ledge of the Scripture; but our Saviour often sheweth their great ignorance. Heretikes understand not the Scriptures.Even so the Heretikes that now adayes vaunt most of the Scriptures and of their understanding of them, may soone be proved to understand litle or nothing.
9. Save a soule.) Hereby it seemeth that Christ (as at other times lightly alwayes) did not only heale this man in body, but of some correspondent disease in his soule.
The Churches prayers at the times of giving holy orders.12. The whole night.) Our Saviour instantly prayed, alone in the mount without doore, al night long, as a preparation to the designement of his Apostles the day after: to give example to the Church of praying instantly when Priests are to be ordered, and a lesson to us al what we should doe for our owne necessities, when Christ did so for other mens.
The name and dignitie of Apostles.13. Whom he named Apostles.) Here it is to be noted against our Adversaries that deceitfully measure to the simple the whole nature and qualitie of certaine sacred functions, by the primitive signification and compasse of the names or words whereby they be called; with whom as a Priest is but an elder, and a Bishop, a watchman or Superintendent, so an Apostle is nothing but a Legate or Messenger, and therfore (as they argue) Cal. Inst. li. 4. c. 8.* can make no Lawes nor prescribe or teach any thing not expressed in his mandatum. Know therfore against such deceivers, that such things are not to be ruled by the vulgar signification of the word or calling, but by use and application of the holy writers, and in this point by Christs owne expresse imposition. And so this word Apostle, is a calling of Office, governement, authoritie, and most high dignitie given by our Maister, specially to the College of the Twelve: whom he indowed above that which the vulgar etymologie of their name requireth, with power to bind and loose, to punish and pardon, to teach and rule his Church. Out of which roome and dignitie, Ps. 108, 8.
Act. 1, 20.(which is called in the Psalme and in the Actes a Bishoprike) when Judas fel, Mathias was chosen to supply it, and was numbred among the rest, who were as founders or foundations of our religion, as the Apostle termeth them. Therfore to that college this name agreeth by special imposition and prerogative, though afterward it was by use of the Scriptures extended to S. Paul and S. Barnabas, Eph. 2, 20.and sometimes to the Apostles successors: Act. 14as also (by the like use of Scriptures) to the first converters of countries to the faith, or their coadjutors in that function. In which sense S. Paul chalengeth to be the Corinthians Apostle, and nameth Epaphroditus the Philippians Apostle: as we cal S. Gregorie and his Disciple S. Augustin, our Apostles of England. In al which taking, it ever signifieth Dignitie, Regiment, Paternitie, Principalitie, and Primacie in the Church of God: according to I. Cor. 12.
Eph. 4, 11.
I. Cor. 9, 2.S. Paul I. Cor. 12, He hath placed in his Church, first indeed Apostles &c. Whereby we may see that S. Peters dignitie was a wonderful eminent Prerogative and Soveraigntie, when he was the Head not only of other Christian men, but the Head of al Apostles, yea even of the College of the Twelve. And if our Adversaries list to have learned any profitable lesson by the word Apostle, more profitably and truely they might have gathered, that Christ called these his principal officers, Apostles, or Sent, Luc. 4, 18.
Heb. 3, 1.himself also specially and above al other being Missus, that is, Sent, and called also Apostle in the Scriptures; to warne us by the nature of the word, that none are true Apostles, Pastours, or Preachers, that are not specially sent and called, or that can not shew by whom they be sent, and that al Heretikes therfore be rather Apostates then Apostles, for that they be not sent, nor duely called, nor chosen to preach.
Peters preeminence14. Simon.) Peter in the numbering of the Apostles, alwayes first named and preferred before Andrew his elder brother and senior by calling. See Annotat. Mt. 10, 2.
Al persecution for Christ is a blessing.23. Be glad.) The common miseries that fal to the true preachers and other Catholike men for Christs sake, as povertie, famin, mourning, and persecutions, be indeed the greatest blessing that can be, and are meritorious of the reward of Heaven. Contrariewise, al the felicities of this world without Christ, are indeed nothing but woe, and the entrance to everlasting miserie.
The vanitie of Heretical preachers26. Shal blesse you.) This woe pertaineth to the Heretikes of our dayes, that delight to have the Peoples praises and blessings and shouts, preaching pleasant things of purpose to their itching eares: as did the False-Prophets, when they were magnified and commended therfore of the carnal Jewes.
Against usurie.35. Lend, hoping nothing.) In that we may here seeme to be moved to lend to those whom we thinke not able nor like ever to repay againe, it must be holder for a counsel rather then a commandement, except the case of necessitie. But it may be taken rather for a precept, wherein usurie, that is to say, the expectation not of the money lent, but of vantage for lone, is forbidden: as by other places of Scripture it is condemned, and is a thing against the Law of nature and Nations. And great shame and pitie it is, that it should be so much used or suffered among Christians, or so covered and cloked under the habite of other contractes, as it is.
