A view of the marginal notes of the popish Testament, translated into English by the English fugitiue papists resiant at Rhemes in France. By George Wither

1. Thessalonians.

1. Thes. 1. 9.

The text.

For they themselues report of vs, what maner of entering we had to you: and how you are turned to God ∴ from idols to serue the liuing and true God.

The note.

In this and the like places the heretikes maliciously and most falsely translate, construe, and apply all things ment of the heathen idols, to the memories and images of Christ and his saints, namely the English Bi∣bles of the yeeres, 1562. 1577. See the annot. 1. Io. 5. 21.

The answer.

We translate truely, when in stéede of idols, we say images. Our construction and application also is true, bicause both your hauing of images in churches, and also all maner worship you vsed about them procéeded, and came from Gentilisme, so that the spéeches and reasons, which the apostles & prophets vsed against them, are aptly applied against your images, and the follies you commit about them. Your annotation you referre vs to, is like your selues, matter whereof you might be ashamed, if you had any shame in you. For it hath béene often answered, and it is enough for you barely to repeate it againe. Your councel of Nice were impudent, & shamelesse asses, & beasts, giuing that to ima∣ges, which you your selues dare not defend. Eusebius in the place you cite, though he aloweth of that image, yet sheweth that that, & the like grew out of the corrupt customes of the Gentils, wher∣of he saith, that is no maruell, that some did sticke in new con∣uerted Christians. And you can not shewe for fower hundred yéeres after Christ, the hauing of images in the churches for laie mens books. But I refer your annotation to farther answer wherein it will be better displaied.

1. Thes. 2. 1.

The text.

For you your selues know brethren our entrance vnto you, that it was not in vaine, but ∴ hauing suffered before and been abused with contumuelies, (as you know) at Philippi we had confidence in our God, to speak vnto you the Gospel of God in much carefulnes.

The note.

Anotable example for catholike preachers, and passing comfortable when in the midst of persecutions, and reproches they preach sincerely to please God and not men.

The answer.

Your note is good. And God grant that you at length may cast away your desire of contending, and man pleasing, and séeke the truth in sinceritie, so should we cease from offending God, and troubling the worlde, and our controuersies, and contentions should quickly be at an end.

1. Thes. 2. 18.

The text.

For what is our hope, or ioy, or crowne of glorie, ∴ Are not you before our Lord Iesus in his comming?

The note.

If the Apostle without iniurie to God, in right good sence called his schoolers the Thessalonians, his hope, ioy, and glorie, why blaspheme the protestants the catholike church and her children for terming our bles∣sed ladie and other saints, their hope for the speciall confidence they haue in their praiers?

The answer.

The prosperous successe, that God gaue to his Apostle Paule amongst the Thessalonians, did much comfort, and encourage the said Apostle in his hope, and expectation, not onlie of their saluation, but also of the crowne of righteousnes laid vp for him∣selfe, in which respect as he might well, bicause it was grounded vpon the promises of God, he calleth the Thessalonians his hope. How can this excuse you, when the ground of your dealing, is voide of all warrant of the worde? For what warrant can you shew for your confidence in the praiers of saints? But let vs go a little farther with you, what haue you left to God & his Christ, that you haue not giuen our ladie, and other saints (what said I to saints) nay to knaues, and traitors? who taught men to séeke to come to heauen by the blood of Thomas, you can tell well enough. It is not the catholike church and her children, whom we charge with this, it is the Romish Babylon, and her vphol∣ders, the sinke of sinne, and the mother of all abominations, that séeketh to rob, and spoile God of his honor, and glory, and to giue it to creatures. But our God is in heauen, he doth whatsoeuer pleaseth him: he will not giue his glorie to an other.

1. Thes. 3. 10.

The text.

Night and day more abundantly praieng that we may ∴ see your face, and may accomplish those things which want of your faith.

The note.

Though letters and epistles in absence giue great comfort and confir∣mation in faith, yet it is preaching in presence by which the faith of Christ, and true religion is alwaies both begun and accomplished.

The answer.

Why did you then both take quite away from the people the cōfort, which they might haue reaped by the Epistles of Paul be∣ing

absent, if you would haue suffered them in a toong which the people vnderstoode; and also in the daies, wherein your heresie raigned amongst vs, both slenderly and corruptly giue the other? But thanks be to God, who hath remooued you, and giuen great encrease to his truth, and religion, by the industrie and diligence of true and sincere preachers, amongst his people of England.

1. Thes. 4. 9.

The text.

As for the charitie of the ∴ fraternitie, we haue no neede to write to you, for your selues haue learned of God to loue one another.

The note.

All catholike christians make one fraternitie.

The answer.

Howsoeuer they differ in time, or place, whether they be dead, or aliue, and wheresoeuer they be scattered vpon the face of the earth.

1. Thes. 4. 11▪

The text.

But we desire you brethren that you ∴ abound more, &c.

The note.

Christian men ought to proceed and profite continually in good works and iustification.

The answer.

If you had said sanctitie, or sanctification, your note had béene right, but you are so gréedie and egerly bent vpon your inherent iustice, that you care not what you confound, for in the text there is no word of iustification.

1. Thes. 4. 15.

The text.

For this we saie to you in the word of our Lord, that ∴ we which liue, which are remaining in the aduent of our Lord shal not preuent them that haue slept.

The note.

He speaketh in the person those, which shal be aliue when our Sauiour returneth to iudgement.

The answer.

It is verie true, and the cause why he so speaketh, is to teach all men so to liue, as if they were continually in present expecta∣tion, of the comming of our Lord & Sauior Christ to iudgement.

1. Thes. 5. 8.

The text.

But we that are of the day are sober, hauing on the breast∣plate of faith and ∴ charitie, & an helmet the hop of saluation.

The note.

A Christian mans whole armour is not faith onely, but all the three vertues heere named.

The answer.

And who but papists teach otherwise? As for crosse, and holi∣water and such like, there is no mention of them, and yet these be the chéefe armour and weapons which our papists teach.

1. Thes. 5. 17.

The text.

•• Praie without intermission.

The note.

To desire eternall life of him that onlie can giue it, is to praie without intermission: but bicause that desire is often by worldly cares cooled, cer∣taine houres and times of vocall praier were appointed, See S. August. e p. 121. ad Probam.

The answer.

You are not long in one minde. One time to praie continually, is to praie certaine times euerie daie: an other time to pray con∣tinually is to aske life euerlasting at his hand that can onlie giue it. And so it is what please you to make of it, but this later enter∣pretation (as I thinke) dropped out of your pen ere you were aware. For if God onlie can giue eternall life, why do you re∣quest it of others? As for appointed times to praie, being a good meanes to stir vp our coldnes and negligence therein, we both vse and like of.

Notes

• Ecclesiast hist. l. b. 7. cap. 14.
• Psal. 113. 3. Esaic. 42. 8.
• Lib. de ••id. c. 13 Hosias saith that we haue no other shield but the signe of the crosse.