The Nevv Testament of Iesus Christ, translated faithfully into English, out of the authentical Latin, according to the best corrected copies of the same, diligently conferred vvith the Greeke and other editions in diuers languages; vvith arguments of bookes and chapters, annotations, and other necessarie helpes, for the better vnderstanding of the text, and specially for the discouerie of the corruptions of diuers late translations, and for cleering the controversies in religion, of these daies: in the English College of Rhemes

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V.

2. Defrauded.)* 1.1 In that (saith S. Augustine) he withdrew any part of that which he promised, he was guilty at once, both of sacrilege, and of fraude, of sacrilege, because he robbed God of that which was his by promes:* 1.2 of fraude, in that he withheld of the whole gift, a peece. Let now the Heretikes come, and say it was for lying or hypocrisie onely that this facte was condemned: be∣cause they be loth to haue sacrilege counted any such sinne, who haue taught men not onely to take away from God some peece of that or al that them selues gaue, but plainly to spoile & apply to them selues al that other men gaue.

3. Peter said.) S. Peter (as you see here) without mans relation knew this fraude and the cogi∣tations of Ananias,* 1.3 and as head of the College and of the whole Church against which this robbery was committed, executed this heauy sentence of Excommunication both against him, and his wife consenting to the Sacrilege. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it was excommunication by S. Augustines judgement, (li. 5. cont. ep. Parm. c. 1 to. 7) and had this corporal miraculous death ioyned withal, as the Excom∣munication

that S. Paul gaue out against the incestuous and others,* 1.4 had the corporal vexation of Satan incident vnto it.

4. In thy povver.) If is displeased God (saith S. Augustine) to vvithdravv of the money vvhich they had vovved to God,* 1.5 hovv is he angry vvhen chastitie is vovved and is not performed? for to such may be said that vvhich S. Peter said of the money: Thy virginitie remaining did it not remaine to thee, and before thou didst vovv, vvas it not in thine ovvne power? for, whosoeuer haue vowed such things and haue not paied them, let them not thinke to be condemned to corporal deaths, but to euerlasting fire. August. Ser. 10. de diuersis.* 1.6 And S. Gregorie to the same purpose writeth thus, Ananias had vovved money to God, vvhich aftervvard ouercome vvith diuelish persuasion he vvithdravv: but vvith vvha•• death he vvas punished, thou knovvest. If then he vvere vvorthy of that death, who tooke avvay the money that he had giuen to God, consider vvhat great peril in Gods iudgment thou shalt be vvorthy of, vvhich hast vvith∣dravven, not money, but thy self from almighty God, to vvhom thou hadst vovved thy self vnder the habits or vveede of a Monke.

4. Not to men, but) To take from the Church or from the Gouernours thereof, things dedi∣cated to their vse and the seruice of God, or to lie vnto Gods Ministers, is so iudged of before God, as if the lie were made, and the fraude done to the Holy Ghost him self, who is the Churches Presi∣dent and Protector.

15. His shadovv.)* 1.7 Specially they sought to Peter the cheefe of al, who not onely by touching, as the other, but by his very shadow cured al diseases, wherevpon S. Augustine faith, If then the shadow of his body could helpe, how much more now the fulnes of power? And if thē a certaine litle vvind of him passing by did profite them that humbly asked, how much more the grace of him now being permanent & remaining? Ser. 29 de Sanctis, speaking of the miracles done by the Saincts now reigning in heauen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aug. ser. 9 in append. de diuersis tom. 10.
• * 1.2

  Sacrilege.
• * 1.3

  Excōmunicatiō ioyned vvith corporal pai∣ner.
• * 1.4

  1 Cor. 5.
• * 1.5

  Vow of Cha∣stitie, & the bre∣ache thereof.
• * 1.6

  Greg. li. ••. ep. 13.
• * 1.7

  Peters shadow & intercession.