The Rheims New Testament (1582) — 2 Corinthians

Saint Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians, as printed in the Rheims New Testament of 1582, the English Catholic translation made from the Latin Vulgate at the English College, then in exile at Rheims, chiefly by Gregory Martin. The page gives the edition's argument of the book, all 13 chapters, each with its printed summary, every verse in the original spelling, and the marginal notes (cross-references, the days on which passages are read, and other readings); the edition's annotations follow every chapter.

The Argument

❧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. [Margin: 2. Cor. 11. 2. · Gal. 2. 1.]

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 & excōmunicate thoſe that had greuouſly ſinned and remained impenitent. Tvvo chapters alſo he interpoſeth of the coūtributions to the church of Hieruſalem, mentioned in his laſt, exhorting them to doe liberally, and alſo to haue all in areadines againſt his comming.

Chapter 1

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 that obiected lightnes againſt him, for not comming to Corinth according to his promis.

1 PAVL an Apoſtle of IESVS Chriſt by the vvil of God, and Timothee our brother: to the Church of God that is at Corinth, vvith al the ſaincts that are in al Achaia.

2 Grace vnto you and peace from God our father, and from our Lord IESVS Chriſt.

3 Bleſſed be the God and father of our Lord IESVS Chriſt, the father of mercies, and God of al comfort,

4 vvho comforteth vs in al our tribulation: that vve alſo may be able to comfort them that are in all diſtreſſe, by the exhortation vvherevvith vve alſo are exhorted of God.

5 For as the ″ paſſions of Chriſt abound in vs: ſo alſo by Chriſt doth our ″ comfort abound.

6 And vvhether vve be in tribulation, for your exhortation and ſaluation: vvhether vve be exhorted, for your exhortation and ſaluation, vvhich vvorketh the toleration of the ſame paſſions vvhich vve alſo doe ſuffer:

7 and our hope is firme for you: knovving that as you are partakers of the paſſions, ſo ſhal you be of the conſolation alſo. ⊢

8 For vve vvil not haue you ignorant brethren: concerning our tribulation, vvhich happened in Aſia, that vve vvere preſſed aboue meaſure aboue our povver, ſo that it vvas tedions vnto vs euen to liue.

9 But vve in our ſelues had the anſvver of death, that vve be not truſting in our ſelues, but in God vvho raiſeth vp the dead,

10 vvho hath deliuered and doth deliuer vs out of ſo great dangers: in vvhom vve hope that he vvil yet alſo deliuer vs,

11 you ″ helping vvithal in praier for vs, that ″ by many mens perſons, thankes for that gift vvhich is in vs, may be giuen by many in our behalfe.

12 For our glorie is this, the teſtimonie of our conſcience, that in ſimplicity and ſincerity of God, and not in carnal vviſedō, but in the grace of God vve haue conuerſed in this vvorld: and more aboundantly tovvards you.

13 For vve vvrite no other things to you, then that you haue read and knovv. And I hope that you ſhal knovv vnto the ende:

14 as alſo you haue knovven vs in part, that vve are ″ your glorie, as you alſo ours in the day of our Lord IESVS Chriſt.

15 And in this confidence I vvould firſt haue come to you, that you might haue a ſecond grace:

16 and by you paſſe into Macedonia, and againe from Macedonia come to you, and of you be brought on my vvay into Ievvrie.

17 Vvhereas then I vvas thus minded, did I vſe lightenes? Or the things that I minde, do I minde according to the fleſh, that there be vvith me, It is and It is not?

18 But God is faithful, becauſe our preaching vvhich vvas to you, there is not in it, ″ It is, and, It is not.

19 For the Sonne of God IESVS Chriſt, vvho by vs vvas preached among you, by me and Syluanus and Timothee, vvas not, It is, and, It is not, but, It is, vvas in him.

20 For al the promiſes of God that are, in him It is: therfore alſo by him, Amen to God, vnto our glorie.

21 And he that confirmeth vs vvith you in Chriſt, and that hath anointed vs, God:

22 vvho alſo ″ hath ſealed vs, and giuen the pledge of the Spirit in our hartes.

23 And I call God to vvitneſſe vpon my ſoul, that ſparing you, I came not any more to Corinth,

24 ″ not becauſe vve ouerrule your faith: but, vve are helpers of your ioy. for in the faith you ſtand.

Marginal notes to Chapter 1

• v. 3 The Epiſtle for a Martyr that is a Biſhop.
• v. 4 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩

Annotations to Chapter 1

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I.

5. Paſsions of Chriſt.] Al the afflictions of the faithful be called Chriſtes ovvne paſſions, not onely becauſe they be ſuffered for him, but for that there is ſo ſtraite coniunction and communion betvvixt him being the head, and euery of the liuing members of his body, vvhich is the Church, that vvhatſoeuer is ſuffered by any one of the ſame, is counted as a peece of his ovvne Paſſion. As likevviſe vvhatſoeuer good vvorkes be done to any of them or by any of them, be accepted as done to or by Chriſt him ſelf. Vvhich thing if the Proteſtants vvel vveighed, they vvould not maruel that the Catholike Church attributeth ſuch force of merite and ſatisfaction to the vvorke of holy men. [Margin: Al our afflictions, be Chriſts afflictions, for the coniunction betwene the head & body. · Merite and ſatisfaction.]

5. The comfort abound.] Vvorldly men that ſee onely the exterior miſeries and afflictions that Catholikes do ſuffer being perſecuted by the Heathen or Heretikes, deeme them exceding miſerable. but if they felt or could conceiue the aboundance of conſolation vvhich Chriſt euer giueth according to the meaſure of their afflictions, they vvould neuer vvonder at the voluntary toleration of vvhat torments ſo euer for Chriſtes ſake, but vvould vviſh rather them ſelues to be in any dungeon in England vvith the comfort that ſuch haue from God, then to liue out of the Church in al the vvealth of the vvorld. [Margin: Vvorldly men feele not the comfort of afflicted Catholikes.]

⟨illegible⟩1. You helping in praier.] S. Paul knevv that the helpe of other mens praiers vvas nothing derogatorie to the office of Chriſtes mediation or interceſſion for him, nor to the hope that he had in God: and therfore he craueth the Corinthians aide herein as a ſupport and ſuccours for him ſelf in the ſight of God. Vvith vvhat reaſon or Scripture then, can the Proteſtants ſay that the praiers of Sainctes be iniurious to Chriſt, or not to ſtand vvith the confidence vve haue in him? As though it vvere more diſhonour to God that vve ſhould vſe the aide of Sainctes in heauen, then of ſinners in earth: or * that the interceſſion of theſe our fellovves beneath, vvere more auailable then the praiers of thoſe that be in the glorious ſight of God aboue. [Margin: Interceſsiō of Saincts or holy men for vs, no derogation to Chriſt. · Hiero. cōt. Vigil.]

11. By many mens.] He meaneth, that as the praiers of many ioyned together for him, ſhal be rather heard, then of any alone: ſo their common thankes giuing to God for graunting their requeſt, ſhal be more acceptable and glorious to God, then any one mans thankes alone. Vvhich thing doth much commend the holy Churches publike praiers, proceſſions, ſtations, and pilgrimages, vvhere ſo many meete and vniformely ioyne their praiers and laudes together vnto God. [Margin: Publike praiers & faſtes.]

14. Your glorie.] The Apoſtles, teachers, and preachers, that conuert countries or particular perſons to Chriſt, and the peoples or parties by them conuerted, ſhal in the day of iudgement haue much mutual ioy and glorie of and for eche other, one giuing to the other great matter of merite in this life, and of revvard in the next. See 1 Theſſ. 2. v. 19. [Margin: Their glorie in heauen that conuert other.]

18. It is, it is not.] As he diſchargeth him ſelf of al other leuitie touching his promis or purpoſe of comming to them, ſo much more of al inconſtancie in preaching Chriſtes doctrine and faith. Vvherein, one day to affirme, an other day to deny, to diſſent from his fellovves or from him ſelf, to change euery yere or in euery epiſtle to forme of his former teaching, to come daily vvith nevv deuiſes repugnant to his ovvne rules, vvere not agreable to an Apoſtle and true teacher of Chriſt, but proper to falſe prophets and Heretikes. Vvhereof vve haue notorious examples in the Proteſtants: vvho being deſtitute of the ſpirit of peace, concord, conſtancie, vnitie, and veritie, as they varie from their ovvne vvritings vvhich they retract, reforme or deforme continually, ſo both in their preachings, & forme of Seruice, they are ſo reſtles, changeable, and repugnant to them ſelues, that if they vvere not kept in avve vvith much a do, by temporal lavves or by the ſhame and rebuke of the vvorld, they vvould coine vs euery yere or euery Parliament, nevv Communions, nevv faithes, and nevv Chriſtes, as you ſee by the manifold endeuours of the Puritans. And this to be the proper note of falſe Apoſtles and Heretikes, ſee in S. Iren⟨illegible⟩us li. ⟨illegible⟩ c. 18. and Tertul. de praeſcript. S. Baſil. ep. 82. [Margin: The Proteſtants inconſtancie in chāging their writings, tranſlations, ſeruice bookes, &c.]

22. Hath ſealed.] The learned Diuines proue by this place and by the like in the fourth to the Epheſians, that the Sacrament of Baptiſme doth not onely giue grace, but imprinteth and ſealeth the ſoule of the baptized, vvith a ſpiritual ſigne, marke, badge, or token, vvhich can neuer be blotted out, neither by ſinne, hereſie, apoſtaſie, nor other vvaies, but remaineth for euer in man for the cogniſance of his Chriſtendom, and for diſtinction from others vvhich vvere neuer of Chriſtes fold. by vvhich alſo he is as it were conſecrated and deputed to God, made capable and partaker of the rightes of the Church, and ſubiect to her lavves and diſcipline. See S. Hierom in 4. Epheſ. S. Ambroſe li. 1 de Sp. ſancto cap. 6. S. Cyril Hieroſol. Catecheſi ⟨illegible⟩7 at the end, and S. Dionyſius Areopag. c. 2. Eccl. Hierarch. The which fathers expreſſe that ſpiritual ſigne by diuers agreable names, vvhich the Church and moſt Diuines, after S. Auguſtine, call the character of Baptiſme. by the truth and force of vvhich ſpiritual note or marke of the ſoul, he ſpecially conuinceth the Donatiſtes, that the ſaid Sacrament though giuen and miniſtred by Heretikes or Schiſmatikes or vvho els ſo euer, can neuer be reiterated. See ep. ⟨illegible⟩7. & li. 6 cont. Donatiſt. cap. 1. & li. 2 cont. Parmenianum 6. 1⟨illegible⟩. As the like indeleble characters giuen alſo by the Sacraments of Confirmation and Orders, do make thoſe alſo irreiterable and neuer to be receiued but once. Vvhereas al other Sacraments ſauing theſe three, may be often receiued of the ſelf ſame perſon. And that holy Orders can not be iterated, ſee S. Auguſtine li. 2 cont. Parmen. c. 13. li. de bono coniug. c. 24. and S. Gregorie li. 2 Rggiſt. ep. 32. The like of Confirmation is decreed in the moſt aūcient Councel Tarracon. cap. 6. Finally that this character is giuen onely by theſe ſaid three Sacraments, and is the cauſe that none of them can be in any man repeated or reiterated, ſee the decrees of the Councels Florentine and Trent. Vvhich yet is no nevv deuiſe of them, as the Heretikes falſely affirme, but agreable (as you ſee) both to the Scriptures and alſo to the auncient fathers and Councels. [Margin: Eph. 4, 3⟨illegible⟩. · The indeleble character of Baptiſme, Cōfirmatiō, Holy Orders. · See Conc. Tarraco. to. ⟨illegible⟩. Concil.]

⟨illegible⟩4. Not becauſe vve ouerrule.] Caluin and his ſeditious Sectaries vvith other like vvhich deſpiſe dominion, as S. Iude deſcribeth ſuch, vvould by this place deliuer them ſelues from al yoke of ſpiritual Magiſtrates and Rulers: namely that they be ſubiect to no man touching their faith, or for the examination and trial of their doctrine, but to God and his vvord onely. And no maruel that the male factors and rebelles of the Church vvould come to no tribunal but Gods, that ſo they may remaine vnpuniſhed at leaſt during this life. for though the Scriptures plainely condemne their hereſies, yet they could vvrithe them ſelues out by falſe gloſes, conſtructions, corruptions, and denials of the bookes to be Canonical, if there vvere no lavves or iudicial ſentence of men to rule and repreſſe them. [Margin: The Caluiniſtes vvil be ſubiect to no tribunal in earth, for trial of their religiō.]

Notvvithſtanding then theſe vvordes of S. Paul, vvhereby onely tyrannical, inſolent, and proud behauiour and indiſcrete rigor of Prelates or Apoſtles tovvards their flockes is noted, as alſo in the firſt of S. Peter cap. 5. (the Greeke vvord in theſe places, and in the Goſpel Mt. 20, 25. Mr. 10, 42. ſignifying lordly and inſolent dominion:) yet he had and exerciſed iuſt ru⟨illegible⟩e, preeminence, and prelacie ouer them, not onely for their life, but alſo and principally touching their faith. for he might & did call them to account for the ſame, and excōmunicated heretikes for foreſaking their faith. 1 Cor. 4, 5. 2 Cor. 10, 4. 13, 10. 1 Tim. 1, 20. Tit. ⟨illegible⟩, 11. And al Chriſtian men are bound to obey their lavvful Prelates in matters of faith and doctrine ſpecially, and muſt not vnder that ridiculous pretence of obeying Gods vvord onely (vvhich is the ſhifte of al other Heretikes, as Anabaptiſtes, Arians, and the like, as vvel as the Proteſtants) diſobey Gods Church, Councels, and their ovvne Paſtors and Biſhops, vvho by the Scriptures haue the regiment of their ſoules, and may examine and puniſh as vvel Iohn Caluin as Simon Magus, for falling from the Catholike faith, for though God alone be the Lord, author and giuer of faith, yet they are his * cooperators and coadiutors by vvhom the faithful do beleeue and be preſerued in the true faith, and be defended from vvolues, vvhich be Heretikes ſeeking to corrupt them in the ſame. And this ſame Apoſtle * chalengeth to be their father as he that begat and formed them by his preaching in Chriſt. [Margin: Tyrannical dominiō is forbid in Prelates, not Eccleſiaſtical Soueraintie for examination of faith or maners. · ⟨non-Latin script⟩. · ⟨non-Latin script⟩ · 1 Cor. 3, 9. · 1 Cor. 4, 15.]

Chapter 2

Proſecuting the true cauſe vvhich in the laſt chapter he gaue of his not comming, 6 he pardoneth novv after ſome part of penance, him that for inceſt he excommunicated in the laſt epiſtle, requiring them obediently to conſent therevnto. 12 Then, of his going from Tro⟨illegible⟩ into Macedonia, God euery vvhere giuing him the triumph.

1 AND I haue determined vvith my ſelf this ſame thing, not to come to you againe in ſorovv.

2 For if I make you ſorie: and who is it that can make me glad, but he that is made ſorie by me?

3 And this ſame I vvrote to you: that I may not, vvhen I come, haue ſorovv vpon ſorovv, of the vvhich I ought to reioyce: truſting in you al, that my ioy is the ioy of you al.

4 For of much tribulation and anguiſh of hart I vvrote to you by many teares: not that you ſhould be made ſorie: but that you may knovv vvhat charitie I haue more aboundantly tovvard you.

5 And if any man hath made ſorovvful, not me hath he made ſorovvful, but in part, that I burden not al you.

6 To him that is ſuch a one, ″ this rebuke ſufficeth that is giuen of many:

7 ſo that cōtrariewiſe you ſhould rather pardon and comfort him, leſt perhaps ſuch an one be ſvvallovved vp vvith ouer great ſorovv.

8 For the vvhich cauſe ″ I beſeeche you that you confirme charitie tovvard him.

9 For therfore alſo haue I written that I may knovv the experiment of you, vvhether in al things you be ″ obedient.

10 And vvhom you haue pardoned any thing, ″ I alſo. For, my ſelf alſo that vvhich I pardoned, if I pardoned any thing, ″ for you ″ in the perſon of Chriſt,

11 that vve be not ″ circumuented of Satan. for vve are not ignorant of his cogitations.

12 And vvhen I vvas come to Troas for the Goſpel of Chriſt, and a doore vvas opened vnto me in our Lord,

13 I had no reſt in my ſpirit, for that I found not Titus my brother, but bidding them fare vvel, I vvent forth into Macedonia.

14 And thankes be to God, vvho alvvaies triumpheth vs in Chriſt IESVS, and manifeſteth the odour of his knovvledge by vs in euery place.

15 For vve are the good odour of Chriſt vnto God in them that are ſaued, and in them that periſh.

16 To ſome in deede the odour of death vnto death: but to others the odour of life vnto life. And to theſe things vvho is ſo ſufficient?

17 For vve are not as very many, ″ adulterating the vvord of God, but of ſinceritie, and as of God, before God, in Chriſt vve ſpeake.

Marginal notes to Chapter 2

• v. 10 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩. Though he did great Penance (ſaith Theodorete) yet he calleth this pardoning. ⟨non-Latin script⟩, a grace, becauſe his ſinne vvas greater then his penance.

Annotations to Chapter 2

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II.

⟨illegible⟩. This rebuke ſufficeth.] This Corinthian for inceſt vvas excommunicated and put to penance by the Apoſtle, as appeareth in the former Epiſtle c. 5. And here order is giuen for his abſolution and pardoning. Vvherein firſt vve haue a plaine example and proofe of the Apoſtolike povver, there of binding, and here of looſing: there of puniſhing, here of pardoning: there of retaining ſinnes, here of remiſsion. Secondly vve may hereby proue that not onely amendment, ceaſing to ſinne, or repentance in hart and before God alone, is alvvaies ynough to obteine ful reconcilement, vvhereas vve ſee here his ſeparation alſo from the faithful, and the Sacraments, and from al companie or dealing vvith other Chriſtian men, beſides other bodily affliction: al vvhich called of the Apoſtle before interitus carnis, the deſtruction of the fleſh, and named here, Rebuke, or (as the * Greeke word alſo importeth) mulct, penaltie, correction, chaſtiſment, were enioyned him by the Apoſtles commaundement in the face of the Church, and by the offender patiently ſuſteined ſo long. Thirdly we ſee that it lieth in he handes of the Apoſtles, Biſhops, and ſpiritual Magiſtrates, to meaſure the time of ſuch penance or diſcipline, not onely according to the weight of the offence committed, but alſo according to the weaknes of the perſons puniſhed, and other reſpectes of time and place, as to their wiſedom ſhal be thought moſt agreable to the parties good, and the Churches edification. Laſtly by this vvhole hardling of the offenders caſe, we may refute the vvicked hereſie of the Proteſtants, that vvould make ⟨illegible⟩he ſimple beleeue, no puniſhment of a mans ovvne perſon for ſinnes cōmitted, nor penance enioyned by the Church, nor any paines temporal or ſatisfaction for our life paſt, to be neceſſarie, but al ſuch things to be ſuperfluous, becauſe Chriſt hath ſatisfied ynough for all. Vvhich Epicurian doctrine is refelled, not onely hereby, but alſo by the Prophets, Iohn the Baptiſtes, Chriſtes, and the Apoſtles preaching of penance and condigne workes or fruites of repentance, to euery man in his ovvne perſon, and not in Chriſtes perſon onely: and by the vvhole life and moſt plaine ſpeaches and penitential canons of the holy doctors and Councels preſcribing times of penance, commending penance, enioyning penance, and continually vſing the word ſatisfaction in this caſe through out al their vvorkes, as our Aduerſaries them ſelues can not but confeſſe. [Margin: The Apoſtle excommunicateth, enioyneth penance: and afterward pardoneth & abſolueth. · 1. Cor. ⟨illegible⟩, 5. ⟨non-Latin script⟩. · Pardon or remiſsion of penance enioyned. · Penance and ſatisfaction euidently proued againſt the Proteſtants. · Ioel. 2, 12. · Mt. 3. et 4 · Act. 2, et 26.]

8. I beſeche you.] They vvhich at the beginning did beare to much vvith the offender, and ſeemed Io⟨illegible⟩h to haue him excommunicated in ſo auſtere maner: yet through their obedience to the Apoſtle became on the other ſide ſo rigorous, and ſo farre deteſted the malefactor after he vvas excommunicated, that the Apoſtle novv meaning to abſolue him, vvas glad to intreate and commaund them alſo to accept him to their companie and grace againe. [Margin: Zeale againſt the excommunicate.]

9. Obedient.] Though in the laſt chapter he diſcharged him ſelf of tyrannical dominion ouer them, yet he chalengeth their obedience in al things as their Paſtor and Superior, and conſequently in this point of receiuing to mercie the penitent Corinthian. Vvhereby vve ſee, that as the power and authoritie of excommunicating, ſo of abſoluing alſo vvas in S. Paules perſon, though both vvere to be done in the face of the Church: els he vvould not haue commaunded or required their obedience. [Margin: The Apoſtle chalengeth their obediēce to his Eccleſiaſtical authoritie.]

10. I alſo.] The Heretikes and others not vvel founded in the Scriptures and antiquitie, maruel at the Popes pardons, counting them either fruitles or vnlavvful or no elder then S. Gregorie. But in deede the authoritie, power, and right of them is of Chriſtes ovvne vvord and commiſsion, principally giuen to Peter, and ſo aftervvard to al the Apoſtles, and in their perſons to al the cheefe Paſtors of the Church, vvhen it vvas ſaid, Whatſoeuer you looſe in earth, ſhal be looſed in heauen. By vvhich commiſsion the holy Biſhops of old did cut of large peeces of penance enioyned to offenders, and gaue peace, grace, or indulgence, * before they had accompliſhed the meaſure of their appointed or deſerued puniſhment▪ and that is to giue pardon. And ſo S. Paul here did tovvardes the Corinthian, vvhom he aſſoiled of mere grace and mercie, as the vvord donare or ⟨illegible⟩endonare doth ſignifie, when he might longer haue kept him in penance and temporall affliction for his offence. Vvherof though he had already before God invvardly repented, yet vvas he iuſtly holden vnder this correction for ſome ſatisfaction of his fault paſt, during the Apoſtles pleaſure. To remit then the temporal puniſhment or chaſtiſment due to ſinners after the offence it ſelf and the guilt therof be forgiuen of God, is an Indulgence or pardon, vvhich the principal Magiſtrates of Gods Church by Chriſtes vvarrant and the Apoſtles example, haue euer done, being no leſſe authoriſed to pardon then to puniſh, and by imitation of our Maiſter (who forgaue * the aduoutereſſe and diuers other offenders, not only their ſinnes, but alſo often the temporal puniſhments due for the ſame) are as much giuen to mercie as to iuſtice. [Margin: The authoritie of Indulgences vvhervpō it is groūded. · Mat. 18, 18. · Cypria. ep. 13. 14. 15. · ⟨non-Latin script⟩. See Theodoret in hūe loc. · Vvhat is a pardon or indulgence. · Io. 8, 11.]

10. For you.] Theodorete vpon this place ſaith that the Apoſtle gaue this pardon to the Corinthian at the interceſsion of the bleſſed men. Timotheus and Titus. And we may read in ſundrie places, of S. Cyprian namely, that Indulgences or remiſsions vvere giuen in the primitiue Church by the mediation of holy Confeſſors or Martyrs, and by cōmunicating the ſatisfactorie vvorkes of one to another, to vvhich end they gaue their letters to Biſhops in the behalfe of diuers their Chriſtiā brethrē, a thing moſt agreable to the 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. [Margin: Cypr. locis citatu. · Indulgences or pardons in the primitiue Church. · 2 Cor. 8. · Col. 1, 24.]

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. [Margin: Al pardon and remiſsion is in the vertue and name of Chriſt. · Heretical trāſlation. · ⟨non-Latin script⟩. · 1 Cor. 5, 4. · Io. 20, 2⟨illegible⟩.]

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 chaſtiſemē ⟨illegible⟩. 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 penanc̄e, 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 ⟨illegible⟩ 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. [Margin: Al binding & looſing muſt be vſed to the parties ſaluation. · Conc. Nic. can. 12. · The great penance of the primitiue Church. · Ancyran. can. 2 & 5. · Vvhy more pardons and Indulgences now then in old time. · Mat. 11, 18.]

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 trāſlations, 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. [Margin: ⟨non-Latin script⟩. · The Heretikes corrupting of the Scripture.]

Chapter 3

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.

1 BEGIN we againe to commend our ſelues? or do vve neede (as certaine) epiſtles of commendation to you, or from you?

2 Our epiſtle you are, vvritten in our hartes, vvhich is knovven and read of al men:

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.

4 And ſuch confidence vve haue by Chriſt God:

5 not that vve be ſufficient to thinke any thing ″ of our ſelues, as of our ſelues: but our ſufficience is of God.

6 Vvho alſo hath made vs meete miniſters of the nevv ⟨illegible⟩eſtament: not in the letter, but in the Spirit. For ″ the letter killeth: but the Spirit quickeneth.

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 countenāce, that is made void:

8 how ſhal not the miniſtration of the Spirit be more in glorie?

9 For if the miniſtratiō of damnation be in glorie: ″ much more the miniſterie of iuſtice aboundeth in glorie. ⊢

10 For neither vvas it glorified, vvhich in this part vvas glorious, by reaſō of the excelling glorie.

11 For if that which is made void, is by glorie: much more that vvhich abideth, is in glorie.

12 Hauing therfore ſuch hope, vve vſe much confidence:

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,

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)

15 but vntil this preſent day, vvhen Moyſes is read, a vele is put vpō their hart.

16 But vvhen he ſhal be conuerted to our Lord, the vele ſhal be taken avvay.

17 And * our Lord is a Spirit. And vvhere the Spirit of our Lord is, there is ″ libertie.

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.

Marginal notes to Chapter 3

• v. 3 The Epiſtle vpon the 12 Sunday after Pe⟨illegible⟩tecoſt.
• v. 13 Exo. 34, 33.
• v. 16 10. 4, 24▪

Annotations to Chapter 3

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. ⟨illegible⟩. 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⟨illegible⟩ 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, (⟨illegible⟩. ⟨illegible⟩. Hiero⟨illegible⟩. c. 9. ad Pa⟨illegible⟩.) 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. [Margin: The Apoſtles vvrote the Goſpel in mens hartes much more then in paper. · Scripture written, and Tradition vnwritten.]

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. [Margin: God grace & free will both muſt cōcurre.]

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. ⟨illegible⟩. Ser. 70 & 1000 de tempore. & li. de Sp. & lit. c. 5. 6. & ſeq. [Margin: The letter killeth both Ievv and Heretike.]

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. [Margin: The preeminence of the new Teſtamēt, Sacraments, &c.]

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. [Margin: The heretikes more blinde in not ſeing the Church, then the Iewes in not ſeing Chriſt. · Aug. in Pſal. 10. Con⟨illegible⟩. ⟨illegible⟩.]

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. [Margin: True Chriſtiā libertie. · ⟨illegible⟩. Pet. 2, 1⟨illegible⟩.]

Chapter 4

That according as ſo glorious a miniſterie requireth, he liueth and preacheth ſincerely. ⟨illegible⟩ 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.

1 THERFORE hauing this miniſtration: according as vve haue obteined mercie, vve faile not,

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.

3 And if our Goſpel be alſo hidde, in them that periſh it is hidde,

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.

5 For vve preache nor our ſelues, but IESVS Chriſt our Lord: and vs, your ſeruants by IESVS,

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.

7 But vve haue this treaſure in earthen veſſels, that the excellencie may be of the povver of God, and not of vs.

8 In al things vve ſuffer tribulation, but are not in diſtreſſe: vve vvant, but are not deſtitute:

9 vve ſuffer perſecution, but are not forſaken: vve are caſt dovvne, but vve periſh not:

10 alvvaies bearing about in our body the mortification of IESVS, that the life alſo of IESVS may be manifeſted in our bodies.

11 For vve that liue, are alvvaies deliuered vnto death for IESVS: that the life alſo of IESVS may be manifeſted in our mortal fleſh.

12 Death then vvorketh in vs, but life in you.

13 And hauing the ſame ſpirit of faith, as it is vvritten, I beleeued, for the vvhich cauſe I haue ſpoken, vve alſo beleeue, for the vvhich cauſe vve ſpeake alſo:

14 knovving that he vvhich raiſed vp IESVS, vvil raiſe vp vs alſo vvith IESVS and ſet vs vvith you. ⊢

15 For al things are for you: that the grace abounding by many in giuing of thankes, may abound vnto the glorie of God.

16 For vvhich cauſe vve faile not: but although that our man vvhich is vvithout, corrupte: yet that vvhich is vvithin, is renevved from day to day.

17 For that our tribulation vvhich preſently is momentanie & light, ″ vvorketh aboue meaſure excedingly an eternal vveight of glorie in vs,

18 we not cōſidering the things that are ſeen, but that are not ſeen. For the things that be ſeen, are temporal: but thoſe that be not ſeen, are eternal.

Marginal notes to Chapter 4

• v. 4 The Epiſtle for S. Athanaſius. Mai. Io.
• v. 8 ᶜ aporiamur. See S. Ambr. Theoph.
• v. 13 Pſ. 115, 10.
• v. 16 ᵇ corrumpitur.
• v. 17 The Engliſh Bible 1577, doth falſely tranſlate, prepareth.
• v. 17 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩

Annotations to Chapter 4

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII.

⟨illegible⟩. Adulterating.] He giueth often vvarning of falſe teachers, whoſe ſpecial and proper ſtudie is to falſifie and adulterate by deceitful conſtructions, interpretations, and applications, the word of God: hauing no other end but to make their aduantage of the Scriptures, and to gaine glorie and eſtimation among the ſinful and ſimple, by new deuiſed expoſitions. Vvherein the Proteſtants do excel the auncient Heretikes, none euer more impu⟨illegible⟩ely handeling the vvord of God then they do. Origen calleth ſuch Scripturarum fures & adulteros, theeues and adulterers of the Scriptures. S. Cyprian (de vnit. Ec. nu. 7.) calleth them, corrupters of the Goſpel, falſe interpreters, artificers and crafteſmaſters in corrupting the truth. On the other ſide, for ſpecial reuerence and ſinceritie of dealing in thoſe matters, the fathers and al Catholike preachers or Expoſitors vvere of old called according to S. Paules vvordes to Timothee, Rectè tractantes verbum Dei, right handlers of the vvord of God. [Margin: Heretikes corrupters of Gods word: Catholike Doctors, right handlers therof. · See Ir⟨illegible⟩. li. 1. c. 1. · in 2 ad Rom. · ⟨illegible⟩. Tim. 2.]

17. Worketh.] The temporal and ſhort tribulations vvhich vve patiently and willingly ſuffer for Chriſt, do winne vs euerlaſting ioy and glorie. And it is here to be noted againſt the Heretikes, that tribulations do vvorke or cauſe the ſaid ſaluation, which they deny to be giuen for ſuch thinges, but for or by faith onely. S. Auguſtine maketh ſuch tribulations for Chriſt ſo much the meritorious cauſe of euerlaſting life and reſt, that he ſaith it is ſalable and bought thereby. And it is written. Sap. 10, God rendreth or repaieth to iuſt men the hire of their labours. [Margin: Tribulations meritorious of glorie. · Aug. in pſ. 93. prope finem.]

Chapter 5

That after death of the body the ſoule may to heauen: therfore, although naturally vve abhorre death, by grace he deſireth it rather: 9 in conſideration of Chriſtes iuſt iudgement, liuing as in the ſight of God, yea and of their conſciences. 12 Which he ſpeaketh not to praiſe him ſelf, but becauſe of his Aduerſaries vvho did glorie in carnal reſpectes: but he and the other Apoſtles regard nothing but their reconciliation vnto God by Chriſt, and to reconcile others alſo, as being his legates for that purpoſe.

1 FOR vve knovv that if our earthly houſe of this habitation be diſſolued, that vve haue a building of God, a houſe not made vvith hand, eternal in heauen.

2 For in this alſo do vve grone, deſirous to be ouerclothed with our habitation that is from heauen:

3 yet ſo, if vve be found clothed, not naked.

4 For vve alſo that are in this tabernacle, grone being burdened: becauſe vve would not be ſpoiled, but ouerclothed, that that vvhich is mortal, might be ſvvallovved vp of life.

5 And he that maketh vs to this ſame, is God, vvho hath giuen vs the pledge of the Spirit.

6 Being bold therfore alvvaies, and knovving that vvhile vve are in the body, vve are pilgrimes from God, (

7 for vve vvalke by faith and not by ſight)

8 but vve are bold, and haue a good vvil to be pilgrimes rather from the body, & to be preſent vvith our Lord.

9 And therfore vve endeuour, vvhether abſent or preſent, to pleaſe him.

10 For * vve muſt al be manifeſted before the iudgemēt ſeate of Chriſt, that euery one may receiue ″ the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, ″ either good or euil.

11 Knovving therfore the feare of our Lord vve vſe perſuaſion to men: but to God vve are manifeſt. ✝ And I hope alſo that in your conſciences vve are manifeſt.

12 Vve commend not ourſelues againe to you, but giue you occaſion to glorie for vs: that you may haue againſt them that glorie in face, and not in hart.

13 for vvhether vve excede in minde, to God: or vvhether vve be ſober, to you.

14 For the charitie of Chriſt vrgeth vs: iudging this, that if one died for al, then al vvere dead.

15 and Chriſt died for al: that they alſo vvhich liue, may not novv liue to them ſelues, but to him that died for them and roſe againe.

16 Therfore vve from hence forth knovve no man according to the fleſh. And if vve haue knovven Chriſt according to the fleſh: but novv vve know him no more.

17 If then any be in Chriſt a nevv creature: the old are paſſed, behold * al things are made nevv.

18 but al of God, vvho hath reconciled vs to him ſelf by Chriſt: and hath giuen ″ vs the miniſterie of reconciliation.

19 For God in deede vvas in Chriſt reconciling the vvorld to him ſelf, not imputing to them their ſinnes, and hath put in vs the vvord of reconciliation.

20 For Chriſt therfore vve are legates, God as it vvere exhorting by vs. For Chriſt vve beſeeche you, be reconciled to God.

21 Him that knevv no ſinne, for vs he made ſinne: that vve might be made ″ the iuſtice of God in him

Marginal notes to Chapter 5

• v. 8 ⸬ This place proueth that the Saincts departed novv ſince Chriſt, ſleepe not til the day of iudgement, and that they be not holden in any ſeueral place of reſt from the fruition of God til the reſurrection of their bodies, but that they be preſent vvith God in their ſoules.
• v. 9 Ro. 14, 10.
• v. 17 Eſa. 43. 19. Apoc 21, 5.
• v. 21 ᶜ That is to ſay, a ſacrifice and an hoſt for ſinne. See the laſt annot. of this chapter.

Annotations to Chapter 5

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V.

10. The proper things of his body.] S. Auguſtine (Enchirid. ⟨illegible⟩. no.) obiecteth this ſpeach of the Apoſtle, as in the perſon of ſuch as deny the praiers, almes, and ſacrifices of the liuing to be auailable for the dead, and he anſvvereth as folovveth. This practiſe (ſaith he) of Gods Church in the commendation of the dead, in nothing repugnant to the ſentence of the Apoſtle, vvhere he ſaith, that vve ſhal al ſtand before the iudgement ſeate of Chriſt, that euery one may receiue according to his deſerts in the body, either good or euil. For, in his life and before death he deſerued this, that theſe vvorkes after his death might be profitable vnto him. for in deede they be not profitable for al men. and vvhy ſo? but becauſe of the difference and diuerſitie of mens liues vvhiles they vvere in fleſh. The like he hath in diuers other places. Auguſt. li. de Praed. Sanct. c. 12. & ad Dulcit. q. 2. And ſo hath S. Denys c. 7. Ec. Hierarch. [Margin: The obiection againſt praiers for the dead, anſvvered by S. Auguſtine.]

10. Either good or euil.] Heauen is as vvel the revvard of good vvorkes, as Hel is the ſtipend of il vvorkes. Neither is faith alone ſufficient to procure ſaluation, nor lacke of ſaith the onely cauſe of damnation: by good deedes men merite the one, and by il deedes they deſerne the other. This is the Apoſtles doctrine here and in other place, hovv ſo euer the Aduerſaries of good life and vvorkes teach othervviſe. [Margin: Vvorkes meritorious and demeritorious.]

18. The miniſterie of reconciliation.] Chriſt is the cheefe Miniſter, according to his manhod, of al our reconcilement to God: and for him, as his miniſters, the Apoſtles and their ſucceſſors the Biſhops and Prieſts of his Church, in vvhom the vvord of reconcilement, as vvel by miniſtring of the Sacrifice and Sacraments for remiſſion of ſinnes, as by preaching and gouernement of the vvorld to ſaluation, is placed. And therfore their preaching muſt be to vs, as if Chriſt him ſelf did preach: their abſolution and remiſſion of ſinnes, as Chriſtes ovvne pardon: their vvhole office being nothing els (as vve ſee by this paſſage) but the Vicarſhip of Chriſt. [Margin: Biſhops and Prieſts vnder Chriſt miniſters of our reconciliatiō.]

21. The iuſtice of God.] Euen as (ſaith S. Augſtine) vvhen vve reade, Saluation is our Lordes, it is not meant that ſaluatiō Whereby our Lord is ſaued, but vvhereby they are ſaued vvhō he ſaueth (ſo vvhē it is ſaid, Gods iuſtice, that is not to be vnderſtood vvherevvith God is iuſt, but that vvherevvith men are iuſt. vvhom by his grace he iuſtifieth. See S. Auguſtine de Sp. & lit. c. 1⟨illegible⟩. & ep. 120 ad Honoratum, and abhorre Caluins vvicked and vnlearned gloſe on this place, that teacheth Iuſtice no othervviſe to be in man, then ſinne in Chriſt. Vvhereas the Scriptures call man iuſt, becauſe * he doth iuſtice: but not ſo call they Chriſt ſinne, becauſe he doth ſinne, but becauſe he taketh avvay ſinne, and is a ſacrifice for ſinne, as the Heretikes knovv very vvel, that knovv the vſe and ſignification of the Hebrevv vvord in al the old Teſtament, namely Pſal. 19, 8. and in the booke of Leuiticus very often, c. 5. ⟨illegible⟩. 9. 12. 14. 16. and Numer. c. 29. [Margin: Gods iuſtice, wherewith he maketh vs iuſt. · c. Io. 3, 7. · ⟨non-Latin script⟩]

Chapter 6

That he helpeth vvith his exhortations, and in al things behaueth him ſelf as becommeth a miniſter of God. 11 which he ſpeaketh ſo openly, becauſe his hart is open vnto them: exhorting them to be likevviſe open-harted tovvardes him, 14 and to auoid thoſe infidels.

1 AND vve ″ helping do exhorte, that you receiue not the ″ grace of God in vaine. (

2 For he ſaith, In time accepted haue I heard thee: and in the day of ſaluation haue I holpen thee. Behold, novv is the time acceptable: behold novv the day of ſaluation.)

3 to no man giuing any offence, that our miniſterie be not blamed:

4 but in al things let vs exhibite our ſelues as the miniſters of God, in much patience, in tribulations, in neceſſities, in diſtreſſes,

5 in ſtripes, in priſons, in ſeditions, in labours, ″ in vvatchings, in faſting,

6 in chaſtitie, in knovvledge, in lōganimitie, in ſvveetenes, in the holy Ghoſt, in charitie not feined,

7 in the vvord of truth, in the vertue of God, by the armour of iuſtice on the right hand, and on the left,

8 by honour and diſhonour, by infamie and good fame: as ſeducers, and true: as they that are vnknovven, and knovven:

9 as dying, and behold vve line: as chaſtened, & not killed:

10 as ſorovvful, but alvvaies reioycing: as needie, but enriching many: as hauing nothing, and poſſeſſing al things. ⊢

11 Our mouth is open to you ô Corinthians, our hart is dilated.

12 You are not ſtraitened in vs: but in your ovvne bovvels you are ſtraitened.

13 But hauing the ſame revvard (I ſpeake as to my children) be you alſo dilated.

14 Beare not the yoke vvith infidels. For vvhat participation hath iuſtice vvith iniquitie? or ″ vvhat ſocietie is there betwene light and darkenes?

15 And vvhat agreement vvith Chriſt and Belial? or vvhat part hath the faithful vvith the infidel?

16 And vvhat agreement hath the temple of God vvith Idols? For you are the temple of the liuing God. as God ſaith, That I vvil dvvel, and vvalke in them, and vvil be their God: and they ſhal be my people.

17 For the vvhich cauſe, Goe out of the middes of them, and ſeparate your ſelues. ſaith our Lord, and touch not the vncleane: and I vvil receiue you.

18 and I vvil be a father to you: and you ſhal be my ſonne and daughters, ſaith our Lord omnipotent.

Marginal notes to Chapter 6

• v. 1 The Epiſtle vpon the firſt Sunday of Lent.
• v. 2 Eſ. 49, 8▪
• v. 3 The Epiſtle for many Martyrs.
• v. 10 ⸬ S. Auguſtine (in pſ. 113) gathereth hereby, that the Apoſtles did vovv pouertie.
• v. 14 ⸬ It is not lawful for Catholikes to marie vvith Heretikes or Infidels. See S. Hierom. cont. I⟨illegible⟩uinian. li. 1. Conc. Laod. ⟨illegible⟩. 10 & 31.
• v. 16 Leu. 26, 11.
• v. 17 Eſ. 52, 11▪
• v. 18 Hier. 31, 1.

Annotations to Chapter 6

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VI.

1. Helping.] For that he declared before the Miniſters of the nevv Teſtament to be Chriſtes deputies, and that vvhen they preach or do any function, God as it vvere ſpeaketh or doeth it by them, he boldly novv ſaith, Helping therfore: that is to ſay, ioyning or vvorking together vvith God, vve do exhort. [Margin: Gods Miniſters are his coadiutors. · ⟨non-Latin script⟩]

1. Grace in vaine.] The grace of God vvorketh not in man againſt his vvill, nor forceth any thing vvithout his acceptation and conſent; and therfore it lieth in mans vvill to fruſtrate or to folovv the motion of God, as this text plainely proueth. [Margin: Gods grace forceth no mā againſt his vvil.]

5. In Watchings.] Vvhen in the middes of many miſeries and perſecutions, the Apoſtles yet of their ovvne accord added and required voluntarie vigils, faſtings, and chaſtitie, vve may vvel perceiue theſe vvorkes to be vvonderful grateful to God, and ſpecially needful in the Clergie. [Margin: Voluntarie penance.]

14. What ſocietie.] Generally here is forbidden conuerſation and dealing vvith al Infidels, and conſequently vvith Heretikes, but ſpecially in praiers, or meetings at their Schiſmatical Seruice, preaching, or other diuine office vvhatſoeuer. Vvhich the Apoſtle here vttereth in more particular and different termes, that Chriſtian folke may take the better heede of it. No ſocietie (ſaith he) nor felovvſhip, no participation nor agreement, no conſent betvvene light and darknes, Chriſt and Baal, the temple of God and the temple of Idols: al Seruice, as pretended vvorſhip of God ſet vp by Heretikes or Schiſmatikes, being nothing els but Seruice of Baal and plaine Idolatrie, and their conuenticles nothing but conſpirations againſt Chriſt. from ſuch therfore ſpecially vve muſt ſeuer our ſelues alvvaies in hart and mind, and touching any act of religion in body alſo, according as the children of Iſrael vvere commaunded by God to ſeparate them ſelues from the Schiſmatikes Corè, Dathan, and Abiron, and their tabernacles, by theſe vvordes: Depart from the tabernacles of the impious men, and touch ye not thoſe things vvhich pertaine to them, leſt you be envvrapped in their ſinnes. [Margin: Not to communicate with Heretikes in any acte of religion. · Num, 16, 26.]

Chapter 7

He procedeth to exhorte them to puritie, and to receiue him into their charitie. 3 Which leſt they ſhould thinke he ſpeaketh to accuſe them, he commendeth them highly, both for their behauiour tovvard Titus, and for their penance vvhich they had done vpon his other epiſtle.

1 HAVING therfore theſe promiſſes, my deereſt, let vs cleanſe our ſelues from al inquinatiō of the fleſh and ſpirit, perſiting ſanctification in the feare of God.

2 Receiue vs. Vve haue hurt no man, vve haue corrupted no man, vve haue circumuented no man.

3 I ſpeake not to your cōdemnation. for I ſaid before that you are in our hartes to die together and to liue together.

4 Much is my confidence vvith you, much is my glorying for you: I am repleniſhed vvith conſolation: I do excedingly abound in ioy in al our tribulation.

5 For alſo vvhen vve vvere come into Macedonia, our fleſh had no reſt, but vve ſuffered al tribulatiō: vvithout, combats: vvithin, feares.

6 But God that comforteth the humble, did comforte vs, in the comming of Titus.

7 And not only in his comming, but alſo in the conſolation, vvhervvith he vvas comforted among you, reporting to vs your deſire, your vveeping, your emulation for me, ſo that I reioyced the more.

8 For although I made you ſorie in an epiſtle, it repenteth me not: albeit it repented me, ſeing that the ſame epiſtle (although but for a time) did make you ſorie.

9 Novv I am glad: not becauſe you vvere made ſorie, but becauſe you vvere made ″ ſorie to penance. For you vvere made ſorie according to God, that in nothing you ſhould ſuffer detriment by vs.

10 For the ſorovv that is according to God, vvorketh penance vnto ſaluation that is ſtable: but the ſorovv of the vvorld vvorketh death.

11 For behold this very thing, that you vvere made ſorie according to God, hovv great carefulnes it vvorketh in you: yea defenſe, yea indignation, yea feare, yea deſire, yea emulation, yea reuenge. in al things you haue ſhevved your ſelues to be vndefiled in the matter.

12 Therfore although I vvrote to you, not for him that did the iniurie, nor for him that ſuffered: but to manifeſt our carefulnes that vve haue for you before God,

13 therfore vve are comforted. But in our conſolation, vve did the more aboundantly reioyce vpon the ioy of Titus, becauſe his ſpirit vvas refreſhed of al you.

14 And if to him I gloried any thing of you, I am not cōfounded: but as vve ſpake al things to you in truth, ſo alſo our glorying that vvas to Titus, is made a truth,

15 and his bovvels are more aboundantly toward you: remembring the obedience of you al, hovv vvith feare and trembling you receiued him.

16 I reioyce that in al things I haue confidence in you.

Marginal notes to Chapter 7

• v. 10 ⸬ Contrition or ſorovvful lamenting of our oftenſes, is the cauſe of ſaluation. Not onely faith: then ſaueth, as the Heretikes affirme.

Annotations to Chapter 7

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VII.

9. Sorie to penance.] The ſorovv vvhich a man taketh for vvorldly loſſes or any temporal aduerſitie, is not here commended, but that vvhich is and ought to be in al men for their ſinnes paſt, vvhich is called here, Sorovv tovvardes God and for penance, othervviſe called Contrition, and is a thing excedingly requiſite and much praiſed, the fruites vvhereof are theſe that the Apoſtle reckeneth, vvorking ſaluation. Vvhich doctrine is farre diſtant from Luthers, and Caluins, and ſuch vvicked Libertines, that teach contrition to be al together a meanes to make ſinnes either hypocrites, or to put them in deſpaire. [Margin: Contr⟨illegible⟩tion for a mans ſinne vvorketh ſaluatiō. · * To. 2. in aſſert. art. 6. ⟨illegible⟩ Leone d⟨illegible⟩nuiat.]

Chapter 8

By the example of the poore Macedonians he exhorteth them to contribute largely vnto the Church of Hieruſalem, 7 and by praiſing of them, 9 and by the example of Chriſt. 14 and by their ovvne ſpiritual profite in being partakers of that Churches merites, 16 and by commending the collectors that he ſendeth.

1 AND vve doe you to vnderſtand, brethren, the grace of God, that is giuen in the churches of Macedonia,

2 that in much experience of tribulation they had aboundance of ioy, & their very deepe pouertie abounded vnto the riches of their ſimplicitie,

3 for according to their povver (I giue them teſtimonie) and aboue their povver they vvere willing,

4 vvith much exhortation requeſting vs the grace and communication of the miniſterie that is done tovvard the ſaincts.

5 And not as vve hoped, but their ovvne ſelues they gaue, firſt to our Lord, then to vs by the vvil of God:

6 in ſo much that vve deſired Titus, that as he began, ſo alſo he vvould perfit in you this grace alſo.

7 But as in al things you abound in faith, and vvord, and knovvledge, & al carefulnes, moreouer alſo in your charitie tovvard vs, that in this grace alſo you may abounde.

8 I ſpeake not as commaunding: but by the carefulnes of others, approuing alſo the good diſpoſition of your charitie.

9 For you knovv the grace of our Lord IESVS Chriſt, that for you he vvas made poore, wheras he vvas riche: that by his pouertie you might be riche.

10 And in this point I giue counſel: for this is profitable for you, vvhich haue begōne not only to doe, but alſo to be willing, from the yere paſt:

11 but novv perfourme ye it alſo in deede: that as your minde is prompt to be vvilling, ſo it may be alſo to perfourme, of that vvhich you haue.

12 For if the vvil be prompt: it is accepted according to that vvhich it hath, not according to that vvhich it hath not.

13 For not that other ſhould haue eaſe, and you tribulation: but by an equalitie.

14 Let in this preſent time your ″ aboundance ſupplie their vvant: that their aboundance alſo may ſupplie your vvant, that there be an equalitie,

15 as it is vvritten: He that had much, abounded not: and he that had litle, vvanted not. ⊢

16 And thankes be to God, that hath giuen the ſelf ſame carefulnes for you in the hart of Titus,

17 for that he admitted in deede exhortation: but being more careful, of his ovvne vvil he vvent vnto you.

18 Vve haue ſent alſo vvith him the brother, vvhoſe praiſe is in the Goſpel through al the churches:

19 & not only that, but alſo he vvas ordeined of the churches fellovv of our peregrination, for this grace vvhich is miniſtred of vs to the glorie of our Lord, and our determined vvil:

20 auoiding this, leſt any man might reprehend vs in this fulnes that is miniſtred of vs.

21 For vve prouide good things * not only before God, but alſo before men.

22 And vve haue ſent vvith them our brother alſo, vvhom vve haue proued in many things often to be careful: but now much more careful, for the great confidence in you,

23 either for Titus vvhich is my fellovv and coadiutor tovvard you, or our brethren Apoſtles of the churches, the glorie of Chriſt.

24 The declaration therfore vvhich is of your charitie and our glorying for you, declare ye tovvard them in the face of the churches. ⊢

Marginal notes to Chapter 8

• v. 5 ⸬ The principal reſpecte next after God, is to be had of our maiſters in religion, in al temporal and ſpiritual dueties.
• v. 8 The Epiſtle for S. Paulinus, Iun. 2⟨illegible⟩.
• v. 14 Exo. 16, 28.
• v. 16 The Epiſtle vpon S. Lukes day, Octob. 18.
• v. 20 Ro. 12, 17.

Annotations to Chapter 8

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VIII.

14. Aboundance ſupply.] He meaneth that ſuch as abound in vvorldly riches, ſhould communicate for ſupply of other their brethrens neceſſities, vvhatſoeuer they may: that on the other ſide they vvhom they helpe in temporals, may impart to them againe ſome of their ſpiritual riches, as praiers, and other holy vvorkes and graces, vvhich is a happie change and entercourſe for the vvelthy men, if they could ſee it. And this place proueth plainely that the faſtings and ſatisfactorie deedes of one man, be auailable to others, yea and that holy Sainctes or other vertuous perſons may in meaſure and proportion of other mens neceſſities and deſeruings, allotte vnto them, as vvel the ſupererogation of their ſpiritual vvorkes, as theſe that abound in vvorldly goods, may giue almes of their ſuperfluities, to them vvhich are in neceſſitie. Vvhich enterchange and proportion of things the Apoſtle doth euidently ſet dovvne. [Margin: Temporal benefites vpon ſpiritual perſons. · One may ſatisfie and ſupererogate for an other.]

Chapter 9

He procedeth exhorting them to the foreſaid contribution, 3 to verifie his commending of them. 6 and to do it liberally, that ſo they may merite the more, and God be the more praiſed.

1 FOR concerning the miniſterie that is done ″ tovvard the ſainctes, it is ſuperfluous for me to vvrite vnto you.

2 For I know your prompt minde: for the which I glorie of you to the Macedonians: That Achaia alſo is ready from the yere paſt, and your emulation hath prouoked very many.

3 But I haue ſent the brethren, that the thing vvhich vve glorie of you, be not made voide in this behalfe, that (as I haue ſaid) you may be ready:

4 leſt vvhen the Macedoniās ſhal come vvith me, and finde you vnready, vve (that vve ſay not, ye) may be aſhamed in this ſubſtance.

5 Therfore I thought it neceſſarie to deſire the brethren that they vvould come to you, and prepare this bleſſing before promiſed, to be ready ſo, as a bleſſing, ″ not as auarice.

6 And this I ſay, he that ″ ſovveth ſparingly, ſparingly alſo ſhal reape: and he that ſovveth in bleſſings, of bleſſings alſo ſhal reape.

7 Euery one as he hath determined in his hart, not of ſadnes or of neceſſitie. ✝ for God loueth a cheereful giuer.

8 And God is able to make al grace abound in you: that in al things alvvaies hauing al ſufficiencie, you may abound vnto al good vvorkes,

9 as it is vvritten: He diſtributed, he gaue to the poore: his iuſtice remaineth for euer.

10 And he that miniſtreth ſeede to the ſovver, vvil giue bread alſo for to eate: & vvil multiplie your ſeede, and vvil augmēt the increaſes of the fruites of your iuſtice: ⊢

11 that being enriched in al things, you may abound vnto al ſimplicitie, vvhich worketh by vs thankes-giuing to God.

12 Becauſe the miniſterie of this office ″ doth not only ſupplie thoſe things that the Saincts vvant, but aboundeth alſo by many thankes-giuings in our Lord,

13 by the proofe of this miniſterie, glorifying God in the obedience of your confeſſion vnto the Goſpel of Chriſt, and in the ſimplicitie of communicating vnto them, and vnto al,

14 and in their praying for you, being deſirous of you becauſe of the excellēt grace of God in you.

15 Thankes be to God for his vnſpeakeable gift.

Marginal notes to Chapter 9

• v. 4 ᶜ That is, in this matter of almes. Chryſ. Theophyl.
• v. 5 The Epiſtle for S. Laurence, Aug. 10
• v. 7 Eccles 35, 11.
• v. 9 Pſ. 111, 9
• v. 9 ⸬ The fruite of almes is the encreaſe of grace in al iuſtice and good workes to life euerlaſting: God giuing theſe things for revvard & recompenſe of charitable workes, which therfore be called the ſeed or meritorious cauſe of theſe ſpiritual fruites.

Annotations to Chapter 9

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IX.

7. Tovvard the Saincts.] By the Apoſtles earneſt and often calling vpon the Corinthians to giue almes for relieuing the faithful in diſtreſſe, the Paſtors of Gods Church may learne, that is ſpecially pertaineth to their office to be procters for holy men in priſon, pouertie, and al other neceſſitie, ſpecially vvhen their vvant commeth for confeſſion of their faith. [Margin: Procters for Catholike priſoners.]

5. Not at auarice.] The couetous man that parteth vvith his peny painefully and vvith ſorovv as though he loſt a limme of his body, is noted, and cheereful, ready, voluntarie, and large contribution is commended. [Margin: Cheereful giuing.]

6. Sovveth ſparingly.] Almes is compared to ſeede. for as the ſeede throvven into the ground, though it ſeme to be caſt avvay, yet is not loſt, but is laid vp in certaine hope of great encreaſe: ſo that vvhich men giue in almes, though it ſeeme to be caſt avvay and to periſh in reſpect of the giuer, yet in deede it is moſt fruitful, the benefite thereof manifoldly returning to him againe. Vvherevpon the Apoſtles cōcluſion is cleere, that according to the meaſure of the almes or ſeeding (vvhich is more or leſſe in reſpect of the vvil and abilitie of the giuer) the encreaſe and aboundance of harueſt, that is, of grace and glorie ſhal enſue, See S. Auguſtine in Pſal. 49 circamed. & q. 4. ad Dulcitium. [Margin: The greater almes, the greater merite and revvard.]

1⟨illegible⟩. Doth not onely ſupply.] Vvhen almes are giuen, ſpecially to holy men, not onely the giuers obtaine great benefite thereby, and the vvantes of others be ſupplied, but God alſo by the receiuers continual praiers and thankes giuing therfore, is excedingly honoured: ſo that charitie beſtovved in this ſort, is an acte of Gods vvorſhip and of religion. [Margin: Almes redoūd to Gods honour.]

Chapter 10

Againſt the falſe Apoſtles, graunting the infirmitie of his perſon, he doth notvvithſtanding ſet out the povver of his Apoſtleſhip, ⟨illegible⟩ reprehending them alſo for chalenging to them ſelues the praiſe of other mens labours.

1 AND I Paul my ſelf beſeeche you by the mildenes and modeſtie of Chriſt, vvho in preſence in deede am humble amōg you, but abſent am bold on you.

2 But I beſeeche you, that being preſent I neede not be bold by that confidence vvhervvith I am thought to be bold againſt ſome: vvhich thinke vs as though vve vvalke according to the fleſh.

3 For vvalking in the fleſh, vve vvarre not according to the fleſh.

4 For the ″ vveapons of our vvarfare are not carnal: but mightie to God vnto the deſtruction of munitions, deſtroying counſels,

5 and al loftineſſe extolling it ſelf againſt the knovvledge of God, and bringing into captiuitie al vnderſtanding vnto the obedience of Chriſt,

6 and hauing in a readineſſe ″ to reuenge al diſobediēce, vvhen your obedience ſhal be fulfilled.

7 See the things that are according to appearance. If any man haue affiance in him ſelf, that he is Chriſts: let him thinke this againe vvith him ſelf, that as he is Chriſts, ſo vve alſo.

8 For and if I ſhould glorie ſomevvhat more of our povver, vvhich our Lord hath giuen vs ″ vnto edification and not to your deſtruction: I ſhal not be aſhamed.

9 But that I may not be thought as it vvere to terrifie you by epiſtles (

10 for his epiſtles in deede, ſay they, are ſore and vehement: but his bodily preſence vveake, and his ſpeache contemptible)

11 let him this thinke that is ſuch a one, that ſuch as vve are in vvord by epiſtles, abſent: ſuch alſo vve are in deede, preſent.

12 For vve dare not matche or compare our ſelues vvith certaine, that commend them ſelues: but vve meaſure our ſelues in our ſelues, and compare our ſelues to our ſelues.

13 But vve vvil not glorie aboue our meaſure: but according to the meaſure of the rule, vvhich God hath meaſured to vs, a meaſure to reache euen vnto you.

14 For not, as though vve reached not vnto you, doe vve extend our ſelues beyond. For vve are come as farre as to you in the Goſpel of Chriſt.

15 not glorying aboue meaſure in other mens labours: but hauing hope of your faith increaſing, to be magnified in you according to our rule aboūdantly,

16 yea vnto thoſe places that are beyond you, to euangelize, not in an other mans rule, to glorie in thoſe things that are prepared before.

17 But he that glorieth, let him glorie in our Lord.

18 For not he that commendeth him ſelf, the ſame is approued: but vvhom God commendeth.

Marginal notes to Chapter 10

• v. 15 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩,
• v. 16 Ier. 9, 23

Annotations to Chapter 10

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. X.

4. Vveapons.] He meaneth the ample ſpiritual and Apoſtolical povver giuen by Chriſt for the puniſhment of falſe Apoſtles, Heretikes, and rebelles to Gods Church, vvho are here noted ſpecially by pride and inſolence (vvhich is the proper marke of ſuch fellovves) to extoll themſelues aboue the meaſure of the ſcience of God, vvhich conſiſteth in humble obedience to the faith and the preachers of the ſame. [Margin: Puniſhing of Heretikes. · Their pride.]

6. To reuenge.] You may ſee hereby, that the ſpiritual povver of Biſhops is not onely in preaching the Goſpel, and ſo by perſuaſion and exhortation onely (as ſome Heretikes hold) to remitte or retaine ſinnes, but that it hath authoritie to puniſh iudge, and condemne Heretikes and other like rebelles: vvhich povver * one of the principal rebelles of this time being conuinced by the euidence of the place, acknovvledgeth to be grounded vpon Chriſtes vvord, Vvhatſoeuer you binde in earth, ſhal be bound in heauen: Mat. 18, 1⟨illegible⟩. applying alſo the vvordes ſpoken to Hieremie (c. 1, 10.) Behold I appoint thee ouer Nations and kingdoms, that thou plant, plucke vp, build and deſtroy: to confirme and explicate the povver Apoſtolike here alleaged by S. Paul. Mary they vvould gladly dravv this povver from the lavvful ſucceſſors of the Apoſtles, to them ſelues, their miniſters and conſiſtories, vvhich are nothing els but the ſhoppes and Councels of ſedition and al the conſpiracies of this time, againſt the lavvful Princes of the vvorld. [Margin: The ſpiritual povver of Biſhops againſt Heretikes. · Caluin. vpon this place. · Heretical Cōſiſtories.]

8. Vnto edification.] This great povver of the Churches cenſures, ſpecially of Excommunication, as it vvas giuen for the good and ſaluation of the people, ſo it muſt not be vſed againſt the innocent: no nor yet vpon Heretikes or other offenders, but vvhere and vvhen it may by likelihod benefite either the parties, or the people, or may be executed vvithout the hurt or perturbation of the vvhole Church, as often times it can not be, by reaſon of the multitude of offenders. Vvhich cauſed the Apoſtle here to ſignifie that he vvould not vſe his vttermoſt authoritie againſt the falſe Apoſtles vvhich diſturbed them, till them ſelues vvere in perfect obedience vnto him, leſt by puniſhing the principal offenders, a greater diſturbance and reuolt might fall among the people, if they vvere not before in perfect obedience. [Margin: Eccleſiaſtical cenſures (namely Excommunication) whē & where to be executed.]

Chapter 11

He reaſoneth the matter vvith the Corinthians, vvhy they ſhould preferre the falſe Apoſtles before him. 16 And becauſe they giue them leaue to bragge and commend themſelues, and to abuſe them ſo miſerably, he truſteth they vvil alſo giue him the hearing: 21 and ſo he beginneth, and firſt ſh⟨illegible⟩vving himſelf in al Iudaical reſpectes (vvherein onely ſtood al their boaſting) to be as they are, he addeth aftervvard ſuch a long roll of his ſufferings for Chriſt, as is incomparable.

1 VVould God you could beare ſome litle of my folly: but do ye alſo ſupport me:

2 for I emulate you vvith the emulation of God. For I haue deſpouſed you to one man, to preſent you a chaſte virgin vnto Chriſt.

3 But I feare leſt, as the ſerpent ſeduced Eue by his ſubteltie, ſo your ſenſes may be corrupted, & fall ″ from the ſimplicitie that is in Chriſt.

4 For if he that commeth, preache an other Chriſt vvhō we haue not preached, or you receiue an other-ſpirit vvhom you haue not receiued: or an other Goſpel vvhich you haue not receiued: you might vvel ſuffer it.

5 For I ſuppoſe that I haue done nothing leſſe then the great Apoſtles.

6 For although ″ rude in ſpeache, yet not in knovvledge. but in al things we are made manifeſt to you.

7 Or did I commit a ſinne, humbling my ſelf, that you might be exalted? becauſe I euāgelized vnto you the Goſpel of God gratis?

8 Other churches I ſpoiled, taking a ſtipend, for your miniſterie.

9 And vvhen I vvas vvith you, and had neede, I vvas burdenous to none: for that vvhich I vvanted, the brethren ſupplied that came from Macedonia: & in al things I haue kept my ſelf vvithout burden to you, and vvil keepe.

10 The truth of Chriſt is in me, that this glorying ſhal not be infringed tovvard me in the countrires of Achaia.

11 Vvherfore? becauſe I loue you not? God doth knovv.

12 But that vvhich I doe, I vvil alſo doe, that I may cut avvay the occaſion of them that deſire occaſion: that, in that vvhich they glorie, they may be found euen like vs.

13 For ſuch falſe apoſtles are craftie vvorkes, trāsfiguring them ſelues into Apoſtles of Chriſt.

14 And no maruel: for Satan him ſelf tranſfigureth him ſelf into an Angel of light.

15 It is no great matter therfore if his miniſters be trāsfigured as the miniſters of iuſtice: vvhoſe ende ſhal be according to their vvorkes.

16 Againe I ſay, (let no man thinke me to be fooliſh: othervviſe take me as fooliſh, that I alſo may glorie a litle,)

17 that vvhich I ſpeake, I ſpeake not according to God, but as it vvere in fooliſhnes, in this ſubſtance of glorying.

18 Becauſe many glorie according to the fleſh, I alſo vvil glorie.

19 For you do gladly ſuffer the fooliſh: vvhereas your ſelues are vviſe.

20 For you ſuffer if a man bring you into ſeruitude, if a man deuoure, if a man take, if a man be extolled, if a man ſtrike you on the face.

21 I ſpeake according to diſhonour, as though vve had been vveake in this part. Vvherein any man dare (I ſpeake foliſhly) I dare alſo.

22 * They are Hebrevves: and I. They are Iſraëlites: and I. They are the ſeede of Abraham: and I.

23 They are the miniſters of Chriſt: and I. (I ſpeake as one ſcarſe vviſe) more I: in many moe labours, in priſons more aboundantly, in ſtripes aboue meaſure, in deathes often.

24 Of the Ievves fiue times, did I receiue * fourtie, ſauing one.

25 Thriſe vvas I beaten * vvith roddes, * once I vvas ſtoned, thriſe I ſuffred * ſhipvvracke, night and day haue I been in the depth of the ſea,

26 in iourneying often, perils of vvaters, perils of theeues, perils of my nation, perils of Gentiles, perils in the citie, perils in the wildernes, perils in the ſea, perils among falſe brethren,

27 in labour and miſerie, in much vvatchings, in hunger and thirſt, in faſtings often, in colde and nakednes,

28 beſide thoſe things which are outwardly: my daily inſtance, the carefulnes of al churches.

29 Vvho is vveake, and I am not vveake? vvho is ſcandalized, and I am not burnt?

30 If I muſt glorie: I vvil glorie of the things that concerne my infirmitie.

31 The God and Father of our Lord IESVS Chriſt, vvho is bleſſed for euer, knovveth that I lie not.

32 * At Damaſcus the Gouernour of the nation vnder Aretas the king, kept the citie of the Damaſcenes, for the apprehend me:

33 and through a vvindovv in a baſket vvas I let dovvne by the vvall, and ſo eſcaped his handes.

Marginal notes to Chapter 11

• v. 2 ⸬ The Apoſtles and their ſucceſſors did deſpouſe the people vvhom they conuerted, to Chriſt, in al puritie & Chaſtitie of truth, and vvholy vndefiled and void of errour and hereſie.
• v. 3 Gen. 3, 4
• v. 4 ⸬ The note of a falſe teacher, to come: ⟨illegible⟩hat is, vvithout lavvful calling or ſending to thruſt and intrude him ſelf into an other mans charge.
• v. 13 ⸬ A proper terme for Heretikes that ſhape thē ſelues into the habit of true teachers, ſpecially by often allegation and commentatiō of the Scriptures. Reade the notable admonition of the auncient vvriter Vincentius Livinenſis in his golden booke Againſt the Prophane neuelties of al hereſies.
• v. 19 The Epiſtle vpon the Sunday of Se⟨illegible⟩ageſme.
• v. 22 Phil. 3, 5.
• v. 23 Dou. 25, 3.
• v. 25 Act. 16, 23. 14, 18. 27, 15.
• v. 28 ᵇ ⟨non-Latin script⟩. S. Chryſoſtom and Theophylacte interpret it of daily conſpiracie againſt him. others, of multitude of cares inſtāt & vrgēt vpō him.
• v. 29 ᶜ non vror? ⟨non-Latin script⟩? Act. 9, 24.

Annotations to Chapter 11

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XI.

⟨illegible⟩. From the ſimplicitie.] People fall from their firſt faith, virginitie, and ſimplicitie in Chriſt, not by ſodē reuolt, but by litle & litle, in giuing eare to the ſubtil perſuaſiō of the Serpent, ſpeaking to thē by the ſvveete mouthes & illurementes of Heretikes of vvhich kind of ſeductiō he giueth Eue for an example, vvho vvas by her greedy deſire of knovvledge and the Diuels promis of the ſame, dravven from the natiue ſimplicitie and obedience to God. as at this day, promis and pretenſe of knovvledge driueth many a poore ſoul from the ſure, true, ſincere, and onely beleefe of Gods Church. [Margin: As Eue by the Serpent, ſo the people are ſeduced by Heretikes.]

6. Rude in ſpeach.] Hereby vve ſee that the ſeditious and falſe teachers haue often the gift of eloquence vvhereby the ſimple he eaſily beguiled. Such vvere Corè and Dathan, as Ioſephus vvriteth Antiq. li. 4 c. ⟨illegible⟩. for the ſame, S. Auguſtine (li. 5 Confeſ. c. ⟨illegible⟩.) calleth the Heretike Fauſtus Manichaeus, magnum laqueum Diaboli, a great ſnare of the Diuel, ſaying that he paſſed the glorious Doctor S. Ambroſe in ſhevv of vvordes, but farre inferior to him (vvithout al compariſon) in ſubſtance and matter. In vvhich ſort the Apoſtle here is glad to compare him ſelf vvith the falſe Apoſtles, vvhom the Corinthians did folovv and extoll farre aboue him by reaſon of their eloquence, graunting to them that gift, but chalenging to him ſelf ſuperioritie in knovvledge, vvhich al vviſe men preferre before vaine vvordes. And it is the bane of our poore countrie, that the people novv a daies giue credit rather to nevv orators and foliſh yonkers, for their ſvveete ſpeaches: then to the glorious Doctors of Chriſtes Church, for their ſingular knovvledge and more graue eloquence. [Margin: Heretikes ſometime eloquent. · Knovvledge better then gay wordes. · Yong orators among heretikes preferred before the aūcient Doctors.]

Chapter 12

⟨illegible⟩ of his incomparable viſions, ⟨illegible⟩ but for humilitie liketh better to talke of his infirmities: 11 putting the fau⟨illegible⟩s in the Corinthians for that he is faine thus to rehearſe his ovvne commendation. ⟨illegible⟩ Vvhere againe he reaſoneth the matter vvith them like ⟨illegible⟩ father, vvhy they ſhould preferre thoſe falſe Apoſtles before him. 20 And feareth left at his comming he ſhal be compelled to excommunicate many of them.

1 IF I muſt glorie (it is not expedient in deede) but I vvil come to the ″ viſions and reuelatiōs of our Lord.

2 I knovv a man in Chriſt aboue fourtene yeres agoe (vvhether in the body, I knovv not: or out of the body, I knovv not: God doth knovv) ſuch a one rapt euen to the third heauē.

3 And I knovv ſuch a man (vvhether in the body, or out of the body, I knovv not: God doth know)

4 that he vvas rapt into Paradiſe: & heard ſecrete vvordes, which it is not lavvful for a man to ſpeake.

5 For ſuch an one I vvil glorie: but for my ſelf I vvil glorie nothing, ſauing in my infirmities.

6 For and if I vvil glorie, I ſhal not be fooliſh: for I ſhal ſay truth. but I ſpare, leſt any mā ſhould eſteeme me aboue that vvhich he ſeeth in me, or heareth any thing of me.

7 And leſt the greatnes of the reuelations might extoll me, there vvas giuen me a pricke of my fleſh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.

8 For the vvhich thing thriſe I beſought our Lord, that it might depart from me:

9 and he ſaid to me, My grace ſufficeth thee, for povver is perfited in infirmitie. Gladly therfore vvil I glorie in mine infirmitie, that the povver of Chriſt may dvvel in me. ⊢

10 For the vvhich cauſe I pleaſe my ſelf in infirmities, in contumelies, in neceſſities, in perſecutions, in diſtreſſes for Chriſt. for vvhen I am vveake, then am I mightie.

11 I am become fooliſh: you haue compelled me. For I ought to haue been commended of you: for I haue been nothing leſſe then they that are aboue meaſure Apoſtles: although I am nothing.

12 Yet the ſignes of my Apoſtleſhip haue been done vpon you in al patience, ″ in ſignes & vvōders and mighty deedes.

13 For vvhat is there that you haue had leſſe then the other churches: but that I my ſelf haue not burdened you? Pardon me this iniurie.

14 Behold, novv the third time I am ready to come to you: and I vvil not be burdenous vnto you. For I ſeeke not the things that are yours: but you. For neither ought the childrē lay vp treaſures for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15 But I moſt gladly vvil beſtovv, & vvil my ſelf moreouer be beſtovved for your ſoules: although louing you more, I am loued leſſe.

16 But be it ſo: I haue not burdened you: but being craftie, I tooke you by guile.

17 Haue I circumuented you by any of them vvhom I ſent to you?

18 I requeſted Titus, and I ſent vvith him a brother. Did Titus circumuent you? vvalked vve not vvith one ſpirit? not in the ſelf ſame ⟨illegible⟩.

19 Of old thinke you that vve excuſe our ſelfe ⟨illegible⟩ Before God, in Chriſt vve ſpeake: but al things (⟨illegible⟩) for your edifying.

20 For I feare leſt perhaps vvhen I come, I finde you not ſuch as I vvould and I befound of you, ſuch an one as you vvould not. leſt perhaps cōtentions, emulatiōs, ſtomakings, diſſenſions, detractions, vvhiſperings, ſvvellings, ſeditions be among you.

21 leſt againe vvhen I come, God humble me among you: & I mourne many of them that ſinned before, & haue not done penāce for the vncleannes & fornication and incontinencie that they haue committed.

Marginal notes to Chapter 12

• v. 2 ⸬ By this vve may proue that it is neither impoſsible, incredible, nor vndecent, that is reported by the auncient fathers of ſome that haue been rauiſhed or rapt (whether in body or out of body God knovveth) & brought to ſee the ſtate of the next life, as vvel of the ſaued as damned.
• v. 19 ` Againe
• v. 21 ⸬ ⟨non-Latin script⟩. Vvhich S. Auguſtine ſaith (ep. 108) is ſpoken here of doing great penance for heinous ſinnes, as P⟨illegible⟩ni⟨illegible⟩ntes did in the primitiue Church. So that it is not onely to repent or to amend their liues, as the Proteſtants tranſlate it.

Annotations to Chapter 12

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XII.

1. Viſions.] S. Cyprian (ep. 69. nu. 4.) complaineth that the Aduerſaries of Gods Church and Prieſtes, giue no credit to viſions: but their incredulitie is much more in our daies, that condemne al ſuch reuelations, though they be reported and recorded for moſt certaine, of holy. S. Gregorie, S. Bede, or vvho els ſo euer. Yea they are ſo vvicked in this caſe, that the viſion vvhich the holy author of the booke of Mathabees * calleth fide dignum, vv⟨illegible⟩rthy of credit, is one cauſe vvhy they deny the vvhole booke to be Canonical: and as vvel might they for this viſion deny al S. Paules Epiſtles, and for the like, the Actes of the Apoſtles, Act. 9. 10. 11. 12. 27: and the Goſpel it ſelf, Mat. 1, 20. 2, 13, 19. [Margin: Viſiōs haue no credite with heretikes. · ⟨illegible⟩. Mach⟨illegible⟩. 15, 11.]

11. Aboue meaſure Apoſtles.] Though al vvere in that they vvere Apoſtles, of one and the ſame order, yet ye may ſee that ſome had maruelous great preeminence and priuilege aboue others in the ſame office: ſpecially S. Peter and S. Iohn, vvhom S. Paul often calleth great Apoſtles, aboue meaſue or paſsing Apoſtles, ⟨illegible⟩l epille⟨illegible⟩s, &c. 2 Cor. 11, 5. 12, 11. Gal. 2, 9. [Margin: The Apoſtles ſome greater then other.]

12. In ſignes.] Miracles be neceſſarie, and be great ſignes of truth, vvhen it is firſt nevvly taught. And therfore let al Catholike men hol⟨illegible⟩ faſt that faith vvhich vvas firſt preached and confirmed by miracles. as in England by S Auguſtine, and in other nations by other holy Apoſtolike men. And let the Heretikes that preach extraordinarily, nevvly, and othervviſe then vve receiued at our firſt conuerſion, ſhevv their calling and doctrine by miracles, or els let them be taken for falſe Apoſtles as they be. [Margin: we muſt ſticke to the faith firſt ⟨illegible⟩ ⟨illegible⟩anted by miracles.]

Chapter 13

He driueth into them the feare of excommunication: to the end that they doing penance beforehand, he may not be compelled to vſe his authoritie vvhen he commeth, and as he hath threatened. 11 And ſo vvith a general exhortation he endeth.

1 LO this the third time I come vnto you: * In the mouth of tvvo or three vvitneſſes ſhal euery vvord ſtand.

2 I foretold and doe foretel as preſent, and novv abſent, to them that ſinned before, and al the reſt, that if I come againe, I vvil not ſpare.

3 Seeke you an experiment of him that ſpeaketh in me, Chriſt: vvho in you is not vveake, but is mightie in you?

4 For although he vvas crucified of infirmitie: yet he liueth by the povver of God. For vve alſo are vveake in him: but vve ſhal liue vvith him by the povver of God on you.

5 ″ Trie your ovvne ſelues if you be in the faith: proue ye your ſelues. Knovv you not your ſelues that Chriſt IESVS is in you, vnleſſe perhaps you be reprobates.

6 But I hope you knovv' that vve are not reprobates.

7 And vve pray God, that you doe no euil, not that vve may appeare approued, but that you may doe that vvhich is good, and vve be as reprobates.

8 For vve can not any thing againſt the truth: but for the truth.

9 For vve reioyce, for that vve are vveake, & you are mightie. This alſo vve pray for, your conſummation.

10 Therfore theſe things I vvrite abſent: that being preſent I may not deale hardly according to the povver vvhich our Lord hath giuen me vnto edification and not vnto deſtruction.

11 For the reſt brethren, reioyce, be perfect, take exhortation, be of one minde, haue peace, and the God of peace & of loue ſhal be vvith you.

12 Salute one an other in a * holy kiſſe. Al the ſaincts ſalute you.

13 The grace of our Lord IESVS Chriſt, and the charitie of God, and the communication of the holy Ghoſt be vvith you all. Amen.

Marginal notes to Chapter 13

• v. 1 Deu. 19, 15.
• v. 6 ` ſhal knovv
• v. 10 ᶜ Eccleſiſtical power to puniſh offenders by the cēſures of the Church.
• v. 11 The Epiſtle in a ⟨illegible⟩oti⟨illegible⟩e Maſſe of the B. Trinitie.
• v. 11 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩,
• v. 11 Ro. 16, 16. 1. Co. 16, 20.

Annotations to Chapter 13

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIII.

5. Trie your ſelues.] The Heretikes argue herevpō, that euery man may knovv him ſelf certainely to be in grace: vvhere the Apoſtle ſpeaketh expreſly and onely of faith. the act vvhereof a man may knovv and feele to be in him ſelf, becauſe it is an act of vnderſtanding, though he can not be aſſured that he hath his ſinnes remitted, and that he is in al pointes in ſtate of grace and ſaluation: becauſe euery man that is of the Catholike faith, is not alvvaies of good life agreable therevnto, nor the actes of our vvil ſo ſubiect to vnderſtanding, that vve can knovv certainely vvhether vve be good or euil. See S. Auguſtine ⟨illegible⟩. 7 de perfect. iuſtitia c. 15. Li. de Cor. et grat. c. 13. & S. Thomas 1. 2, q. 112. art. 5. [Margin: Vve may knovv that we haue faith, but not that vve are in grace.]

Colophon

Printed edition: The Nevv Testament of Iesus Christ, translated faithfully into English, out of the authentical Latin … in the English College of Rhemes (Rhemes: Iohn Fogny, 1582; STC 2884, ESTC S102491), the Catholic New Testament translated from the Latin Vulgate chiefly by Gregory Martin. Copy transcribed: the Eton College Library copy, as filmed for Early English Books Online (image set 2646).

Transcription: Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP), Phase I text A16049 (keyed 2005–06, proofread and released 2006), placed in the public domain under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal. Converted for the Good Works Library in October 2026.

What was done: the spelling, punctuation and capitals of the transcription are kept exactly, including u/v, i/j, "vv" for w, long s (ſ), the abbreviation stroke (as in "vpō") and the edition's own marks (″ for an annotated word, ⸬ and * for marginal references, ⊢ for the end of a liturgical Gospel or Epistle; ▪ is the transcribers' sign for a punctuation mark they could not identify). Removed as apparatus: the TEI markup, page breaks, line-end hyphenation, and the small cross ✝ that the edition sets at the beginning of each verse beside the verse number in the margin; the number is given here instead. Marginal notes are gathered after each chapter, keyed to their verse; the annotations follow as the edition prints them. Words the transcribers could not read are shown as ⟨illegible⟩; words printed in Greek or other non-Latin letters, which the transcription did not key, are shown as ⟨non-Latin script⟩. No gap has been filled or guessed.

The book's heading in the edition reads: "THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE CORINTHIANS." The page title gives it in ordinary capitals and lower case, without other change.

Notes on this transcription: 2 Corinthians 5:11: a verse cross ✝ stands within this verse with no verse number beside it; kept as printed. 2 Corinthians 9:7: a verse cross ✝ stands within this verse with no verse number beside it; kept as printed.

On this page 77 places are marked ⟨illegible⟩ and 17 words or phrases in Greek or other non-Latin letters are marked ⟨non-Latin script⟩.

This is an archival transcription of a historic English Bible. It is not a Good Works Translation.

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