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. I.

21. Al Principalitie.] The Fathers vpon this, and other places of the old and new Testa∣ment, vvhere they finde the orders of holy Angels or spirites named, agree that there be nine orders of them. Of vvhich some be here counted and called, as vve see: in the Epistle to the Colossians, the order of Thrones is specified, vvhich maketh fiue: to vvhich if vve adde these foure,* 1.1 Cherubim, Seraphim, Angels, and Archangels, vvhich are commonly named in holy vvrite, in al there be nine. S. Denys coel. Hier. c. 7. 8. 9. & Ec. Hier. c. 1. S. A∣thanas. li de Communi essent. in fine. Gregor, Moral. li. 32. c. 18. Therfore, good Reader, make no accoumpt of * Caluins and others infidelitie,* 1.2 vvhich blasphemously blame and condemne the holy doctors diligence in this point of curiousitie and impietie. The vvhole endeuour of these heretikes is, to bring al into doubt, and to corrupt euery Article of our Re∣ligion.

22. Head.]* 1.3 It maketh a high proofe among the Protestants, that no man can be head of the Church, because it is a calling and dignitie proper to Christ. But in truth by as good reason there should be no king nor lord,* 1.4 because, He is king and lord. neither should there be Bishop or Pastor,* 1.5 because he is the Bishop and Pastor of our soules: nor Pontifex nor Apostle, for by those titles S. Paul termeth him Hebr. 3: none should be piller, foun∣dation,

rocke, light, or maister of the Church or truth, because Christ is properly al these. And yet our nevv doctors (though they be exceding seditious and vvould for the aduantage of their sect be gladly ridde of kings and al other Superiors temporal, if they feared not the sword more then God, and vvould finde as good Scriptures to be deliuered of them, as they now finde to discharge them selues of obedience to Popes:) yet (I say) they vvil not deny,* 1.6 al the former titles and dignities (notvvithstanding Christes soueraine right in the same) to be giuen and communicated to the Princes and Magistrates of the earth both spiritual and temporal, though Christ in a more diuine, ample, absolute, excel∣lent, and transcendent sort, haue al these things attributed or appropriated to him self. So then, though he be the head of the Church, and the onely head in such soueraine and prin∣cipal maner, as no earthly man or mere creature euer is or can be, and it ioyned to the Church in a more excellent sort of coniunction, then any king is to his subiects or Coun∣trie, or any Pope or Prelate to the Church vvhereof he is gouernour, euen so, farre that it is called his body Mystical: life, motion, spirit, grace issuing dovvne from him to it and the members of the same, as from the head of the natural body▪ though in this sort (we say) no man can be head but Christ, nor the Church be body to any but to Christ: yet the Pope may be the ministerial head, that is to say, the cheefe Gouernour, Pastor, and Prelate of the same, and may be his Vicar or Vicegerent in the regiment of that part vvhich is in earth▪* 1.7 as S. Hierom calleth Damasus the Pope, Summum Sacerdotem, the cheefe and highest Priest: and the Apostle saith of this ministerial head, The head can not say to the feete, you are not necessarie for me.* 1.8 For therein also is a great difference betvvene Christ and euery mortal I relate, that (as the Apostle here saith) he is head of the vvhole Church, meaning of the triumphāt (& of al Angels also though in an other sort) no lesse thē of the Church militāt. So Peter vvas not, nor any Pope, nor any man can be. Where you must obserue, that for this soueraine preeminence of Christ in this case, the Church is not called the body mystical of any Go∣uernour, Peter, Paul, or vvhat Prelate or Pope so euer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nine orders of Angels.
• * 1.2

  Cal. vpon this place.
• * 1.3

  As Christ is king, and yet men are kings also: so Christ is head of the Church, and yet man may be head there∣of also.
• * 1.4

  Apoc. 19.
• * 1.5

  1 Pet. 2, 25.
• * 1.6

  Christ is head of his Church in a far more excellent sort, then any man can be.
• * 1.7

  Hiero. ep. 123.
• * 1.8

  1. Cor. 12, 21.