for that citie ✠verse 13 Vvo to thee Corozáim vvo to thee Beth-saida for if in Tyre and Sidon had been vvrought the miracles that haue beene vvrought in you they had done penance sitting in sacke cloth and ashes long agoe ✠verse 14 But it shal be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the iudgement then for you ✠verse 15 And thou Capharnaum that art exalted vnto heauē thou shalt be thrust dovvne euen vnto hel ✠verse 16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me And he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me ✠verse 17 And the Seuentie-tvvo returned vvith ioy saying Lord the Deuils also are subiect to vs in thy name ✠verse 18 And he said to them I savv Satan as a lightening fal from heauen ✠verse 19 Behold I haue giuen you povver to treade vpon serpents and scorpions and vpon al the povver of the enemie and nothing shal hurt you ✠verse 20 But yet reioyce not in this that the spirits are subiect vnto you but reioyce not in this that your names are vvritten in heauen ⊢ ✠verse 21 In that very houre he reioyced in spirit and said I confesse to thee O Father Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast hid these things from the vvise and prudent and hast reuealed them ″ to litle ones Yea Father for so hath it vvel pleased thee ✠verse 22 Al things are deliuered to me of my father And no man knovveth vvho the Sonne is but the Father and vvho the Father is but the Sonne and to vvhom the Sonne vvil reueale ✠verse 23 And turning to his Disciples he said Blessed are the eies that see the things that you see ✠verse 24 For I say to you that many Prophets and Kings desired to see the things that you see and savv them not and to heare the things that you heare and heard them not ✠verse 25 And behold a certaine lavvyer stoode vp tempting him and saying Maister by doing of vvhat thing shal I possesse life euerlasting ✠verse 26 But he said to him In the lavv vvhat is vvritten hovv readest thou ✠verse 27 He ansvvering said Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God vvith thy vvhole hart and vvith thy vvhole foule and vvith al thy strength and vvith al thy minde and thy neighbour as thy self ✠verse 28 And he said to him Thou hast ansvvered right ″ this doe and thou shalt liue ✠verse 29 But he desirous to iustifie him self said to IESVS And vvho is my neighbour ✠verse 30 And IESVS taking it said A certaine man vvent dovvne from Hierusalem into Iericho and fel among theeues vvho also spoiled him and giuing him vvoundes vvent avvay leauing him ″ halfe-dead ✠verse 31 And it chaunced that a certaine Priest vvent dovvne the same vvay and seeing him passed by ✠verse 32 In like maner also a Leuite vvhen he vvas neere the place and savv him passed by ✠verse 33 But a certaine Samaritane going his iourney came neere him and seeing him vvas moued vvith mercie ✠verse 34 And going vnto him bound his vvoundes povvring in oile and vvine and setting him vpon his ovvne beast brought him into an inne and tooke care of him ✠verse 35 And the next day he tooke forth tvvo pence and gaue to the host and said Haue care of him and vvhatsoeuer thou shalt supererogate I at my returne vvil repay thee ✠verse 36 Vvhich of these three in thy opinion vvas neighbour to him that fel among theeues ✠verse 37 But he said He that did mercie vpon him And IESVS said to him Goe and doe thou in like maner ⊢ ✠verse 38 And it came to passe as they vvent and he entred into a certaine tovvne and a certaine vvoman named Martha receiued him into her house ✠verse 39 and she had a sister called Marie vvho sitting also at our Lords feete heard his vvord ✠verse 40 But Martha vvas busie about much seruice vvho stoode and said Lord hast thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serue speake to her therfore that she help me ✠verse 41 And our Lord ansvvering said to her Martha Martha thou art careful and art troubled about very many things ✠verse 42 But one thing is necessarie ″ Marie hath chosen the best part vvhich shal not be taken avvay from her ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. X. 21. To litle ones By this place euery vulgar artificer may not presume that God hath reuealed al truth to him and therfore refuse to be taught of the learned for Christ did not aftervvard endevv fishers and vulgar men nor any other vvith the gifts of vvisdom and tonges vvithout their industrie study and teaching though at the beginning of great prouidence he did it that it might be cleere to the vvorld that al Nations vvere conuerted to him not by persuasion of cunning Orators or subtil Disputers but by the plaine force of his grace and truth vvhich S. Augustine counteth greater then al other miracles Further we are taught by this place that the poore humble obedient children of the Church knovv by their faith the high mysteries of Christes Diuinity and his presence in the B. Sacrament and such like rather then Arius Caluin and other like proud Scribes and Pharisees 28. This doe Not by faith only but by keeping Gods commaundements we obtaine life euerlasting not onely by beleeuing but by doing The heretikes say that it is impossible to keepe this commaundement of louing God with al our hart But the Scriptures giue vs examples of diuers that haue kept and fulfilled it as far as is requisite in this life 3. reg 14 8. ◠Par. 15 15. Ps 118 10. Ecclci 47 9 10. 4 Reg. 20 3. 5. Luc. 1 5. And if it vvere impossible to keepe it and yet by Christ proposed for the meane to obtaine life euerlasting he had mocked this Lavvyer and others and not taught them 30. Halfe dead Here is signified man vvounded very sore in his vnderstanding and free-wil and al other povvers of soule and body by the sinne of Adam but yet that neither vnderstanding nor free-vvil nor the rest vvere extinguished in man or taken avvay The Priest and Leuite signifie the Lavv of Moyses this Samaritane is Christ the Priest of the nevve Testament the
this is desert ✠verse 27 And rising he vvent And behold a man of Aethiopia an eunuch of great authoritie vnder Candace the Queene of the Aethiopians vvho vvas ouer al her treasures vvas come to Hierusalem to adore ✠verse 28 and he vvas returning and sitting vpon his chariot and reading Esay the prophet ✠verse 29 And the Spirit said to Philippe Goe neere and ioyne thy self to this same chariot ✠verse 30 And Philippe running therevnto heard him reading Esay the prophet and he said Trovvest thou that thou vnderstaÌ„dest the things vvhich thou readest ✠verse 31 Vvho said And hovv can I vnlesse some man shevv me he desired Philippe that he vvould come vp and sit vvith him ✠verse 32 And the place of the scripture vvhich he did reade vvas this As a sheepe to slaughter vvas he led and as a lambe before his shearer vvithout voice so did he not open his mouth ✠verse 33 In humilitie his iudgement vvas taken avvay His generation vvho shal declare for from the earth shal his life be taken ✠verse 34 And the â—â—nuch ansvvering Philip said I beseeche thee of vvhom doth the Prophet speake this of him self or of some other ✠verse 35 And Philip opening his mouth and beginning from this scripture euangelized vnto him IESVS ✠verse 36 And as they vvent by the vvay they came to a certaine vvater and the eunuch said Lo vvater vvho ' doth let me to be baptized ✠verse 37 And Philip said If thou beleeue vvith al thy hart thou maiest And he ansvvering said I beleeue that IESVS CHRIST is the sonne of God ✠verse 38 And he commaunded the chariot to stay and both vvent dovvne into the vvater Philip and the Eunuch and ″ he baptized him ✠verse 39 And when they vvere come vp out of the vvater the Spirit of our Lord tooke avvay Philip and the eunuch savv him no more And he vvent on his vvay reioycing ✠verse 40 But Philip vvas found in Azótus passing through he euangelized to al the cities til he came to Caesaréa ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VIII 2. Deuâ—us men As here great deuotion vvas vsed in burying his body so aftervvard at the Inuention Translation thereof And the miracles vvrought by the same and at euery litle memorie of the same vvere infinite as S. Augustine vvitnesseth li. 〈◊〉 de Ciuil Dei c. â— Sermon de S. Steph. 〈◊〉 10. 14. Sent Peter Some Protestants vse this place to proue S. Peter not to be head of the Apostles because he and S. Iohn were sent by the Tvvelue by vvhich reason they might as vvel conclude that he vvas not equal to the rest for commonly the Maister sendeth the man and the Superior the inferior vvhen the vvord of Sending is exactly vsed But it is not alvvaies so taken in the Scriptures for then could not the Sonne be sent by the Father not the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Sonne nor othervvise in coÌ„mon vse of the vvorld seing the inferior or equal may inâ—eaâ—e his frend or Superior to doe his busines for him and specially a body Politike or a Corporation may by election or othervvise choose their Head and send him so may the Citizens send their Maior to the Prince or Parliament though he be the head of the citie because he may be more fitte to doe their busines also the Superior or equal may be sent by his ovvne consent or desire Lastly the College of the Apostles comprising Peter vvith the rest as euery such Body implieth both the head and the members vvas greater then Peter their head alone as the Prince and Parliament is greater then the Prince alone And so Peter might be sent as by authoritie of the vvhole College notvvithstanding he vvere the head of the same 17. Did they impose If this Philip had been â— an Apostle saith S. Bede he might haue imposed his handes that they might haue receiued the Holy Ghost but this none can doe sauing Bishops For though Priests may baptize and anoint the Baptized also vvith Chrisme consecrated by a Bishop yet he can not signe his forehead vvith the same holy oile because that belongeth only to Bishops vvhen they giue the holy Ghost to the Baptized So saith he touching the Sacrament of Confirmation in 8 Act. This imposition therfore of hands together vvith the praiers here specified vvhich no doubt vvere the very same that the Church yet vseth to that purpose vvas the ministration of the Sacrament of Confirmation Whereof S. Cyptian saith thus They that in Samaria vvere baptized of Philip because they had lavvful and Ecclesiastical Baptisme ought not to be baptized any more but only that vvhich vvanted vvas done by Peter and Iohn to vvit that by praier made for them and imposition of handes the Holy Ghost might be povvred vpon them Vvhich novv also is done vvith vs that they vvhich in the Church are baptized be by the Rulers of the Church offered and by our praier and imposition of hand receiue the Holy Ghost and be signed vvith our Lordes seale So S. Cyprian But the Heretikes obiect that yet here is no mention of oile To vvhom vve say that many things vvere done and said in the administration of this and other Sacraments and al instituted by Christ him self and deliuered to the Church by the Apostles vvhich are not particularly vvritten by the Euangelists or any other in the Scripture among vvhich this is euident by al antiquitie and most general practise of the Church to be one S. Denys saith The Priests did present the baptized to the Bishop that he might signe them diuino dâ—ifico vnguento vvith the diuine and deifical ointment And againe Aduentum S. Spiritus consummans inunctio largitur the inunction consummating giueth the comming of the Holy Ghost Tertullian de resur carn nu 7 li. 1 adu Marcio speaketh of this CoÌ„firmation by Chrisme thus The flesh is anointed that the soul may be consecrated the flesh is signed that the soul may be sensed the flesh by imposition of hand is shadovved that the soul by the Spirit may be illuminated S. Cyprian likevvise ep 70. nu 2. He must also be anointed that is baptized vvith the oile sanctified on the Altar And ep 72 see also ep 73. nu 3 he expresly calleth it a Sacrament ioyning it vvith Baptisme as Melchiades doth ep ad omnes Hispaniaâ— Episcopos nu 2. to 1 Conâ— shevving the difference betvvixt it and Baptisme S. Augustine also cont lit Petil. li. 2. c. 104. The Sacrament of Chrisme in the kind of visible seales is sacred and holy euen as Baptisme it self Vve omit S. Cyril mystag 3. S. Ambrose li. 3 de Sacram. c. 2. de ijs qui mysterijs initiantur c. 7. S. Leo ep 88. the auÌ„cient Councels also of Laodicea can 48. Carthage 3 can 39. and Arausicanum 4 can 1. and others And S. Clement Apost
mutual entercourse that is betvvene the members of Christes mystical body and very ansvverable to Gods iustice * vvhich by supply of the one sort that aboundeth standeth entire in respect of the other sort also that wanteth In vvhich kinde the Apostle confesseth that him self by his suffering and tribulations supplieth the vvantes of such passions as Christ hath to suffer not in his ovvne person but in his body vvhich is his Church Vvherevpon vve inferre most assuredly that the satisfactorie and penal vvorkes of holy Sainctes suffered in this life be communicable and applicable to the vse of other faithful men their fellovv-members in our Lord and to be dispensed according to euery ones necessitie and deseruing by them vvhom Christ hath constituted ouer his familie and hath made the dispensers of his treasures 10. In the person of Christ For that many might of ignorance or pride reproue the practise of Gods Church and her Officers or deny the Apostles authoritie to be so great ouer mens soules as to punish and pardon in this sort S. Paul doth purposely and precisely tell them that he doth giue pardon as Christes Vicar or as bearing his person in this case and therfore that no man may maruel of his povver herein except he thinke that Christes povver authoritie and commission is not sufficient to release temporal punishment due to sinners And this to be the proper meaning of these vvordes In the person of Christ and not as the Protestants vvould haue it the better to auoid the former conclusion of the Apostles giuing indulgence In the face or sight of Christ you may easily vnderstand by the Apostles like insinuation of Christes povver vvhen he committed this offender to Satan affirming that he gaue that sentence in the name and vvith the vertue or povver of our Lord IESVS CHRIST In al vvhich cases the Protestants blindnes is exceding great vvho can not see that this is not the vvay to extol Christes povver to deny it to his Priests seing the Apostle chalengeth it by that that Christ hath such povver that him self doth it in his name vertue and person So novv in this and in no other name giue Popes and Bishops their pardons Vvhich pertaining proprely to releasing onely of temporal punishment due after the sinne and the eternal punishment be forgiuen is not so great a matter as the remission of the sinne it self vvhich yet the Priests * by expresse commission do also remitte 11. Circumuented of Satan Vve may see hereby that the dispensation of such discipline and the releasing of the same be put into the povver and handes of Gods ministers to deale more or lesse rigorously to pardon sooner or later punish longer or shorter vvhile as shal be thought best to their vvisedom for the end of al such correction or pardoning must be the saluation of the parties soul as the Apostle noted 1 Cor. 5 5. Vvhich to some and some certaine times may be better procured by rigour of discipline then by indulgence to some others by leuitie and humane dealing so pardoning of penance is called in old Councels rather then by ouermuch chastisemeÌ„â— for consideration vvhereof in some ages of the Church much discipline great penance and satisfaction vvas both enioyned and also vvillingly susteined and then vvas the lesse pardoning and fevver indulgences because in that voluntary vse and acceptation of punishment and great zeale and feruor of spirit euery man fulfilled his penancÌ„e and fevv asked pardon Novv in the fall of deuotion and lothsomnes that men commonly haue to do great penance though the sinnes be far greater then euer before yet our holy mother the Church knovving vvith the Apostle the cogitations of Satan hovv he vvould in this delicate time driue men either to desperation or to forsake Christ and his Church and al hope of saluation rather then they vvould enter into the course of canonicall discipline enioyneth small penance and seldom vseth extremitie vvith offenders as the holy Bishops of the primitiue Church did but condescending to the vveaknes of her children pardoneth exceding often and much not onely al enioyned penance but also al or great partes of vvhat punishment temporal so euer due or deserued either in this vvorld or in the next As for the Heretikes vvhich neither like the Churches lenitie and pardoning in these daies nor the old rigor of the primitiue Church they be like to the Ievves â— that condemned Iohn the Baptist of austeritie and Christ of to much freedom and libertie not knovving nor liking in deede either Christes ordinance and commission in binding or loosing or his prouidence in the gouernement of the Church 17. Adulterating The Greeke vvord signifieth to make commoditie of the vvord of God as vulgar Vinteners do of their vvine Vvhereby is expressed the peculiar trade of al Heretikes and exceding proper to the Protestants that so corrupt Scriptures by mixture of their ovvne phantasies by false traÌ„slations glosses colorable and pleasant commentaries to deceiue the tast of the simple as tauerners and tapsters do to make their vvines salable by manifold artificial deceites The Apostles contrarievvise as all Catholikes deliuer the Scriptures and vtter the vvord of God sincerely and entirely in the same sense and sort as the fathers left them to the Church interpreting them by the same Spirit by vvhich they vvere vvritten or spoken CHAP. III. Lest the Iudaical false Apostles should obiect againe that he praiseth him self he saith that the Corinthians are his commendation and they in their hartes being iustified by his ministerie he thereof inferreth that the ministers of the nevv Testament are farre more glorious them they of the old 12 and our people more lightened then theirs verse 1 BEGIN we againe to commend our selues or do vve neede as certaine epistles of commendation to you or from you ✠verse 2 Our epistle you are vvritten in our hartes vvhich is knovven and read of al men ✠verse 3 being manifested that you are ″ the epistle of Christ ministred by vs vvritten not vvith inke but vvith the Spirit of the liuing God not in tables of stone but in the tables carnall of the hart ✠verse 4 And such confidence vve haue by Christ God ✠verse 5 not that vve be sufficient to thinke any thing ″ of our selues as of our selues but our sufficience is of God ✠verse 6 Vvho also hath made vs meete ministers of the nevv â—estament not in the letter but in the Spirit For ″ the letter killeth but the Spirit quickeneth ✠verse 7 And if the ministration of death with letters figured in stones vvas in glorie so that the children of Israël could not behold the face of Moyses for the glorie of his countenaÌ„ce that is made void ✠verse 8 how shal not the ministration of the Spirit be more in glorie ✠verse 9 For if the ministratioÌ„ of damnation be in glorie
according to the purpose of him that vvorketh al things according to the counsel of his vvil ✠verse 12 that vve may be vnto the praise of his glorie vvhich before haue hoped in Christ ✠verse 13 in vvhom you also vvhen you had heard the vvord of truth the Gospel of your saluation in vvhich also beleeuing you vvere signed vvith the holy Spirit of promis ✠verse 14 vvhich is the pledge of our inheritance to the redemption of acquisition vnto the praise of his glorie ✠verse 15 Therfore I also hearing your faith that is in our Lord IESVS and loue tovvard al the sainctes ✠verse 16 cease not to giue thankes for your making a memorie of you in my praiers ✠verse 17 that God of our Lord IESVS Christ the father of glorie giue you the spirit of vvisedom and of reuelation in the knovvledge of him ✠verse 18 the eies of your hart illuminated that you may knovv vvhat the hope is of his vocation and vvhat are the riches of the glorie of his inheritance in the sainctes ✠verse 19 and vvhat is the passing greatnes of his povver tovvard vs that beleeue according to the operation of the might of his povver ✠verse 20 vvhich he vvrought in Christ raising him vp from the dead and setting him on his right hand in celestials ✠verse 21 aboue ″ al Principalitie Potestate Power and Domination and euery name that is named not only in this vvorld but also in that to come ✠verse 22 And he hath * subdued al things vnder his feete and hath made him ″ head ouer al the CHVRCH ✠verse 23 vvhich is his body the fulnes of him vvhich is filled al in al. ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 21. Al Principalitie The Fathers vpon this and other places of the old and new Testament vvhere they finde the orders of holy Angels or spirites named agree that there be nine orders of them Of vvhich some be here counted and called as vve see in the Epistle to the Colossians the order of Thrones is specified vvhich maketh fiue to vvhich if vve adde these foure Cherubim Seraphim Angels and Archangels vvhich are commonly named in holy vvrite in al there be nine S. Denys coel Hier. c. 7. 8. 9. Ec. Hier. c. 1. S. Athanas li de Communi essent in fine Gregor Moral li. 32. c. 18. Therfore good Reader make no accoumpt of * Caluins and others infidelitie vvhich blasphemously blame and condemne the holy doctors diligence in this point of curiousitie and impietie The vvhole endeuour of these heretikes is to bring al into doubt and to corrupt euery Article of our Religion 22. Head It maketh a high proofe among the Protestants that no man can be head of the Church because it is a calling and dignitie proper to Christ But in truth by as good reason there should be no king nor lord because He is king and lord neither should there be Bishop or Pastor because he is the Bishop and Pastor of our soules nor Pontifex nor Apostle for by those titles S. Paul termeth him Hebr. 3 none should be piller foundation rocke light or maister of the Church or truth because Christ is properly al these And yet our nevv doctors though they be exceding seditious and vvould for the aduantage of their sect be gladly ridde of kings and al other Superiors temporal if they feared not the sword more then God and vvould finde as good Scriptures to be deliuered of them as they now finde to discharge them selues of obedience to Popes yet I say they vvil not deny al the former titles and dignities notvvithstanding Christes soueraine right in the same to be giuen and communicated to the Princes and Magistrates of the earth both spiritual and temporal though Christ in a more diuine ample absolute excellent and transcendent sort haue al these things attributed or appropriated to him self So then though he be the head of the Church and the onely head in such soueraine and principal maner as no earthly man or mere creature euer is or can be and it ioyned to the Church in a more excellent sort of coniunction then any king is to his subiects or Countrie or any Pope or Prelate to the Church vvhereof he is gouernour euen so farre that it is called his body Mystical life motion spirit grace issuing dovvne from him to it and the members of the same as from the head of the natural body though in this sort we say no man can be head but Christ nor the Church be body to any but to Christ yet the Pope may be the ministerial head that is to say the cheefe Gouernour Pastor and Prelate of the same and may be his Vicar or Vicegerent in the regiment of that part vvhich is in earth as S. Hierom calleth Damasus the Pope Summum Sacerdotem the cheefe and highest Priest and the Apostle saith of this ministerial head The head can not say to the feete you are not necessarie for me For therein also is a great difference betvvene Christ and euery mortal I relate that as the Apostle here saith he is head of the vvhole Church meaning of the triumphaÌ„t of al Angels also though in an other sort no lesse theÌ„ of the Church militaÌ„t So Peter vvas not nor any Pope nor any man can be Where you must obserue that for this soueraine preeminence of Christ in this case the Church is not called the body mystical of any Gouernour Peter Paul or vvhat Prelate or Pope so euer CHAP. II. He putteth them in minde of their vnvvorthines before they vvere Christians that al the praise may be giuen to the grace of God 11 and of the enmitie that vvas thâ—â— betvvene the Ievv and the Gentil 〈◊〉 vntil nevv that Christ by his Crosse hath made both one taking avvay the ceremâ—nies of the Lavv and making one body and building one holy Temple of al in his Catholike Church verse 1 AND you vvhen you vvere dead by your offenses sinnes ✠verse 2 vvherein sometime you vvalked according to the course of this vvorld according to the * prince of the povver of this aire of the spirit that novv vvorketh on the childreÌ„ of diffidence ✠verse 3 in vvhom also vve al conuersed sometime in the desires of our flesh doing the vvil of the flesh and of thoughtes and vvere by nature the children of vvrath as also the rest ✠verse 4 but God vvhich is riche in mercie for his exceding charitie vvhervvith he loued vs ✠verse 5 euen vvhen vve vvere dead by sinnes quickened vs together in Christ by vvhose grace you are saued ✠verse 6 and raised vs vp vvith him and hath made vs sit vvith him in the celestials in Christ IESVS ✠verse 7 that he might shevv in the vvorldes succeding the aboundant riches of his grace in bountie vpon vs in Christ IESVS ✠verse 8 For by ″ grace you are saued
the man of sinne be reuealed the sonne of perdition ✠verse 4 vvhich is an aduersarie is ″ extolled aboue al that is called God or that is worshipped so that he sitteth ″ in the temple of God shevving him self as though he were God ✠verse 5 Remember you not that vvhen I vvas yet vvith you I told you these things ✠verse 6 And now ″ vvhat letteth you knovv that he may be reuealed in his time ✠verse 7 For novv the mysterie of iniquitie vvorketh only that he vvhich novv holdeth doe hold vntil he be taken out of the vvay ✠verse 8 And then that vvicked one shal be reuealed * vvhom our Lord IESVS shal kil vvith the spirit of his mouth shal destroy vvith the manifestation of his aduent him ✠verse 9 vvhose comming is according to the operatioÌ„ of Satan ″ in al povver and lying signes and vvonders ✠verse 10 and in al seducing of iniquitie to them that perish for that they haue not receiued the charitie of the truth that they might be saued ✠verse 11 Therfore God vvil send them the operation of errour to beleeue lying ✠verse 12 that al may be iudged vvhich haue not beleeued the truth but haue consented to iniquitie ✠verse 13 But vve ought to giue thaÌ„kes to God alvvaies for you brethreÌ„ beloued of God that he hath chosen you first-fruites vnto saluation in sanctification of spirit and faith of the truth ✠verse 14 into the vvhich also he hath called you by our Gospel vnto the purchasing of the glorie of our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 15 Therfore brethren stand and hold the ″ traditioÌ„s vvhich you haue learned vvhether it be by vvord or by our epistle ✠verse 16 And our Lord IESVS Christ him self and God our father vvhich hath loued vs and hath giuen eternal consolation and good hope in grace ✠verse 17 exhort your hartes and confirme you in euery good vvorke and vvorde ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. â— Aâ— though the day The curiositie of man fed by Satans deceites hath sought to knovv and to giue out to the vvorld such things as God vvil not impart to him nor be necessarie or profitable for him to knovv so farre that both in the Apostles daies and often aftervvard some haue feined reuelations some falsely gathered out of the Scriptures some presumed to calculate and coniecte by the starres and giuen furth to the vvorld a certaine time of Christes coming to iudgement Al vvhich seducers be here noted in the person of some that vvere about to deceiue the Thessalonians therein And S. Augustine in his 80 Epistle ad Hesychium proueth that no man can be assured by the Scriptures of the day yere or age that the end of the vvorld or the second Aduent shal be â— Vnles there come a reuolt first Though vve can not be assured of the moment houre or any certaine time of our Lordes coÌ„ming yet he vvarranteth vs that it vvil not be before certaine things be fulfilled vvhich must come to passe by the course of Gods prouidence and permission before vvhich are diuers vvhereof in other places of Scriptures vve be forevvarned Here he vvarneth vs of tvvo specially of a reuolt defection or an apostasie and of the comming or reuelation of Antichrist Vvhich tvvo pertaine in effect both to one either depending of the other and shal fall as it may be thought neere together and therfore S Augustine maketh them but one thing This apostasie or reuolt by the iudgement in maner of al auncient vvriters is the general forsaking fall of the Romane empire So Tertullian li. de resur carnis S. Hierom q 11 ad Algasiam S. Chrysostom ho. 4. and S. Ambrose vpon this place S. Augustine De Ciuit. Dei li. 20 c. 19. Al vvhich fathers and the rest * Caluin presumpâ—kously condemneth of errour and follie herein for that their exposition agreeth not vvith his and his fellovves blasphemous fiction that the Pope should be Antichrist To establish vvhich false impietie they interprete this reuolt or apostasie to be a general reuolt of the visible Church from God vvhose house or building they say vvas sodenly destroied and lay many yeres ruined and ruled onely by Satan and Antichrist So faith the foresaid Arch-heretike here though for the aduantage of his defence and as the matter els vvhere requireth he seemeth as al their fashion is to speake in other places quite contrarie but vvith such colour and collusion of vvordes that neither other men nor him self can tell vvhat he vvould haue or say And his fathers Vvicleffe and Luther his fellovves and folovvers Illyricus Beza and the rest are for the time of the Churches falling from Christ so various among them selues and so contrarie to him that it is horrible to see their confusion and a pitieful case that any reasonable man vvil folovv such companions to euident perdition But concerning â—his errour and falshod of the Churches defection or reuolt it is refuted suffiâ—iently by S. Augustine against the Donatistes in many places Vvhere he proueth that the Church shal not faile to the vvorldes end no not in the time of Antichrist affirming them to deny Christ and to robbe him of his glorie inheritance bought vvith his bloud vvhich teach that the Church may faile or perish Li. de vnit Ec. c. 12. 13. De Ciuit. li. 20. c. 8. In Psal 85 ad illud Tu soâ—u Deus magnus ps 70 Conc. 2. Psal 60. De vtil cred c. 8. S. Hierom refuteth the same vvicked Heresie in the Luciferians prouing against them that they make God subiect to the Diuel and a poore miserable Christ that imagine the Church his body may either perish or be driuen to any corner of the vvorld both of them ansvver to the Heretikes arguments grounded on Scriptures falsely vnderstood vvhich vvere to long here to rehearse It is ynough for the Christian reader to knovv that it is an old deceite and excuse of al Heretikes and Schismatikes for defence of their forsaking Gods Church that the Church is perished or remaineth hidden or in them selues onely and in those places vvhere they and their folovvers dvvel to knovv also that this is reproued by the holy Doctors of the primitiue Church and that it is against Christes honour povver prouidence and promis If the Aduersaries had said that this reuolt vvhich the Apostle foretelleth shal come before the vvorldes end is meant of great numbers of Heretikes Apostataes reuolting from the Church they had said truth of them selues and such others vvhom S. Iohn calleth Antichristes And it is very like be it spoken vnder the correction of Gods Church and al learned Catholikes that this great defection or reuolt shal not be onely from the Romane empire but specially from the Romane Church and vvithal from most points of Christian religion not that the Catholike Christians either in the time of
but his commaundements of which S. Iohn sayth 1. Ep. 5. His commaundements are not heauy cleane contrary to the Aduersaries that say they are vnpossible to be kept CHAP. XII The blindnes of the Pharisees about the Sabboth he reproueth by Scriptures by reason and by a miracle 14 and his death being therfore sought by them he meekely goeth out of the vvay according as Esay had prophecied of him 2◠His casting out of deuils also he defendeth agaynst them 31 and setteth forth the daunger they stand in for their horrible blasphemie 38 And because they aske yet for a signe he shevveth hovv vvorthely they shal be damned 43 foretelling hovv the deuil shal possesse their Nation 46 and testifying that although he be of their bloud yet not they for this but such as keepe his commaundements are deere vnto him verse 1 AT that time * IESVS vvent through the corne on the Sabboth and his Disciples being hungrie began to plucke the eares and to eate ✠verse 2 And the Pharisees seeing them said to him Loe thy Disciples doe that vvhich is not lavvful for them to doe on the Sabboth-dayes ✠verse 3 But he sayd to them Haue you not read vvhat * Dauid did vvhen he vvas an hungred and they that vvere vvith him ✠verse 4 hovv he entred into the house of God and did eate the loaues of proposition vvhich it vvas not lavvful for him to eate nor for them that vvere vvith him * but for priestes only ✠verse 5 Or haue ye not read in the * Lavv that on Sabboth-dayes the priestes in the temple do breake the Sabboth and are vvithout blame ✠verse 6 but I tel you that there is here a greater then the tēple ✠verse 7 And if you did knovv vvhat it is I wil mercie and not sacrifice you vvould neuer haue condemned the innocentes ✠verse 8 For the Sonne of man is lord of the Sabboth also ✠verse 9 And vvhen he had passed from thence he came into their synagogue ✠verse 10 And * behold there vvas a man vvhich had a vvithered hand and they asked him saying Whether is it lavvful to cure on the Sabboths that they might accuse him ✠verse 11 But he sayd to them what man shal there be of you that shal haue one sheepe and if the same fall into a ditche on the Sabboths vvil he not take hold and lift it vp ✠verse 12 Hovv much better is a man more then a sheepe therfore it is lavvful on the Sabboths to doe a good deede ✠verse 13 Then he sayth to the man Stretch forth thy hand and he stretched it forth and it vvas restored to health euen as the other ✠verse 14 And the Pharisees going forth made a cōsultation agaynst him hovv they might destroy him ✠verse 15 But IESVS knovving it retired from thence and many folovved him and he cured them all ✠verse 16 and he charged them that they should not disclose him ✠verse 17 That it might be fulfilled vvhich vvas spoken by Esay the Prophete saying ✠verse 18 Behold my seruant vvhom I haue chosen my beloued in vvhom my soul hath vvel liked I vvil put my spirit vpon him and iudgement to the Gentiles shal he shew ✠verse 19 He shal not contend nor crie out neither shal any man heare in the streetes his voyce ✠verse 20 The reede bruised he shal not breake and smoking flaxe he shal not extinguish til he cast forth iudgement vnto victorie ✠verse 21 And in his name the Gentiles shal hope ✠verse 22 Then * vvas offered to him one possessed vvith a deuil blinde and dumme and he cured him so that he spake saw ✠verse 23 And al the multitudes vvere amased and sayd whether this be the Sonne of Dauid ✠verse 24 But the Pharisees hearing it sayd This felovv casteth not out diuels but ″ in Beelzebub the Prince of the diuels ✠verse 25 And IESVS knovving their cogitations said to them Euery kingdom deuided against it self shal be made desolate and euery citie or house deuided agaynst it self shal not stand ✠verse 26 And if Satan cast out Satan he is deuided against him self hovv then shal his Kingdom stand ✠verse 27 And if I in Beelzebub cast out deuils your children in vvhom do they cast out Therfore they shal be your iudges ✠verse 28 But if I in the Spirit of God do cast out deuils then is the kingdom of God come vpon you ✠verse 29 Or hovv can a man enter into the house of the strong and rifle his vessel vnles he first binde the strong and then he vvil rifle his house ✠verse 30 He that is ″ not vvith me is agaynst me and he that ″ gathereth not vvith me scattereth ✠verse 31 Therfore I say to you euery sinne and blasphemie shal be forgiuen men but ″ the blasphemie of the Spirit shal not be forgiuen ✠verse 32 And vvhosoeuer shal speake a vvord agaynst the Sonne of man it shal be forgiuen him but he that shal speake against the Holy Ghost it shal not be forgiuen him neither in this vvorld nor ″ in the vvorld to come ✠verse 33 Either make the tree good and his fruite good or make the tree euil and his fruite euil for of the fruite the tree is knowē ✠verse 34 You vipers broodes hovv can you speake good things vvhereas you are euil for of the aboundance of the hart the mouth speaketh ✠verse 35 A good man out of a good treasure bringeth forth good things and an euil man out of an euil treasure bringeth forth euil things ✠verse 36 But I say vnto you that euery ″ idle vvord that men shal speake they shal render an account for it in the day of iudgement ✠verse 37 For of thy wordes thou shalt be iustified and of thy vvordes thou shalt be condemned ✠verse 38 Then ansvvered him certaine of the Scribes and Pharisees saying Maister vve vvould see a signe from thee ✠verse 39 who ansvvered and said to them The vvicked and aduouterous generation seeketh a signe and a signe shal not be giuen it but the signe of Ionas the Prophet ✠verse 40 For as * Ionas vvas in the vvhales belly three dayes and three nightes so shal the Sonne of man be in the hart of the earth three dayes and three nightes ✠verse 41 The men of Niniuee shal rise in the iudgemēt vvith this generatiō and shal condemne it because * they did penance at the preaching of Ionas And behold more then Ionas here ✠verse 42 The * Queene of the South shal rise in the iudgement vvith this generation and shal condemne it because she came from the endes of the earth to heare the vvisedom of Salomō and behold more the Salomon here ✠verse 43 And * vvhen an vncleane spirit shal goe out of a man he vvalketh
saith to him Frende hovv camest thou in hither not hauing a vvedding garment But he vvas dumme ✠verse 13 Then the king said to the vvaiters Binde his hands and feete and cast him into the vtter darkenes there shal be vveeping gnashing of teeth ✠verse 14 For many be called but fevv elect ◠✠verse 15 * Then the Pharisees departing consulted among them selues for to entrappe him in his talke ✠verse 16 And they send to him their disciples vvith the Herodians saying Maister vve knovv that thou art a true speaker and teachest the vvay of God in truth neither carest thou for any man for thou doest not respect the person of men ✠verse 17 tel vs therfore vvhat is thy opinion is it lavvful to giue tribute to Caesar or not ✠verse 18 But IESVS knovving their naughtines said what do you tempt me Hypocrites ✠verse 19 Shevv me the tribute coine And they offred him a penie ✠verse 20 And IESVS saith to them whose is this image and superscription ✠verse 21 They say to him Caesars Then he saith to them Render therfore the things that are Caesars â— to Caesar and the things that are Gods to God ✠verse 22 And hearing it they marueled and leauing him vvent their vvaies ✠verse 23 * That day there came to him the Sadducees that say there is no resurrection and asked him ✠verse 24 saying Maister Moyses said If a man die not hauing a childe that his brother marie his wife and raise vp seede to his brother ✠verse 25 And there vvere vvith vs seuen brethren and the first hauing maried a vvife died and not hauing issue left his vvife to his brother ✠verse 26 In like maner the second and the third euen to the seuenth ✠verse 27 And last of al the vvoman died also ✠verse 28 In the resurrection therfore vvhose vvife of the seuen shal she be for they al had her ✠verse 29 And IESVS answering said to them You do erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the povver of God ✠verse 30 For in the resurrection neither shal they marie not be maried but are â— as the Angels of God in heauen ✠verse 31 And concerning the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead haue you not read that vvich vvas spoken of God saying to you ✠verse 32 I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob He is not God â— of the dead but of the liuing ✠verse 33 And the multitudes hearing it marueled at his doctrine ✠verse 34 * But the Pharisees hearing that he had put the Sadducees to silence came together ✠verse 35 and one of them a doctor of lavv asked of him tempting him ✠verse 36 Maister vvhich is the great commaundement in the lavv ✠verse 37 IESVS said to him Thou shalt loue the lord thy God from thy whole hart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole minde ✠verse 38 This is the greatest and the first commaundement ✠verse 39 And the second is like to this Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thyself ✠verse 40 â— On these tvvo commaundements dependeth the vvhole Lavv and the Prophets ✠verse 41 And * the Pharisees being assembled IESVS asked them ✠verse 42 saying What is your opinion of Christ Whose sonne is he They say to him Dauids ✠verse 43 He saith to them Hovv then doth Dauid in spirit cal him Lord saying ✠verse 44 The Lord said to my Lord sitte on my right hand vntil I put thine enemies the foote stole of thy feete ✠verse 45 If Dauid therfore call him Lord hovv is he his sonne ✠verse 46 And no man could ansvver him a vvord neither durst any man from that day aske him any more ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXII 2. Mariage Then did God the Father make this mariage when by the mysterie of the Incarnation he ioyned to his sonne our Lord the holy Church for his spouse Greg. hom â—8 3. Seruants The first seruants here sent to inuite were the Prophets the second were the Apostles and al that afterward conuerted countries or that haue and doe reconcile men to the Church 5. One to his farme Such as refuse to be reconciled to Christes Church alleage often vaine impediments and worldly excuses which at the day of iudgement wil not serue them 11. A man not attyred If profiteth not much to be within the Church and to be a Catholike except a man be of good life for such an one shal be damned because with faith he hath not good workes as is euident by the example of this man who was within and at the feast as the rest but lacked the garment of charitie and good workes And by this man are represented al the bad that are called and therfore they also are in the Church as this man was at the feast but because he was called and yet none of the elect it is euident that the Church doth not consist of the elect only contrarie to our Aduersaries 2â— To Caesar Temporal duties and payments exacted by worldly Princes must be payed so that God be not defrauded of his more soueraine dutie And therfore Princes haue to take heede how they exact and others how they geue to Caesar that is to their Prince the things that are dewe to God that is to his Ecclesiastical ministers Wherevpon S. Athanasius reciteth these goodly wordes out of an epistle of the ancient and famous CoÌ„fessor Hosius Cordubensis to CoÌ„stantius the Arian Emperour Cease I beseche thee and remember that thou art mortal feare the day of iudgement intermedle not with Ecclesiastical matters neither doe thou commaund vs in this kinde but rather learne them of vs to thee God hath committed the Empire to vs he hath coÌ„mitted the things that belong to the Church and as he that with malicious eies carpeth thine Empire gainesayeth the ordinance of God so doe thou also beware lest in drawing vnto thee Ecclesiastical matters thou be made guilty of a great crime It is written Geue ye the things that are Caesars to Caesar and the things that are Gods to God Therfore neither is it lawful for vs in earth to hold the Empire neither hast thou O Emperour power ouer incense and sacred things Athan. Ep. ad Solit. vitaÌ„ agentes And S. Ambrose to Valentinian the Emperour who by the il counsel of his mother Iustina an Arian required of S. Ambrose to haue one Church in Millan deputed to the Arian Heretikes saith we pay that which is Caesars to Caesar and that which is Gods to God Tribute is Caesars it is not denied the Church is Gods it may not verely be yelded to Caesar because the Temple of God can not be Caesars right Which no man can deny but it is spoken with the honour of the Emperour for what is more honorable then that the Emperour be said to
ynough S. Matthew addeth these wordes also of our Sauiour teaching them to obserue al things whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you which conteineth al good workes and the whole iustice of a Christian man 17. These signes shal folow It is not meant that al Christians or true beleeuers should doe miracles but that some for the proofe of the faith of al should haue that gift The which is the grace or gift of the whole Church executed by certaine for the edification and profite of the whole THE ARGVMENT OF S. LVKES GOSPEL S Lukes Gospel may be diuided into fiue partes The first part is of the Infancie both of the precursor and of Christ himselfe chap. 1 and 2. The second of the Preparation that vvas made to the manifestation of Christ chap. 3 and a piece of the 4. The third of Christes manifesting him selfe by preaching and miracles specially in Galilee the other piece of the 4 chap. vnto the middes of the 17. The fourth of his comming into Iurie tovvards his Passion the other piece of the 17 chap. vnto the middes of the 19. The fifth of the Holy weeke of his Passion in Hierusalem the other part of the 19 chap. vnto the end of the booke S. Luke vvas sectator saith S. Hierome that is a disciple of the Apostle Paul and a companion of 〈◊〉 his peregrination And the same vve see in the Actes of the Apostles Vvhere from the 16 chap. S. Luke putteth him selfe in the traine of S. Paul vvriting thus in the storie Forthwith we sought to goe into Macedonia and in like maner in the first person commonly through the rest of that booke Of him and his Gospel S. Hierom vnderstandeth this saying of S. Paul Vve haue sent with him the brother vvhose praise is in the Gospel through al Churches where also he addeth Some suppose so often as Paul in his Epistles saith According to my Gospel that he meaneth of Lukes booke And againe Luke learned the Gospel not onely of the Apostle Paul who had not been with our Lord in flesh but of the other Apostles which him selfe also in the beginning of his booke declareth saying As they deliuered to vs who them selues from the beginning saw and were ministers of the word It foloweth in S. Hierome Therfore he wrote the Gospel as he had heard but the Actes of the Apostles he compiled as he had seen S. Paul vvriteth of him by name to the Colossians Luke the Physicion saluteth you and to Timothee Luke alone is with me Finally of his end thus doth S. Hierome vvrite He liued fourescore and foure yeres hauing no wife He is buried at Constantinople to vvhich citie his bones vvith the Relikes of Andrew the Apostle were translated out of Achaia the twentith yere of Constantinus And of the same Translation also in another place against Vigilantius the Heretike It grieueth him that the Relikes of the Martyrs are couered with pretious couerings and that they are not either tied in cloutes or throwen to the dunghil why are we then * sacrilegious when we enter the Churches of the Apostles Was Constantinus ' the Emperour sacrilegious who translated to Constantinople the holy Relikes of Andrew Luke and Timothee at which the Diuels rore and the inhabiters of Vigilantius confesse that they feele their presence His sacred body is novv as Padua in Italie Vvither it vvas againe translated from Constantinople THE HOLY GOSPEL OF IESVS CHRIST ACCORDING TO LVKE CHAP. I. The Annunciation and Conception first of the Precursor 26 and sixe moneths after of Christ also him self 39 The Visitation of our Ladie vvhere both the mothers do Prophecie 5â— The Natiuitie and Circuâ—cision of the Precursor vvhere his father doth prophecie 80 The Precursor is from a childe an Eremite verse 1 BECAVSE many haue gone about to compile a narration of the things that haue been accomplished among vs ✠verse 2 according as they haue deliuered vnto vs vvho from the beginning them selues savv and vvere ministers of the vvord ✠verse 3 it seemed good also vnto me ″ hauing diligently atteined to al things from the beginning to vvrite to thee in order good * Theophilus ✠verse 4 that thou maist knovv the veritie of those vvordes vvhere of thou hast been instructed ✠verse 5 There vvas in the daies of Herod the king of Ievvrie a certaine Priest named Zacharie of the * course of Abia and his vvife of the daughters of Aaron and her name Elizabeth ✠verse 6 And they vvere both ″ iust before God vvalking ″ in al the commaundements ″ and iustifications of our Lord vvithout blame ✠verse 7 and they had no sonne for that Elizabeth vvas barren and both vvere vvel striken in their daies ✠verse 8 And it came to passe vvhen he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God ✠verse 9 according to the custome of the Priestly function he vvent forth by lot * to offer incense entring into the temple of our Lord ✠verse 10 and * al the multitude of the people vvas praying vvithout at the houre of the incense ✠verse 11 And there appeared to him an Angel of our Lord standing on the right hand of the altar of incense ✠verse 12 And Zacharie vvas troubled seeing him and feare fel vpon him ✠verse 13 But the Angel said to him Feare not Zacharie for thy praier is heard and thy vvife Elizabeth shal beare thee a sonne and thou shalt cal his name Iohn ✠verse 14 and thou shalt haue ″ ioy and exultation and many shal reioyce in his natiuitie ✠verse 15 for he shal be great before our Lord and vvine and sicer he shal not drinke and he shal be replenished vvith the Holy Ghost euen from his mothers vvombe ✠verse 16 and he shal * conuert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God ✠verse 17 and he shal goe before him * in the spirit and vertue of Elias that he may conuert the hartes of the fathers vnto the children and the incredulous to the vvisedom of the iust to prepare vnto the Lord a perfect people ⊢ ✠verse 18 And Zacharie said to the Angel Vvhereby shal I knovv this for I am old and my vvife is vvel striken in her daies ✠verse 19 And the Angel ansvvering said to him I am Gabriel that assist before God and am sent to speake to thee and to euangelize these things to thee ✠verse 20 And behold thou shalt be dumme and shalt not be able to speake vntil the day vvherein these things shal be done for-because thou hast not beleeued my vvordes vvhich shal be fulfilled in their time ✠verse 21 And the people vvas expecting Zacharie and they marueled that he made tariance in the temple ✠verse 22 And comming forth he could not speake to them and they knevv that he had seen a
and grace that ensued by CHRIST IESVS Note also that as then in Circuncision so novv in Baptisme vvhich ansvvereth therevnto names are giuen And as vve see here and in al the old Testament great respect was had of names so we must beware of strange profane and secular names now a daies to common and rather according to the * Catechisme of the holy Councel of Trent take names of Saincts and holy men that may put vs in minde of their vertues 75. Iustice before him Here also we see that we may haue true iustice not only in the sight of men or by the imputation of God but in deede before him and in his sight and that the comming of Christ vvas to giue men such iustice 78. The orient Maruel not if Heretikes controule the old authentical translation as though it differed froÌ„ the greeke vvhereas here they make much a doe to coÌ„troule not only al the greeke interpreters of the old testament but also S. Luke him self for the vvord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as differing from the Hebrevv CHAP. II. The Natiuitie of Christ 8 and manifestation thereof to the Shepheards by an Angel and by them to others 21 His Circuncision 22 His Presentation together with Simeons as also Annes attestation and prophecying of his Passion of the Iewes reprobation and of the Gentils illumination 41 His annual ascending to Hierusalem with his parents to whom he was subiect and his fulnes of wisedom shewed among the Doctors at twelue yeres of his age verse 1 AND it came to passe in those daies there came forth an edict from Caesar Augustus that the vvhole vvorld should be enrolled ✠verse 2 This first enrolling vvas made by the President of Syria Cyrinus ✠verse 3 And al vvent to be enrolled euery one into his ovvne citie ✠verse 4 And Ioseph also vvent vp from Galilee out of the citie of Nazareth into Ievvrie to the citie of Dauid that is called Bethâ—lehem for-because he vvas of the house and familie of Dauid ✠verse 5 to be enrolled vvith MARIE his despoused vvife that vvas vvith childe ✠verse 6 And it came to passe vvhen they vvere there her daies vvere fully come that she should be deliuered ✠verse 7 And she brought forth her first begotten sonne and svvadled him in clothes and laid him dovvne in a manger because there vvas not place for them in the inne ✠verse 8 And there vvere in the same countrie shepheards vvatching and keeping the night vvatches ouer their flocke ✠verse 9 And behold an Angel of our Lord stood beside them and the brightnes of God did shine round about them and they feared vvith a great feare ✠verse 10 And the angel said to them Feare not for behold I euangelize to you great ioy that shal be to al the people ✠verse 11 because this day is borne to you a SAVIOVR vvhich is Christ our Lord in the citie of Dauid ✠verse 12 And this shal be a signe to you You shal finde the infant svvadled in clothes and laid in a manger ✠verse 13 And sodenly there vvas vvith the Angel a multitude of the heauenly armie praising God and saying ✠verse 14 Glorie in the highest to God and in earth peace to â—men of good vvil ⊢ ✠verse 15 And it came to passe after the Angels departed from them into heauen the shepheards spake one to an other Let vs goe ouer to Bethlehem and let vs see this vvord that is done vvhich our Lord hath shevved to vs. ✠verse 16 And they came vvith speede and they found MARIE and Ioseph and the infant laid in the manger ✠verse 17 And seeing it they vnderstood of the vvord that had been spoken to them concerning this childe ✠verse 18 And al that heard did maruel and concerning those things that vvere reported to them by the shepheards ✠verse 19 But MARIE ″ kept al these vvordes conferring them in her hart ✠verse 20 And the shepheards returned glorifying and praysing God in al things that they had heard and seen as it vvas said to them ⊢ ✠verse 21 And * after eight daies vvere expired that the childe should be circuncised his name vvas called IESVS vvhich vvas * called by the Angel before that he vvas conceiued in the vvombe ⊢ ✠verse 22 And after the daies vvere fully ended of her purification * according to the lavv of Moyses they caried him into Hierusalem to present him to our Lord ✠verse 23 as it is vvritten in the lavv of our Lord That euery male opening the matrice shal be called holy to the Lord. ✠verse 24 and to giue a sacrifice * according as it is vvritten in the lavv of our Lord a paire of turtles or tvvo yong pigeons ✠verse 25 And behold there vvas a man in Hierusalem named Simeon and this man vvas iust and religious expecting the consolation of Israel and the Holy Ghost vvas in him ✠verse 26 And he had receiued an ansvver of the Holy Ghost that he should not see death vnles he savv first the CHRIST of our Lord. ✠verse 27 And he came in spirit into the temple And vvhen his parents brought in the childe IESVS to doe according to the custome of the Lavv for him ✠verse 28 he also tooke him into his armes and blessed God and said ✠verse 29 NOW THOV doest dimisse thy seruant O Lord according to thy vvord in peace ✠verse 30 Because mine eies haue seen thy SALVATION ✠verse 31 Vvhich thou hast prepared before the face of al peoples ✠verse 32 A light to the reuelation of the Gentils and the glorie of thy people Israel ⊢ ✠verse 33 And his father and mother vvere marueling vpon those things vvhich vvere spoken concerning him ✠verse 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to MARIE his mother Behold this is set ″ vnto the ruine and vnto the resurrection of many in Israel and for a signe vvhich shal be contradicted ✠verse 35 and thine ovvne soule shal a svvord pearce that out of many hartes cogitations may be reuealed ✠verse 36 And there vvas Anne a prophetisse the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser she vvas farre striken in daies and had liued vvith her husband seuen yeres from her virginitie ✠verse 37 And she vvas ″ a vvidovv vntil eightie and foure yeres vvho departed not from the temple ″ by fastings and praiers seruing night and day ✠verse 38 And she at the same houre sodenly comming in confessed to our Lord and spake of him to al that expected the redemption of Israel ✠verse 39 And after they had vvholy done al things according to the lavv of our Lord they returned into Galilee into their citie Nazareth ✠verse 40 And the childe grevv and vvaxed strong ' ful of vvisedom and the grace of God vvas in him âœ
the chaffe he vvil burne vvith vnquencheable fire ✠verse 18 Many other things also exhorting did he euangelize to the people ✠verse 19 * And Herod the Tetrarch vvhen he vvas rebuked of him for Herodias his brothers ' vvife and for al the euils vvhich Herod did ✠verse 20 ″ he added this also aboue al and shut vp Iohn into prison ✠verse 21 * And it came to passe vvhen al the people vvas baptized IESVS also being baptized and praying heauen vvas opened ✠verse 22 and the Holy Ghost descended in corporal shape as a doue vpon him and a voice from heauen vvas made Thou art my beloued sonne in thee I am vvel pleased ✠verse 23 And IESVS him self was beginning to be about thirtie yeres old as it was thought the sonne of Ioseph vvho vvas ″ of Heli ✠verse 24 vvho vvas of Matthat vvho vvas of Leui vvho vvas of Melchi vvho vvas of Ianné vvho vvas of Ioseph ✠verse 25 vvho vvas of Matthathias vvho vvas of Amos vvho vvas of Naum vvho vvas of Hesli vvho vvas of Naggé ✠verse 26 vvho vvas of Mahath vvho vvas of Matthathias vvho vvas of Semei vvho vvas of Ioseph vvho vvas of Iuda ✠verse 27 vvho vvas of Iohanna vvho vvas of Resa vvho vvas of Zorobabel vvho vvas of Salathiel vvho vvas of Neri ✠verse 28 vvho vvas of Melchi vvho vvas of Addi vvho vvas of Cosam vvho vvas of Elmadan vvho vvas of Her ✠verse 29 vvho vvas of IesuS vvho vvas of Eliézer vvho vvas of Iorim vvho vvas of Matthat vvho vvas of Leui ✠verse 30 vvho vvas of Simeon vvho vvas of Iudas vvho vvas of Ioseph vvho vvas of Iona vvho vvas of Eliacim ✠verse 31 vvho vvas of Melcha vvho vvas of Menna vvho vvas of Matthatha vvho vvas of Nathan vvho vvas of Dauid ✠verse 32 * vvho vvas of Iessé vvho vvas of Obed vvho vvas of Booz vvho vvas of Salmon vvho vvas of Naasson ✠verse 33 vvho vvas of Aminadab vvho vvas of Aram vvho vvas of Efron vvho vvas of Phares vvho vvas of Iudas ✠verse 34 vvho vvas of Iocob vvho vvas of Isaac vvho vvas of Abraham vvho vvas of Tharé vvho vvas of Nachor ✠verse 35 vvho vvas of Sarug vvho vvas of Ragau vvho vvas of Phaleg vvho vvas of Heber vvho vvas of Salé ✠verse 36 vvho vvas of Cainan vvho vvas of Arphaxad vvho vvas of Sem vvho vvas of Noë vvho vvas of Lamech ✠verse 37 vvho vvas of Mathusalé vvho vvas of Henoch vvho vvas of Iared vvho vvas of Malaleel vvho vvas of Cainan ✠verse 38 vvho vvas of Henos vvho vvas of Seth vvho vvas of Adam vvho vvas of God ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III. 20. He added this aboue al. The fault of Princes and other great men that can not only not abide to heare their faults but also punish by death or emprisonment such as reprehend them for the same specially if they warne them as Prophets and Priests doe from God is exceding great 23. Of Heli. Vvhereas in S. Matthevv Iacob is father to Ioseph and here Heli the case vvas thus Mathan named in S. Matthevv of his vvife called Escha begat Iacob and after his death Melchi named here in S. Luke of the same vvoman begat Heli so that Iacob and Heli vvere brethren of one mother This Heli therfore marrying and dying vvithout issue Iacob his brother according to the Lavv married his vvife and begat Ioseph and so raised vp seede to his brother Heli. whereby it came to passe that Iacob was the natural father of Ioseph which as S. Matthew saith begat him and Heli was his legal father according to the Law as S. Luke signifieth Euseb li. 1 Ec. Hist c. 7 Hiero. in 6. 1 Mat. Aug. li. 2 c. 2. 3 de cons Euang. CHAP. IIII. Christ going into the Desert to prepare him self before his manifestation ouercommeth the tentations of the Diuel 14 then beginning gloriously in Galilee 16 he sheweth to them of Nazareth his commission out of Esay the Prophet 23 insinuating by occasion the Ievves his countriemens reprobation 31 In Capharnaum his doctrine is admired 33 specially for his miracle in the Synagogue 38. from vvhich going to Peters house he shevveth there much more povver 42 Then retiring into the vvildernesse he preacheth aftervvard to the other cities of Galilee verse 1 AND IESVS ful of the Holy Ghost returned from Iordan and vvas driuen in the spirit into the desert ✠verse 2 fourtie daies and vvas tempted of the deuil And he did eate nothing in those daies and vvhen they vvere ended he vvas an hungred ✠verse 3 And the Deuil said to him If thou be the sonne of God say to this stone that it be made bread ✠verse 4 And IESVS made ansvver vnto him It is vvritten That not in bread alone shal man liue but in euery vvord of God ✠verse 5 And the Deuil brought him into an high mountaine and shevved him al the kingdoms of the vvhole vvorld in a moment of time ✠verse 6 and he said to him To thee vvil I giue this vvhole povver and the glorie of them for to me they are deliuered and to vvhom I vvil I doe giue them ✠verse 7 Thou therfore if thou vvilt adore before me they shal al be thine ✠verse 8 And IESVS ansvvering said to him It is vvritten Thou shalt adore the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serue ✠verse 9 And he brought him into Hierusalem and set him vpon the pinnacle of the temple and he said to him If thou be the sonne of God cast thy self from hence dovvnevvard ✠verse 10 For it is vvritten that He hath giuen his Angels charge of thee that they preserue thee ✠verse 11 and that in their hands they shal beare thee vp lest perhaps thou knocke thy foote against a stone ✠verse 12 And IESVS ansvvering said to him It is said Thou shal not tempt the Lord thy God ✠verse 13 And al the tentation being ended the Deuil ″ departed from him vntil a time ✠verse 14 * And IESVS returned in the force of the spirit into Galilee and the fame vvent forth through the vvhole countrie of him ✠verse 15 And he taught in their synagogues and vvas magnified of al. ✠verse 16 * And he came to Nazareth vvhere he vvas brought vp and he entred according to his custom on the Sabboth day into the synagogue and he rose vp to reade ✠verse 17 And the booke of Esay the Prophet vvas deliuered vnto him And as he vnfolded the booke he found the place vvhere it vvas vvritten ✠verse 18 The Spirit of the Lord vpon me for vvhich he anointed me to euangelize vnto the poore he sent me to heale the contrite of hart ✠verse 19 to preach to the captiues remission and sight to the blinde to dimisse the bruised vnto remissiō to
* And it came to passe the day folovving vvhen they came dovvne from the mountaine there mette him a great multitude ✠verse 38 And behold a man of the multitude cried out saying Maister I beseeche thee looke vpō my sonne because he is mine only one ✠verse 39 and loe the spirit taketh him and he sodenly crieth and he dasheth him and teareth him that he fometh and vvith much a doe departeth renting him ✠verse 40 And I desired thy disciples to cast him out and they could not ✠verse 41 And IESVS ansvvering said O faithles and peruerse generation hovv long shal I be vvith you and suffer you bring hither thy sonne ✠verse 42 And vvhen he came to him the deuil dashed and tore him And IESVS rebuked the vncleane spirit and healed the lad and rendred him to his father ✠verse 43 And al vvere astonied at the might of God and al merueiling at al things that he did he said to his disciples ✠verse 44 Lay you in your hartes these vvordes for it shal come to passe that the Sonne of man shal be deliuered into the hands of men ✠verse 45 But they did not knovv this vvord and it vvas couered before them that they perceiued it not And they vvere afraid to aske him of this vvord ✠verse 46 * And there entred a cogitation into them vvhich of them should be greater ✠verse 47 But IESVS seeing the cogitations of their hart tooke a childe and set him by him ✠verse 48 and said to them whosoeuer receiueth this childe in my name receiueth me and vvhosoeuer receiueth me receiueth him that sent me For he that is the lesser among you al he is the greater ✠verse 49 * And Iohn ansvvering said Maister vve savv a certaine man casting out deuils in thy name and vve prohibited him because he folovveth not vvith vs. ✠verse 50 And IESVS said to him Prohibit not for he that is not against you is for you ✠verse 51 And it came to passe vvhiles the daies of his assumption vvere accōplishing and he fixed his face to goe into Hierusalem ✠verse 52 And he sent messengers before his face and going they entred into a citie of the Samaritans to prepare for him ✠verse 53 And they receiued him not because his ″ face vvas to goe to Hierusalem ✠verse 54 And vvhen his disciples Iames and Iohn had seen it they said Lord vvilt thou vve say that fire come dovvne from heauen and consume them ' ✠verse 55 And turning ″ he rebuked them saying You knovv not of vvhat spirit you are ✠verse 56 The sonne of man came not to destroy soules but to saue And they vvent into an other tovvne ✠verse 57 And it came to passe as they vvalked in the vvay a certaine man said to him * I vvil folovv thee vvhithersoeuer thou goest ✠verse 58 IESVS said to him The foxes haue holes and the foules of the aire nestes but the sonne of man hath not vvhere to repose his head ✠verse 59 But he said to an other Folovv me And he said Lord permit me first to goe and to burie my father ✠verse 60 And IESVS said to him Let the dead burie their dead but goe thou set forth the kingdom of God ✠verse 61 And an other said I vvil folovv thee Lord but permit me first to take my leaue of them that are at home ✠verse 62 IESVS said to him ″ No man putting his hand to the plough and looking backe is apt for the kingdom of God ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IX 27. Til they see To the Apostles that had to preach the kingdom of God and to suffer so much miserie for the same in this vvorld he vvil shevv his glorie and giue them a tast of his owne ioyful state and of his Saincts in heauen calling thither Moyses and Elias that the Lavv and Prophets might be vvitnesses of the same See the annotation vpon S. Matthevv c. 17 2. 53. Face to goe to Hierusalem The Samaritans vvere Schismatikes from the Ievves and had a Schismatical temple in mount Garîzim of purpose to dravv men thither from Gods temple in Hierusalem vvhere only vvas the true and as it vvere the Catholike seruice and Sacrifice vnto God Therfore they did not gladly receiue our Sauiour because they perceiued he vvas going to Hierusalem 53. He rebuked them Not iustice nor al rigorous punishment of sinners is here forbidden not Elias fact reprehēded nor the Church or Christian Princes blamed for putting Heretikes to death but that none of these should be done for desire of our particular reuenge or vvithout discretion regard of their amendement and example to others Therfore S. Peter vsed his povver vpon Ananias and Sapphira vvhen he strooke them both dovvne to death for defrauding the Church 62. No man looking backe It is a dangerous temptation for a man that hath lost or left his goods for Christ to looke much backe at them and to remember vvith delight the pleasures and eases of this vvorld for it breedeth in him discontentment of the troubles and crosses that are incident to the state of such as fully folovv Christ In vvhich case a man should euer looke forvvard tovvards heauen and neuer backevvard to the vvorld CHAP. X. He sendeth yet 72 moe to preach to the Iewes with power also of miracles 13 crying w◠to the cities impenitent 17 At their returne he agniseth the great power he gaue them but yet teacheth them not to be proud thereof 21 and praiseth God for his grace 23 his Church also for her happy state 2◠To one of the Scribes he sheweth that the loue of God and of his neighbour wil bring him to life euerlasting 29 teaching him by the parable of the Samaritane to take euery one for his neighbour that needeth his charitie 38 To Martha he sheweth that Maries Contemplatius life is the better verse 1 AND after this our Lord designed also other seuentie tvvo and he sent them tvvo and tvvo before his face into euery citie and place vvhither him self vvould come ✠verse 2 And he said to them The haruest truely is much but the vvorkemen fevv Desire therfore the lord of the haruest that he send vvorkemen into his haruest ✠verse 3 Goe behold I send you as lambes among vvolues ✠verse 4 Carie not purse not skrip nor shoes and salute no body by the vvay ✠verse 5 Into vvhatsoeuer house you enter first say Peace to this house ✠verse 6 and if the sonne of peace be there your peace shal rest vpon him but if not it shal returne to you ✠verse 7 And in the same house tarie you eating and drinking such things as they haue * For the vvorkeman is vvorthie of his hire Remoue not from house to house ✠verse 8 And into vvhat citie soeuer you enter
said also to the multitudes When you see a cloude rising from the vvest by and by you say A shoure commeth and so it commeth to passe ✠verse 55 and vvhen the south vvinde blovving you say That there vvil be heate and it commeth to passe ✠verse 56 Hypocrites the face of the heauen and of the earth you haue skil to discerne but this time hovv doe you not discerne ✠verse 57 And vvhy of your selues also iudge you not that vvhich is iust ✠verse 58 * And vvhen thou goest vvith thy aduersarie to the Prince in the vvay endeuour to be deliuered from him lest perhaps he dravv thee to the iudge and the iudge deliuer thee to the exactour and the exactour cast thee into prison ✠verse 59 I say to thee thou shalt not goe out thence vntil thou pay the very last mite ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XII ◠Euery one that confesseth A Catholike man is bound to confesse his faith being called to accoumpt or examined by Iew Heathen or Heretike concerning the same Neither is it ynough to keepe Christ in his hart but he must also acknowledge him in his wordes and deedes And to deny Christ or any article of the Catholike faith for shame or feare of any worldly creature hath no lesse punishment then to be denied refused and forsaken by Christ at the houre of his death before al his Angels Which is an other maner of presence and Consistorie then any Court or Session that men can be called to for their faith in this world 11. Be not careful That the poore vnclearned Catholike should not be discouraged or make his excuse that he is a simple man not able to ansvver cunning Heretikes nor to giue a reason of his beleefe and therfore must suffer or say any thing rather then come before them our Maister giueth them comfort promising that the Holy Ghost shal euer put into their hartes at time of their appearance that vvhich shal be sufficient for the purpose not that euery one vvhich is conuented before the Aduersaries of faith should alvvaies be endeed vvith extraordinary knovvledge to dispute and confute as the Apostles and others in the primitiue Church vvere but that God vvil euer giue to the simple that trusteth in him sufficient courage and vvordes to confesse his beleefe For such an one called before the Commissioners saith ynough and defendeth him self sufficiently vvhen he ansvvereth that he is a Catholike man that he wil liue and die in that faith which the Catholike Church throughout al Christian countries hath and doth teach and that this Church can giue them a reason of al the things vvhich they demaund of him c. 14. Who hath appointed Christ refused to medle in this temporal matter partly because the demaund proceded of couetousnes and il intention partly to giue an example to Clergie men that they should not be vvithdravven by secular affaires and controuersies from their principal function of praying preaching and spiritual regiment but not vvholy to forbid them al actions pertaining to vvorldly busines specially vvhere and vvhen the honour of God the increase of religion the peace of the people and the spiritual benefite of the parties doe require In vvhich cases S. Augustin as Possidonius vvriteth vvas occupied often vvhole daies in ending vvorldly controuersies and so he vvriteth of him self also not doubting but to haue revvard therfore in heauen 21. Riche to God vvard He is riche tovvards God that by his goods bestovved vpon the poore hath store of merits and many almesmens praiers procuring mercie for him at the day of his death and iudgement vvhich is here therfore called treasure laid vp in heauen vvhere the barnes be large ynough The necessitie of vvhich almes is by Christ him self here shevved to be so great and so acceptable to God that rather then they should lacke the fruite thereof they should sel al they haue and giue to the poore 34. Where your treasure is If the riche man vvithdravven by his vvorldly treasure can not set his hart vpon heauen let him send his mony thither before him by giuing it in almes vpon such as vvil pray for him and his hart vvil solovv his purse thither CHAP. XIII He threateneth the Iewes to be forsaken vnles they doe penance 10 and confoundeth them for maligning him for his miraculous good doing on the Sabboths 18 but his kingdom the Church as contemptible as it seemeth to them now in the beginning shal spread ouer al the world 20 and conuert al 23 and what an hartsore it shal be to them at the last day to see them selues excluded from the glorie of this kingdom and the Gentils admitted in their place 31 foretelling that it is not Galilee that he feareth but that obstinate and reprobate Hierusalem vvil nedes murder him as also his messengers afore and after him verse 1 AND there vvere certaine present at that very time telling him of the Galilaeans vvhose bloud Pilate mingled vvith their sacrifices ✠verse 2 And he ansvvering said to them Thinke you that ″ these Galileans vvere sinners more then al the Galilaeans that they suffred such things ✠verse 3 No I say to you but vnles you haue penance you shal al likevvise perish ✠verse 4 As those eightene vpō vvhom the toure fel in Silóe and slevv them thinke you that they also vvere detters aboue al the men that dvvel in Hierusalem ✠verse 5 No I say to you but if you haue not penance you shal al likevvise perish ✠verse 6 And he said this similitude A certaine man had a figtree planted in his vineyard and he came seeking for fruite on it and found not ✠verse 7 And he said to the dresser of the vineyard Loe it is three yeres since I come seeking for fruite vpon this figtree and I finde not Cut it dovvne therfore vvhereto doth it also occupie the ground ✠verse 8 But he ansvvering saith to him Lord let it alone this yere also vntil I digge about it and dung it ✠verse 9 and if happily it yeld fruite but if not hereafter thou shalt cut it dovvne ✠verse 10 And he vvas teaching in their synagogue on the Sabboths ✠verse 11 And behold a vvoman that had a spirit of infirmitie eightene yeres and she vvas crooked neither could she looke vpvvard at al. ✠verse 12 Whom vvhen IESVS savv he called her vnto him and said to her Woman thou art deliuered from thy infirmitie ✠verse 13 And he imposed hands vpon her and forthvvith she vvas made straight and glorified God ✠verse 14 And the Archsynagogue ansvvering because he had indignation that IESVS had cured on the Sabboth said to the multitude Sixe daies there are vvherein you ought to vvorke in them therfore come and be cured and not in the Sabboth day ✠verse 15 And our Lord ansvvering to him said Hypocrite doth not euery one
done on the crosse as it is the self same thing that is offered in the Sacrament and on the crosse whereby you may see the peruersitie of the Protestants or their ignorance that thinke it therfore not to be Christs body because it is a memorie of his body or a figure of his body vpon the crosse nor to be a true sacrifice because it is a commemoratiue sacrifice for as the thing that more liuely neerely and truely resembleth or representeth is a better figure then that which shadoweth it a far of so this his body in the Sacramēt is more perfectly a figure of Christs body sacrifice then any other Christ him self the Sonne of God is a figure and character of his fathers person being yet of the self same substance and Christs body transfigured on the holy Mount was a figure and resemblance of his person glorified in heauen euen so is his body in the Sacrament to a faithful man that knovveth by his beleefe grounded on Christs owne vvord that in the one forme is his body in the other his bloud the most perfect representatiō of his death that can be As for the sacrifice it is no lesse a true Sacrifice because it is commemoratiue of Christs Passion then those of the old Testament vvere the lesse true because they vvere prefiguratiue for that is the condition annexed to al Sacrifice of euery Lavv to represent Christs Passion 20. The nevv Testament in my bloud Moyses tooke the bloud of the first sacrifice that vvas made after the geuing of the Lavv Exod. 24. and vvith bloud confirmed the couenant and compact betvvixt God and his people and so dedicated the old Testament vvhich vvithout bloud saith S Paul vvas not dedicated Moyses put that bloud also into a stāding peece and sprinkled al the people c. vvith the same said these formal vvordes This is the bloud of the couenant c. or as it is read in S. Paul of the Testament vvhich God hath deliuered vnto you Vnto al vvhich Christ in this action about the second part of this his sacrifice in euery of the Euangelists most cleerely alludeth expressing that the new Testament is begonne and dedicated in his bloud in the Chalice no lesse then the old vvas dedicated begonne and ratified in that bloud of calues conteined in the goblet of Moyses vvith vvhich his ovvne bloud he sprinkled invvardly his Apostles as the first fruits of the new Testament imitating the wordes of Moyses and saying This is the Chalice the new Testament c. which the other Euangelists spake more plainly This is my bloud of the new Testament By al which it is most certaine that Christes bloud in the Chalice is the bloud of Sacrifice and that in this sacrifice of the altar consisteth the external religion and proper seruice of the new Testamēt no lesse then the soueraine worship of God in the old Law did cōsist in the sacrifices of the same For though Christes sacrifice on the Crosse and his bloud shed for vs there bed the general price redemption and satisfaction for vs all and is the last and perfectest sealing or confirmation of the new law and Testament yet the seruice and Sacrifice which the people of the new Testament might resort vnto could not be that violent action of the Crosse but this on the Altar which by Christes owne appointment is and shal be the eternal office of the new Testament and the continual application of al the benefites of his Passion vnto vs. 20. Which shal be shed It is much to be obserued that the relatiue Vvhich in these vvordes is not gouerned or ruled as some vvould perhaps thinke of the novvne bloud but of the vvord chalice which is most plaine by the Greeke Which taketh away al cauillations and shifts from the Protestants both against the real presence and the true Sacrificing For it sheweth euidently that the bloud as the contents of the chalice or as in the chalice is shed for vs for so the Greeke readeth in the present tense and not onely as vpon the crosse And therfore as it foloweth thereof inuincibly that it is no bare figure but his bloud in deede so it ensueth necessarily◠that it is a Sacrifice and propitiatorie because the chalice that is the Bloud contained in the same is shed for our sinnes For al that know the maner of the Scriptures speaches know also that this Bloud to be shed for sinne to be sacrificed for propitiation or for pardon of sinnes And this text proueth al this so plainely that Beza turneth him self roundly vpon the Holy Euangelist charging him with Soloecisme or false Greeke or els that the wordes which yet he cōfesseth to be in al copies Greeke and Latin are thrust into the text out of some other place vvhich he rather standeth vpon then that S. Luke should speake incongruously in so plaine a matter And therfore he saith plainely that it can not be truely said neither of the chalice it self nor of the contents thereof vvhich is in deede to giue the lie to the blessed Euangelist or to deny this to be Scripture So cleere is the Scripture for vs so miserable flights and shifts is falshod put vnto God be thanked 24. Contention The Apostles perceiuing Christs departure from them and his kingdom to be neere as infirme men and not yet endewed with the spirit of God began to haue emulation and cogitations of Superiority one ouer an other which our Maister represseth in them by exhortation to humility and by his owne example that being their Lord yet so lately serued them not forbidding Maioritie or Superioritie in them but pride tyranny and contempt of their inferiours 31. Simon Simon Lastly to put them out of doubt he calleth Peter twise by name and telling him the Diuels desire to sifte and trie them al to the vttermost as he did that night saith that he hath specially prayed for him to this end that his faith should neuer faile and that he being once conuerted should after that for euer confirme establish or vphold the rest in their faith which is to say that Peter is that man whom he would make Superiour ouer them and the whole Church Whereby we may learne that it was thought fit in the prouidence of God that he who should be the head of the Church should haue a special priuilege by Christes praier and promes neuer to faile in faith and that none other either Apostle Bishop or priest may chalenge any such singular or special prerogatiue either of his Office or person otherwise then ioyning in faith with Peter and by holding of him The danger saith S. Leo was common to al the Apostles but our Lord tooke special care of Peter that the state of al the rest might be more sure if the head were inuincible God so dispensing the aide of his grace that the assurance and strength which Christ gaue to
Fleeth Euery Bishop and Pastor is bound to abide with his flocke in times of danger and persecution euen to death except him self be personally sought for rather then the flocke or the flocke it self forsake him for in such cases the Pastor may flee as the Apostles did and S. Athanasius and others S. Athan. Apol. de sua fuâ—â— August ep 1â—0 21. The dedication This is the feast of Dedication instituted by Iudas Machabaeus li. 1 Mach. c. 4. Christ vouchsafed to honouran keepe that feast instituted by him our Heretikes vouchsafe not to pray and sacrifice for the dead vsed and approued by him The Dedication also of Christian Churches is warranted thereby with the annual memories thereof And it proueth that such things may be instituted without any expresse commaundement in Scripture 2â— That vvhich he gaue me Thus read also diuers of the Fathers namely S. Hilar. Trin. li. 7 post medium S. Ambr. de Sp. S. li. 3. c. 18. S. August in Io. tract 4â— S. Cyril li. 7 in Io c. 10. and vse it to proue that Christ had his essence and nature of the Father And therfore some Heretikes of our time wickedly accuse the Councel of Laterane for falsifying this place and applying it to the same purpose Which they lesse can abide for that it is against Caluins Autotheisme holding that Christ tooke his person of the Father but not his substance See the 2 Annot. in 1 Io. v. 1. CHAP. XI He coÌ„meth once againe into Ievvrie boldly the time that he vvould be killed of them being not yet come and raiseth Lazarus foure daies buried 47. At vvhich miracle the blind malice of the rulers so increaseth that in Councel they conclude to make him avvay hovvbeit the high Priest prophecieth vnavvares of the saluation of the vvorld by his death â—4 He therevpon goeth againe out of the vvay verse 1 AND there vvas a certaine sicke man Lazarus of Bethánia of the tovvne of Marie and Martha her sister ✠verse 2 And Marie vvas she * that anointed our Lord vvith ointemeÌ„t and vviped his feete vvith her heare vvhose brother Lazarus vvas sicke ✠verse 3 His sisters therfore sent to him saying Lord behold he vvhom thou louest is sicke ✠verse 4 And IESVS hearing said to them This sicknesse is not to death but for the glorie of God that the sonne of God may be glorified by it ✠verse 5 And IESVS loued Martha and her sister Marie and Lazarus ✠verse 6 As he heard therfore that he vvas sicke then he taried in the same place tvvo daies ✠verse 7 then after this he saith to his Disciples Let vs goe into Ievvrie againe ✠verse 8 The Disciples say to him Rabbi novv the Ievves sought to stone thee and goest thou thither againe ✠verse 9 IESVS ansvvered Are there not tvvelue houres of the day If a man vvalke in the day he stumbleth not because he seeth the light of this vvorld ✠verse 10 but if he walke in the night he stumbleth because the light is not in him ✠verse 11 These things he said and after this he saith to them Lazarus our frende sleepeth but I goe that I may raise him from sleepe ✠verse 12 His Disciples therfore said Lord if he sleepe he shal be safe ✠verse 13 but IESVS spake of his death they though that he spake of the sleeping of sleepe ✠verse 14 Then therfore IESVS said to them plainely Lazarus is dead ✠verse 15 and I am glad for your sake that you may beleeue because I vvas not there but let vs goe to him ✠verse 16 Thomas therfore vvho is called Didymus said to his condisciples Let vs also goe to die vvith him ✠verse 17 IESVS therfore came and found him novv hauing been foure daies in the graue ✠verse 18 and Bethánia vvas nigh to Hierusalem about fiftene furlonges ✠verse 19 And many of the Ievves vvere come to Martha and Marie to comfort them concerning theire brother ✠verse 20 Martha therfore vvhen she heard that IESVS vvas come vvent to meete him but Marie sat at home ✠verse 21 Martha therfore said to IESVS Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died ✠verse 22 but novv also I knovv that vvhat things soeuer thou shalt aske of God God vvil giue thee ✠verse 23 IESVS saith to her Thy brother shal rise againe ✠verse 24 Martha saith to him I knovv that he shal rise againe in the resurrection in the last day ✠verse 25 IESVS said to her I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth in me although he be dead shal liue ✠verse 26 and euery one that liueth and beleeueth in me shal not die for euer Beleeuest thou this ✠verse 27 She saith to him Yea Lord I haue beleeued that thou art CHRIST the sonne of God that art come into this vvorld ⊢ ✠verse 28 And vvhen she had said these things she vvent and called Marie her sister secretely saying The maister is come calleth thee ✠verse 29 She vvheÌ„ she heard riseth quickely commeth to him ✠verse 30 For IESVS was not yet come into the towne but he vvas yet in that place vvhere Martha had mette him ✠verse 31 The Ievves therfore that vvere vvith her in the house and did comfort her vvhen they savv Marie that she rose quickly and vvent forth folovved her saying That she goeth to the graue to vveepe there ✠verse 32 Marie therfore vvhen she vvas come vvhere IESVS vvas seeing him fel at his feete and saith to him Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died ✠verse 33 IESVS therfore vvhen he savv her vveeping and the Ievves that vvere come vvith her vveeping he groned in spirit and troubled him self ✠verse 34 and said Vvhere haue you laid him They say to him Lord come and see ✠verse 35 And IESVS vvept ✠verse 36 The Ievves therfore said Behold hovv he loued him ✠verse 37 But certaine of them said Could not he that * opened the eies of the blinde man make that this man should not die ✠verse 38 IESVS therfore againe groning in him self commeth to the graue and it vvas a caue and a stone vvas laid ouer it ✠verse 39 IESVS saith Take avvay the stone Martha the sister of him that vvas dead saith to him Lord novv he stinketh for he is novv of foure daies ✠verse 40 IESVS saith to her Did not I say to thee that if thou beleeue thou shalt see the glorie of God ✠verse 41 They tooke therfore the stone avvay And IESVS lifting his eies vpvvard said Father I giue thee thankes that thou hast heard me ✠verse 42 and I did knovv that thou doest alvvaies heare me but for the people that standeth about haue I said it that they may beleeue that thou hast sent me ✠verse 43 Vvhen he had said these things
case to be assured that Christs faith shal be preached and the Church spred through out al Nations the Holy Ghost concurring continually with the Apostles and their Successors for the same 11. Assumpted from you By this visible Ascending of Christ to heauen and like returne from thence to iudgement the Heretikes do incredulously argue him not to be in the Sacrament But let the faithful rather giue eare to S. Chrysostome saying thus O miracle he that sitteth vvith the Father in heauen aboue at the very same time is handled of men beneath Christ ascending to heauen both hath his flesh vvith him and left it vvith vs beneath Eliaeâ— being taken vp left to his Disciple his cloke only but the Sonne of man ascending left his ovvne flesh to vs. Li. â— de Sacerd. Ho. 2 ad po Ant. in fine Ho. de diuit paup in fine 14. MARIE the mother of IESVS This is the last mention that is made in holy Scripture of our B Lady for though she were ful of al diuine wisedom and opened no doubt vnto the Euangelistes and other writers of holy Scriptures diuerse of Christs actions speaches and mysteries whereof she had both experimental and reuealed knowledge Yet for that she was a woman and the humblest creature liuing and the paterne of al order and obedience it pleased not God that there should be any further note of her life doings or death in the Scriptures She liued the rest of her time with the Christians as here she is peculiarly named and noted among them and specially with S. Iohn the Apostle * to whom our Lord recommended her Who prouided for her al necessaries her spouse Ioseph as it may be thought being deceased before The common opinion is that she liued 63 yeres in al. At the time of her death as S. Denys first after him S. Damascene de dormit Deiparae writeth al the Apostles then dispersed into diuers nations to preache the Gospel were miraculously brought together sauing S. Thomas who came the third day after to Hierusalem to honour her diuine departure and funeral as the said S. Denys witnesseth Who saith that him self S. Timothee and S. Hierotheus were present testifying also of his owne hearing that both before here death and after for three daies not onely the Apostles and other holy men present but the Angels also and Powers of heauen did sing most melodious Hymnes They buried her sacred body in Gethsémaui but for S. Thomas sake who desired to see and to reuerence it they opened the sepulcher the third day and finding it void of the holy body but excedingly fragrant they returned assuredly deeming that her body was assumpted into heauen as the Church of God holdeth being most agreable to the singular priuilege of the mother of God and therfore celebrateth most solemnely the day of her Assumption And that is consonant not onely to the said S. Denys and S. Damascene but to holy Athanasius also who auoucheth the same Serm. in Euang. de Deipara of which Assumption of her body S. Bernard also wrote fiue notable sermons extant in his workes But neither these holy fathers nor the Churches tradition and testimonie do beare any sway now a daies with the Protestants that haue abolished this her greatest feast of her Assumption who of reason should at the least celebrate it as the day of her death as they doe of other Saincts For though they beleeue not that her body is assumpted yet they wil not we trow deny that she is dead and her soule in glorie neither can they aske scriptures for that no more then they require for the deathes of Peter Paul Iohn and other vvhich be not mentioned in scriptures yet are still celebrated by the Protestants But concerning the B. Virgin MARIE they haue blotted out also both her Natiuitie and her Conception so as it may be thought the Diuel beareth a special malice to this woman whose seede brake his head For as for the other two daies of her Purification Aununciation they be not proper to our Lady but the one to Christs Conception the other to his Presentation so that she by this meanes shal haue no festiuitie at al. But contrariwise to consider how the auncient Church and fathers esteemed spake and wrote of this excellent vessel of grace may make vs detest these mens impietie that can not abide the praises of her whom al generations should call blessed and that esteeme her honours a derogatioÌ„ to her sonne Some of their speaches we wil set downe that al men may see that we neither praise her nor pray to her more amply then they did S. Athanâ—sius in the place alleaged after he had declared how al the Angelical spirits and euery order of them honoured and praised her with the AVE wherewith S. Gabriel saluted her We also saith he of al degrees vpon the earth â—xtol thee with loude voice saying Auâ— gratia plena c. Haile ful of grace our Lord is vvith thee pray for vs 〈◊〉 Maistresse and Lady and Queens and mother of God Most holy and auncient Ephrem also in a special oration made in praise of our Lady saith thus in diuerse places thereof Intemerata Deâ—pâ—â—â— c. Mother of God vndifiled Queene of al the hope of them that despaire my lady most glorious higher them the heauenly spiritâ— more honorable then the Cherubins holier then the Seraphins and vvithout comparison more glorious theÌ„ the supernal hostes the hope of the fathers the glorie of the Prophets the praise of the Apostles And a litle after Virgo ante partum in partu post partum by thee vve are reconciled to Christ my God thy sonne thou art the helper of sinners thou the hauen for them that are tossed vvith stormes the solam of the vvorld the deliuerer of the emprisoned the helpe of orphans the redemption of captiues And afterward Vouchsafe me thy seruant to praise thee Haile lady MARIE ful of grace haile Virgin most blesed among vvomen And much more in that sense which were to long to repeate S. Cyril hath the like wonderful speaches of her honour hom 6. contra Naestorium Praise and glorie be to thee â— holy Trinitieito thee also be praise holy mother of God for thou art the pretious pearle of the vvorld thou the candel of vnquencheable light the crovvne of Virginitis the scepter of the Catholike faith By thee the Trinitie is glorified and adored in al the vvorld by thee heauen reioyceth Angels and Archangels are glad diuels are put to flight and man is called againe to heauen and euery creature that vvas held vvith the errour of Idols is turned to the knowledge of the truth by thee Churches are fouÌ„ded through the world thee being their helper the Gentiles come to penance and much more which we omit Likewise the Greeke Liturgies or Masses of S. Iames S. Basil and
in this citie against thy holy childe IESVS vvhom thou hast anointed Herod and Pontius Pilate vvith the Gentiles and the people of Israël ✠verse 28 to doe vvhat thy hand thy counsel decreed to be done ✠verse 29 And novv Lord looke vpon their threatenings and giue vnto thy seruants vvith al confidence to speake thy vvorde ✠verse 30 in that that thou extend thy hand to cures and signes and vvonders to be done by the name of thy holy sonne IESVS ✠verse 31 And vvhen they had praied the palce vvas moued vvherein they vvere gathered and they vvere al replenished vvith the holy Ghost and they spake the vvord of God vvith confidence ✠verse 32 And the multitude of beleeuers had one hart and one soule neither did any one say that ought vvas his ovvne of those things vvhich he possessed but al things vvere common vnto them ✠verse 33 And vvith great povver did the Apostles giue testimonie of the resurrection of IESVS CHRIST our Lord and great grace vvas in al them ✠verse 34 For neither vvas there any one needie among them For as many as vvere ovvners of landes or houses sold and brought the prices of those things vvhich they sold ✠verse 35 and laid it before the feete of the Apostles And to euery one vvas deuided according as euery one hade neede ✠verse 36 And Ioseph vvho vvas surnamed of the Apostles Barnabas vvhich is by interpretation the sonne of consolation a Leuite a Cyprian borne ✠verse 37 vvhereas he had a peece of land sold it and brought the price and laid it ″ before the feete of the Apostles ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 37. Before the feete He as the rest did not onely giue his goods as in vulgar almes but in al humble and reuerent maner as things dedicated to God he laid them downe at the Apostles holy feete as S. Luke alwaies expresseth and gaue them not into their handes The Sunamite fel downe and embraced Elisaeus feete Many that asked benefites of Christ as the woman sicke of the bloudy fiuxe fel downe at his feete and Maâ—ie kissed his feete Such are signes of due reuerence done both to Christ and to other sacred persons either Prophetes Apostles Popes or others representing his person in earth See in S. Hierom of Epiphanius Bishop in Cypres how the people of Hierusalem of al sortes flocked together vnto him offering their children to take his blessing kissing his feete plucking the hemmeâ— of his garment so that he could not moue for the throng Ep. â—1 c. 4 cont eâ—â—o Io. Hierosol CHAP. V. Ananias and his vvife Saphîra for their sacrilege at Peters word fall downe dead to the great terrour of the rest 12 By the Apostles miracles not onely the number but also their faith so increaseth that they seeke in the streateâ— to the very shadow of Peter the townes also about bringing their diseased to Hierusalem 17 The Rulers againe oppose them selues but in vaine 19 For out of prison an Angel deliuereth them bidding them preach openly to al 27 and in their Councel Peter is nothing afraid of their bigge wordes 34 Yea Gamaliel being one of them selues casâ—eth a doubt among them lest the matter be of God and therfore impossible to be dissolued 40 Finally the Apostles being scourged by them count it an honour and cease no day from preaching verse 1 BVT a certaine man named Ananias vvith Saphîra his vvife sold a peece of land ✠verse 2 and ″ defrauded of the price of the land his vvife being priuie thereto and bringing a certaine portion laide it at the feete of the Apostles ✠verse 3 And ″ Peter said Ananias vvhy hath Satan tempted thy hart that thou shouldest lie to the holy Ghost and defraude of the price of the land ✠verse 4 Remaining did it not remaine to thee and being sold vvas it not ″ in thy povver Vvhy hast thou put this thing in thy hart Thou hast not lied ″ to men but to God ✠verse 5 And Ananias hearing these vvordes fel dovvne and gaue vp the ghost And there came great feare vpon al that heard it ✠verse 6 And yong men rising vp remoued him and bearing him forth buried him ✠verse 7 And it vvas the space as it vvere of three houres and his vvife not knovving vvhat vvas chaunced came in ✠verse 8 And Peter ansvvered her Tel me vvoman vvhether did you sel the land for so much But she said Yea for so much ✠verse 9 And Peter vnto her Vvhy haue you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of our Lord Behold their feete that haue buried thy husband at the doore and they shal beare thee forth ✠verse 10 Forthvvith she fel before his feete and gaue vp the ghost And the yong men going in found her dead and caried her forth and buried her by her husband ✠verse 11 And there fel great feare in the vvhole Church and vpon al that heard these things ✠verse 12 And by the handes of the Apostles vvere many signes and vvonders done among the people And they vvere al vvith one accord in Salomons porche ✠verse 13 But of the rest none durst ioyne them selues vnto them but the people magnified them ✠verse 14 And the multitude of men and vvomen that beleeued in our Lord vvas more increased ✠verse 15 so that they did bring forth the sicke into the streates and laid them in beddes and couches that vvhen Peter came ″ his shadovv at the least might ouer shadovv any of them and they all might be deliuered from their infirmities ✠verse 16 And there ranne together vnto Hierusalem the multitude also of the cities adâ—oyning bringing sicke persons and such as vvere vexed of vncleane spirits vvho vvere al cured ⊢ ✠verse 17 And the high priest rising vp and al that vvere vvith him vvhich is the heresie of the Sadduces vvere replenished vvith zeale ✠verse 18 laid hands vpon the Apostles and put them in the common prison ✠verse 19 But an Angel of our Lord by night opening the gates of the prison leading them forth said ✠verse 20 Goe and standing speake in the temple to the people al the vvordes of this life ✠verse 21 Vvho hauing heard this early in the morning entred into the temple and taught And the high priest comming and they that vvere vvith him called together the Councel al the auncients of the children of Israël and they sent to the prison that they might be brought ✠verse 22 But vvhen the ministers vvere come and opening the prison found them not returning they told ✠verse 23 saying The prison truely vve found shut vvith al diligence and the keepers standing before the gates but opening it vve found no man vvithin ✠verse 24 And as soone as the Magistrate of the temple and the cheefe priests heard these vvordes they vvere in doubt of them vvhat vvould
man standing on the right hand of God ✠verse 57 And they crying out vvith a loude voice stopped their eares vvith one accord ranne violently vpon him ✠verse 58 And casting him forth vvithout the citie they ″ stoned him and the vvitnesses laid of their garments * beside the feete of a yong man that vvas called Saul ✠verse 59 And they stoned Steuen inuocating and saying Lord IESVS receiue my spirit ✠verse 60 And falling on his knees he cried vvith a loude voice saying Lord lay not this sinne vnto them And vvhen he had said this he fel a sleepe And Saul vvas consenting to his death ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VII 33. Holy ground If that apparition of God him self or an Angel could make the place and ground holy and to be vsed of Moyses with al signes of reuerence and feare-how much more the corporal birth abode and wonders of the Sonne of God in Iewrie and his personal presence in the B. Sacrament may make that countrie and al Christian Churches altars holy And it is the greatest blindnes that can be to thinke it superstition to reuerence any things or places in respect of Gods presence or wonderous operation in the same See S. Hierom. ep 17 18. 27. of the holy land 48. Not in houses The vulgar Heretikes alleage this place against the corporal being of Christ in the B. Sacrament in Churches by which reason they might haue driuen him out of al houses Churches and corporal places when he vvas visible in earth But it is meant of the Diuinitie only spoken to correct the carnal Ievves who thought God either so to be conteined compassed and limited to their Temple that he could be no vvhere els or at least that he vvould not heare or receiue mens praiers and sacrifices in the Churches of the Gentiles or els vvhere out of the said Temple And so as it maketh nothing for the Sacramentaries no more doth it serue for such as esteeme Churches and places of publike praier no more conuenient nor more holy then any other profane houses or chambers For though his person or vertue be not limited to any place yet it pleaseth him condescending to our necessitie and profite to vvorke his vvonders and to be vvorshipped of vs in holy places rather then profane 38. They stoned him Read a maruelous narration in S. Augustine of one stone that hitting the Martyr on the elbovv rebounded backe to a faithful man that stood neere Who keeping and carying it vvith him vvas by reuelation vvarned to leaue it at Ancóna in Italie vvherevpon a Church or Memorie of S. Steuen vvas there erected and many miracles done after the said Martyrs body vvas found out and not before Aug. â—o 10 ser 38 de diuersis in edit Paris CHAP. VIII So farre is persecution from preuailing against the Church that by it the Church greweth from Hierusalem into al Ievvrie and Samaria 5 The second of the Deacons Philip conuerteth vvith his miracles the citie it self of Samaria and baptizeth them euen Simon Magus also him self among the rest 14 But the Apostles Peter and Iohn are the Ministers to giue them the Holy Ghost 18 Which ministerie Simon Magus vvould bie of them 16 The same Philip being sent of an Angel to a great man of Aethiopia Who came a Pilgrimage to Hierusalem first catechizeth him 16 and then he professing his faith and desiring Baptisme doth also baptize him verse 1 AND the same day there vvas made a great persecution in the Church vvhich vvas at Hierusalem and al vvere dispersed through the countries of Ievvrie and Samaria sauing the Apostles ✠verse 2 And ″ deuout men tooke order for Steuens funeral and made great mourning vpon him ✠verse 3 But Saul * vvasted the Church entring in from house to house and dravving men and vvomen deliuered them into prison ✠verse 4 They therfore that vvere dispersed passed through euangelizing the vvord ✠verse 5 And Philippe descending into the citie of Samaria preached CHRIST vnto them ✠verse 6 And the multitudes vvere attent to those things vvhich vvere said of Philippe vvith one accord hearing and seing the signes that he did ✠verse 7 For many of them that had vncleane spirits crying vvith a loud voice vvent out And many sicke of the palsey and lame vvere cured ✠verse 8 There vvas made therfore great ioy in that citie ⊢ ✠verse 9 And a certaine man named Simon vvho before had been in that citie a Magician seducing the nation of Samaria saying him self to be some great one ✠verse 10 vnto vvhom al harkened from the least to the greatest saying This man is the povver of God that is called great ✠verse 11 And they vvere attent vpon him because a long time he had bewitched them vvith his magical practises ✠verse 12 But vvhen they had beleeued Philippe euangelizing of the kingdom of God and of the name of IESVS CHRIST they vvere baptized men and vvomen ✠verse 13 Then Simon also him self beleeued and being baptized he cleaued to Philippe Seing also signes and very great miracles to be done he vvas astonied vvith admiration ✠verse 14 And vvhen the Apostles vvho vvere in Hierusalem had heard that Samaria had receiued the vvord of God theysent vnto them Peter Iohn ✠verse 15 Vvho vvhen they vvere come praied for them that they might receiue the holy Ghost ✠verse 16 For he vvas not yet come vpon any of them but they vvere only baptized in the name of our Lord IESVS ✠verse 17 Then did ″ they impose their handes vpon them and they ″ receiued the holy Ghost ⊢ ✠verse 18 And vvhen Simon had seen that by the imposition of the hand of the Apostles the holy Ghost vvas giuen he ″ offered them money ✠verse 19 saying Giue me also this povver that on vvhomsoeuer I impose my handes he may receiue the holy Ghost ✠verse 20 But Peter said to him Thy money be vvith thee vnto perdition because thou hast thought that the gift of God is purchased vvith money ✠verse 21 Thou hast no part nor lot in this vvord For thy hart is not right before God ✠verse 22 ″ Doe penance therfore from this thy vvickednesse and pray to God ″ if perhaps this cogitation of thy hart may be remitted thee ✠verse 23 For I see thou art in the gall of bitternes and the obligation of iniquitie ✠verse 24 And Simon ansvvering said ″ Pray you for me to our Lord that nothing come vpon me of these things vvhich you haue said ✠verse 25 And they in deede hauing testified and spoken the vvord of our Lord returned to Hierusalem and euangelized to many countries of the Samaritans ✠verse 26 And an Angel of our Lord spake to Philippe saying Arise and goe tovvard the South to the vvay that goeth dovvne from Hierusalem into Gaza ″
to Caesaréa and sent him avvay to Tarsus ✠verse 31 The ⸬ CHVRCH truely through al Ievvrie Galilee and Samaria had peace vvas edified vvalking in the feare of our Lord and vvas replenished vvith the consolation of the holy Ghost ✠verse 32 And it came to passe that Peter as he passed through al came to the saincts that dvvelt at Lydda ✠verse 33 and he found there a certaine man named Aeneas lying in his bed from eight yeres before vvho had the palsey ✠verse 34 And Peter said to him Aeneas our Lord IESVS CHRIST heale ' thee arise and make thy bed And incontinent he arose ✠verse 35 And al that dvvelt at Lydda and Satóna savv him vvho conuerted to our Lord. ✠verse 36 And in Ioppé there vvas a certaine disciple named Tabitha vvhich by interpretation is called Dorcas This vvomā vvas ful of good vvorkes and almes-deedes vvhich she did ✠verse 37 And it came to passe in those daies that she vvas sicke and died Vvhom vvhen they had vvashed they laid her in an vpper chamber ✠verse 38 And vvhereas Lydda vvas nigh to Ioppé the disciples hearing that Peter vvas in it they sent tvvo men vnto him desiring him Be not loth to come so farre as to vs. ✠verse 39 And Peter rising vp came vvith them And vvhen he vvas come they brought him into the vpper chamber and al the vvidovves stoode about him vveeping and shevving him the coates and garments vvhich Dorcas made them ✠verse 40 And al being put forth Peter falling on his knees praied and turning to the body he said Tabitha arise And she opened her eies and seeing Peter she sate vp ✠verse 41 And giuing her his hand he lifted her vp And vvhen he had called the saincts and the vvidovves he presented her aliue ✠verse 42 And it vvas made knovven through out al Ioppé and many beleeued in our Lord. ✠verse 43 And it came to passe that he abode many daies in Ioppé vvith one Simon a tanner CHAP. X. Because the Ievves so much abhorred the Gentils for the better vvarrant of their Christening an Angel appeareth to Cornelius the deuout Italian 9 and a vision is shevved to Peter him self the cheefe and Pastor of al 19 and the Spirit speaketh to him 34 yea and as he is Catechizing them about IESVS 44 the holy Ghost commeth visibly vpon them and therfore not fearing any longer the offense of the Ievves he commaundeth to baptize them verse 1 AND there vvas a certaine man in Caesaréa named Cornelius Centurion of that vvhich is called the Italian band ✠verse 2 religious fearing God vvith al his house ″ doing many almes-deedes to the people And alvvaies praying to God ✠verse 3 he savv in a vision manifestly about the ninthe houre of the day an Angel of God comming in vnto him and saying to him Cornelius ✠verse 4 But he beholding him taken vvith feare said Vvho art thou Lord And he said to him Thy praiers and thy almes-deedes are ascended into remembrance in the sight of God ✠verse 5 And novv send men vnto Ioppé and call hither one Simon that is surnamed Peter ✠verse 6 he lodgeth vvith one Simon a tanner vvhose house is by the sea side he vvil tel thee vvhat thou must doe ✠verse 7 And vvhen the Angel vvas departed that spake to him he called tvvo of his houshold and a souldiar that feared our Lord of them that vvere vnder him ✠verse 8 To vvhom vvhen he had told all he sent them vnto Ioppé ✠verse 9 And the next day vvhiles they vvere going on their iourney and dravving nigh to the citie Peter vvent vp into the higher partes ″ to pray about the sixt houre ✠verse 10 And being hungrie he vvas desirous to take somevvhat And as they vvere preparing there fel vpon him an excesse of minde ✠verse 11 and he savv the heauen opened and a certaine vessel descending as it vvere a great lin̄en sheete vvith foure corners let dovvne from heauen to the earth ✠verse 12 vvherein vvere al foure-footed beastes and that creepe on the earth and foules of the aire ✠verse 13 And there came a voice to him Arise Peter kil and eate ✠verse 14 But Peter said God forbid Lord for I did neuer eate any common and vncleane thing ✠verse 15 And a voice came to him againe the second time That vvhich God hath purified doe not thou cal common ✠verse 16 And this vvas done thrise and forthvvith the vessel was taken vp againe into heauen ✠verse 17 And vvhiles Peter doubted vvithin him self vvhat the vision should be that he had seen behold the men that vvere sent from Cornelius inquiring for Simons house stood at the gate ✠verse 18 And vvhen they had called they asked if Simon that is surnamed Peter vvere lodged there ✠verse 19 And as Peter vvas thinking of the vision the Spirit said to him Behold three men doe seeke thee ✠verse 20 Arise therfore and get thee dovvne and goe vvith them doubting nothing for I haue sent them ✠verse 21 And Peter going dovvne to the men said Behold I am he vvhom you seeke vvhat is the cause for the vvhich you are come ✠verse 22 Vvho said Cornelius the Centurion a iust man that feareth God and hauing testimonie of al the nation of the Ievves receiued an ansvver of an holy Angel to send for thee into his house and to heare vvordes of thee ✠verse 23 Therfore bringing them in he lodged them ✠And the day folovving he arose and vvent vvith them and certaine of the brethren of Ioppé accompanied him ✠verse 24 And on the morow he entred into Caesaréa And Cornelius expected them hauing called together his kinne and special frendes ✠verse 25 And it came to passe Vvhen Peter vvas come in Cornelius came to meete him and falling at his feete ″ adored ✠verse 26 But Peter lifted him vp saying Arise my self also am a man ✠verse 27 And talking vvith him he vvent in and findeth many that vvere assembled ✠verse 28 and he said to them You knovv hovv abominable it is for a man that is a Ievve to ioyne or to approche vnto a stranger but God hath shevved to me to call no man cōmon or vncleane ✠verse 29 For the vvhich cause making no doubt I came vvhen I vvas sent for I demaund therfore for vvhat cause you haue sent for me ✠verse 30 And Cornelius said Foure daies since vntil this houre I vvas praying the ninthe houre in my house and behold a man stoode before me in vvhite apparel ✠verse 31 and said Cornelius thy praier is heard and thy almes-deedes are in memorie in the sight of God ✠verse 32 Send therfore to Ioppé and call hither Simon that is surnamed Peter he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner by the sea side ✠verse 33
England is to the primitiue vse vvhich hath no such houres of night or day sauing a litle imitation of the old Mattins and Euensong and that in Schisme and Heresie and therfore not onely vnprofitable but also damnable â—5 Adored S. Chrysostom ho. 21 in Act. thinketh Peter refused this adoration of humilitie only because euery falling dovvne to the gâ—ound for vvorship sake is not Diuine vvorship or dew only to God the vvord of adoration and prostration being commonly vsed in the Scriptures tovvard men But S. Hierom adu Vigil c. 2 to â— rather thinketh that Cornelius by error of Gentility and of Peters person did go about to adore him vvith Diuine honour and therfore vvas lifted vp by the Apostle adding that he vvas but a man 40. Gaue him Christ did not vtter his Resurrection and other mysteries to al at once and immediatly to the vulgar but to a fevv chosen men that should be the gouernours of the rest instructing vs thereby to take our faith and al necessarie things of saluation at the hands of our Superiors 47. Baptized vvhich haue receiued Such may be the grace of God sometimes tovvard men and their charitie and contrition so great that they may haue remission iustification and sanctification before the external Sacrament of Baptisme Confirmation or Penance be receiued as vve see in this example vvhere at Peters preaching they al receiue the Holy Ghost before any Sacrament but in the same vve learne one necessarie lesson that such notvvithstanding must needes receiue the Sacraments appointed by Christ vvhich vvhosoeuer contemneth can neuer be iustified Aug. super Leuit. q. â—4 to 4. CHAP. XI The Christian Ievves reprehend the foresaid fact of Peter in baptizing the Gentils 4 But he alleaging his foresaid vvarrants and shevving plainly that it vvas of God 1â— they like good Catholikes do yeld 19 By the foresaid persecution the Church is yet further dilated not only into al Ievvrie Galilee and Samaria but also into other Countries specially in Antiochia Syria the increase among the Greekes is 〈◊〉 first by the foresaid dispersed 23 then by Barnabas thirdly by him and Saul together so that there beginneth the name of Christians 27 vvith perfite vnity betvvene them and the Church that vvas before them aâ— Hierusalem verse 1 AND the Apostles and brethren that vvere in Ievvrie heard that the Gentiles also receiued the vvord of God ✠verse 2 And vvhen Peter vvas come vp to Hierusalem they that vvere of the Circumcision reasoned against him saying ✠verse 3 Vvhy didst thou enter in to men vncircumcised and didst eate vvith them ✠verse 4 But Peter began and declared to them the order saying ✠verse 5 * I was in the citie of Ioppé praying I savv in an excesse of minde a vision a certaine vessel descending as it vvere a great sheete with foure corners let dovvne from heauen and it came euen vnto me ✠verse 6 Into vvhich I looking coÌ„sidered and savv foure footed beastes of the earth and cattel and such as creepe and foules of the aire ✠verse 7 And I heard also a voice saying to me Arise Peter kil and eate ✠verse 8 And I said Not so Lord for common or vncleane thing neuer entred into my mouth ✠verse 9 And a voice ansvvered the second time from heauen That vvhich God hath made cleane doe not thou call common ✠verse 10 And this vvas done thrise and al vvere taken vp againe into heauen ✠verse 11 And behold three men immediatly vvere come to the house vvherein I vvas sent to me from Caesaréa ✠verse 12 And the spirit said to me that I should goe vvith them doubting nothing And there came vvith me these sixe brethren also and vve vvent in to the mans house ✠verse 13 And he told vs hovv he had seen an Angel in his house standing and saying to him Send to Ioppé and cal hither Simon that is surnamed Peter ✠verse 14 vvho shal speake to thee vvordes vvherein thou shalt be saued and al thy house ✠verse 15 And vvhen I had begonne to speake the holy Ghost fel vpon them as vpoÌ„ vs also in the beginning ✠verse 16 And I remembred the vvord of our Lord according as he said Iohn in deede baptized vvith vvater but you shal be baptized vvith the holy Ghost ✠verse 17 If therfore God hath giuen them the same grace as to vs also that beleeued in our Lord IESVS CHRIST vvho vvas I that might prohibite God ✠verse 18 Hauing heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying God then to the Gentiles also hath giuen repentance vnto life ✠verse 19 * And they truely that had been dispersed by the tribulation that vvas made vnder Steuen vvalked through out vnto Phoenîce and Cypres Antioche speaking the vvord to none but to the Ievves only ✠verse 20 But certaine of them vvere men of Cypres and Cyréne vvho vvhen they vvere entred into Antioche spake to the Greekes preaching our Lord IESVS ✠verse 21 And the hand of our Lord vvas vvith them and a great number of beleeuers vvas conuerted to our Lord. ✠verse 22 And the report came to the eares of the Church that vvas at Hierusalem touching these things and they sent * Barnabas as farre as Antioche ✠verse 23 Vvho vvhen he vvas come and savv the grace of God reioyced and he exhorted al vvith purpose of hart to continevv in our Lord ✠verse 24 because he vvas a good man and ful of the holy Ghost and faith And a great ″ multitude vvas added to our Lord. ✠verse 25 And he vvent forth to * Tarsus to seeke Saul ✠verse 26 vvhom vvhen he had found he brought him to Antioche And they coÌ„uersed there in the church a vvhole yere and they taught a great multitude so that the disciples vvere at Antioche first named ″ CHRISTIANS ✠verse 27 And in these daies there came Prophets from Hierusalem to Antioche ✠verse 28 and one of them rising named Agabus did by the Spirit signifie a great famine that should be in the vvhole vvorld vvhich fel vnder Claudius ✠verse 29 And the disciples according as eche man had purposed euery one to send for to serue the brethren that dvvelt in Ievvrie ✠verse 30 vvhich also they did sending to the auncients by the handes of Barnabas and Saul ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XI 24. Multitude added As before c. 10 a fevv so novv great numbers of Gentiles are adioyned also to the visible Church consisting before only of the Ievves Vvhich Church hath beene euer since Christs Ascension notoriously seen and knovven their preaching open their Sacraments visible their discipline visible their Heades and Gouernours visible the prouision for their maintenance visible the persecution visible their dispersion visible the Heretikes that vvent out from them visible the ioyning either of men or Nations vnto them visible their peace and rest
representing the three Persons to Abraham or the one Angel that vvrastling vvith Iacob bare our Lords Person no such thing is any vvhere forbidden but is very agreable to the peoples instruction In vvhich sort the Angels vvere commonly pourtered and namely the Cherubins ouer the Propitiatorie as they be novv in the Church not in their natural forme but vvith corporal vvinges as the Seraphins appeared to Esay the Prophete to expresse their qualitie and office of being Gods Angels that is Messengers and God the Father vvith the vvorld in his hand to signifie his creation and gouernement of the same and such like Vvhereof the people being vvel instructed may take much good and no harme in the vvorld being novv through their faith in Christ far from al fond imagination of the false gods of the Pagans And therfore S. Gregorie saith of the Churches Images That vvhich scripture or vvriting doth to the readers the same doth the picture to the simple that looke therevpon for in it euen the ignorant see vvhat they ought to folovv in it they do read that knovv no letters Vvhere he calleth it a matter of antiquitie and very conuenient that in holy places Images vvere painted to the peoples instruction so they be taught that they may not be adored vvith diuine honour and he in the same place sharply rebuketh Serenus the Bishop of Massilia that of indiscrete zele he vvould take avvay Images rather then teach the people hovv to vse them 34. Dionysius Areopagita This is that famous Denys that first conuerted France and vvrote those notable and diuine vvorkes de Ecclesiastica caâ—lesti hierarchia de diuinis nominibus and others in vvhich he confirmeth and proueth plainely almost al things that the Church novv vseth in the ministration of the holy Sacraments and affirmeth that he learned them of the Apostles giuing also testimonie for the Catholike faith in most things novv controuersed so plainely that our Aduersaries haue no shift but to deny this Denys to haue been the author of them â—eyning that they be an others of later age Vvhich is an old flight of Heretikes but most proper to these of al others Vvho seeing al antiquitie against them are forced to be more bold or rather impudent then others in that point CHAP. XVIII As Corinth in Achaia he vvorketh vvith his ovvne hands preaching IESVS to be CHRIST vnto the Ievves vpon their Sabboths 6 But they being obstinate and blaspheming he in plaine termes forsaketh them and turneth to the Gentils among vvhom according to a vision that he had to embolden him he planteth the Church in great numbers 12 the obstinat Ievves in vaine soliciting the Proconsul against him 18 From thence as length departing he returneth 19 by Ephesus vvhere he promiseth the Ievves to returne to them 22 and so to Antioch in Syria from vvhence he began his iourney Act. 15 23 but not resting by and by he goeth againe to visite the nevv Churches that he planted Act. 16 in Galatia and Phrygia 24 Apollo in his absence mightily confounding the Ievves at Ephesus 27 and aftervvard at Corinth verse 1 AFTER these things departing from Athens he came to Corinth ✠verse 2 and finding a certaine Ievv named Aquila borne in Pontus vvho of late vvas come out of Italie and Priscilla his vvife because Claudius had commaunded al Ievves to depart from Rome he came to them ✠verse 3 And because he vvas of the same craft he remained vvith them and vvrought and they vvere tentmakers by their craft ✠verse 4 And he disputed in the synagogue euery Sabboth interposing the name of our Lord IESVS and he exhorted the Ievves and the Greekes ✠verse 5 And vvhen Silas and Timothee vvere come from Macedonia Paul vvas instant in preaching testifying to the Ievves that IESVS is CHRIST ✠verse 6 But they contradicting and blaspheming he shaking his garmeÌ„ts said to them Your bloud vpon your ovvne head I being cleane from hence forth vvil goe to the Gentiles ✠verse 7 And departing theÌ„ce he entred into the house of a certaine man named Titus Iustus one that serued God vvhose house vvas adioyning to the synagogue ✠verse 8 And Crispus the prince of the Synagogue beleeued our Lord vvith al his house and many of the Corinthians hearing beleeued and vvere baptized ✠verse 9 And our Lord said in the night by a vision to Paul Doe not feare but speake and hold not thy peace ✠verse 10 for-because I am vvith thee and no man shal set vpon thee to hurt thee for I haue much people in this citie ✠verse 11 And he sate there a yere sixe moneths teaching among them the vvord of God ✠verse 12 But Gallio being Proconsul of Achaia the Ievves vvith one accord rose vp against Paul and brought him to the iudgement seate ✠verse 13 saying That this man contrarie to the Lavv persuadeth men to vvorshippe God ✠verse 14 And Paul beginning to open his mouth Gallio said to the Ievves If it vvere some vniust thing or an heinous facte O you men Ievves I should by reason beare you ✠verse 15 But if they be questions of vvord names and of your lavv your selues looke vnto it I vvil not be iudge of these things ✠verse 16 And he droue them from the iudgement seate ✠verse 17 And al appreheÌ„ding Sósthenes the prince of the synagogue strooke him before the iudgement seate and Gallio cared for none of those things ✠verse 18 But Paul vvhen he had staied yet many daies taking his leaue of the brethren sailed to Syria and vvith him Priscilla and Aquila vvho had shorne his head in Cenchris for he had * a vovv ✠verse 19 And he came vnto Ephesus and them he left there But him self entring into the synagogue disputed vvith the Ievves ✠verse 20 And vvhen they desired him that he vvould tarie a longer time he consented not ✠verse 21 but taking his leaue and saying I vvil returne to you againe God vvilling he departed from Ephesus ✠verse 22 And going dovvne to Caesaréa he vvent vp and saluted the Church and came dovvne to Antioche ✠verse 23 And hauing taried there a certaine time he departed vvalking in order through the countrie of Galatia and Phrygia confirming al the disciples ✠verse 24 And a certaine Ievv named Apollo borne at Alexandria an eloquent man came to Ephesus mighty in the scriptures ✠verse 25 This man vvas taught the vvay of our Lord and being feruent in spirit he spake and taught diligently those things that pertaine to IESVS knovving only the baptisme of Iohn ✠verse 26 This man therfore began to deale confidently in the synagogue Vvhom vvhen Priscilla and Aquila had heard they tooke him vnto them and expounded to him the vvay of our Lord more diligently ✠verse 27 And vvhereas he vvas desirous to goe to Achaia the brethren exhorting vvrote to the disciples to
receiue him Vvho vvhen he vvas come profited them much that had beleeued ✠verse 28 For he vvith vehemencie conuinced the Ievves openly shevving by the scriptures that IESVS is CHRIST CHAP. XIX Hovv Paul began the Church of Ephesus first in 1â— that vvere baptized vvith Iohns baptisme â— then preaching three moneths in the Synagogue of the Ievves vntil for their obstinacie and blaspheming he forsooke them disputing aftervvard in a certaine schoole for tvvo yeres space to the maruelous increase of the Church specially through his great miracles also in healing diseases vvith the touche of his clothes and expelling diâ—els 13 vvho yet contemned the Exorcists of the Ievves 18 Hovv the Christians there confesse their actes and burne their vnlavvful bookes 21 and hovv he foretold that after he had been at Hierusalem he must see Rome 23 and vvhat a great sedition vvas raised against him at Ephesus by them that got their liuing of vvorking to the idolatrous Temple of Diana verse 1 AND it came to passe vvhen Apollo vvas at Corinth that Paul hauing gone through the higher partes came to Ephesus and found certaine disciples ✠verse 2 and he said to them Haue you receiued the holy Ghost beleeuing But they said to him Nay neither haue vve heard whether there be a holy Ghost ✠verse 3 But he said In vvhat then vvere you baptized Vvho said In Iohns baptisme ✠verse 4 And Paul said * Iohn baptized the people vvith the baptisme of penance saying That they should beleeue in him that vvas to come after him that is to say in IESVS ✠verse 5 Hearing these things they vvere baptized in the name of our Lord IESVS ✠verse 6 And vvhen Paul had imposed hands on them the holy Ghost came vpon them and they spake vvith tongues and prophecied ✠verse 7 And all the men vvere about tvvelue ✠verse 8 And entring in to the synagogue he spake confidently for three moneths disputing and exhorting of the kingdom of God ⊢ ✠verse 9 But vvhen certaine vvere indûrate and beleeued not il-speaking the vvay of our Lord before the multitude departing from them he separated the disciples daily disputing in the schole of one Tyrannus ✠verse 10 An this vvas done for the space of tvvo yeres so that al vvhich dvvelt in Asia heard the vvord of our Lord Ievves and Gentils ✠verse 11 And God vvrought by the hand of Paul miracles not common ✠verse 12 so that there vvere also brought from his body â— napkins or handkerchefs vpon the sicke and the diseases departed from them and the vvicked spirits vvent out ✠verse 13 And certaine also of the Iudaical exorcists that vvent about assaied to inuocate vpon them that had euil spirits the name of our Lord IESVS saying I adiure you by IESVS vvhom Paul preacheth ✠verse 14 And there vvere certaine sonnes of Sceua a Ievve cheefe priest seuen that did this ✠verse 15 But the vvicked spirit ansvvering said to them IESVS I knovv and â— Paul I knovv but you vvhat are ye ✠verse 16 And the man in vvhom the vvicked spirit vvas leaping vpon them and mastring both ' preuailed against them so that they fled out of that house naked and vvounded ✠verse 17 And this vvas made notorious to al the Ievves and the Gentiles that dvvelt at Ephesus and feare fel vpon al them and the name of our Lord IESVS vvas magnified ✠verse 18 And many of them that beleeued came confessing and declaring their deedes ✠verse 19 And many of them that had folovved â— curious things brought together their â— bookes and burnt them before al and counting the prices of them they found the money to be fiftie thousand pence ✠verse 20 So mightely increased the vvord of God and vvas confirmed ✠verse 21 And vvhen these things vvere ended Paul purposed in the Spirit vvhen he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia to goe to Hierusalem saying After I shall haue been there I must see Rome also ✠verse 22 And sending into Macedonia tvvo of them that ministred vnto him Timothee and Erastus himself remained for a time in Asia ✠verse 23 And at that time there vvas made no litle trouble about the vvay of our Lord. ✠verse 24 For one named Demetrius a siluer-smith that made siluer temples of Diána procured to the artificers no smal gaine ✠verse 25 vvhom calling together and them that vvere the same kinde of vvorkemen he said Sirs you knovv that our gaine is of this occupation ✠verse 26 and you see and heare that this same Paul by persuasion hath auerted a great multitude not only of Ephesus but almost of al Asia saying That they are not gods vvhich be made by handes ✠verse 27 And not only vnto vs is this part in danger to be reproued but also the temple of great Diana shal be reputed for nothing yea her maiestie shal begin to be destroied vvhom al Asia the vvorld vvorshippeth ✠verse 28 Hearing these things they vvere replenished vvith anger and cried out saying Great is Diana of the Ephesians ✠verse 29 And the vvhole citie vvas filled vvith confusion they ranne violently vvith one accord in to the theátre catching Gaius and Aristarchus Macedonians Paules companions ✠verse 30 And vvhen Paul vvould haue entred into the people the disciples did not permit him ✠verse 31 And certaine also of the Princes of Asia that vvere his frendes sent vnto him desying that he vvould not adueÌ„ture him selfe into the theátre ✠verse 32 and others cried an other thing For the assemblie vvas confuse the more part knevv not for vvhat cause they vvere assembled ✠verse 33 And of the multitude they drevv forth Alexander the Ievves thrusting him forvvard But Alexander vvith his hand desiring silence vvould haue giuen the people satisfaction ✠verse 34 Vvhom as soone as they perceiued to be a Ievve there vvas made one voice of al almost for the space of tvvo houres crying out Great is Diana of the Ephesians ✠verse 35 And vvhen the Scribe had appeased the multitudes he saith Ye men of Ephesus for vvhat man is there that knovveth not the citie of the Ephesians to be a vvorshipper of great Diana Iupiters childe ✠verse 36 Forasmuch therfore as these things can not be gainsaid you must be quieted and doe nothing rashly ✠verse 37 For you haue brought these men being neither sacrilegious nor blaspheming your Goddesse ✠verse 38 But if Demetrius and the artificers that are vvith him haue matter to say against any man there are Courtes kept in the common place there are Proconsuls let them accuse one an other ✠verse 39 And if you aske any other matter it may be resolued in a lavvful assemblie ✠verse 40 For vve are in danger also to be accused for this daies sedition vvhereas there is no man guilty by vvhom vve may
in Asia For he hastened if it vvere possible for him to keepe the day of â— Pentecost at Hierusalem ✠verse 17 And sending from Milétum to Ephesus he called the Auncients of the Church ✠verse 18 Vvho being come to him and assembled together he said to them You knovv * from the first day that I entred into Asia in vvhat maner I haue been vvith you al the time ✠verse 19 seruing our Lord vvith al humilitie and teares and tentations that did chaunce to me by the conspiracies of the Ievves ✠verse 20 Hovv I haue vvithdravven nothing that vvas profitable but that I preached it to you taught you openly and from house to house ✠verse 21 testifying to Ievves and Gentils penance tovvard God and faith in our Lord IESVS CHRIST ✠verse 22 And novv behold being bound by the spirit I goe to Hierusalem not knovving vvhat things shal befall me in it ✠verse 23 but that the Holy Ghost through out al cities doth protest to me saying that bands and tribulations abide me at Hierusalem ✠verse 24 But I feare none of these things neither doe I make my life more pretious theÌ„ my self so that I may coÌ„suÌ„mat my course ministerie vvhich I receiued of our Lord IESVS to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God ✠verse 25 And novv behold I doe knovv that you shal no more see my face al you through vvhom I haue passed preaching the kingdom of God ✠verse 26 Vvherefore I take you to witnesse this present day that I am cleere from the bloud of al. ✠verse 27 For I haue not spared to declare vnto you al the counsel of God ✠verse 28 Take heede to your selues and to the vvhole flocke vvherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops to rule the Church of God vvhich he hath purchased with his ovvne bloud ✠verse 29 I knovv that after my departure there vvil â— rauening vvolues enter in among you not sparing the flocke ✠verse 30 and out of your ovvne selues shal arise men speaking peruerse things to dravv avvay disciples after them selues ✠verse 31 For the vvhich cause be vigilant keeping in memorie that for three yeres night and day I ceased not vvith teares to admonish euery one of you ✠verse 32 And novv I commend you to God and to the vvord of his grace vvho is able to edifie and to giue inheritance in al the sanctified ✠verse 33 No mans siluer and gold or garment haue I coueted ✠verse 34 Your selues knovv that for such things as vvere needful for me and them that are vvith me these hands haue ministred ✠verse 35 I haue shevved you al things that so labouring you must receiue the vveake and remember the vvord of our Lord IESVS because he said â— It is a more blessed thing to giue rather then to take ✠verse 36 And vvhen he had said these things falling on his knees he praied vvith al them ✠verse 37 And there vvas great vveeping made of al and falling vpon the necke of Paul they kissed him ✠verse 38 being sorie most of al for the vvord vvhich he had said that they should see his face no more And they brought him going vnto the shippe ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XX. 16. Pentecost Though the Apostles might desire to come to the Ievves Festiuities by reason of the general concourse of people to the same the better to deale for their saluation and â—o spred the Gospel of Christ yet it is like that they novv kept solemly the Christian Pentecost or vvhitsontide for memorie of the Holy Ghost and that S. Paul vvent to that Feast of the Christians rather then the other of the Ievves And Ven. Bede saith here The Apostle maketh hast to keepe the fifteth day that is of remission and of the Holy Ghost For that the Christians already kept the eight day that is the Sunday or our Lordes day and had altered already the ordinarie Sabboth into the same it is plaine by the Scriptures 1 Cor. 16 2. Apoc. 1 10. and by antiquitie Iustin Mart. Apolog. 2 ad Anton. Pium in fine And it is as like that they changed the Ievves Pasche and Pentecost as that specially vvhen it is euident that * these Festiuities be kept by Apostolike tradition and approued by the vse of al auncient Churches and Councels â—9 Rauening vvolues The gouernours of the Church are foretold of the great danger that should fall to the people by vvolues that is to say by Heretikes vvhose cruelty tovvard the Catholikes is noted by this terme They be knovveÌ„ by the forsaking the vnitie of the Church vvhereof they vvere before by going out and dravving many disciples after them and by their peruerse doctrine Such vvolues came aftervvard in deede in diuers ages Arius Mâ—cedonius Nestorius Eutyches Luther Caluin great bloudsucking vvolues and vvasters of the flocke of Christ 35. More blessed to giue Among many other infinite goodly things and speaches vvhich Christ spake and be not vvritten in the Gospels this sentence is one vvhich S. Paul heard of some of the Apostles daily conuersant vvith him or els learned of Christ him self or of the Holy Ghost And it signifieth that vvhereas the vvorld commonly counteth him happie that receiueth any benefite as almes either temporal or spiritual yet in deede he that giueth or bestovveth is more happie Vvhich if the vvorld did vvel consider men vvould giue almes faster then they do if it vvere but for their ovvne benefite CHAP. XXI From MileÌ„tum going on his iourney 4 he can not be dissuaded neither as Tyre 8 nor at Caesarea in both vvhich places the Holy Ghost reueled hovv he should be handled in Hierusalem 10 the Prophet Agabuâ— expresly foretelling that the Ievves there should deliuer him to the Gentils 15 but to Hierusalem he coÌ„meth vvhere being vvelcome to the Christians and namely to Iames the Bishop and to the Priests vvhile he goeth about to satisfie the Christian Ievves there vvho had been misinformed of him as if he had taught it to be vnlawful for the Iewes to keepe Moyses Lavv 27 he is inuaded by the infidel Ievves and ready to be murdered by them vntil the Romane souldiars do rescue him verse 1 AND vvhen it came to passe that vve sailed being caried from them vvith a straight course vve came to Cóos and the day folovving to Rhodes and from thence to Pátara ✠verse 2 And when vve had found a ship that passed ouer to Phoenîce going vp into it vve sailed ✠verse 3 And vvhen vve vverâ— in the sight of Cypres leauing it on the left hand vve sailed into Syria and came to Tyre for there the ship vvas to discharge her lode ✠verse 4 And finding disciples vve taried there seuen daies vvho said to Paul by the Spirit that he should not goe vp to Hierusalem ✠verse 5 And the daies being expired departing vve vvent forvvard al bringing vs on
to helpe the neede of the Christians in Hierusalem vvhereof he speaketh 1. Cor. 16 And concerning the collections that are made for the saincts as I haue ordeined to the Churches of Galatia so doe you also By vvhich vvordes also it is euident that the Corinthians had not at then made their gathering But vvhen he vvrote the Second to them vvhere in the 11 Chapter he maketh mention of 14 yeres not onely after his Conuersion as to the Galatians but also after his Rapte vvhich seemeth to haue bene vvhen he vvas at Hierusalem Act. 9. foure yeres after his Conuersion in a traunce as he calleth it Act. 22 17 then vvere they readie For so he saith 2. Cor. 8 You haue begone from the yere past and 2. Cor. 9 For the vvhich I doe glorie of you to the Macedonians that also Achaia is ready from the yere past hovvbeit it folovveth theire But I haue sent the brethren that as I haue said you may be ready lest vvhen the Macedonians come vvith me and find you vnready vve be ashamed But vvhen he vvrote to the Romanes then vvas he novv come to Corinth for the purpose and had receiued theire contribution and vvas readie to goe vvith it vnto Hierusalem For so he saith Rom. 15. Novv therfore I vvil goe vnto Hierusalem to minister to the saincts For Macedonia and Achaia haue liked vvel to make some coÌ„tribution vpoÌ„ the poore saincts that are in Hierusalem So then the Epistle to the Romanes vvas not the first that he vvrote But yet it is and alvvaies vvas set first because of the primacie of that Church for vvhich cause also he handleth in it such matters as perteined not to them alone but to the vniuersal Church and specially to al the Gentiles to vvit the very frame as it vvere of the Church of Christ Tanquam enim pro ipso Domino legatione fungens hoc est pro lapide angulari vtrumque populum tam ex Iudais quà m ex Gentibus connectis in Christo per vinculum gratiae so saith S. Augustine giuing vs briefly the arguments in english thus As being a legate for our Lord him self that is for the corner stone he knitteth together in Christ by the baÌ„d of Grace both peoples as vvel of the Ievves as of the Gentils Shevving that neither of them had in their Gentilitie or Iudaisme any vvorkes to bragge of or to chalenge to them selues iustificatioÌ„ or saluation thereby but rather sinnes they had to be sorie for and to humble themselues to the faith of Christ that so they might haue remission of them and strength to doe meritorius vvorkes aftervvard In vvhich sort because the Gentils did humble them selues therefore had they found mercy though they neuer vvist of the Lavv of Moyses But the Ievves because they stoode vpon their ovvne vvorkes vvhich they did by their ovvne strength vvith the knovvledge of the Lavv being therefore also called the vvorkes of the Lavv so would not humble themselues to beleeue in Christ crucified they missed of mercy and became reprobate excepting a few Reliquiae that God of his goodnes had reserued to himself Hovvbeit in the end vvhen the fulnes of the Gentils is come into the Church then shal the fulnes of the Ievves also open their eies acknowledge their errour and submit themselues to Christ and his Church in like maner In the meane time those that haue found the grace to be Christians he exhorteth to perseueraÌ„ce as it vvas specially needeful in those times of persecutions and to leade their whole life now after Baptisme in good workes and to be careful of vnitie bearing therefore one with an other both Iew and Gentil al that they may and geuing no offence to them that are weake Thus he disputeth and thus be exhorteth through the whole Epistle though if we wil diuide it by that which is principal in ech parte vve may say that vnto the 12 chapter is his disputation and from thence to the end his exhortation Novv in those points of faith and in al others as also in example of life the commendation that he giueth to the Church of Rome is much to be noted Your faith is renoumed in the vvhole vvorld and your obedieÌ„ce is published into euery place I reioyce therfore in you And againe you haue obeied from the hart vnto that forme of doctrine vvhich hath been deliuered to you And therevpon againe I desire you brethren to marke them that make dissensions and scandals contrarie to the doctrine vvhich you haue learned and auoide them For such doe not serue Christ our Lord but theire ovvne belly and by svveete speaches ad benedictions seduce the harts of innocents Therfore to shunne Luther and Caluin and al their crewes vve haue iust reason and good vvarrant They make dissensions and scandals against the doctrine of the Romane Church Let no man therefore be seduced by their sugred vvordes THE EPISTLE OF PAVL THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMANES CHAP. I. The foundation of his Apostleship being laid 〈◊〉 he highly commendeth the Romanes and protesteth his affection tovvardes them and so coÌ„ming to the matter saith our Christian Catholike doctrine that teacheth al to beleeue to be the vvay to saluation 118 because the Gentiles first of al could not be saued by their Philosophie vvhereby they knevv God for so much as they did not serue him but Idolâ—â— he therfore iustly permitting them to fall into al kind of most damnable sinne verse 1 PAVL the seruant of IESVS CHRIST called to be an Apostle * separated into the Gospel of God ✠verse 2 vvhich before he had promised by his Prophets in the holy Scriptures ✠verse 3 of his sonne vvho vvas made to him of the seede of Dauid according to the flesh ✠verse 4 vvho vvas predestinate the sonne of God in povver according to the spirit of sanctification by the resurrectioÌ„ of our Lord IESVS CHRIST from the dead ✠verse 5 by vvhom vve haue receiued grace and Apostleship for obedience to the faith in al Nations for the name of him ✠verse 6 among vvhom are you also the called of IESVS CHRIST ⊢ ✠verse 7 to al that are at Rome the beloued of God called to be saincts Grace to you and peace from God our father and our Lord IESVS CHRIST ✠verse 8 First I giue thankes to my God through IESVS CHRIST for al you because ″ your faith is renoumed in the vvhole vvorld ✠verse 9 For God is my vvitnes vvhom I serue ″ in my spirit in the Gospel of his Sonne that vvithout intermission I make ″ a memorie of you ✠verse 10 alvvaies in my praiers beseeching if by any meanes I may sometime at the length haue a prosperous iourney by the vvil of God to come vnto you ✠verse 11 For I desire to see you that I may imparte vnto you some spiritual grace to confirme you âœ
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
9 to many other good actions 17 and specially to louing of their enemies verse 1 I BESECH you therfore brethren by the mercie of God * that you exhibite your bodies ″ a liuing host holy pleasing God your reasonable seruice ✠verse 2 And be not conformed to this vvorld but be reformed in the newnes of your minde * that you may proue vvhat the good and acceptable and perfect vvil of God is ✠verse 3 for I say by the grace that is giuen me to al that are among you not to be more vvise then behoueth to be vvise but to be vvise vnto sobrietie * to euery one as God hath deuided the measure of faith ✠verse 4 For as in one body vve haue many members but al the members haue not one action ✠verse 5 so vve being many are one body in Christ eche one an others members ⊢ ✠verse 6 And hauing giftes according to the grace that is giuen vs differēt either prophecie ″ according to the rule of faith ✠verse 7 or ministerie in ministring or he that teacheth in doctrine ✠verse 8 he that exhorteth in exhorting he that giueth in simplicitie he that ruleth in carefulnes he that shevveth mercie in cheerefulnes ✠verse 9 Loue vvithout simulation Hating euil cleauing to good ✠verse 10 Louing the charitie of the brotherhod one toward an other Vvith honour preuenting one an other ✠verse 11 In carefulnes not slouthful In spirit feruent Seruing our Lord. ✠verse 12 Reioycing in hope Patient in tribulation Instant in praier ✠verse 13 Communicating to the necessities ' of the sainctes Pursuing hospitalitie ✠verse 14 Blesse them that persecute you blesse and curse not ✠verse 15 To reioyce vvith them that reioyce to vveepe vvith them that vveepe ✠verse 16 Being of one minde one tovvard an other Not minding high things but cōsenting to the humble ⊢ Be not vvise in your ovvne conceite ✠verse 17 To no man rendring euil for euil Prouiding good things not only before God but also before al men ✠verse 18 If it may be as much as is in you hauing peace vvith al men ✠verse 19 Not reuenging your selues my deerest but giue place vnto vvrath for it is vvritten Reuenge to me I vvil revvard saith our Lord. ✠verse 20 but if thine enemie hunger giue him meate if he thirst giue him drinke for doing this thou shalt heape coales of fire vpon his head ✠verse 21 Be not ouercome of euil but ouercome in good the euil ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XII 1. A liuing host Lest men should thinke by the former discourse of Gods eternal predestination that no reward were to be had of good life and workes the Apostle now earnestly recommendeth to them holinesse of life 1. A liuing host Man maketh his body a sacrifice to God by giuing it to suffer for him by chastising it vvith fasting vvatching and such like and by occupying it in workes of charitie and vertue to Gods honour whereby appeareth how acceptable these workes are to God and grateful in his sight being compared to a sacrifice which is an high seruice done to him 6. According to the rule of faith By this and many places of holy write we may gather that the Apostles by the holy Ghost before they were sundered into diuers Nations set downe among them selues a certaine Rule and forme of faith and doctrine conteining not onely the Articles of the Crede but al other principles groundes and the whole platforme of al the Christian religion Which Rule was before any of the bookes of the new Testment were written before the faith was preached among the Gentiles by vvhich not onely euery other inseriout teachers doctrine was tried but al the Apostles and Euangelistes preaching vvriting interpreting which is here called prophecying were of gods Church appointed and admitted or disproued and reiected This forme by mouth and not by Scripture euery Apostle deliuered to the countrie by them conuerted For keeping of this forme the Apostle before praised the Romanes and afterward earnestly warneth them by no man 〈◊〉 speache to be drawen from the same This he commendeth to Timothee calling it his 〈◊〉 For not holding this fast and sure he blameth the Galatians further also denouncing to him self or an Angel that should write teach or expound against that which they first receiued 〈…〉 and commanding alwaies to bevvare of them that taught otherwise For feare of missing this line of truth him self notwithstanding he had the Holy Ghost yet lest he might haue preached in vaine and lost his labour he went to conferre with Peter and the rest for tho fast keeping of this Rule of truth the Apostles held Councels and their successors by their example For the holding of this Rule and by the measure thereof were al the holy Scriptures written for and by the same al the glorious doctors haue made their sermons commendries and interpretations Gods vvork al vvritings and interpretatiōs no otherwise admitted nor deemed to be of God but as they be agreable to this Rule And this is the sure Analogies 〈◊〉 measure of faith set downe and commended to vs euery where for the Apostles tradition and not the phantastical rule or square that euery Sectmaister pretendeth to gather out of the Scriptures falsely vnderstood and wrested to his purpose by which they iudge of doctor Scripture Church and al. Arîus had by that meanes a rule of his owne Luther had his false weightes and Caluin his owne also According to which seueral measure of euery Sect they haue their expositions of Gods word and in England as in other infected Countries they kept of lare an apish imitation of this prophecying which S. Paul here and in other places speaketh of and which was an exercise in the primitiue Church measured not by euery mans peculiar spirit but by the former Rule of faith first set downe by the Apostles And therfore al this new phantastical Prophecying al other preaching in Caluins schoole is iustly by this note of the Apostle condemned for that it is not according to but quite against the Rule of faith CHAP. XIII To yeld obedience and al other duties vnto Potestats 8 to loue their neighbour vvhich is the fulfilling of the Lavv 11 and specially to consider that novv being the time of grace vve must doe nothing that may not beseeme day light verse 1 LET ″ euery soul be subiect to higher powers for there is ″ no povver but of God And those that are of God are ordeined ✠verse 2 Therfore he that resisteth the povver resisteth the ordinance of God And ″ they that resist purchase to them selues damnatiō ✠verse 3 for princes are no feare to the good worke but to the euil But wilt thou not feare the povver Doe good and thou shalt haue praise of the same ✠verse 4
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
authors of al these schismes verse 1 SO let a man esteeme vs as the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God ✠verse 2 Here novv is required among the dispensers that a man be found faithful ✠verse 3 But to me it is a thing of lest account to be iudged of you or of mans day but I iudge not my self neither ✠verse 4 For I am not guilty in conscience of any thing◠″ but I am not iustified herein but he that iudgeth me is our Lord. ✠verse 5 Therfore iudge not before the time vntil our Lord do come vvho also wil lighten the hiddeÌ„ things of darkenes and vvil manifest the counsels of the hartes then the praise shal be to euery man of God ⊢ ✠verse 6 But these things brethren I haue transfigured into my self and Apollo for you that in vs you may learne one not to be puffed vp against an other aboue that is vvritten ✠verse 7 For vvho discerneth thee Or vvhat hast thou that thou hast not receiued And if thou hast receiued what doest thou glorie as though thou hast nor receiued ✠verse 8 Now you are filled now are you become riche without vs you reigne I would to God you did reigne that vve also might reigne vvith you ✠verse 9 For I thinke that God hath shevved vs Apostles the last as it vvere deputed to death because vve are made a spectacle to the vvorld and to Angels and men ✠verse 10 Vve are fooles for Christ but you vvise in Christ vve vveake but you strong you noble but vve base ✠verse 11 Vntil this houre we doe both hunger and thirst and are naked and are beaten vvith buffets and are vvanderers ✠verse 12 and labour vvorking vvith our ovvne handes vve are cursed and do blesse vve are persecuted and susteine it ✠verse 13 vve are blasphemed and vve beseeche vve are made the refuse of this vvorld the drosse of al euen vntil novv ✠verse 14 Not to confound you do I vvrite these things but as my deerest children I admonish you ⊢ ✠verse 15 For if you haue ten thousand paedagoges in Christ yet not many fathers For in Christ IESVS by the Gospel I begat you ⊢ ✠verse 16 I beseeche you therfore be folovvers of me ✠verse 17 Therfore haue I sent to you Timothee vvho is my deerest sonne and faithful in our Lord vvho vvil put you in minde of my vvaies that are in Christ IESVS as euery vvhere in euery Church I teach ✠verse 18 As though I vvould not come to you so certaine are puffed vp ✠verse 19 But I vvil come to you quickly if our Lord vvil and vvil knovv not the vvordes of them that be puffed vp but the povver ✠verse 20 For the kingdom of God is not in vvordes but in povver ✠verse 21 Vvhat vvil you â— in rodde that I come to you or in charitie and the spirit of mildnes ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 4. But not iustified The Heretikes are certaine that they be in Gods grace but S. Paul though guiltie of no crime in his conscience durst not assure him self that he vvas iustified neither could take vpon him to be iudge of his ovvne hart and cogitations vvhether they vvere pure or no but the trial thereof he left onely to Gods iudging day 21. In rodde The Apostles haue povver of discipline and censures against offenders and povver of gentlenes meekenes and indulgence also to vse either punishing or pardoning according to their wisedom and according to the occasions of time and place CHAP. V. Sharply rebuking their Clergies negligence 3 him self absent excommunicateth that publike incestuous person 6 commaunding that hereafter no Christian be so tolerated in any open crime but excommunicated verse 1 THERE is plainely heard fornication among you and such fornication as the like is not among the heathen so that one hath his * fathers vvife ✠verse 2 And you are puffed vp and haue not mourned rather that he might be taken avvay from amoÌ„g you that hath done this deede ✠verse 3 â— I in deede absent in body but present in spirit haue already iudged as present him that hath so done ✠verse 4 in the name of our Lord IESVS Christ â— you being gathered together and my spirit â— vvith the vertue of our Lord IESVS ✠verse 5 to deliuer such an one â— to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saued in the day of our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 6 Your glorying is not good Knovv you not that a litle leauen corrupteth the vvhole paste ✠verse 7 Purge the old leauen that you may be a nevv paste as you are azymes For our Pasche Christ is immolated ✠verse 8 Therfore â— let vs feast not in the old leauen nor in the leauen of malice and vvickednes but in the azymes of sinceritie and veritie ⊢ ✠verse 9 I vvrote to you in an epistle Not to keepe companie vvith fornicatours ✠verse 10 I meane not the fornicatours of this vvorld or the couetous or the extorsioners or seruers of Idols othervvise you should haue gone out of this vvorld ✠verse 11 But novv I vvrote to you not to keepe companie if he that is named a brother be a fornicatour or a couetous person or a seruer of Idols or a railer or a drunkarde or an extorsioner vvith such an one ″ not so much as to take meate ✠verse 12 For vvhat is it to me to iudge of them that are vvithout Do not you iudge of them that are vvithin ✠verse 13 for them that are vvithout God vvil iudge Take away ″ the euil-one from among your selues ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V. 2. I absent S. Paul here vseth his Apostolike povver of binding this incestuous person excommunicating him by his letters and Mandaâ—â—â— though absent 4. You being gathered Though he commaunded the acte should be done in the face of the Church as such sentences and censures be at this day executed also yet the iudgement and authoritie of giuing sentence vvaâ— in him self and not in the vvhole multitude as the Protestants and the popular Sectaries affirme for the povver of binding and loosing vvas not giuen to the vvhole Church but as in the persons of the Prelats to them for the benefite of the vvhole Vvherevpon S. Chrysostome vpon those vvordes Dic Ecclesia Tel the Church Mat. 18 Complaine to the Church that is saith he to the Prelats and Presidents thereof 4. With the vertue Al such great povver ouer sinners is holden and exercised in the name and vertue of CHRIST IESVS And vvhosoeuer setteth light by it despiseth our Lordes name and povver 5. To Satan To assure vs that al excommunicate persons be in the povver and possession of the Diuel and quite out of Christes protection as soone as they be separated by the Churches
Ecclesiast Hier. c. 1 part â— in princip and before the receiuing the vvhole Church of God crieth vpon it Domine non sum digniâ—s Deus propitius este mihi peccators Lambe of God that takest avvay the sinnes of the vvorld haue mercie on vs. And for better discerning of this diuine meate vve are called from common profane houses to Gods Churchs for this vve are forbidden to make it in vulge apparel and are appointed sacred solemne vestiments Hiero. in Epitaph Nâ—pot li. 2 adu Pelag. c. 9. Paulinus ep 12 ad Seuer Io. Diaco in vit D. Greg. li. 3 c. 59. For this is the halovving of Corporals and Chalices Ambr. 2 Off. c. 28. Nazianz Orat. ad Arianos Optatuâ— li. 6 in initio for this profane tables are remoued and altars consecrated August Ser de temp 255. for this the very Priests them selues are honorable chast sacred Hiero. ep 1 ad Heliodorum c. â— Liâ— adu Iouin c. 19 Ambros in 1 Tim. 3. for this the people is forbidden to touch it vvith coÌ„mon hands Nazianz. orat ad Aâ—â—anoâ— in initio for this great care and solicitude is taken that no part of either kinde fall to the ground Cyril Hieros mystag 5 in fine Orig. ho. 13 in c. 25 Exod. for this sacred prouision is made that if any hosts or parts of the Sacrament do remaine vnreceiued they be most religiously reserued vvith al honour and diligence possible and for this examination of consciences confession continencie as S. Augustine saith receiuing it fasting Thus dovve Catholikes and the Church of God discerne the holy Body and bloud by S. Paules rule not onely from your profane bread and vâ—ine vvhich not by any secrete abuse of your Curats or Clerkes but by the very order of your booke the Minister if any remaine after your Communion may take home vvith him to his ovvne vse and therfore is no more holy by your ovvne iudgement then the rest of his meates but from al other either vulgar or sanctified meates as the Catechumens bread and our vsual holy bread If al this be plaine and true and you haue nothing agreable to the Apostles nor Christes institution but al cleanâ— contrarie then imporet vobis Deus and confound you for not discerning his holy Body and for conculcating the bloud of the nevv Testament â—0 Many sleepe Vve see here by this it is a fearful case and crime to defile by sinne as much as in vs lieth the body of Christin the Sacrament seeing God strooke many to death for it in the Primitiue Church and punished others by greuous sicknes No maruel that so many strange diseases and deaths fall vpon vs novv in the vvorld 31. Iudge your selues Vve may note here that it is not ynough onely to sinne no more or to repent lightly of that vvhich is past but that vve should punish our selues according to the vveight of the faults past and forgiuen and also that God vvil punish vs by temporal scourges in this life or the next if vve do not make our selues very cleane before vve come to receiue his holy Sacrament vvhose heaâ—y hands vve may escape by punishing our selues by fasting and other penance 33. Expect one an other Returning novv to their former fault and disorder for the vvhich he tooke this occasion to talke of the holy Sacrament and hovv great a fault it is to come vnvvorthely to it he exhorteth them to keepe their said suppers or feastes in vnitie peace and sobrietie the riche expecting the poore c. 34. I vvil dispose Man particular orders decrees moe then be here or in any other booke of the nevv Testament expresly vvritten did the Apostles as we see here and namely S. Paul to the Corinthians set dovvne by tradition vvhich our vvhole ministration of the MASSE is agreable vnto as the substance of the Sacrifice and Sacrament is by the premisses proued to be most consonant Caluins supper and Communion in al points vvholy repugnant to the same And that it agreeth not to these other not vvritteÌ„ traditions they easely confesse The * Apostles deliuered vnto the Church to take it onely fasting they care not for it The Apostles taught the Church to consecrate by the vvordes and the signe of the Crosse vvithout vvhich saith S. Augustine tract in Io. 118. Ser. â—5 in append Chrys ho. 〈◊〉 in 16 Mat. no Sacrament is rightly perfited the Protestants haue takeÌ„ it avvay The Apostles taught the Church to keepe * a Memorie or inuocatioÌ„ of Saincts in this Sacrifice the Caluinists haue none The Apostles decreed that in this Sacrifice there should be special praiers for the dead Chrys ho. in ep ad Philip. Aug. de cur pro mort c. 1 they haue none Likewise that water should be mixed with the winâ— and so forth See Annot. in c. 11 〈◊〉 23. Bread Therfore if Caluin had made his new administration according to all the Apostles written wordes yet not knovving how many things beside the Apostle had to prescribe in these wordes Catera cum venerâ— disponam the rest I wil dispose when I come he could not haue satisfied any wise man in his new chaunge But now seeing they are fallen to so palpable blindnes that their doing is directly opposite to the very Scripture also which they pretend to folow onely and haue quite destroied both the name substance and al good accidents of Christes principal Sacrament we trust al the world wil see their folly and impudencie CHAP. XII They must not make their diuersitle of Giftes an occasion of Schisme considering that al are of one Holy Ghost and for the profit of the one body of Christ vvhich in the Church 12 Vvhich also could not be a body vvithout such varietie of members 12 Therfore neither they that haue the inferiour giftes must be discontent seing it is Gods distribution nor they that haue the greater contemne the other considering they are no lesse necessarie 25 but al in al ioyne together 2â— and euery one knovv his ovvne place verse 1 ANd concerning spiritual things I vvil not haue you ignoraÌ„t brethren ✠verse 2 You know that vvhen you vvere heathen you vvent to dumme Idols according as you vvere ledde ✠verse 3 Therfore I doe you to vnderstand that no maÌ„ speaking in the Spirit of God saith anáthema to IESVS And no man can say Our Lord IESVS but in the holy Ghost ✠verse 4 And there are diuisions of graces but one Spirit ✠verse 5 Andthere are diuisions of ministrations but one Lord. ✠verse 6 And there are diuisions of operations but one God vvhich vvorketh al in al. ✠verse 7 And the manifestation of the Spirit is giuen vnto euery one to profit ✠verse 8 To one certes by the Spirit is giuen the vvord of vvisedom and to an other the vvord of knovvledge according to the same Spirit ✠verse 9 to an other
the kingdom of God neither shal corruption possesse incorruption ✠verse 51 Behold I tel you a mysterie Vve shal al in deede rise againe but vve shal not al be changed ✠verse 52 In a moment in the tvvinkling of an eie at the * last trompet for * the trompet shal sound and the dead shal rise againe incorruptible and vve shal be changed ✠verse 53 For this corruptible must doe on incorruption this mortal doe on immortalitie ✠verse 54 And vvhen this mortal hath done on immortalitie then shal comme to passe the saying that is vvritten Death is svvallovved vp in victorie ✠verse 55 Death vvhere is thy victorie Death vvhere is thy sting ✠verse 56 And the sting of death is sinne and the povver of sinne is the Lavv. ✠verse 57 But thankes be to God that hath giuen vs the victorie by our Lord IESVS Christ ⊢ ✠verse 58 Therfore my beloued brethren be stable vnmoueable abounding in the worke of our Lord alvvaies knovving that your labour is not vaine in our Lord. ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XV. â—â— Vvith me God vseth not man as a brute beast or a blocke but so vvorketh in him and by him that free wil may concurre in euery action vvith his grace vvhich is alvvaies the principal The heretikes to auoid this concurrence in vvorking labouring translate vvhich is vvith me vvhere the Apostle rather saith vvhich laboureth vvith me â—â— Let vs eate and drinke S. Ambrose applieth these vvordes to our Christian Epicurians that taks avvay fasting and deny the merite thereof Hovv can vve be saued saith he if we vvash not avvay our sinnes by fasting seeing the scriptures say fasting and almes deliuer from sinne Vvhat are these nevv maisters then that exclude al merite of fasting is not this the very voice of the heathen saying Let vs eate and drinke to morovv vve shal die li. 10. epist ep 82. CHAP. XVI He prescribeth an order for their contributing to the Christians at Hierusalem 3 promising to come vnto them 10 Of Timotheâ— and of Apollos comming thither 13 and so vvith exhortation and diuers commendations he endeth verse 1 AND concerning the collections that are made for the saincts as I haue ordeined to the Churches of Galatia so doe ye also ✠verse 2 In the first of the Sabboth let euery one of you put a part vvith him self laying vp vvhat shal vvel like him that not vvhen I come then collections be made ✠verse 3 And vvhen I shal be present vvhom you shal approue by letters them vvil I send to carie your grace into Hierusalem ✠verse 4 And if it be vvorthie that I also goe they shal goe vvith me ✠verse 5 And I vvil come to you vvhen I shal haue passed through Macedonia for I vvil passe through Macedonia ✠verse 6 And vvith you perhaps I vvil abide or vvil vvinter also that you may bring me on my vvay vvhithersoeuer I goe ✠verse 7 For I vvil not novv see you by the vvay for I hope that I shal abide vvith you some litle time if our Lord wil permit ✠verse 8 But I vvil tarie at Ephesus vntil Pentecost ✠verse 9 For a great doore and euident is opened vnto me and many aduersaries ✠verse 10 And if Timothee come see that he be vvithout feare vvith you for he vvorketh the vvorke of our Lord as also I. ✠verse 11 Let no maÌ„ therfore despise him but coÌ„duct ye him in peace that he may come to me for I expect him vvith the brethren ✠verse 12 And of brother Apollo I doe you to vnderstand that I much intreated him to come to vnto you vvith the brethren at all it vvas not his minde to come novv but he vvil come vvhen he shal haue leisure ✠verse 13 Vvatch ye stand in the faith doe manfully be strengthened ✠verse 14 Let al your things be done in charitie ✠verse 15 And I beseeche you brethren you knovv the house of Stéphanas and of Fortunátus that they are the first fruites of Achaia haue ordeined them selues to the ministerie of the saincts ✠verse 16 that you also be subiect to such and to euery one that helpeth and laboureth with vs. ✠verse 17 And I reioyce in the presence of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus because that vvhich you vvanted they haue supplied ✠verse 18 For they haue refreshed both my spirit and yours Knovv them therfore that are such ✠verse 19 The churches of Asia salute you Aquila and Priscilla vvith their domestical church salute you much in our Lord. ✠verse 20 Al the brethren salute you Salute one an other in a holy kisse ✠verse 21 The salutation vvith mine ovvne hand Paules ✠verse 22 If any man loue not our Lord IESVS Christ be he anáthema Maranatha ✠verse 23 The grace of our Lord IESVS Christ be vvith you ✠verse 24 My charitie be vvith you al in Christ IESVS Amen ⧠THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS FOR the time vvhen this Epistle vvas vvritten looke the Argument of the epistle to the Romanes to vvit about the eightenth yere after his conuersion our Lordes passion because in the 11 chapter he maketh mention of 14 yeres not only after his Conuersion as to the Galatians but also after his rapte vvhich seemeth to haue bene when he vvas at Hierusalem Act. 9 26. foure yeres after his Conuersion Gal. 1 18 in a traunce or excesse of minde as he calleth it Act. 22 17. Is vvas vvritten at Troas it is thought and sent by Titus as vve reade chap. 8. It is for the most part against those false Apostles vvhom in the first part of the first to the Corinthians be noted or rather spared but novv is constrained to deale openly against them to defend both his ovvne person vvhich they sought to bring into contempt making vvay thereby to the correption of the Corinthians and vvithall to mainteine the excellencie of the Ministerie and Ministers of the nevv Testament aboue vvhich they did magnifie the Ministerie of the old Testament bearing themselues very high because they vvere Ievves Against these therefore S. Paule auoucheth the preeminent povver of his Ministerie by vvhich povver also he giueth a pardon to the incestuous fornicator vvhom he excommunicated in the last Epistle seeing novv his penance and againe threateneth to come excoÌ„municate those that had greuously sinned and remained impenitent Tvvo chapters also he interposeth of the couÌ„tributions to the church of Hierusalem mentioned in his last exhorting them to doe liberally and also to haue all in areadines against his comming THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE CORINTHIANS CHAP. I. By his troubles in Asia he comforteth them and against his Aduersaries the false apostles of the levves alleageth to them the testimonie of his ovvne and also of their conscience 17 ansvvering them
through faith and that not of your selues for it is the gift of God ✠verse 9 not of vvorkes that no man glorie ✠verse 10 For vve are his vvorke created in Christ IESVS in good vvorkes vvhich God hath prepared that vve should vvalke in them ✠verse 11 For the vvhich cause be mindeful that sometime you vvere Gentils in the flesh vvho vvere * called prepuce of that vvhich is called circumcision in the flesh made vvith hand ✠verse 12 vvho vvere at that time vvithout Christ alienated from the conuersation of Israël and * strangers of the testaments hauing no hope of the promis and vvithout God in this vvorld ✠verse 13 But novv in Christ IESVS you that sometime vvere farre of are made nigh in the bloud of Christ ✠verse 14 For he is our peace vvho hath made both one and dissoluing the middle vvall of the partition the enmities in his flesh ✠verse 15 euacuating the lavv of cōmaundements in decrees that he may create the tvvo in him self into one new man making peace ✠verse 16 and may reconcile both in one body to God by the crosse killing the enmities in him self ✠verse 17 And comming he euangelized peace to you that vvere farre of and peace to them that vvere nigh ✠verse 18 For * by him vve haue accesse both in one Spirit to the Father ✠verse 19 Novv then you are not strangers and forreiners but you are citizens of the sainctes and the domesticals of God ✠verse 20 ″ built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets IESVS Christ him self being the highest corner stone ✠verse 21 in vvhom al building framed together grovveth into an holy temple in our Lord ✠verse 22 in vvhom you also are built together into an habitation of God in the holy Ghost ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. ◠By grace you are saued through faith Our first iustification is of Gods grace and not of our deseruings because none of al our actions that vvere before our iustification could merite or iustly procure the grace of iustification Againe he saith through faith for that faith is the beginning foundation and roote of al iustification and the first of al other vertues vvithout which it is impossible to please God 20. Built vpon the foundation Note against the Heretikes that thinke it dishonorable to Christ to attribute his titles or callings to mortal men that the faithful though builded first principally and properly vpon Christ yet are said here to be built also vpon the Apostles and Prophets Vvhy may not the Church then be builded vpon Peter CHAP. III. For vvitnessing the vocation of the Gentils as being the Apostle of the Gentils he is 〈◊〉 prison 1◠Wherein the Gentils therfore haue cause to reioyce rather then to shrinke So he saith 14 and also praieth to God vvho is almightie to confirmed their invvard man though the outvvard be infirmed by persecutions verse 1 FOR this cause I Paul the prisoner of IESVS Christ for you Gentiles ✠verse 2 if yet you haue heard the dispensation of the grace of God vvhich is giuen me tovvard you ✠verse 3 because according to reuelation the sacrament vvas made knovven to me as I haue vvrittē before in breife ✠verse 4 according as you reading may vnderstand my vvisedom in the mysterie of Christ ✠verse 5 vvhich vnto other generations vvas not knovven to the sonnes of men as novv it is reuealed to his holy Apostles Prophets in the Spirit ✠verse 6 The Gentils to be coheires concorporat and comparticipant of his promis in Christ IESVS by the Gospel ✠verse 7 vvhereof I am made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God which is giuen me according to the operation of his povver ✠verse 8 To me * the least of al the sainctes is giuen this grace among the Gentils to euangelize the vnsearcheable riches of Christ ✠verse 9 and to illuminate al men vvhat is the dispensatiō of the sacrament hidden from vvorldes in God vvho created al things ✠verse 10 that the manifold vvisedom of God may be notified to the Princes and Potestats in the celestials by the Church ✠verse 11 according to the prefinitiō of worldes vvhich he made in Christ IESVS our Lord. ✠verse 12 In vvhom vve haue affiance and accesse in confidence by the faith of him ✠verse 13 For the vvhich cause I desire that you faint not in my tribulations for you vvhich is your glorie ✠verse 14 For this cause I bovve my knees to the Father of our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 15 of vvhom al paternitie in the heauens and in earth is named ✠verse 16 that he giue you according to the riches of his glorie povver to be fortified by his Spirit in the inner man ✠verse 17 Christ to dvvel by faith in your hartes rooted and founded in charitie ✠verse 18 that you may be able to comprehend vvith al the sainctes vvhat is the bredth and length and height and depth ✠verse 19 to knovv also the charitie of Christ surpassing knovvledge that you may be filled vnto al the fulnes of God ✠verse 20 And * to him that is able to doe al things more aboundantly then vve desire or vnderstand according to the povver that vvorketh in vs ✠verse 21 to him be glorie in the CHVRCH and in Christ IESVS vnto al generations vvorld vvithout end Amen CHAP. IIII. He exhorteth them to keepe the vnitie of the Church most 〈…〉 vvith al humilities bringing them many motiues therevnto 7 and 〈…〉 that 〈◊〉 the diuersitie it self of offices is not for diuision as being the gift of Christ him self 〈◊〉 to build vp the Church and to held al in the vnitie therof against the 〈…〉 of Heretikes that vnder Christ the head in the Church being the body euery member may prosper 17 Neither as touching life most vve 〈◊〉 like the Heathen but as it becommeth Christians laying of al our old corrupt maners and increasing daily in al goodnes verse 1 I Therfore prisoner in our Lord beseeche you that you vvalke vvorthy of the vocation in vvhich you are called ✠verse 2 vvith al humilitie mildenes vvith patience supporting one an other in charitie ✠verse 3 careful to keepe the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace ✠verse 4 One body and one spirit as you are called in one hope of your vocation ✠verse 5 One Lord ″ one faith one baptisme ✠verse 6 * One God and Father of al vvhich is euer al and by al and in al vs. ⊢ ✠verse 7 But * to euery one of vs is giuen grace according to the measure of the donation of Christ ✠verse 8 For the vvhich he saith Ascēding on high he ledde captiuitie captiue he gaue giftes to men ✠verse 9 And that he ascended
Catholike Church that is to say that visible companie of Christians vvhich hath euer had and by good records can proue they haue had a continual ordinarie succession of Bishops Pastors and Doctors to be the onely true Church and these other good fellovves that for many vvorldes or ages together can not shevv that they had any one Bishop or ordinarie yea or extraordinaâ—â—e officer for them and their sect to be an adulterous Heretical generation And this place of the Apostle assuring to the true Church a perpetual visible continuance of Pastors and Apostles or their successors vvarranted the holy fathers to trie al Heretikes by the most famous succession of the Popes of Rome So did S. Irenaeus li. 3. c. 3. Tertullian in prascript Optatus li. 2 cont Parm. S. Augustine in ps cont part Donat. et cont ep Manich. c. 4. et ep 165. Epiph. har 27. and others 14. With euery vvinde The special vse of the spiritual Gouernours is to keepe vs in vnitie and constancie of the Catholike faith that vve be not carried avvay vvith the blast or vvind of euery heresie Vvhich is a very proper note of sectes and nevv doctrines that trouble the infirme vveaklings of the Church by certaine seasons of diuerse ages as sometime the Arians then the Manichees an other time the Nestorians then the Lutherans Caluinists and such like vvho at diuers times in diuers places haue blovven diuers blastes of flase doctrine CHAP. V. He continueth his exhortation to good life 5 assuring them against al deceiuers that no committer of mortal sinne shal be saued considering that for such sinnes it is that the Heathen shal be damned â— that Christians must rather be the light of al others 22 Them he commeth in particular and exhorteth husbands and vviues to do their duety one tovvardes the other by the example of Christ and his obedient and beloued spouse the Church verse 1 BE ye therfore folovvers of God as most deere children ✠verse 2 and * walke in loue as Christ also loued vs and deliuered him self for vs an oblation and host to God in an odour of svvetenes ✠verse 3 But * fornication and al vncleannes or auarice let it not so much as be named among you as it becommeth sainctes ✠verse 4 or filthines or foolish talke or scurrilitie being to no purpose but rather giuing of thankes ✠verse 5 For vnderstanding knovv you this that no fornicatour or vncleane or couetous person vvhich is the seruice of Idols hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God ✠verse 6 Let no man seduce you vvith vaine vvordes For for these things commeth the anger of God vpoÌ„ the children of diffidence ✠verse 7 Become not therfore partakers vvith them ✠verse 8 For you vvere sometime darkenes but novv light in our Lord. Vvalke as children of the light ✠verse 9 for the fruite of the light is in al goodnes and iustice and veritie ⊢ ✠verse 10 prouing vvhat is vvel pleasing to God ✠verse 11 and communicate not vvith the vnfruitful vvorkes of darkenes but rather reproue them ✠verse 12 For the things that are done of them in secrete it is shame euen to speake ✠verse 13 But al things that are reproued are manifested by the light for al that is manifested is light ✠verse 14 for the vvhich cause he saith Rise thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ vvil illuminate thee ✠verse 15 See therfore brethren how you vvalke vvarily not as vnvvise but * as vvise ✠verse 16 redeeming the time because the daies are euil ✠verse 17 Therfore become not vnvvise but * vnderstanding vvhat is the vvil of God ✠verse 18 And be not drunke vvith vvine vvherein is rioteousnes but be filled vvith the Spirit ✠verse 19 speaking to your selues in psalmes hymnes and spiritual canticles chauÌ„ting and singing in your hartes to our Lord ✠verse 20 giuing thankes alvvaies for al things in the name of our Lord IESVS Christ to God the Father ✠verse 21 Subiect one to an other in the feare of Christ ✠verse 22 Let * vvomen be subiect to their husbandes as to our Lord ✠verse 23 because * the man is the head of the woman as Christ is the head of the CHVRCH Him self ″ the sauiour of his body ✠verse 24 But as the CHVRCH is subiect to Christ so also the vvomen to their husbands in al things ✠verse 25 Husbands loue your vviues as Christ also ″ loued the CHVRCH and deliuered him self for it ✠verse 26 that he might sanctifie it cleansing it by the lauer of vvater in the vvord ✠verse 27 that he might present to him self a glorious CHVRCH not hauing spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it may be holy and vnspotted ✠verse 28 So also men ought to loue their vviues as their ovvne bodies He that loueth his vvife loueth him self ✠verse 29 For no man euer hated his ovvne flesh but he nourisheth cherisheth it ″ as also Christ the CHVRCH ✠verse 30 because vve be the members of his body of his flesh of his bones ✠verse 31 For this cause shal maÌ„ leaue his father mother and shal cleane to his vvife and they shal be tvvo in one flesh ✠verse 32 ″ This is a great sacrameÌ„t but I speake in Christ and in the CHVRCH ✠verse 33 Neuertheles you also euery one let eche loue his vvife as him self and let the vvife feare her husband ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V. 21. Sauiour of his body None hath saluation or benefite by Christ that is not of his body the Church And vvhat Church that is S. Augustine expresseth in these vvordes The Catholike Church onely is the body of Christ vvhereto she is â—ead out of this body the Holy Ghost quickeneth no man And a litle after He that vvil haue the Spirit let him bevvare he remains not out of the CHVRCH let him bevvare he enter not into it fâ—inedly August ep 50 ad Bonifacium comitem in fine 24. Subiect to Christ The CHVRCH is alvvaies subiect to Christ that is not onely vnder him but euer obedient to his vvordes and commaundement Vvhich an euident and inuincible demonstration that she neuer rebelleth against Christ neuer falleth from him by error Idolatrie or false vvorship as the Heretikes novv and the Donatistes of old did teach 25. Loued the Church Loe Christes singular loue of the CHVRCH for vvhich onely the members thereof he effectually suffered his Passion and for vvhose continual cleansing and purifying in this life he instituted holy Baptisme and other Sacraments that at length in the next life it may become vvithout al spot vvrinkle or blemish for in this vvorld by reason of the manifold infirmities of diuers her members she can not be vvholy vvithout sinne but must
be absent in body yet in spirit I am vvith you reioycing seeing your order the constancie of that your faith which is in Christ ✠verse 6 Therfore as you haue receiued IESVS Christ our Lord vvalke in him ✠verse 7 rooted and built in him and confirmed in the faith as also you haue learned abounding in him ' in thankesgiuing ✠verse 8 Bevvare lest any man deceiue you â— by philosophie and vaine fallacie according to the tradition of men according to the elements of the vvorld and not according to Christ ✠verse 9 For in him dvvelleth al the fulnesse of the Godhead corporally ✠verse 10 and you are in him replenished vvho is the head in al Principalitie and Povver ✠verse 11 in vvhom al you are circumcised vvith circumcision not made by hand in spoiling of the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ ✠verse 12 buried vvith him in Baptisme in vvhoÌ„ also you are risen againe by the faith of the operation of God vvho raised him vp from the dead ✠verse 13 And you * vvhen you vvere dead in the offenses and the prepuce of your flesh did he quicken together vvith him pardoning you al offenses ✠verse 14 vvyping out the hand vvriting of decree ' that vvas against vs vvhich vvas contrarie to vs and the same he hath taken out of the vvay fastening it to the crosse ✠verse 15 and spoiling the Principalities and Potestats hath ledde them confidently in open shevv triumphing them in him self ✠verse 16 Let no man therfore iudge you ″ in meate or in drinke or in part of a festiual day or of the Nevv-moone or of Sabboths ✠verse 17 vvhich are a shadovv of things to come but the body Christs ✠verse 18 Let no man seduce you vvilling in the humilitie and â— religion of Angels vvalking in the things vvhich he hath not seen in vaine puffed vp by the sense of his flesh ✠verse 19 and â— not holding the head vvhereof the vvhole body by ioyntes and bandes being serued compacted grovveth to the increase of God ✠verse 20 If then you be dead vvith Christ from the elements of this vvorld â— vvhy do you yet decree as liuing in the vvorld ✠verse 21 Touch not tast not 〈◊〉 not ✠verse 22 which things are al vnto destruction by the very vse according to the precepts and doctrines of men ✠verse 23 vvhich are in deede â— hauing a shevv of vvisedom in superstition and humilitie and not to spare the body not in any honour to the filling of the flesh ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 8. By Philosophie Philosophie and al humane science so long as they be subiect and obedient to Christ as they be in the Schooles of Christian Catholike men be not forbidden but are greatly commended and be very profitable in the Church of God Othervvise vvhere secular learning is made the rule of religion and commaundeth â—aith there it is pernicious and the cause of al heresiâ— and infidelitie for the vvhich S. Hierom and before him Tertullan call Philosophers the Patriarkes of Heretikes and declare that al the old heresies rose onely by to much admiring of prophane Philosophie Hierâ— ad Câ—esiph cont 〈◊〉 c. 1. Tertul. de praser cont Hermeg. cont Marcio li. 5. And so do these nevv sectes no doubt in many things for other arguments haue they none against the presence of Christ in the B. Sacrament but such as they borovv of Aristotle and his like concerning quantitie accidents place position dimensions senses sight tast and other straites of reason to vvhich they bring Christes mysteries Al Philosophical arguments therfore against any article of our faith be here condemned as deceitful and are called also here the tradition of men and the elements of the vvorld The better to resist vvhich fallacies and traditions of Heathen men the School learning is necessarie vvhich keepeth Philosophie in avve and order of faith and vseth the same to vvithstand the Philosophical and sophistical deceites of the Heretikes and Heathen So the great Philosophers S. Denys S. Augustine Clemens Alexandrinus Iustine Lactantius and the rest vsed the same to the great honour of God and benefite of the Church So came S. Cyprian S. Ambrose S. Hierom and the Greeke fathers furnished vvith al secular learning vnto the studie of Diuinitie vvherof see S. Hierom ep 84 ad Magnum Oraetorem 16. In meate The Protestants vvilfully or ignorantly applie al these kindes of forbearing meates to the Christian fastes but it is by the circunstance of the text plaine at S Augustine also teacheth that the Iudaical obseruation and distinction of certaine cleane and vncleane meates is forbidden to the Colossians vvho vvere in danger to be seduced by certaine Ievves vnder pretence of holines to keepe the Lavv touching meates and festiuities and other like vvhich the Apostle shevveth vvere onely shadovves of things to come vvhich things are come and therfore the said shadovves to cease Vvhere he nameth the Sabboths and feastes of the nevv moone that no man neede to doubt but that he speaketh onely of the Ievvish daies and kindes of fastes and feastes and not of Christian holidaies or fasting daies at all 18. Religion of Angels By the like false application of this text as of the other before the Heretikes abuse it against the inuncation or honour of Angels vsed in the Catholike Church vvhere the Apostle noteth the vvicked doctrine of Simon Magus and others See S. Chrys ho. 7 in hunâ— locum and Epiph. har 21. vvho taught Angels to be our mediators and not Christ non tenens caput not holding the head as the Apostle here speaketh prescribed sacrifices to be offered vnto them meaning indifferently as vvel the il Angels as the good Vvhich doctrine the said Heretike had of Plato vvho taught that spirites vvhich he calleth damones vvere to be honoured as mediators next to God Against vvhich S. Augustine disputeth li. 8. 9. 10 de ciuit as the condemneth also the same vndue vvorship li. 10 Confess cap. 42. S. Hierom q. 10 ad Algasiam expoundeth this also of il spirites or diuels vvhom he proueth out of S. Steuens sermon Act. 7 that the Ievves did vvorship auouching that they serue them still so many of them and so often as they obserue the Lavv. Of vvhich idolatrie also to Angels Theodorete speaketh vpon this place declaring that the Ievves defended their superstition tovvardes Angels by that that the Lavv vvas giuen by them deceitfully at once inducing the ColossiaÌ„s both to keepe the lavv to honouring of the Angels as the giuers of the same Vvhereby diuers of the faithful vvere so seduced that they forsooke Christ and his Church and seruice and committed idolatrie to the said Angels Against vvhich abominations the Councel of Laodicia Cap. 35 tooke order accursing all that forsooke our Sauiour and committed idolatrie to Angels and contemning
vvhich cause comfort one an other edifie one an other as also you doe ✠verse 12 And vve beseeche you brethren that you vvil knovv them that labour among you and that gouerne you in our Lord and admonish you ✠verse 13 that you haue them more aboudaÌ„tly in charitie for their vvorke haue peace vvith them ✠verse 14 And vve beseeche you brethren admonish the vnquiet comfort the vveake-minded beare vp the vveake be patient to al. ✠verse 15 See that * none render euil for euil to any man but alvvaies that vvhich is good pursue tovvards eche other and tovvards al. ✠verse 16 Alvvaies reioyce ✠verse 17 Pray * vvithout intermission ✠verse 18 In al things giue thankes for this is the vvil of God in Christ IESVS in al you ✠verse 19 The Spirit extinguish not ✠verse 20 Prophecies despise not ✠verse 21 But ″ prooue al things hold that which is good ✠verse 22 From al appearance of euil refraine yourselues ✠verse 23 And the God of peace him self sanctifie you in al things that your vvhole spirit and soule and body vvithout blame may be preserued in the comming of our Lord IESVS Christ ⊢ ✠verse 24 He is faithful that hath called you vvho also vvil doe it ✠verse 25 Brethren pray for vs. ✠verse 26 Salute al the brethren in a holy kisse ✠verse 27 I adiure you by our Lord that this epistle be read to al the holy brethren ✠verse 28 The grace of our Lord IESVS Christ be vvith you Amen ANNOTAT CHAP. V. 10 But proous Though vve may not extinguish the spirit nor coÌ„teÌ„mne the prophets yet vve must bevvare vve be not deceiued by geuing to light credite to euery one that vauÌ„teth him self of the spirit as Arch-heretikes euer did vve must trie thâ—â— by the doctrine of the Apostles the Spirit of the Catholike Church vvhich can not be guile â— THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND EPISTLE OF S. PAVL TO THE THESSALONIANS THE second to the Thessalonians hath in the title as the first Paul and Siluanus and Timothee c. And therfore it seemeth to haue bene vvritten in the same place to vvitte at Corinth vvhere they remained a yere and sixe moneths straight vpon their answer to the first epistle First he thanketh God for their increase and perseuêrance comforting them againe in those persecutions and praieth for their accomplisment Secondly he assureth them tht the day of Iudgement is not at hand putting them in rememberaÌ„ce vvhat he told them thereof by vvord of mouth vvhen he vvas present as therfore he biddeth them aftervvard to hold his Traditions vnvvritten no lesse then the vvritten to vvitte that all those persecutions and heresies raised then and aftervvard against the Catholike Church vvere but the mysterie of Antichrist and not Antichrist himself but that there should come at length a plaine Apostasie theÌ„ the vvhole fore running mysterie being once perfitly vvrought should folovv the reuelation of Antichrist himself in person as after all the mysteries of the old Testament Christ IESVS our Lord came him self in the fulnes of time And then at length after all this the day of Iudgement and second comming of Christ shal be as hand and not before vvhatsoeuer pretense of vision or of some speach of mine saith S. Paul any make to seduce you vvithal or of my former epistle or any other For vvhich cause also in the end of this epistle he biddeth them to knovv his hand vvhich is a signe in euery epistle Lastly he requesteth their praiers and requireth them to keepe his commaundements and Traditions namely that the poore vvhich are able get their ovvne liuing vvith vvorking as he also gaue them example though he vvere not bound thereto THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE THESSALONIANS CHAP. I. He thanketh God for their increase in faith and charitie and constancie in persecution assuring them that they merite thereby the kingdom of God as their persecutors do damnation 11 and also praieth for their accomplishment verse 1 PAVL and Siluanus and Timothee to the churche of the Thessalonians in God our Father and our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 3 Vve ought to giue thankes alvvaies to God for you brethren so as meete is because your faith increaseth excedingly and the charitie of euery one of you aboundeth tovvards eche other ✠verse 4 so that vve our selues also glorie in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in al your persecutions and tribulations vvhich you sustaine ✠verse 5 for an example of the iust iudgemeÌ„t of God that you may be counted vvorthie of the kingdom of God for the vvhich also you suffer ✠verse 6 if yet it be iust vvith God to repay tribulation to them that vexe you ✠verse 7 and to you that are vexed rest with vs in the reuelation of our Lord IESVS from heauen vvith the Angels of his povver ✠verse 8 in flame of fire giuing reuenge to them that knovv not God that obey not the Gospel of our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 9 vvho shal suffer eternal paines in destruction from the face of our Lord and from the glorie of his povver ✠verse 10 vvhen he shal come to be glorified in his sainctes and to be made maruelous in al them that haue beleeued because our testimonie concerning you vvas credited in that day ✠verse 11 Vvherein also vve pray alvvaies for you that our God make you vvorthie of his vocation and accomplish al the good pleasure of his goodnesse the vvorke of faith in povver ✠verse 12 that the name of our Lord IESVS Christ may be glorified in you and you in him according to the grace of our God and of our Lord IESVS Christ CHAP. II. He requireth them in no case to thinke that Domesday is at hand â— repeating vnto them that there must before come first a reuolt secondly the reuelation also of Antichrist him self in person and that Antichrist shal not permit any God to be vvorshipped but onely him self that also vvith his lying vvonders he shal vvinne to him the incredulous Ievves But Christ shal come then immediatly in maiestie and destroy him and his 13 Therfore he thanketh God for the faith of the Thessalonians 15 and biddeth them sticke to hiâ— Traditions both vvritten and vnvvritten praieth God to coÌ„firme them verse 1 AND vve desire you brethren by the coÌ„ming of our Lord IESVS Christ and of our congregatioÌ„ into him ✠verse 2 that you be not easily moued from your sense nor be terrified neither by spirit nor by word nor by epistle as sent by vs ″ as though the day of our Lord vvere at hand ✠verse 3 Let no man seduce you by any meanes for ″ vnlesse there come a reuolt first and ″
proper vice both of Iudaical and of Heretical false teachers to professe knowledge and great skill in the Lavv and Scriptures being in deede in the sight of the learned most ignorant of the vvord of God not knowing the very principles of diuinitie euen to the admiration truely of the learned that reade their bookes or heare them preach 9. The lavv not made to the iust By this place and the like the Libertines of our daies vvould discharge them selues vvhom they count iust from the obedience of lawes But the Apostles meaning is that the iust man doth vvel not as compelled by lavv or for feare of punishment due to the transgressors thereof but of grace mere loue tovvard God al goodnes most vvillingly though there were no law to commaund him 21. Deliuered to Satan Hymenaeus and Alexander are here excoÌ„municated for falling from their faith teaching heresie an example vnto Bishops to vse their spiritual power vpon such In the primitiue Church corporal affliction through the ministerie of Satan vvas ioyned to excommunication Vvhere we see also the diuels readines to inuade them that are cast out by excommunication from the fellowship of the faithful and the supereminent povver of Bishops in that case Vvhereof S. Hierom ep 1. ad Heliod c. 7 hath these memorable vvordes God forbid saith he I should speake sinistreusly of them vvho succeding the Apostles in degree make Christes body vvith their holy mouth by vvhom vve are made Christians vvho hauing the kâ—â—is of heauen do after a sort iudge before the day of iudgement vvho in sâ—brietie and Chastitie haue the keeping of the spouse of Christ And a litle after They may deliuer me vp to Satan to the destruction of my flesh that the spirit may be saued in the day of our Lord Iesus And in the old Lavv vvhosoeuer vvas disobedient to the Priests was either cast out of the campe and so stoned of the people or laying dovvne his necke to the svvord expiated his offense by his bloud but novv the disobedient is cut of vvith the spiritual svvord or being cast out of the Church is torne by the furious mouth of Diuels So saith he Vvhich vvordes vvould God euery ChristiaÌ„ man vvould vveigh CHAP. II. By his Apostolike authoritie he appointeth publike praiers to be made for al meÌ„ vvithout exception 8 also men to pray in at places 9 and vvomen also in semely attire 11 to learne of men and not to be teachers in any vvise but to seeke saluation by that vvhich to them belongeth verse 1 I Desire therfore first of al things that ″ obsecrations praiers postulations thankesgeuings be made for al men ✠verse 2 for kings and al that are in preeminence that vve may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in al pietie and chastitie ✠verse 3 For this is good and acceptable before our Sauiour God ✠verse 4 ″ vvho vvill al men to be saued and to come to the knovvledge of the truth ✠verse 5 For there is one God ″ one also mediatour of God and men man Christ IESVS ✠verse 6 vvho gaue him self a redemption for al vvhose testimonie in due times is coÌ„firmed ✠verse 7 * vvherein I am appointed a preacher an Apostle I say the truth I lie not doctor of the Gentiles in faith and truth ✠verse 8 I vvil therfore that men pray in euery place lifting vp pure handes vvithout anger and altercation ✠verse 9 In like maner * vvomen also in comely attire vvith demurenesse and sobrietie adorning them selues not in plaited heare or gold or pretious stones or gorgeous apparel ✠verse 10 but that vvhich becoÌ„meth vvomen professing pietie by good vvorkes ✠verse 11 Let a vvoman learne in silence vvith al subiection ✠verse 12 But * to teach ″ I permit not vnto a vvoman not to haue dominion ouer the man but to be in sileÌ„ce ✠verse 13 For * Adam vvas formed first then Eue. ✠verse 14 and Adam vvas not seduced but the vvoman being seduced vvas in preuarication ✠verse 15 Yet she shal be saued by generation of children if they ' continue in faith loue and sanctification vvith sobrietie ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 1. Obsecrations This order of the Apostle S. Augustine ep 59 findeth to be fulfilled specially in the holy celebration of the Masse vvhich hath al these kindes expressed here in foure diuers vvordes pertaining to foure sortes of praiers the difference vvhereof he exactly seeketh out of the proper signification and difference of the Greeke vvordes And he teacheth vs that the first kind of praiers vvhich here be called obsecrations are those that the Priest saith before the consecration that the second called Praiers be al those vvhich are said in and after the Consecration about the Receiuing including specially the Pater noster vvherewith the vvhole Church saith he in maner endeth that part as S. Hierom also affirmeth that Christ taught his Apostles to vse the Pater noster in the Masse Sic docuit c. So taught he hit Apostles that daily in the Sacrifice of his body the faithful should be bold to say Pater noster c. Li. 3 cont Pelag. cap. 5. where he alludeth to the very vvordes novv vsed in the preface to the said Pater noster in the said Sacrifice audemus dicere Pater noster The third sort called here in the text PostulatioÌ„s be those vvhich are vsed after the CoÌ„munion as it vver for dimissing of the people vvith benediction that is vvith the Bishops or Priests blessing Finally the last kinde vvhich is Thankes-giuings concludeth al vvhen the Priest and people giue thankes to God for so greate a mysterie then offered and receiued Thus the said holy father handleth this text ep 59 to Paulinus S. Epiphanius also insinuateth these vvordes of the Apostle to pertaine to the Liturgie or Masse vvhen he thus vvriteth to Iohn Bishop of Hierusalem Vvhen vve accomplish our praiers after the rite of the holy Mysteries vve pray both for al others and for thee also â—p 60 c. 2 ad Io. Hierosolym apud Hieronymum And most of the other fathers expouÌ„d the foresaid vvordes of publike praiers made by the Priest vvhich are said in al Liturgies or Masses both Greeke and Latin for the good estate of al that be in high degnitie as kings and others See S. Chrys ho. 6. in 1 Tim. S. Ambr. in hunc loâ— Prosper de vocat li. 1. c. 4. So exactly doth the practise of the Church agree vvith the Precepts of the Apostle and the Scriptures and so profouÌ„dly do the holy fathers seeke out the proper sense of the Scriptures vvhich our Protestants do so prophanely popularely and lightly skimme ouer that they can neither see nor endure the truth 4 Vvho vvil al men The perishing or damnation of men must not be imputed to God vvho delighteth not in any
Let vs auoid those Nouelties of vvordes according to the Apostles prescript and keepe the old termes Penance Fasting Priest Church Bishop Masse Mattins Euensong the B. Sacrament Altar Oblation Host Sacrifice Alleluia Amen Lent Palme-Sunday Chrisimas the very vvordes vvil bring vs to the faith of our first Apostles and condemne these nevv apostates nevv faith and phrases 20. Falsely called knovvledge It is the propertie of al Heretikes to arrogate to them selues great knovvledge and to condemne the simplicitie of their fathers the holy Doctors and the Church but the Apostle calleth their pretended skill a knovvledge falsely so called being in truth high and deepe blindnes Such saith S. Irenaeus li. 5 c. 17. as forsake the preaching of the Church argue the holy Priests of vnskilfulnes not considering hovv far more vvorth a religious idiote is them a blasphemous and impudent sophister such as al Heretikes be And againe Vincentius Lirinensis speaking in the person of Heretikes saith Come ô ye folish and miserable men that are commonly called Catholikes and learne the true faith vvhich hath been hid many ages heretofore but is reuealed and shevved of late c. See his vvhole booke concerning these matters THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND EPISTLE OF S. PAVL TO TIMOTHEE THE cheefe scope of this second to Timothee is to open vnto him that his martyrdom is at hand Vvhich yet he doth not plainely before the end preparing first his minde vvith much circumstance because he knevv it vvould grieue him sore and also might be a tentation vnto him Therfore he talketh of the cause of his trouble of the revvard that the one is honorable and the other most glorious and exhorteth him to be constant in the faith to be ready alvvaies to suffer for it to fulfil his ministerie to the end as him self novv had done his Vvhereby it is certaine that it vvas vvritten at Rome in his last apprehension and emprisonment there as he signifieth by these vvordes Cap. 1 Onesiphorus vvas not ashamed of my chaine but when he was come to Rome carefully sought me c. And of his martyrdom thus For I am novv ready to be offered and the time of my resolution or death is at hand cap. 4. THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAVL TO TIMOTHEE CHAP. I. Vvith his praises he couertly exhorteth him not to be dismaied for his trouble 6 hauing grace giuen in Orders to helpe him 8 and knovving for vvhat cause he is persecuted and namely vvith the example of Onesiphorus verse 1 PAVL an Apostle of IESVS Christ by the vvil of God according to the promisse of the life which is in Christ IESVS ✠verse 2 to Timothee my deerest sonne grace mercie peace from God the father and Christ IESVS our Lord. ✠verse 3 I giue thankes to God vvhom I serue from my progenitours in a pure conscience that vvithout intermission I haue a memorie of thee in my praiers night and day ✠verse 4 desiring to see thee mindeful of thy teares that I may be filled vvith ioy ✠verse 5 calling to minde that faith vvhich is in thee not feined vvhich also dvvelt first ″ in thy grandmother Loïs and thy mother Eunîce and I am sure that in thee also ✠verse 6 For the vvhich cause I admonish thee that thou resuscitate the grace of God vvhich is in thee by the imposition of my handes ✠verse 7 For God hath not giuen vs the spirit of feare but of povver and loue and sobrietie ✠verse 8 Be not therfore ashamed of the testimonie of our Lord nor of me his prisoner but trauail vvith the Gospel according to the povver of God ✠verse 9 vvho hath deliuered and called vs by his holy calling * not according to our vvorkes but according to his purpose and grace vvhich vvas giuen to vs in Christ IESVS * before the secular times ✠verse 10 But it is manifested novv by the illumination of our Sauiour IESVS Christ vvho hath destroied death illuminated life and incorruption by the Gospel ✠verse 11 vvherein * I am appointed a preacher and Apostle and Maister of the Gentiles ✠verse 12 For the vvhich cause also I suffer these things but I am not cōfounded For I know whom I haue beleeued I am sure that he is able to keepe my ″ depositum vnto that day ✠verse 13 Haue thou ″ a forme of sound vvordes vvhich thou hast heard of me in faith in the loue in Christ IESVS ✠verse 14 Keepe the good depositum by the holy Ghost vvhich dvvelleth in vs. ✠verse 15 Thou knovvest this that al vvhich are in Asia be auerted from me of vvhom is Phigelus and Hermogenes ✠verse 16 Our Lord giue mercie to * the house of Onesiphorus because he hath often refreshed me and hath not been ashamed of my chaine ✠verse 17 but vvhen he vvas come to Rome he sought me carefully and found me ✠verse 18 ″ Our Lord graunt him to finde mercie of our Lord in that day And how many things he ministred to me at Ephesus thou knovvest better ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. 5. In thy grandmother Though God shevv mercie to many that be of incredulous heretical or il parents yet it is a goodly benediction of God to haue good education and to haue good faithful progenitors and Catholike parents And it is a great sinne to forsake the faith of our fathers that be Catholikes or contrarie to our education in the Church to folovv strange doctrines abandoning not onely our next natural parents faith but the aūcient faith and beleefe of al our progenitors for many hundred yeres together And if to folovv the faith of mother and grandmother onely the Christian religion being then but nevvly planted vvas so commendable euen in a Bishop hovv much more is it novv laudable to cleaue fast to the faith of so many our progenitors and ages that continued in the same Christian religion vvhich they first receiued Our Protestants in their great vvisedom laugh at good simple men vvhen they talke of their fathers faith But S. Hierom I am a Christian saith he and borne of Christian parents and carie the signe of the crosse in my forehead And againe ep 65. c. 3. Vntil this day the Christian vvorld hath been vvithout this doctrine that faith vvil I hold fast being an old man vvherein I vvas borne a child And the holy Scriptures set vs often to schole to our fathers Aske thy fathers and they vvil shevv thee thy auncetours and they vvil tel thee And againe Our fathers haue shevved vnto vs. And cōmonly the true God is called the God of the faithful and of their forefathers Dan. 2. 3. And false Gods and nevv doctrines or opinions be named Nevv and fresh such as their fathers vvorshipped not Deut. 32. Finally S. Paul both here and often els alleageth for his defense and commendation that he vvas of faithful progenitors
he hath novv giuen and of the bloud vvhich he hath shed in illis praenuntiabarut occidendus in hoc annuntiatur occisus In them he vvas forshevved as to be killed in these he is shevved as killed And S. Gregorie Naziaâ—â—â—â— saith oral in morbum that the Priest in this sacrifice immiscet se magnis Chrisi Passionibus S. Ambrose li. 1. Offic. c. 48. Offertur Christus in imagine quasi recipiens passionem Alexander the first ep 〈◊〉 Orthodox nu 4. 〈◊〉 1. Conc. Cuius corpus sanguis conficitur passio etiam celebratur S. Gregorie ho. 37 in Euang. So often as vve offer the host of his Passion so often vve removve his Passion And He suffeteth for vs againe in mysterie And Isychius li. 26. â— in Leuit. post mâ—d By the sacrifice of the onely-begotten many thinges are giuen vnto vs to vvitte the remission or pardoning of al mankinde and the singular introduction or bringing in of the mysteries of the nevv Testament And the said fathers and others by reason of the difference in the maner of Christes presence and oblation in respect of that on the Crosse called this the vnblouddy sacrifice as * Caluin him self confesseth but ansvvereth them in the pride of hereticall spirit vvith these vvordes Nihil moror quòd siâ— loquantur vttusti scriptores that is I passe not for it that the auncient vvriters do so speake calling the distinction of blouddy and vnblouddy sacrifice scholasticall and friuolous and diabolicum commentâ—â—m a diuelish deuise Vvith such ignorant and blasphemous men vve haue to do that thinke they vnderstand the Scriptures better then all the fathers CHAP. X. Because in the yerely feast of Expiation vvas only a commoration of sinnes therfore in place of al those old sacrifices the Psalme telleth vs of the oblation of Christes body 10 vvhich he offered blouddily but once the Leuitical Priests offering so euery day because that once vvas sufficient for euer 15 in that it purchased as the prophet also vvitnesseth remission of sinnes 19 After al this he prosecuteth and exhorteth them vnto perseuirance partly vvith the opening of Heauen by our high-priest 26 partly vvith the terrour of damnation if they fall againe 32 bidding them remember hovv much they had suffered already and not lose their revvard verse 1 FOR the lavv hauing ″ a shadovv of good things to come not the very image of the things euery yere vvith the self same hostes which they offer incessantly can neuer make the commers thereto perfect ✠verse 2 othervvise ″ they should haue ceased to be offered because the vvorshippers once cleansed should haue no conscience of sinne any longer ✠verse 3 but in them there is made a coÌ„memotation of sinne euery yere ✠verse 4 for it is ″ impossible that vvith the bloud of oxen and goates sinnes should be taken avvay ✠verse 5 Therfore comming into the vvorld he saith ″ Host and oblation thou vvouldest not ″ but a body thou hast fitted to me ✠verse 6 Holocaustes and for sinne did not please thee ✠verse 7 Then said I Behold I come in the head of the booke it is vvritten of me That I may doe thy vvil ô God ✠verse 8 Saying before Because hostes and oblations holocaustes for sinne thou vvouldest not ″ neither did they please thee vvhich are offered according to the lavv ✠verse 9 then said I Behold I come that I may doe thy vvil ô God he taketh avvay the first that he may establish that that folovveth ✠verse 10 In the vvhich vvil vve are sanctified by the oblation of the body of IESVS Christ once ✠verse 11 And euery priest in deede is ready daily ministring and ″ often offering the same hostes vvhich can neuer take avvay sinnes ✠verse 12 but this man offering one host for sinnes for euer * sitteth on the right hand of God ✠verse 13 hence forth expecting vntil his enemies be put the footestoole of his feete ✠verse 14 For by one oblation hath he consummated for euer them that are sanctified ✠verse 15 And the holy Ghost also doth testifie to vs. For after that he said ✠verse 16 And this is the Testament vvhich I vvil make to them after those daies saith our Lord giuing lavves in their hartes in their mindes vvil I superscribe them ✠verse 17 and their sinnes and iniquities I vvil novv remeÌ„ber no more ✠verse 18 But vvhere there is remission of these ″ novv there is not an oblation for sinnes ✠verse 19 Hauing therfore brethren confidence in the entring of he holies in the bloud of Christ ✠verse 20 vvhich he hath dedicated to vs a nevv and liuing vvay by the vele that is his flesh ✠verse 21 and a high priest ouer the house of God ✠verse 22 let vs approche vvith a true hart in fulnesse of faith hauing our hartes sprinkled from euil consciencel and our body vvashed vvith cleane vvater ✠verse 23 let vs hold the confession of our hope vndeclining for he is faithful that hath promised ✠verse 24 and let vs consider one an other vnto the prouocation of charitie and of good vvorkes ✠verse 25 not forsaking our assemblie as some are accustomed but comforting and so much the more as you see the day approching ✠verse 26 * For ″ if vve sinne vvillingly after the knovvledge of the truth receiued novv there is not left an host for sinnes ✠verse 27 but a certaine terrible expectation of iudgement and rage of fire vvhich shal consume the aduersaries ✠verse 28 A man making the lavv of Moyses frustrate vvithout any mercie * dieth vnder tvvo or three vvitnesses ✠verse 29 hovv much more thinke you doth he deserue vvorse punishements vvhich hath troden the sonne of God vnder foote and estemed ″ the bloud of the testament polluted vvherein he is sanctified and hath done contumelie to the spirit of grace ✠verse 30 For vve knovv him that said Reuenge to me I vvil repay And againe That our Lord vvil iudge his people ✠verse 31 ″ It is horrible to fal into the handes of the liuing God ✠verse 32 But call to minde the old daies vvherein being illuminated you sustained a great fight of passions ✠verse 33 and on the one part certes by reproches and tribulations made a spectacle and on the other part made companions of them that conuersed in such sort ✠verse 34 For ″ you both had compassion on them that vvere in bondes and the spoile of your ovvne goodes you tooke ″ vvith ioy knovving that you haue a better and a permanent substaÌ„ce ✠verse 35 Do not therfore leese your confidence vvhich hath a great remuneration ✠verse 36 For patience is necessarie for you that doing the vvil of God you may receiue the promise ✠verse 37 For * yet a litle and a very litle
Holy Ghost 15 Exhorting them to liue also accordingly in al holines 15 considering the holines of God the vprightnes of his iudgement the price of their redemption by Christ 22 and the vertue of the seede in them â—hich is grace regeneratiue in Baptisme foretold by the Prophet also verse 1 PETER an Apostle of IESVS Christ to the electe strangers of the dispersion of Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia ✠verse 2 according to the prescience of God the Father into sanctification of the Spirit vnto the obedience and sprinkling of the bloud of IESVS Christ Grace to you and peace be multiplied ✠verse 3 Blessed be God and the father of our Lord IESVS Christ vvho according to his great mercie hath regenerated vs vnto a liuely hope by the resurrection of IESVS Christ from the dead ✠verse 4 vnto an inheritance incorruptible and incontaminate and that can not fade conserued in the heauens in you ✠verse 5 vvho in the vertue of God are kept by faith vnto saluatioÌ„ ready to be reuealed in the last time ✠verse 6 wherin you shal reioyce a litle novv if you must be made heauy in diuerse tentations ✠verse 7 that the probation of your faith much more pretious then gold vvhich is proued by the fire may be found vnto praise and glorie and honour in the reuelatioÌ„ of IESVS Christ ⊢ ✠verse 8 vvhom hauing not seen you loue in vvhom novv also not seing you beleeue and beleeuing you reioyce vvith ioy vnspeakable and glorified ✠verse 9 receiuing the end of your faith the saluation of your soules ✠verse 10 Of the vvhich saluation the Prophetes inquired searched vvhich prophecied of the grace to come in you ✠verse 11 searching vnto vvhich or vvhat maner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did signifie foretelling those passions that are in Christ and the glories folovving ✠verse 12 to vvhom it vvas reuealed that not to theÌ„ selues but to you they ministred those things vvhich novv are told you by them that haue euangelized to you the holy Ghost being sent from heauen on vvhom the Angels desire to looke ✠verse 13 For the vvhich cause hauing the loines of your minde girded sober trust perfectly in that grace vvhich is offered you in the reuelation of IESVS Christ ✠verse 14 as children of obedience not configurated to the former desires of your ignorance ✠verse 15 but according to him that hath called you the Holy one be you also in al conuersation holy ✠verse 16 because it is vvritten You shal be holy because I am holy ✠verse 17 And if you inuocate the Father him vvhich * vvithout acception of persons iudgeth according to euery ones vvorke in feare conuerse ye the time of your peregrination ✠verse 18 Knovving that * not vvith corruptible things gold or siluer you are redeemed from your vaine conuersation of your fathers tradition ✠verse 19 but vvith the pretious bloud as it vvere of an immaculate and vnspotted lambe Christ ✠verse 20 * foreknovven in deede before the constitution of the vvorld but manifested in the last times for you ✠verse 21 vvhich by him are faithful in God vvho raised him from the dead and hath giuen him glorie that your faith and hope might be in God ✠verse 22 Making your soules chaste in obedience of charitie in the sincere loue of the fraternitie from the hart loue ye one an other earnestly ✠verse 23 borne againe not of corruptible seede but incorruptible by the vvord of God vvho liueth and remaineth for euer ✠verse 24 For al flesh is as grasse and al the glorie thereof as the floure of grasse the grasse is vvithered and the floure thereof is fallen avvay ✠verse 25 But the vvord of our Lord remaineth for euer and this is the vvord that is euangelized among you CHAP. II. Novv after their Baptisme vvhat must be their meate 4 and being come to Christ hovv happie they be abouâ— their incredulous brethren according to the Scriptures also 11 Wherevpon he beseecheth them to shine in good life among the Heathen so to procure their conuersion 13 to be obedient subiects to higher Povvers hovvsoeuer some misconster Christian libertie 14 and seruants to obey their Maisters 19 And so doing vvel though they suffer for it it is very meritorious 21 vvhereas Christ also not onely gaue them example 24 but also by his death hath made them able to liue iustly verse 1 LAYING avvay therfore al malice and al guile and simulations and enuies and al detractions ✠verse 2 as infants euen novv borne reasonable milke vvithout guile desire ye that in it you may grovv vnto saluatioÌ„ ✠verse 3 if yet you haue tasted that our Lord is svveete ✠verse 4 Vnto vvhom approching a liuing stone of men in deede reprobated but of God elect and made honorable ✠verse 5 be ye also your selues superedified as it vvere liuing stones spiritual houses ' a holy priesthod to offer ″ spiritual hostes acceptable to God by IESVS Christ ✠verse 6 For the vvhich cause the Scripture conteineth Behold I put in Sion a principal corner stone elect pretious and he that shal beleeue in him shal not be confounded ✠verse 7 To you therfore that beleeue honour but to them that beleeue not the stone vvhich the builders reiected the same is made into the head of the corner ✠verse 8 and * a stone of offense and a rocke of scandal to them that stumble at the vvord neither doe beleeue wherin also they are put ' ✠verse 9 But you are an * elect generation a kingly priesthod a holy nation a people of purchase that you may declare his vertues vvhich from darkenesse hath called you into his maruelous light ✠verse 10 Vvhich sometime not a people but novv the people of God Vvhich not hauing obtained mercie but novv hauing obtained mercie ✠verse 11 My deerest I beseche you as strangers pilgrimes * to refraine your selues from carnal desires which vvarre against the soule ✠verse 12 hauing your conuersation good among the Gentiles that in that vvherein they misreport of you as of malefactors by the good vvorkes considering you * they may glorifie God in the day of visitation ✠verse 13 * ″ Be subiect therfore to euery humane creature for God vvhether it be ″ to king as excelling ✠verse 14 or to rulers as sent by him to the reuenge of malefactors but to the praise of the good ✠verse 15 for so is the vvil of God that doing vvel you may make the ignorance of vnvvise men to be dumme ✠verse 16 as free ″ not as hauing the freedom for a cloke of malice but as the seruants of God ✠verse 17 Honour al men Loue the fraternitie Feare God Honour
rather then men Act. 5. 29. CHAP. III. The dutie of vviues and husbands to ech other 9 None to doe or speake euil by their persecutors 15 but to ansvver them alvvaies vvith modestie and specially vvith innocenciâ— after the example of Christ most innoceÌ„t vvhose body though they killed yet his soule liued and preached aftervvard to the soules in Hel namely to those in the time of Noës floud being a figure of our Baptisme rose againe and ascended verse 1 IN like maner also * let the vvomen be subiect to their â—usbandes that if any beleeue not the vvord by the conuersation of the vvomen vvithout the vvord they may be vvonne ✠verse 2 considering your chast conuersation in feare ✠verse 3 Vvhose trimming let iâ— not be outvvardly the plaiting of heare or laying on gold round about or of putting on vestures ✠verse 4 but the man of the hart that is hidden in the incorruptibilitie of a quiet and a modest spirit vvhich is riche in the sight of God ✠verse 5 For so sometime the holy vvomen also that trusted in God adorned them selues subiect to their ovvne husbandes ✠verse 6 As * Sara obeied Abraham calling him lord vvhose daughters you are doing vvel and not fearing any perturbation ✠verse 7 Husbandes likevvise dvvelling vvith them according to knovvledge as vnto the vveaker feminine vessel imparting honour as it vvere to the coheires also of the grace of life that your praiers be not hindered ✠verse 8 And in fine ' al of one minde hauing compassion louers of the fraternitie merciful modest humble ✠verse 9 * not rendering euil for euil nor curse for curse but contrariewise blessing for vnto this are you called that you may by inheritaÌ„ce possesse a benediction ✠verse 10 For he that vvil loue life and see good daies let him refraine his tong from euil and his lippes that they speake not guile ✠verse 11 Let him decline from euil and doe good let him enquire peace and folovv it ✠verse 12 because the eies of our Lord are vpon the iust and his eares vnto their praiers but the countenance of our Lord vpon them that doe euil things ✠verse 13 And vvho is he that can hurt you if you be emulators of good ✠verse 14 But * if you suffer ought for iustice blessed are ye And the feare of them feare ye not be not troubled ✠verse 15 But sanctifie our Lord Christ in your hartes ready alwaies to satiffie euery one that asketh you a reason of that hope vvhich is in you ✠verse 16 but vvith modestie and feare hauing a good conscience that in that vvhich they speake il of you they may be confounded vvhich calumniate your good conuersation in Christ ✠verse 17 For it is better to suffer as doing vvel if the vvil of God vvil haue it so then doing il ✠verse 18 Because Christ also died once for our sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might offer vs to God mortified certes in flesh but quickened in spirit ✠verse 19 In the vvhich spirit comming he preached ″ to them ' also that vvere in prison ✠verse 20 vvhich had been ″ incredulous sometime * vvhen they expected the patience of God in the daies of Noë vvhen the arke vvas a building in the vvhich fevv that is * eight soules vvere saued by vvater ✠verse 21 Vvherevnto Baptisme being ″ of the like forme novv saueth you ' also not the laying avvay of the filth of the flesh but ″ the examination of a good conscience tovvard God by the resurrection of IESVS Christ ✠verse 22 vvho is on the right hand of God ⊢ svvallovving death that vve might be made heires of life euerlasting being gone into heauen Angels and Potentates and Povvers subiected to him ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III. 19. To them that vvere in prison S. Augustine in his 99 Epistle in principio conâ—eâ—â—eth this place to be exceding hard to vnderstand to haue many difficulties vvhich he could neuer explicate to his ovvne satisfaction Yet vnto Heretikes this and al other textes be easie not doubting but that is that sense vvhich them selues imagin vvhatsoeuer other men deeme thereof S. Augustine onely sindeth him self sure of this that Christs descending into Hel in soule after his death is plainely proued hereby Vvhich thing he declareth there to be conformable to diuers other expresse vvordes of holy Vvrite and namely to this same Apostles sermon Act. 2. And at length he concludeth thus Quis ergo nisi infidelis negauerit â—uisse apud inferâ—s Christum that is Therfore vvho but an infidel vvil deny that Christ vvas in Hel Caluin theÌ„ you see vvith al his solovvers are infidels vvho in steede of this descending of Christ in soule after his death haue inuented an other desperate kinde of Christs being in Hel vvheÌ„ he vvas yet aliue on the Crosse S. Athanasius also in his epistle cited by S. Epiphanius 〈◊〉 77 in principio and in his booke de Incarnatione Verbi propius initie S. Cyril de reâ—t fide ad Theodosium Oecumenius and diuers others vpon this place proue Christs descending to Hel. As they likevvise declare vpon the vvordes folovving that he preached to the spirites or soules of meÌ„ detâ—ined in Hel or in Prison But vvhether this vvord Prison or Hel be meant of the inferiour place of the damned or of Limbâ—â— patrum called Abrahams bosome or some other place of temporal chastisement and to vvhom he preached there and vvho by his preaching or presence there vvere deliuered and vvho they vvere that are called Incredulous in the daies of Noe al these things S. Augustine calleth great profundities confessing him self to be vnable to reache vnto it onely holding last and assured this article of our faith that he deliuered none deputed to damnation in the 〈◊〉 and yet not doubting but that he released diuers out of places of paines there vvhich can not be out of any other place then Purgatorie See the said Epistle vvhere also he insinuateth other expositions for explication of the manifold difficulties of this hard text vvhich vvere to long to reherse our special purpose being onely to note briefely the things that touche the controuersies of this time 20. Incredulous sometime They that take the former vvordes of Christs descending to Hel and deliuering certaine there deteined do expound this not of such as died in their infidelitie or vvithout al faith in God for such vvere not deliuered but either of some that once vvere incredulous and aftervvard repented before their death or rather and specially of such as othervvise vvere faithful but yet trusted not Noës preaching by his vvorke and vvord that God vvould destroy the vvorld by vvater Vvho yet being othervvise good men vvhen the matter came to passe vvere sorie for their errour and died by the floud corporally but yet
B Ladie the perpetual virgin MARIE Hovvbeit some good authors say that their mother Marie vvas the natural sister of our Ladie and that therfore they are called Fratres Domini the brethren of our Lord. Hovvsoeuer that be three of them are reckened amoÌ„g the 12. Apostles Iames and Simon Cananaeus and Iude. Yea and that they vvere somevvhat more then Apostles though lesse then Peter S. Paul signifieth vvhere he saith speaking of him self and Barnabas As also the other Apostles and the brethren of our Lord and Cephas 1. Cor. 9. And as S. Luke calleth this Iude Iude of Iames so he calleth him self in this Epistle of his Iude the seruant of Iesus Christ and the brother of Iames. S. Matthevv and S. 〈…〉 as Lebbaeus also in the Greeke His feast and his 〈…〉 Church keepeth Octob. 28. called Simon and Iudes day His Epistle is an 〈◊〉 against aâ— heretikes as it vvere a Commentarie of 2 Pet. 2. and namely as * â— Aug. hath told vs against those vvhich misconstred S. Paules Epistles and held Only faith vvhom he calleth therfore Men that transferre or 〈…〉 grace of God into rioâ—ousnes v. 4. exhorting Catholikes to be constant and 〈◊〉 from their old faith and to contend for the keeping thereof v. 3. 〈…〉 heretikes â— saith he segregate them selues from the Church and from 〈…〉 v. 19. THE CATHOLIKE EPISTLE OF IVDE THE APOSTLE He exhorteth them to stand to their old faith shâ—vving them by examples that it is damnable not to continue and be constant 8 inueighing against the lecherie blasphemie apostasie banketing of the heretikes 14 and that their damnation vvas long foretold 17 Catholikes therfore to be vnmoueable to reproue the obstinate to recouer al not desperate to confirme the vveake and to liue them selues vertuously and vvithout mortal sinne vvhich by Gods grace they may doe verse 1 IVDE the seruant of IESVS Christ and brother of Iames to them that are in God the Father beloued and in IESVS Christ preserued and called ✠verse 2 Marcie to you and peace and charitie be accomplished ✠verse 3 My deerest taking al care to vvrite vnto you of your common saluation I thought it necessarie to vvrite vnto you beseeching you to contend for the faith once deliuered to the sainctes ✠verse 4 For there are certaine men secretely entred in vvhich vvere long ago prescribed vnto this iudgement impious transferring the grace of our God into riotousnes and denying the onely Dominator and our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 5 * But I vvil admonish you that once knovv al things that IESVS sauing the people out of the land of Aegipt * secondly destroied them vvhich beleeued not ✠verse 6 But the Angels vvhich kept not their principalitie but forsooke their owne habitation he hath reserued vnder darkenesse in eternal bondes vnto the iudgment of the great day ✠verse 7 As * Sodom and Gomorrhe and the citie adioyning in like maner hauing fornicated and going after other flesh vvere made an example sustaining the paine of eternal fire ✠verse 8 In like maner these also defile the flesh and despise dominion blaspheme maiestie ✠Vvhen Michael the Archangel disputing vvith the Diuel made altercation ″ for the body of Moyses he durst not inferre iudgment of blasphemie but said Our Lord commaund ' thee ✠verse 10 But these vvhat things so euer certes they are ignorant of ″ they blaspheme and vvhat things so euer naturally as dumme beastes they knovv in those they are corrupted ✠verse 11 Vvo vnto them vvhich ' haue gone in the vvay of * ″ Caâ—n and vvith the errour of * Balaam haue for revvard povvred out them selues and haue perished in the contradiction of Corè ✠verse 12 These are in their bankets spottes feasting together vvithout feare feeding them selues cloudes vvithout vvater vvhich are caried about of vvindes trees of autumne vnfruiteful tvvise dead plucked vp by the rootes ✠verse 13 raging vvaues of the sea foming out their ovvne confusions vvandering starres to vvhom the storme of darkenesse is reserued for euer ✠verse 14 And of these prophecied Enoch the seuenth from Adam saying Behold our Lord is come in his holy thousandes ✠verse 15 to doe iudgement against al and to reproue al the impious of al the vvorkes of their impietie vvherby they haue done impiously and of al the hard thinges vvhich impious sinners haue spoken against him ✠verse 16 These are murmurers ful of complaintes vvalking according to their ovvne desires and their mouth speaketh pride admiring persons for gaine sake ✠verse 17 But you may deerest be mindeful of the vvordes vvhich haue been spoken before by the Apostles of our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 18 vvho told you * that in the last time shal come mockers according to their ovvne desires vvalking in impieties ✠verse 19 ″ These are they vvhich segregate them selues sensual hauing not the Spirit ⊢ ✠verse 20 But you my deerest building your selues vpon our ' most holy faith in the holy Ghost praying ✠verse 21 keepe your selues in the loue of God expecting the mercie of our Lord IESVS Christ vnto life euerlasting ✠verse 22 And these certes reproue being iudged ✠verse 23 but them saue pulling out of the fire And on other haue mercie in feare hating also that vvhich is carnal the spotted cote ✠verse 24 And to him that is able to preserue you vvithout sinne and to sette you immaculate before the sight of his glorie in exultation in the comming of our Lord IESVS Christ ✠verse 25 to the onely God our Sauiour by IESVS Christ our Lord be glorie and magnificeÌ„ce empire and power before al worldes and novv and for al vvorldes euermore Amen ANNOT. 9. For the body of Moyses Vvhen why or hovv this altercation or combat was betwene S. Michael and the Diuel about Moyses body no man can declare only this vve see that many truthes and stories vvere kept in the mouthes and hartes of the faithful that vvere not written in Scriptures canonical as this vvas among the Ievves 10. They blaspheme He speaketh of Heretikes who being ignorant in Gods mysteries and the diuine doctrine of his Church vvhen they can not reproue the things then they fall to execrations irrisions and blasphemies against the Priests Church and Sacraments and vvhatsoeuer is godly 11. Cain Balaaâ— Corè The Apostle vvould haue Heretikes specially to be knowen by the resemblance they haue first to Cain in that for enuy that his brothers seruice and sacrifice was accepted and his reiected sâ—ewe his said brother and was a fugitiue from the face and citie of God vvhich is the Church Secondly by their resemblance to Balaam who for money was induced to curse Gods people as couetousnes is commonly the cause that first maketh Heretikes and false Prophets wherevpon S. Augustine saith He is an Heretike that for
candlestickes of the vvorld no doubt to signfie that Christ preserueth the truth onely in and by the lavvful Bishops and Catholike Church and that Christs truth is not to be sought for in corners or conuenticles of Heretikes but at the Bishops handes and * vpon the candlesticke vvhich shineth to al in the house 20. The Angels of the Churches The vvhole Church of Christ hath S. Michael for her keeper and Protector and therfore keepeth his holy day onely by name among al Angels And as earthly kingdoms haue their special Angels Protectors as vve see in the 10 Chapter of Daniel so much more the particular Churches of ChristeÌ„dom See S. Hierom in 34 Ezech. But of those Angels it is not here meant as is manifest And therfore Angels here must needes signifie the Priests or Bishops specially of the Churches here and in them al the gouernours of the vvhole of euery particular Church of Christendom They are called Angels for that they are Gods messengers to vs interpreters of his vvil our keepers and directors in religion our intercessors the cariers and offerers of our praiers to him and mediators vnto him vnder Christ and for these causes and for their great digniâ—ie they are here and in * other places of Scripture called Angels CHAP. II. He is commaunded to vvrite diuers things to the churches of Ephesiu Sâ—yrna Pergamus and Thyatira praising them that had not admitted the doctrine of the Heretikes called Nicolaâ—ta 22 and calling others by threates vnto penance 26 and promising revvard to him that manfully ouercommeth verse 1 AND to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus vvrite Thus saith he vvhich ″ holdeth the seuen starres in his right hand vvhich vvalketh in the middes of the seuen candlestickes of gold ✠verse 2 I knovv ″ thy vvorkes and labour and thy patience and that thou canst not beare euil men and hast tried them which say them selues to be Apostles and are not and hast found them liars ✠verse 3 and thou hast patience and hast borne for my name and hast not fainted ✠verse 4 But I haue against thee a fevv thinges bicause thou hast left thy first charitie ✠verse 5 Be mindeful therfore from vvhence thou art fallen and doe penance and doe the first vvorkes But if not I come to thee and ″ vvil moue thy candlesticke out of his place vnlesse thou doe penance ✠verse 6 but this thou hast ″ because thou hatest the factes ″ of the Nicolaïtes vvhich I also hate ✠verse 7 He that hath an eare let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the Churches To him that ouercommeth I vvil giue to eate of the tree of life vvhich is in the Paradise of my God ✠verse 8 And to the Angel of the Church of Smyrna vvrite Thus saith * the first and the last vvho vvas dead and liueth ✠verse 9 I knovv thy tribulation and thy pouertie but thou art riche and thou art blasphemed of them that say them selues to be Ievves and are not but are the synagogue of Satan ✠verse 10 Feare none of these thinges vvhich thou shalt suffer Behold the Deuil vvil send some of you into prison that you may be tried and you shal haue tribulation ten daies Be thou faithful vntil death and I vvil giue thee the crovvne of life ✠verse 11 He that hath an eare let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the Churches He that shal ouercome shal not be hurt of the second death ✠verse 12 And to the Angel of the Church of Pergamus vvrite Thus saith he that hath the sharpe tvvo edged svvord ✠verse 13 I knovv vvhere thou dvvellest vvhere the seate of Satan is and thou holdest my name and hast not denied my faith And in those daies Antipas my faithful vvitnesse vvho vvas slaine among you vvhere Satan dvvelleth ✠verse 14 But I haue against thee a fevv thinges because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam vvho taught Balac ″ to cast a scandal before the children of Israel to eate and commit fornication ✠verse 15 so hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaïtes ✠verse 16 In like maner doe penance if not I vvil come to thee quickly and vvil fight against them vvith the svvord of my mouth ✠verse 17 He that hath an eare let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the Churches To him that ouercoÌ„meth I vvil giue the hidden manna and vvil giue him a vvhite counter and in the counter a nevv name Written vvhich no man knovveth but he that receiueth it ✠verse 18 And to the Angel of the Church of ThyatÃra vvrite Thus saith the Sonne of God vvhich hath eies as a flame of fire and his feete like to latten ✠verse 19 I knovv thy vvorkes and faith and thy charitie and ministerie and thy patience and thy last vvorkes moe then the former ✠verse 20 But I haue against thee a fevv thinges because thou permittest ″ the vvoman * Iezabel vvho calleth her self a prophetesse to teache and to seduce my seruantes to fornicate and to eate of thinges sacrificed to idols ✠verse 21 And I gaue her a time that she might do penance and ″ she vvil not repent from her fornication ✠verse 22 Behold I vvil cast her into a bedde and ″ they that commit aduoutrie vvith her shal be in very great tribulation vnlesse they do penance from their vvorkes ✠verse 23 and her children I vvil kil vnto death and al the Churches shal knovv * that I am he that searcheth the reines and hartes and I vvil giue to euery one of you according to his vvorkes ✠verse 24 But I say to you the rest vvhich are at Thyatira vvhosoeuer haue not this doctrine vvhich haue not knowen the depth ' of Satan as they say I vvil not cast vpon you an other vveight ✠verse 25 Yet that vvhich you haue hold til I come ✠verse 26 And he that shal ouercome and keepe my vvorkes vnto the end ″ I vvil giue him povver ouer the nations ✠verse 27 and * he shal rule them vvith a rod of yron and as the vessel of a potter shal they be broken ✠verse 28 as I also haue receiued of my father and I vvil giue him the morning starre ✠verse 29 He that hath an eare let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the Churches ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II. 1. Holdeth the seuen Much to be obserued that Christ hath such care ouer the Church and the Bishops thereof that he is said here to beare them vp in his right hand and to vvalke in the middes of them no doubt to vphold and preserue them and to guide them in al truth 2. Thy vvorkes labour patience c. Things required in a Bishop first good vvorkes and great patience in tribulation next zeale and sharpe discipline tovvard offenders
shal goe out no more and I vvil vvrite vpon him the name of my God and the name of the citie of my God nevv Hierusalem vvhich descendeth out of heauen from my God and my nevv name ✠verse 13 He that hath an eare let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the Churches ✠verse 14 And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicia vvrite Thus saith Amen the faithful and true vvitnesse * vvhich is the beginning of the creature of God ✠verse 15 I knovv thy vvorkes that thou art neither colde nor hote I vvould thou vvere colde or hote ✠verse 16 But because thou art ″ lukevvarme and neither cold nor hote I vvil begin to vomite thee out of my mouth ✠verse 17 Because thou saiest That I am riche and enriched and lacke nothing and knovvest not that thou art a miser and miserable and poore and blinde and naked ✠verse 18 I counsel thee to bye of me gold fire-tried that thou maiest be made riche and maiest be clothed in vvhite garmentes that the confusion of thy nakednes appeare not and vvith eie salue anoint thine eies that thou maiest see ✠verse 19 I * vvhom I loue do rebuke and chastise Be zelous therfore and doe penance ✠verse 20 Behold I stand at the doore and knocke if any man shal heare my voice and open the gate I vvil enter in to him and vvil suppe vvith him and he vvith me ✠verse 21 He that shal ouercome I vvil giue vnto him to sitte vvith me in my throne as I also haue ouercome and haue sitten vvith my father in his throne ✠verse 22 He that hath an eare let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the Churches ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III 5. He that shal ouercome In al these speaches to diuers Bishops and their Churches he continually encourageth them to constancie in faith and good life by setting before their eies the revvard of the next life And yet the Caluinists vvould haue no man do good in respect of such revvard 9. Adore before thy feete You see this vvord of adoration is in Scriptures vsed for vvorship of creatures also and that to fall before the feete of holy men or Angels for duety and reuerence is not idolatrie except the proper honour due to God be giuen vnto them See the Annotations vpō the 19 22 Chapter concerning the Apostles prostration before the Angel And the Aduersaries euasion saying that the adoration vvas of God onely and that before the feete of the partie signifieth nothing els but in his presence is false and against the phrase of Scriptures as 4 Reg. 4. vvhere the Sunamite adored Elisaeus falling dovvne before his feete and 4 Reg. 2. the sonnes of the Prophets adored him in the same sort and here this adoration can not be meant but of the Bishop or Angel of Philadelphia because he promiseth this honour as a revvard and as an effecte of his loue tovvardes him saying And they shal knovv that I haue loued thee And that vvhich he saith in the 22 Chapter I fel dovvne to adore before the feete of the Angel the very same he expresseth thus in the 19 Chapters I fel before his feete to adore him making it al one to adore before his feete and to adore him 11. That no man take thy crovvn◠That is his crovvne of euerlasting life and glorie if he perseuêre not to the end in faith good vvorkes othervvise an other shal enter into his place as Mathias did both to the dignitie of the Apostleship to the heauenly crovvne due for the vvel vsing and executing of the same function vvhich Iudas might and should haue had if he had perseuêred to the end and as the Gentiles came into the grace and place of the Ievves Other difficulties concerning this kinde of speache are resolued in Schoolemen and are not here to be stoode vpon 16. Lukevvarms Zeale and feruour is commendable specially in Gods cause and the Neuters that be neither hote nor cold are to Christ and his Church burdenous and lothsome as luke-vvarme vvater is to a mans stomake prouoking him to vomite and therfore he threateneth to void vp such Neuters out of his mouth CHAP. IIII. 1. A doore being open in heauen he savv one sitting in a throne 4 and round about him foure and tvventie seniors sitting 6 and the foure beastes here described 9 vvhich vvith the 24 seniors continually glorified him that sate in the throne verse 1 AFTER these thinges I looked and behold a doore open in heauen and the first voice which I heard vvas as it vvere of a trompet speaking vvith me saying Come vp hither and I vvil shevv thee the thinges vvhich must be done quickly after these ✠verse 2 Immediatly I vvas in spirit and behold there vvas a seate sette in heauen and vpon the seate one sitting ✠verse 3 And he that sate vvas like in sight to the Iasper stone and the Sardine and there vvas a raine-bovv round about the seate like to the sight of an Emeraud ✠verse 4 And round about the seate foure and tvventie seates and vpon the thrones foure and twentie seniors sitting clothed about in vvhite garmentes and on their heades crovvnes of gold ✠verse 5 And from the throne proceeded lightenings and voices and thunders and seuen lampes burning before the throne vvhich are the seuen Spirites of God ✠verse 6 And in the sight of the seate as it vvere a sea of glasse like to crystall and in the middes of the seate and round about the seate foure beastes ful of eies before and behind ✠verse 7 And the first beast like to a lion and the second beast like to a calfe and the third beast hauing the face as it vvere of a man and the fourth beast like to an egle flying ✠verse 8 And the foure beastes euery one of them had sixe vvinges round about and vvithin they are ful of eies and they had no rest day and night saying ″ Holy Holy Holy Lord God omnipotent vvhich vvas and vvhich is and vvhich shal come ✠verse 9 And vvhen those beastes gaue glorie and honour and benediction to him that sitteth vpon the throne that liueth for euer and euer ✠verse 10 the foure and tvventie seniors fel dovvne before him that sitteth in the throne and adored him that liueth for euer and euer and cast their crownes before the throne saying ✠verse 11 Thou art vvorthie O Lord our God to receiue glorie and honour and povver because thou hast created al thinges and for thy vvil they vvere and haue been created ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 8. Holy holy holy This vvord is thrise repeated here and Esa 6 and to the imitation therof in the seruice of the holy Church at Te Deum and at Masse specially in the Preface next before the great mysteries for the honour of the three persons in the B. Trinitie and that
the Church militant may ioyne vvith the triumphant and vvith al the orders of Angels vvho also are present at the consecration and doe seruice there to our common Lord and Maister as S. Chrysostom vvriteth li. 6 de Sacerdotie and hâ— 1. de verb. Esa to 1. The Greekes call it the hymne Trisagies that is Thrise holy CHAP. V. 4. S. Iohn vveeping because no man could open the booke sealed vvith seuen seales â— the Lambe that vvas slaine opened it vvhich being done 8 the foure beastes and foure and tvventie seniors vvith an innumerable multitude of Angels al creatures did glorifie him excedingly verse 1 AND I savv in the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne a booke vvritten vvithin and vvithout sealed vvith seuen seales ✠verse 2 And I savv a strong Angel preaching vvith a loude voice Vvho is vvorthie to opeÌ„ the booke to loose the seales thereof ✠verse 3 And no man vvas able neither in heauen nor in earth nor vnder the earth to open the booke nor looke on it ✠verse 4 And I vvept much because no man vvas found vvorthie to open the booke nor to see it ✠verse 5 And one of the seniors said to me Vveepe not behold the * lion of the tribe of Iuda the roote of Dauid hath vvonne to open the booke and to loose the seuen seales thereof ✠verse 6 And I savv and behold in the middes of the throne and of the foure beastes and in the middes of the seniors a Lambe standing as it were slaine hauing seuen hornes seuen eies vvhich are the seuen spirites of God sent into al the earth ✠verse 7 And he came and receiued the booke out of the right hand of him that sate in the throne ✠verse 8 And vvhen he had opened the booke the foure beastes and the foure and tvventie seniors fel before the Lambe hauing euery one harpes and golden vials ful of odours which are ″ the praiers of sainctes ✠verse 9 and they sang a nevv canticle saying Thou art vvorthie o Lord to take the booke and to open the seales thereof because thou vvast slaine and hast redeemed vs to God in thy bloud out of euery tribe and tonge and people and nation ✠verse 10 and * hast made vs to our God ″ a kingdom ' and priestes and vve shal reigne vpon the earth ✠verse 11 And I looked and heard the voice of many Angels round about the throne and of the beastes of the seniors and the number of them vvas * thousandes of thousandes ✠verse 12 saying vvith a loud voice The Lambe that vvas slaine is vvorthie to receiue povver and diuinitie ' and vvisedom strength and honour and glorie and benediction ⊢ ✠verse 13 And ″ euery creature that is in heauen and vpon the earth and vnder the earth and that are in the sea and that are therein al did I heare saying * To him that sitteth in the throne to the Lambe benediction and honour and glorie and povver for euer and euer ✠verse 14 And the foure beastes said Amen And the foure and tvventie seniors fel on their faces and adored him that liueth for euer and euer ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V. 8. The praiers of Saincts Hereby it is plaine that the Saincts in heauen offer vp the praiers of faithful and holy persons in earth called here saincts and in Scripture often vnto Christ And among so many diuine vnsearcheable mysteries set dovvne vvithout exposition it pleased God yet that the Apostle him self should open this one point vnto vs that these odours be the laudes and praiers of the faithful ascending and offered vp to God as incense by the Saincts in heauen that so the Protestants may haue no excuse of their errour That the Saincts haue no knovvledge of our affaires or desires 10. A kingdom and priests To serue God and subdue vices and sinnes is to reigne or to be a king spiritually likevvise to offer vnto him the sacrifices of good vvorkes is to be a priest after a sort though neither the one nor the other in proper speache See the Annotation before Chap. 1. v. 6. 13. Euery creature He meaneth the creatures in heauen as Angels and Saincts the holy persons in earth and those that vvere in Limbo or be in Purgatorie for of the damned in hel he can not speake in this case lastly of the peoples in Ilands here called the sea vvhich the Prophets vse often to name seuerally vvhen they foretel the spreading of Christs glorie through the vvorld as Esa c. 49. Heare ye â—â—andes and you people a far of c. CHAP. VI. 1 Foure seales of the seuen being opened there folovv diuerse effectes against the earth 9 vvhen the fifth seale vvas opened the soules of martyrs desire that the iudgement may be hastened 12 and at the opening of the sixt there are signes shovved of the iudgement to come verse 1 AND I savv that the Lambe had opened one of the seuen seales and I heard one of the foure beastes saying as it vvere the voice of thunder Come and see ✠verse 2 And I savv And behold a vvhite horse and he that sate vpon him had a bovv and there vvas a crovvne giuen him and he vvent forth conquering that he might conquer ✠verse 3 And vvhen he had opened the second seale I heard the second beast saying Come see ✠verse 4 And there vvent forth an other horse redde and he that sate thereon to him it vvas giuen that he should take peace from the earth and that they should kil one an other and a great svvord vvas giuen to him ✠verse 5 And vvhen he had opened the third seale I heard the third beast saying Come and see And behold a blacke horse and he that sate vpon him had a balance in his hand ✠verse 6 And I heard as it vvere a voice in the middes of the foure beastes saying Tvvo poundes of vvheate for a penie and thrise tvvo poundes of barley for a penie and vvine and oile hurt thou not ✠verse 7 And vvhen he had opened the fourth seale I heard a voice of the fourth beast saying Come see ✠verse 8 And behold a pale horse and he that sate vpon him his name vvas death and hel folovved him and povver vvas giuen to him ouer the foure partes of the earth to kil vvith svvord vvith famine and vvith death and vvith beastes of the earth ✠verse 9 And vvhen he had opened the fifth seale I savv ″ vnder the altar the soules of them that vvere slaine for the vvord of God and for the testimonie vvhich they had ✠verse 10 ″ and they cried vvith a loude voice saying Hovv long Lord holy true iudgest thou not and ″ reuengest thou not our bloud of them that dvvel on the earth ✠verse 11 And vvhite stoles vvere giuen to
euery one of them one and it vvas said to them that they should rest yet a litle time ″ til their fellovv-seruaÌ„tes be complete and their brethren that are to be slaine euen as they ✠verse 12 And I savv vvhen he had opened the sixt seale and behold there vvas made a great earth-quake and the sunne became blacke as it vvere sacke cloth of heare and the vvhole moone became as bloud ✠verse 13 and the starres from heauen fel vpoÌ„ the earth as the figge tree casteth her greene figges when it is shaken of a great vvinde ✠verse 14 and heauen departed as a booke folded together and euery hil and ilandes vvere moued out of their places ✠verse 15 And the kinges of the earth princes and tribunes and the riche and the strong and euery bond-man and free-man * hid them selues in the dennes and the rockes of mountaines ✠verse 16 And they say to the mountaines and the rockes * Fall vpon vs and hide vs from the face of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the wrath of the Lambe ✠verse 17 because the great day of their wrath is come and vvho shal be able to stand ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VI. 9. Vnder the altar Christ as man no doubt is this altar vnder vvhich the soules of al Martyrs liue in heauen expecting their bodies as Christ their head hath his body there already And for correspondence to their place of state in heauen the Church saieth commonly their bodies also or relikes neere or vnder the altars vvhere our Sauiour body is offered in the holy Masse and hath a special prouiso that no altars be erected or consecrated vvithout some part of a Saincts body or relikes Conâ— Asrican can 50. Carthag 5. can 14. See S. Hierom cont vigilant c. 3. S. Augustine de ciuit li. 8. c. 27. S. Gregorie li. 5. ep 50. li. 1. ep 52. li. 2 ep 58. Vvher vnto the Prophet seemeth here to allude making their soules also to haue their being in heauen as it vvere vnder the altar But for this purpose note vvel the vvordes of S. Augustine or vvhat other auncient writer soeuer vvas the author thereof Ser. 11 de Sanctis Vnder the altar saith he of God I savv the soules of the slaine What is more reuerent or honorable then to rest vnder that altar on vvhich sacrifice is done to God and in vvhich our Lord is the Priest as it is vvritten Thou art a Priest according to the order of Melchisedec Rightly do the soules of the iust rest vnder the altar because vpon the altar our Lordes body is offered neither vvithout cause do the iust there call for reuenge of their bloud vvhere also the bloud of Christ is shed for sinners and many other goodly vvordes to that purpose This place also the vvicked heretike Vigilantius as S. Hierom vvriting against him vvitnesseth c. 2 abused to proue that the soules of Martyrs and other Saincts vvere included in some certaine place that they could not be present at their bodies and monuments vvhere Christian people vsed in the primitiue Church to pray vnto them as Catholike men doe yet nor be vvhere they list or vvhere men pray vnto them To vvhich the holy doctor ansvvereth at large that they be vvheresoeuer Christ is according to his humanitie for vnder that altar they be Part of his vvordes be these that you may see hovv this blessed father refuted in that Heretike the Caluinistes so long before they vvere borne Dcst thou saith he presâ—â—ribe savves to God Doest thou feâ—ter the Apostles that they may be kept in prison til the day of iudgement and be kept from their Lord of vvhom it is vvritten They folovv the Lambe vvhither soeuer he goeth If the Lambe be in euery place then they that he vvith the Lambe must be euery vvhere And if the diuel and vvicked spirites gadding abrode in the vvorld vvith passing celeritie be present euery vvhere shal holy Martyrs after the sheading of their bloud be kept close vnder an altar that they can not sturre out from thence So ansvvereth this learned doctor Vvhich misliketh our Caluinistes so much that they charge him of great errour in that he saith Christ according to his humanitie is euery vvhere as though he vvere an Vbiquetarie Protestant Vvhere if they had any iudgement they might perceiue that he meaneth not that Christ or his Saincts should be personally present at once in euery place alike as God is but that their motion speede and agilitie to be vvhere they list is incomparable and that their povver and operation is accordingly vvhich they may learne to be the holy doctors meaning by the vvordes that folovv of the Diuel and his ministers vvhoÌ„ he affirmeth to be euery vvhere no othervvise but by their exceding celeritie of being and vvorking mischeefe novv in one place novv in an other and that in a moment For though they be spirites yet are they not euery vvhere at once according to their essence And for our nevv Diuines it vvere a hard thing to determine hovv long Satan that told our Lord he had circuited the earth vvas in his iourney and in the particular consideration and tentation of Iob and hovv many men he assaulted in that his one circuite No no. such curious companions knovv nothing nor beleeue nothing but that they see vvith corporal eies and teach nothing but the vvay to infidelitie 10. And they cried S. Hierom also against the said Vigilantius reporteth that he vsed an argument against the praiers of Saincts out of this place for that these Martyrs cried for reuenge and could not obtaine But vve vvil report his vvordes that you may see how like one heretike is to an other these of our daies to those of old Thou saiest in thy booke saith S. Hierom c. 3. that vvhiles vve be aliue one of vs may pray for an other but after vve be dead no mans praier shal be heard for an other specially seing the Martyrs asking reuenge of their bloud could not obtaine So said the Heretike Against vvhich the holy Doctor maketh a long refuâ—ation prouing that they pray much more after they be in heauen then they did here in earth and that they shal be much sooner heard of God then vvhen they vvere in the vvorld But for the Heretikes argument framed out of these vvordes of the Apocalypse thus These Martyrs did not obtaine 〈◊〉 Saincts do not pray for vs it vvas so friuolous and the antecedent so manifestly false that he vouchsaued not to stand about it For it is plaine that the Martyrs here vvere heard and that their petition should be fulfilled in time appointed by God vvherevnto they did and do alvvaies conforme them selues for it vvas said vnto them That they should rest yet a litle time til c. And that Martyrs praiers be heard in this case our Sauiour testifieth Luc 18 saying And vvil not God reuenge