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. XIII.

1. Euery soul be subiect.] Because the Apostles preached libertie by Christ from the yoke of the Law and seruitude of sinne, and gaue al the faithful both example and commaunde∣ment to obey God more then men, and withal euer charged them expresly to be obedient and subiect to their Prelates as to them which had cure of their soules and were by the Holy Ghost placed ouer the Church of God: there were many in those daies newly con∣uerted, that thougt them solues free from▪ al temporal Botestats, carnal Lordes, and hu∣mane creatures or powers: wherevpon the bondman tooke him self to be loose from his seruitude, the subiect from his Soueraine, were he Emperour, King, Duke, or what other secular,* 1.1 Magistrate so euer, specially the Princes of those daies being Heathens and per∣secutors of the Apostles, and of Christes religion. for which cause and for that the Apo∣stles were vntruely charged of their Aduersaries, that they withdrevv•• men from order and obedience to Ciuil lavves and Officers: S. Paul here (as S. Peter doth 1 Chap. 2.) cleereth him self, and expresly chargeth euery man to be subiect to his temporal Prince and Superior: Not euery man to al that be in Office or Superiority, but euery one to him whom God hath put in authoritie ouer him, by that he is his Maister, Lord, king, or such like: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 either to them in matters of religion or regiment of their soules (for most part vvere Pagans, whom the Apostle could not vvill men to obey in matters of faith,) but to them in such things onely as 〈…〉〈…〉, and what other causes so euer consist vvith Gods holy vvill and ordinance,* 1.2 for * against God no power may be 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

1. No povver but of God.]* 1.3 S. Chrysostome here noteth, that power 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & Superioritie, is Gods ordinance,* 1.4 but not of••somes al Princes: because to any may vsur 〈◊〉〈◊〉 who reigne by his permission onely, and not by his appointment: nor al actions that euery one doeth in and by his soueraine povver, as Iu••ians apostaste and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Catholikes, 〈…〉〈…〉 oppression of the Israelites, Acha••s persecution of the Prophets, Neros executing of the Apostles, Herods and Pilats condemning of Christ: al which things God permitted them, by (he abuse of their power to accomplish, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they vvere out of the compasse of his causing and ordinance.

2. They that resist.]* 1.5 Vvhosoeuer resisteth or obeieth not his lavvful Superior in those causes vvherein he is subiect vnto him, withstandeth Gods appointment, & sinneth ••oadly, and is vvorthy to be punished both in this vvorld by his Superior, and by God in the next life. for in temporal gouernement, and causes, the Christians vvere bound in consci∣ence to obey their Heathen Imperours: though on the other side, they were bound vnder paine of de••••ation to obey their Apostles and Prelates, and not to obey their kings or

Emperours, in matters of religion. Vvhereby it is cleere that vvhen vve be commaunded to obey our Superiors, it is meant alvvaies and onely in such things as they may lawfully commaund, and in respect of such matters Vvherein they be our Superiors.

4. Beareth not the sword.] That the Apostle meaneth here specially of temporal povvers, vve may see by the svvord,* 1.6 tribute, & external compulsion, vvhich he here attributeth to them. And the Christian men then had no doubt vvhether they should obey their Spiri∣tual povvers. but novv the disease is cleane contrarie for al is giuen to the secular, povver, and nothing to the spiritual, vvhich expresly is ordained by Christ and the Holy Ghost: and al the faithful are commaunded to be subiect there vnto as to Christs ovvne vvord and vvill.* 1.7 There vvere Heretikes called Begardi, that tooke avvay al rule and Superioritie: The w••••lefists vvould obey nor Prince nor Prelate, if he vvere once in deadly sinne. The Protestants of our time (as vve may see in al Countrie•• vvhere the secular svvord is dravven against their Sectes) care neither for the one nor for the other, though they extol onely the secular vvhen it maketh for them.* 1.8 The Catholikes onely most humbly obey both, euen according to Gods ordinance, the one in temporal causes, and the other in Spi∣ritual: in vvhich order both these States haue blessedly florished in al Christian countries euer since Christe•• time, and it is the very vvay to preserue both, as one day al the vvorld shal confesse vvith vs.

6. Ten giue tributes.] Though euery man ought to be ready to serue his temporal Prince vvith his goods,* 1.9 by tributes of vvhat other lavvful taxes and subsidies so euer: yet they may exempt by priuileges vvhom they thinke good.* 1.10 As in al countries Christian: Priests for the honour of Christ, whose Ministers they be, haue by the grauntes and auncient char∣ters or kings be he excepted and exempted. Notvvithstanding they vvere neuer vnready to serue voluntarely their, soueraine, in al common causes, vvith vvhatsoeuer they had. See Annot. in Mat. 17, 26.

••••. Not in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.] This vvas the very place vvhich S. Augustine, that glorious Do∣ctor,* 1.11 vvas by a voice from heauen directed vnto, at his first miraculous and happy conuer∣sion, not only to the Catholike faith, but also to perpetual continencie, by this voice com∣ming from heauen, Tolle, lege: Tolle, lege, Take vp and read, take vp and read. as him self telleth li. 8 Confes••e. 12.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Obedience to tēporal rulers, & in what ca∣ses.
• * 1.2

  Act. 4, 19, 3, 29.
• * 1.3

  In what sense, al power or su∣perioritie is of God.
• * 1.4

  Chrys. in ep. Ro. ho. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  In things law∣fully cōmaun∣ded it is mortal sinne not to obey our Supe¦riors.
• * 1.6

  The Apostle speaketh of tē∣poral powers.
• * 1.7

  Heresies against rule and Supe∣rioritie.
• * 1.8

  The obedience of Catholikes both to Spiri∣tual and tempo∣ral Superiors.
• * 1.9

  Hiero. in Mat. 17.
• * 1.10

  The Clergie ex∣empted from tribute.
• * 1.11

  S. Augustines conuersion.