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

CHAP. II.

Prosecuting the true cause vvhich in the last chapter he gaue of his not comming, 6 he par∣doneth 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•••• into Macedonia, God euery vvhere giuing him the triumph.

[verse 1] AND I haue determined vvith my self this same thing, not to come to you a∣gaine in sorovv. ✝ [rightJustify 2] For if I make you so∣rie: and who is it that can make me glad, but he that is made sorie by me? ✝ [rightJustify 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. ✝ [rightJustify 4] For of much tribulation and an∣guish of hart I vvrote to you by many teares: not that you should be made sorie: but that you may knovv vvhat cha∣ritie I haue more aboundantly tovvard you. ✝ [rightJustify 5] And if any man hath made sorovvful, not me hath he made sorovvful, but in part, that I burden not al you. ✝ [rightJustify 6] To him that is such a one, ″ this rebuke sufficeth that is giuen of many: ✝ [rightJustify 7] so that cōtrariewise you should rather pardon and comfort him, lest perhaps such an one be svvallovved vp vvith ouer great so∣rovv. ✝ [rightJustify 8] For the vvhich cause ″ I beseeche you that you con∣firme

charitie tovvard him. ✝ [leftJustify 9] For therfore also haue I written that I may knovv the experiment of you, vvhether in al things you be ″ obedient. ✝ [leftJustify 10] And vvhom you haue pardoned any thing, ″ I also. For, my self also that vvhichc 1.1 I pardoned, if I pardoned any thing, ″ for you ″ in the person of Christ, ✝ [leftJustify 11] that vve be not ″ circumuented of Satan. for vve are not ignorant of his cogitations.

✝ [leftJustify 12] And vvhen I vvas come to Troas for the Gospel of Christ, and a doore vvas opened vnto me in our Lord, ✝ [leftJustify 13] I had no rest in my spirit, for that I found not Titus my bro∣ther, but bidding them fare vvel, I vvent forth into Macedo∣nia. ✝ [leftJustify 14] And thankes be to God, vvho alvvaies triumpheth vs in Christ IESVS, and manifesteth the odour of his knovv∣ledge by vs in euery place. ✝ [leftJustify 15] For vve are the good odour of Christ vnto God in them that are saued, and in them that pe∣rish. ✝ [leftJustify 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? ✝ [leftJustify 17] For vve are not as very many, ″ adul∣terating the vvord of God, but of sinceritie, and as of God, before God, in Christ vve speake.

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II.

••. This rebuke sufficeth.]* 1.2 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 Chri∣stian men,* 1.3 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.* 1.4 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 puni∣shed, 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 hard∣ling of the offenders case, we may refute the vvicked heresie of the Protestants, that vvould make ••he simple beleeue,* 1.5 no punishment of a mans ovvne person for sinnes cōmit∣ted, 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.* 1.6 Vvhich Epicurian doctrine is refelled, not onely hereby, but also by the Prophets,* 1.7 Iohn the Baptistes, Christes, and the Apostles preaching of penance and condigne workes or fruites of repentance,* 1.8 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 pe∣nance, 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.

8. I beseche you.] They vvhich at the beginning did beare to much vvith the offender, and seemed Io••h to haue him excommunicated in so austere maner:* 1.9 yet through their obe∣dience to the Apostle became on the other side so rigorous, and so farre detested the ma∣lefactor 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.

9. Obedient.]* 1.10 Though in the last chapter he discharged him self of tyrannical domi∣nion ouer them, yet he chalengeth their obedience in al things as their Pastor and Supe∣rior, 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.

10. I also.] The Heretikes and others not vvel founded in the Scriptures and antiqui∣tie, maruel at the Popes pardons, counting them either fruitles or vnlavvful or no elder then S. Gregorie.* 1.11 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 Apo∣stles, and in their persons to al the cheefe Pastors of the Church, vvhen it vvas said, Whatsoeuer you loose in earth,* 1.12 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,* 1.13 * 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 Corin∣thian,* 1.14 vvhom he assoiled of mere grace and mercie, as the vvord donare or ••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 Apo∣stles pleasure.* 1.15 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 imi∣tation of our Maister (who forgaue * the aduouteresse and diuers other offenders,* 1.16 not only their sinnes, but also often the temporal punishments due for the same) are as much giuen to mercie as to iustice.

10. For you.] Theodorete vpon this place saith that the Apostle gaue this pardon to the Corinthian at the intercession of the blessed men.* 1.17 Timotheus and Titus. And we may read in sundrie places,* 1.18 of S. Cyprian namely, that Indulgences or remissions vvere giuen in the primitiue Church by the mediation of holy Confessors or Martyrs, and by cōmu∣nicating 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,* 1.19 * vvhich by supply of the one sort that aboundeth, standeth entire in res∣pect of the other sort also that wanteth. In vvhich kinde the Apostle confesseth that him self by his suffering and tribulations,* 1.20 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 suf∣fered 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.

10. In the person of Christ.]* 1.21 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 pre∣cisely 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 punish∣ment due to sinners.* 1.22 And this to be the proper meaning of these vvordes,* 1.23 In the person of Christ, and not as the Protestants vvould haue it (the better to auoid the former conclu∣sion of the Apostles giuing indulgence) In the face or sight of Christ, you may easily vnder∣stand by the Apostles like insinuation of Christes povver, vvhen he committed this offender to Satan,* 1.24 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.* 1.25

11. Circumuented of Satan.]* 1.26 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••.* 1.27 for consideration vvhereof,* 1.28 in some ages of the Church, much discipline, great penance and satis∣faction vvas both enioyned and also vvillingly susteined,* 1.29 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,* 1.30 yet our holy mother the Church knovving vvith the Apostle the co∣gitations 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 offen∣ders 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,* 1.31 they be like to the Ievves •• 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.

17. Adulterating.]* 1.32 The Greeke vvord signifieth to make commoditie of the vvord of God,* 1.33 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 Apo∣stles 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.

Notes

• c 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Though he did great Penance (saith Theodo∣rete) yet he cal∣leth this pardo∣ning. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a grace, because his sinne vvas greater then his penance.
• * 1.2

  The Apostle excommunica∣teth, enioyneth penance: and afterward par¦doneth & ab∣solueth.
• * 1.3

  1. Cor. ••, 5. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  Pardon or re∣mission of pe∣nance enioy∣ned.
• * 1.5

  Penance and satisfaction euidently pro∣ued against the Protestants.
• * 1.6

  Ioel. 2, 12.
• * 1.7

  Mt. 3. et 4
• * 1.8

  Act. 2, et 26.
• * 1.9

  Zeale against the excommu∣nicate.
• * 1.10

  The Apostle chalengeth their obediēce to his Ecclesi∣astical autho∣ritie.
• * 1.11

  The authori∣tie of Indul∣gences vvher∣vpō it is groū∣ded.
• * 1.12

  Mat. 18, 18.
• * 1.13

  Cypria. ep. 13. 14. 15.
• * 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. See Theodoret in hūe loc.
• * 1.15

  Vvhat is a pardon or in∣dulgence.
• * 1.16

  Io. 8, 11.
• * 1.17

  Cypr. locis citatu.
• * 1.18

  Indulgences or pardons in the primitiue Church.
• * 1.19

  2 Cor. 8.
• * 1.20

  Col. 1, 24.
• * 1.21

  Al pardon and remission is in the vertue and name of Christ.
• * 1.22

  Heretical trā∣slation.
• * 1.23

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.24

  1 Cor. 5, 4.
• * 1.25

  Io. 20, 2••.
• * 1.26

  Al binding & loosing must be vsed to the parties salua∣tion.
• * 1.27

  Conc. Nic. can. 12.
• * 1.28

  The great pe∣nance of the primitiue Church.
• * 1.29

  Ancyran. can. 2 & 5.
• * 1.30

  Vvhy more pardons and Indulgences now then in old time.
• * 1.31

  Mat. 11, 18.
• * 1.32

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.33

  The Here∣tikes corrup∣ting of the Scripture.