flesh God sending his sonne in the similitude of the flesh of sinne euen of sinne damned sinne in the flesh ✠verse 4 that the iustification of the lavv might be fulfilled in vs vvho vvalke not according to the flesh but according to the spirit ✠verse 5 For they that are according to the flesh are affected to the things that are of the flesh but they that are according to the spirit are affected to the things that are of the spirit ✠verse 6 For the vvisedom of the flesh is death but the vvisedom of the spirit life and peace ✠verse 7 Because the vvisedom of the flesh is an enemie ' to God for to the law of God it is not subiect neither can it be ✠verse 8 And they that are in the flesh can not please God ✠verse 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit yet if the Spirit of God dvvel in you But if any man haue not the Spirit of Christ the same is not his ✠verse 10 But if Christ be in you the body in deede is dead because of sinne but the spirit liueth because of iustification ✠verse 11 And if the Spirit of him that raised vp IESVS from the dead dvvel in you he that raised vp IESVS CHRIST from the dead shal quicken also your mortal bodies because of his Spirit dvvelling in you ✠verse 12 Therfore brethren vve are deiters not to the flesh to liue according to the flesh ✠verse 13 For if you liue according to the flesh you shal die but if by the spirit you mortifie the deedes of the flesh you shal liue ✠verse 14 For vvhosoeuer are ledde by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God ✠verse 15 For * you haue not receiued the spirit of seruitude againe in feare but * you haue receiued the spirit of adoption of sonnes vvherein vve crie Abba father ✠verse 16 For ″ the Spirit him self giueth testimonie to our spirit that we are the sonnes of God ✠verse 17 And if sonnes heires also heires truly of God and coheires of Christ ⊢ ″ yet if vve suffer vvith him that vve may be also glorified vvith him ✠verse 18 For I thinke that the passions of this time are not ″ condigne to the glorie to come that shal be reuealed in vs. ✠verse 19 For the expectation of the creature expecteth the reuelation of the sonnes of God ✠verse 20 For the creature is made subject to vanitie not vvilling but for him that made it subiect in hope ✠verse 21 because creature also it self shal be deliuered from the seruitude of corruption into the libertie of the glorie of the children of God ✠verse 22 For vve knovv that euery creature groneth and trauaileth euen til novv ✠verse 23 And not only it but vve al 's our selues hauing the first fruites of the spirit vve also grone vvithin our selues expecting the adoption of the sonnes of God the redemption of our body ⊢ ✠verse 24 For ″ by hope vve are saued But hope that is seen is not hope for that vvhich a man seeth vvherfore doth he hope it ✠verse 25 But if vve hope for that vvhich vve see not vve expect by patience ✠verse 26 And in like maner also the Spirit helpeth our infirmitie For vvhat vve should pray as vve ought vve knovv not but the Spirit him self requesteth for vs vvith gronings vnspeakable ✠verse 27 And he that searcheth the hartes knovveth vvhat ″ the Spirit desireth because according to God he requesteth for the sainctes ✠verse 28 And vve knovv that to them that loue God al things cooperate vnto good to such as according to purpose are called to be sainctes ✠verse 29 For vvhom he hath forknowen he hath also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his sonne that he might be the first-borne in many brethren ✠verse 30 And ″ vvhom he hath predestinated them also he hath called and vvhom he hath called them also he hath iustified and vvhom he hath iustified them also hath he glorified ✠verse 31 What shal vve then say to these things If God before vs vvho is against vs ✠verse 32 He that spared not also his ovvne sonne but for vs al deliuered him hovv hath he not also vvith him giuen vs al things ✠verse 33 Who shal accuse against the elect of God God that iustifieth ✠verse 34 Who is he that shal condemne Christ IESVS that died yea that is risen also againe vvho is on the right hand of God vvho also maketh intercession for vs. ✠verse 35 Who then shal separate vs from the charitie of Christ tribulation or distresse or famine or nakednes or danger or persecution or the svvord ✠verse 36 as it is vvritten For vve are killed for thy sake al the day vve are esteemed as sheep of slaughter ✠verse 37 But in al these things we ouer come because of him that hath loued vs. ✠verse 38 For ″ I am sure that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Povvers neither things present nor things to come neither might ✠verse 39 not height nor depth nor other creature shal be able to separate vs from the charitie of God vvhich is in Christ IESVS our Lord. ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VIII 16. The spirit giueth testimonie This place maketh not for the Heretikes special faith or their presumptuous certainty that euery one of them is in grace the testimonie of the Spirit being nothing els but the invvard good motions comfort and contentment vvhich the children of God do daily feele more and more in their hartes by seruing him by vvhich they haue as it vvere an attestation of his fauour tovvardes them vvhereby the hope of their iustification and saluation is much corroborated and strengthened 17. Yet if they suffer Christes paines or passions haue not so satisfied for al that Christian men be discharged of their particular suffering or satisfying for eche mans ovvne part neither be our paines nothing vvorth to the attainement of heauen because Christ hath done ynough but quite contrarie he vvas by his passion exalted to the glorie of heauen therfore vve by compassion or partaking vvith him in the like passions shal attaine to be fellovves vvith him in his kingdom 18. Condigâ—â— Our Aduersaries ground hereon that the vvorkes or sufferances of this life be not meritorious or vvorthy of life euerlasting vvhere the Apostle saith no such thing no more then he saith that Christs Passions be not meritorious of his glorie vvhich I thinke they dare not much auouch in our Sauiours actions He expresseth onely that the very afflictions of their ovvne nature vvhich vve suffer vvith or for him be but short momeÌ„tanie of no account in comparison of the recompense vvhich vve shal haue in heauen no more in deede vvere Christes paines of their ovvne nature compared to his
tvvo vvordes more then is in the Greeke which though it might be the sense of the place and S. Augustine so expoundeth it yet they should not make his exposition the text of holy Scripture specially vvhereas he only of al the auncient fathers as Beza confesseth so expoundeth it 33. Wrought iustice Men are not iust by beleefe onely as the Protestants affirme but by vvorking iustice And vve may note that in all this long commendation of faith in the fathers and holy persons their good vvorkes are also specially recounted as Rahabs harbouring the spies Abrahams offering his sonne vvhich their vvorkes S. Iames doth inculcate Noâ—s making the Arke Gen. 6. Abels better oblation then Cains Gen. 4. Hebr. 11. v. 4. and so forth therfore S. Clement Alexandrinus saith that the said persons and others vvere lust by saith and obedience by faith and hospitality by faith and patience by faith and humility The Apostles purpose then is nothing els but to proue to the Hebrues vvho made so great account of their Patriarches and forefathers and their famous actes that all these glorious personages and their vvorkes vvere commendable and acceptable onely through the faith they had of Christ vvithout vvhich faith none of all their liues and vvorkes should haue profited them any vvhit the Gentiles doing many noble actes as Heretikes may also doe vvhich are of no estimatioÌ„ before God because they lacke faith And that is the scope of S. Paules Epistle to the Romanes and of al other passages vvhere he commendeth faith further prouing specially in this Epistle to the Hebrues that all their sacrifices vvere nothing els but figures and attestations of the Christian faith in Christ and his death Al vvhich high resolution conclusion against the Ievves and Gentiles that the Christian faith is the true faith religion the Heretikes of our time ignorantly and brutishly abuse against Christian vvorkes sacrifice and Sacraments vvhich the Apostle meant specially to commend and establish by his high commendation of the faith in Christ 40. Without vs should not The fathers before Christ could not be accomplished that is not admitted to the heauenly ioyes vision and fruition of God till the Apostles and other of the nevv lavv vvere associate to them and the vvay to euerlasting glorie opened by our Lordes death and Ascension Neither shal either they or vve be fully perfected in glorie both of body and soul till the general resurrection Gods prouidence being so that vve should not one be consummated vvithout an other all being of one faith and redeemed by one Lord Christ CHAP. XII By the foresaid examples he exhorteth them to patience 2 and by example of Christ him self crucified 5 and because this discipline it an argument that they be Gods children 9 vvith vvhâ—se rodde they should be much more content then vvish that of their carnal fathers and because it bringeth iustification 12 Exhorting them therfore to plucke vp their hartes and to take faster footing 18 considering that all bring novv so svveete and not terrible as in the old Testament their damnation if they refuse to heare vvil be so much the greater verse 1 AND therfore vve also hauing so great a cloud of vvitnesses put vpon vs * laying avvay al vveight and sinne that compasseth vs by patience let vs runne to the fight proposed vnto vs ✠verse 2 looking on the author of faith and the consummator IESVS vvho ioy being proposed vnto him sustained the crosse contemning confusion and sitteth on the right hand of the seate of God ✠verse 3 For thinke diligently vpon him vvhich sustained of sinners such contradiction against him self that you be not vvearied fainting in your mindes ✠verse 4 For you haue not yet resisted vnto bloud repugning against sinne ✠verse 5 and you haue forgotten the consolatioÌ„ vvhich speaketh to you as it vvere to children saying My sonne neglect not the discipline of our Lord neither â—e thou vvearied vvhiles thou art rebuked of him ✠verse 6 For vvhom our Lord loueth he chasteneth and â— he scourgeth euery childe that he receiueth ✠verse 7 Perseuêre ye in discipline As vnto children doth God offer him self to you for vvhat sonne is there vvhom the father doth not correct ✠verse 8 But if you be vvithout discipline vvhereof al be made partakers then are you bastards not children ✠verse 9 Moreouer the fathers in deede of our flesh vve had for instructors and vve did reuerence them shal vve not much more obey the Father of spirites liue ✠verse 10 And they in deede for a time of fevv daies according to their vvil instructed vs but he to that vvhich is profitable in receiuing of his sanctification ✠verse 11 And al discipline for the present certes seemeth not to be of ioy but of sorovv but aftervvard it vvil render to them that are exercised by it most peaceable fruite of iustice ✠verse 12 For the vvhich cause stretch vp the slacked handes and the loose knees ✠verse 13 and make straight steppes to your feete that no man halting erre but rather be healed ✠verse 14 * Folovv peace vvith al men and holinesse vvithout vvhich no man shal see God ✠verse 15 looking diligently lest any man be vvanting to the grace of God lest any roote of bitternes springing vp do hinder and by it many be polluted ✠verse 16 Lest there be any fornicator or prophane person as Esau * vvho for one dish of meate sold his first-birth-rightes ✠verse 17 For knovv ye that aftervvard also desiring to inherite the benediction he vvas reprobated * for â— he found not place of repeÌ„tance although vvith teares he had sought it ✠verse 18 For you are not come to * a palpable mount and an accessible'fire and vvhirlevvinde and darkenes and storme ✠verse 19 and the souÌ„d of trompet voice of vvordes vvhich they that heard excused them selues that the vvord might not be spokeÌ„ to them ✠verse 20 for they did not heare that which was said And if a beast shal touche the mount it shal be stoned ✠verse 21 And so terrible vvas it vvhich vvas seen Moyses said I am frighted and tremble ✠verse 22 But you are come to mount Sion and the citie of the liuing God heauenly Hierusalem and the assemblie of many thousand Angels ✠verse 23 the Church of the first-borne vvhich are vvritten in the heauens and the iudge of all God and the spirites of the iust made perfect ✠verse 24 and the mediator of the nevv Testament IESVS and the sprinkling of bloud speaking better then * Abel ✠verse 25 See that you refuse him not speaking for if they escaped not refusing him that spake vpon the earth much more vve that turne avvay from him speaking to vs from heauen ✠verse 26 Vvhose voice moued the earth then but novv he promiseth
in state of saluation and being chastised for their fault in the next life vvere deliuered by Christs descending thither and not they onely but al others in the like conditioÌ„ For the Apostle giueth these of Noes time but for an example 21. Of the like forme The vvater bearing vp the Arke from sinking and the persons in it from drowning vvas a figure of Baptisme that likewise saueth the vvorthie receiuers from euerlasting perishing As Nee saith S. Augustine vvith his vvas deliuered by the vvater and the vvood so the familie of Christ by Baptisme signed vvith Christs Passion on the Crosse Li. 12. Cont. Faustum c. 14. Againe he saith that as the vvater saued none out of the Arke but vvas rather their destruction so the Sacrament of Baptisme receiued out of the Catholike Church at Heretikes or Schismatikes hands though it be the same vvater and Sacrament that the Catholike Church hath yet profiteth none to saluation but rather vvorketh their perdition Vvhich yet is not meant in case of extreme necessitie vvhen the partie should die vvithout the said Sacrament except he tooke it at an Heretikes or Schismatikes hand Neither is it meant in the case of infants to vvhom the Sacrament is cause of saluation they being in no fault for receiuing it at the hands of the vnfaithful though their parents and frendes that offer them vnto such to be baptized be in no small fault S. Hierom to Damasus Pope of Rome compareth that See to the Arke them that communicate vvith it to them that vvere saued in the Arke al other Schismatikes and Heretikes to the rest that vvere drowned 21. The examination of a good conscience The Apostle seemeth to allude here to the very forme of Catholike Baptisme conceining certaine interrogatories and solemne promises made of the articles of the Christian faith and of good life and of renouncing Satan and al his pompes and vvorkes vvhich no doubt hovvsoeuer the Caluinists esteeme of them are the very Apostolike ceremonies vsed in the ministration of this Sacrament See S. Denys in fine Ec. hierarchia S. Cyril li. 12 in 〈◊〉 c. 64. S. Augustine ep 23. S. Basil de Sp. sancto c. 12 and 15. S. Ambrose de ijs qui mysterijs initiantur 6. 2. 3. 4. CHAP. IIII. That they arme them selues to sinne no more after Baptisme against the tentations of the Heathen considering that the general and novv approcheth 8 specially tovvard their euen-Christians to shevv their charitie hospitalitie and grace doing al to the glorie of God 1â— And as for being persecuted because they are Christians to reioyce considering the revvard that they shal haue vvith Christ and damnation that they avoid thereby verse 1 CHRIST therfore hauing suffered in the flesh be you also armed vvith the same cogitation because he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sinnes ✠verse 2 that novv not after the desires of men but according to the vvil of God he liue the rest of his time in the flesh ✠verse 3 For the time past sufficeth to accomplish the vvil of the Gentiles them that haue vvalked in riotousnes desires excesse of wine banketings porations and vnlavvful seruices of Idols ✠verse 4 Vvherein they maruel blaspheming you not concurring into the same confusion of riotousnes ✠verse 5 vvho shal render account to him vvhich is ready to iudge the liuing and the dead ✠verse 6 For for this cause also vvas it euangelized to the dead that they may be iudged in deede according to men in the flesh but may liue according to God in the Spirit ✠verse 7 And the end of al â—shal approche ' ✠Be vvise therfore and vvatch in praiers ✠verse 8 But before al things hauing mutual charitie coÌ„tinual among your selues because * â— charitie couereth the multitude of sinnes ✠verse 9 * Vsing hospitalitie one tovvard an other vvithout murmuring ✠verse 10 * Euery one as he hath receiued grace ministring the same one tovvard an other as good dispensers of the manifold grace of God ✠verse 11 If any man speake as the vvordes of God if any man minister as of the povver vvhich God administreth that in al things God may be honoured by IESVS Christ ⊢ to vvhom is glorie and empire for euer and euer Amen ✠verse 12 My deerest thinke it not strange in the feruour vvhich is to you for a teÌ„tation as though some nevv thing happened to you ✠verse 13 but communicating vvith the passions of Christ be glad that in the reuelation also of his glorie you may be glad reioycing ✠verse 14 * If you be reuiled in the name of Christ you shal be blessed because that vvhich is of the honour glorie and vertue of God and the Spirit vvhich is his shal rest vpon you ✠verse 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a theefe or a railer or a coueter of other mens things ✠verse 16 But if as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God in this name ✠verse 17 for * the time is â— that iudgement begin of the house of God And if first of vs vvhat shal be the end of them that beleeue not the Gospel of God ✠verse 18 And * â— if the iust man shal scarse be saued where shal the impious and sinner appeare ✠verse 19 Therfore they also that suffer according to the vvil of God let them commend their soules to the faithful creator in good deedes ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 9. Charitie couereth Faith onely cannot iustifie seeing that charitie also doth cause remission of sinnes And saying charitie he meaneth loue and charitable vvorkes tovvard our neighbours vnto vvhich vvorkes of mercie the Scriptures do specially attribute the force to extinguish al sinnes See S. Augustine c. 69 Eâ—chiridij and tract 1. in ep 1. Io. â— 1. and venerable Bede vpon this place And in the like sense the holy Scriptures commonly commend vnto vs almes and deedes of mercie for redemption of our sinnes Prouerb c. 10. Ecclesiastici 12. v. 2. Danielis â— 4. v. 24. 17. That iudgement begin In this time of the new Testament the faithful and al those that meane to liue godly specially of the Clergie must first and principally be subiect to Gods chastisement and temporal afflictions vvhich are here called iudgement Vvhich the Apostle recordeth for the comfort and confirmation of the Catholike Christians vvho vvere at the time of the vvriting hereof excedingly persecuted by the heathen Princes people 18. If the iust Not that a man dying iust and in the fauour of God can afterward be in doubt of his saluation or may be reiected of God but that the iust being both in this life subiect to assaults tentations troubles and dangers of falling from God and losing their state of iustice also oftentimes to make a straite count to
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
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
righteousnes consisteth in doing or vvorking iustice and that so he is iust and biddeth them not to be seduced by Heretikes in this point 8. Sinneth from the beginning The Diuel vvas created holy and in grace and not in sinne but he fel of his ovvne free vvil from God Therfore these vvordes from the beginning may be interpreted thus from the beginning of sinne and so the Apostle vvil say The Diuel committed the first sinne Augustine li. 11 de eiu Dei c. 15 expoundeth it The most simple meaning seemeth to be that he sinned from the beginning of the vvorld not taking the beginning precisely for the first instant or moment of the creation but straight vpon the beginning as it must needes also be taken in S. Iohns Gospel c. 8. 44. 22. VVe shal receiue because Let the Protestants be ashamed to say that vve obtaine al of God by onely faith the Apostle here attributing it to the keeping of Gods commaundements Note here also that Gods commaundements are not impossible to be kept but vvere then and are novv obserued of good men CHAP. IIII. VVe may not beleeue al that boast of the spirit but trie them vvhether they teach Catholike articles of the faith namely the incarnation of Christ vvhether their doctrine be not vvordly and them selues disobedient hearers of the Apostles 7 Vee must loue one an other considering the exceding loue of God in sending his sonne to saue vs. 17 An argument of perfect charitie is if vve haue nothing in our conscience to feare in the day of Iudgement 19 And an argument that vve loue God is if vve loue brethren verse 1 MY deerest ″ beleeue not euery spirit but ″ proue the spirites if they be of God because many false prophetes are goue out into the vvorld ✠verse 2 In this is the spirit of God knovven ″ euery spirit that confesseth IESVS Christ to haue come in flesh is of God ✠verse 3 and euery spirit ″ that dissolueth IESVS is not of God and this is antichrist of vvhom you haue heard that he commeth and novv he is in the vvorld ✠verse 4 You are of God litle children and haue ouercome him because greater is he that is in you then he that is in the vvorld ✠verse 5 They are of the vvorld therfore of the vvorld they speake and the vvorld heareth them ✠verse 6 Vve are of God * He that knovveth God heareth vs. he that is not of God heareth vs not ″ in this vve knovv the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour ✠verse 7 My deerest let vs loue one an other because charitie is of God And euery one that loueth is borne of God knovveth God ✠verse 8 He that loueth not knovveth not God because God is charitie ✠verse 9 * In this hath the charitie of God appeared in vs because God hath sent his only begotten sonne into the vvorld that vve may liue by him ✠verse 10 In this is charitie not as though vve haue loued him but because he hath loued vs and sent his sonne a propitiation for our sinnes ✠verse 11 My deerest if God hath so loued vs vve also ought to loue one an other ✠verse 12 * God no man hath seen at any time If vve loue one an other God abideth in vs and his charitie in vs is persired ✠verse 13 In this vve knovv that vve abide in him and he in vs because he of his Spirit hath giuen to vs. ✠verse 14 And vve haue seen and doe testifie that the Father hath sent his Sonne the Sauiour of the vvorld ✠verse 15 Vvhosoeuer shal confesse that IESVS is the Sonne of God God abideth in him and he in God ✠verse 16 And vve haue knovven and haue beleeued the charitie vvhich God hath in vs. God is charitie and he that abideth in charitie abideth in God and God in him ✠verse 17 In this is charitie perfited vvith vs ″ that vve may haue confidence in the day of iudgement because as he is vve also are in the vvorld ✠verse 18 ″ Feare is not in charitie but perfect charitie casteth out feare because feare hath painefulnes and he that feareth is not perfect in charitie ✠verse 19 Let vs therfore loue God because God first hath loued vs. ✠verse 20 If any man shal say that I loue God and hateth his brother he is a lier For he that loueth not his brother vvhom he seeth God vvhom he seeth not hovv can he loue ✠verse 21 * And this commaundement vve haue from God that he vvhich loueth God loue also his brother ⊢ ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII. 1. Beleeue not euery spirit That is Receiue not euery doctrine of such as boast them selues to haue the spirit For there be many false prophets that is to say Haeretikes which shal goe out of the Church and chalenge the spirit and vaunt of Gods word Scripture and Gospel vvhich in deede be seducers 1. Proue the spirites It is not meant by this place as the Protestants vvould haue it that euery particular person should of him self examine trie or iudge who is a true or false doctor and which is true or false doctrine But the Apostle here would euery one to discerne these diuersities of spirites by taking knovvledge of them to vvhom God hath giuen the gift of discerning spirites and doctrines vvhich S. Paul expresly saith is giuen but to some and not to euery one 1 Cor. 12. and by obeying the Church of God to whom Christ hath giuen * the Spirit of truth And this is onely the sure way to proue the spirites and doctrines of these daies And al they that would bring vs from our Pastors and the Churches iudgement to our owne priuate trial seeke nothing els but to driue vs to miserable vncertainty in al our beleefe as Caluin doth who vpon this place saith that priuate men may examine the general Councels doctrines 2. Euery spirit that confesseth The Apostle speaketh according to that time and for that part of Christian doctrine which then vvas specially to be confessed taught mainteined against certaine vvicked Haeretikes Cerinthus Ebion and the like that taught wickedly against the person and both natures of Christ IESVS The Apostle therfore giueth the faithful people this token to knovv the true teachers of those daies from the false Not that this marke vvould serue for al times or in case of al'other false doctrines but that it vvas then a necessarie note As if a good Catholike vvriter Pastor or parents would vvarne al theirs now in these daies to giue care onely to such teachers as acknowledge Christ our Sauiour to be really present and sacrificed in the B. Masse that al such are true preachers and of God the rest to be of the Diuel or to be counted the spirit of Antichrist Vvhich spirit of Antichrist he saith was come euen then