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.

5. Ordaine Priests.]* 1.1 Though Priests or Bishops may be nominated and elected by the Princes, people, or Patrons of places, according to the vse of the time and diuersitie of Countries and fashions, yet they can not be ordered and consecrated but by a Bishop vvho vvas him self rightly ordered or consecrated before, as this Titus vvas by S. Paul. And here it seemeth that he did not onely consecrate them vvhom the people had elected before,* 1.2 but him self also made choise of the persons, no mention being here made of any other election popular. Vvhich though it vvere long vsed in the primitiue Church, yet for diuers causes and specially for continual tumultes, par∣tialities, and disorders vvhich S. Augustine much complaineth of in his time, vvas iustly taken avvay, and other better meanes of their designement appointed. See Conc. Laodic. cap. 12. 13. S. August. de adult. coniug. li. 2. ••. 20. Ep. 110. and Possid. in vita. Aug. ••. ••.

And that the ordering of Priests or imposition of hands to that purpose, belongeth onely to Bishops,* 1.3 and to no inferior Priests or other persons, it is plaine by the Apostolike practise set dovvne in the Scriptures, namely in the Actes, and in the Epistles to Timothee and Titus. And S. Hierom, vvho seemeth sometimes to say that in the primitiue Church there vvas no great diffe∣rence betvvixt a Bishop and Priest, yet he euer excepteth giuing holy Orders, vvhich preeminence he attributeth to Bishops onely. ep. 85. as he doth also Confirming the Baptized by giuing them the holy Ghost through imposition of hand and holy Chrisme.* 1.4 Dial. cont. Lucifer. c. 4. Note also that Aërius vvas of old condemned of heresie, for holding that there vvas no difference betvvixt a Priest and a Bishop. Epiph. har. 75. August. har. 53. Note lastly the fraudulent translation of the Heretikes alvvaies, turning for Priests (vvhich here is euident to be a calling of Order and office) elders, saying, That thou ordaine Elders. vvhich in our vulgar tonge signifieth the age, and not the Office properly:* 1.5 and al this for hatred of Priests.

6. Of one vvife.] To that vvhich is said vpon the like vvordes 1 Tim. 3: adde this testimonie of S. Epiphanius li. 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2. cont. harese•• in fine. Holy Priesthod, saith he, for the most part procedeth of Vir∣gins:* 1.6 and if not of virgins, yet of them that liue a sole or single life: but and if the single and sole persons suffice not to the Ministerie, of such as conteine from their vviues, or after once marying remaine vvidovves. For, him that hath him maried tvvise, it is not lavvful to take to Priesthod &c. If you list to see the causes vvhy bigamie is forbidden them that are to be Priests, and continencie required of the Clergie, see the same author li. 2. to. 1. hares. 59. S. Ambrose li. 1. Offic. c. 50. and vpon 1 Tim. 3. S. Augustine de b••no Coniugal. c. 18. S. Hierom ep. 50 c. 5 ad Pammachium, and against Iouinian li. 1 c. 19. S. L••o ••p. 87. and other auncient authors.

And if the studious reader peruse al antiquitie,* 1.7 he shal finde al notable Bishops and Priests of Gods Church to haue been single, or continent from their vviues, if any vvere maried before they came to the Clergie. So vvas S. Paul, and exhorteth al men to the like. 1 Cor. 7, 7. So vvere al the Apostles after they folovved Christ, at S. Hierom vvitnesseth, affirming that our Lord loued

Iohn specially for his virginitie. Apol. ad Pammach. c. 8. & li. 1 cont. Iouin. c. 14. S. Ignatius ••p. •• ad Philadelph. saith of the said Iohn, and of Timothee, Titus, Euodius, Clement, that they liued and died in chastitie, reckening vp of the old-Testament diuers notable personages that did the same, as Elias, Iesus Naue (othervvise called Iosue) Melchlsedec, Elisaeus, Hiere••••••e, Iohn Baptist. No man is ignorant that al the notable fathers of the Greeke and Latin Church liued chast: Atha∣nasius, Basil, Nazianzene, Chrysostom, Cyprian, Hilarie (vvho entered into holy Orders after his vviues death) Ambrose, Hierom, Augustine, Leo, Gregorie the great. Certaine other notable fa∣thers had once vviues, but no holy men euer vsed them, much lesse maried, after they vvere in holy Orders.* 1.8 A maruelous thing, that so many heretofore should haue the gift of chastitie then, and novv so fevv, if the Protestants say true, that skarse one among them in our age of al their sectes, euen of their principal Superintendents, hath had it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Priests must be consecrated by Bishops only.
• * 1.2

  The popular election of the Cleargie taken avvay.
• * 1.3

  The preeminēce of a Bishop aboue a Priest.
• * 1.4

  To put no dif∣ferēce betvvene them is Aërius heresie.
• * 1.5

  Heret. transla∣tion.
• * 1.6

  Bigami exclu∣ded from holy Orders, and the causes thereof.
• * 1.7

  The notable men of both Testamēts, that liued cōtinētly from vviues.
• * 1.8

  Only the Pro∣testants com∣plaine that they haue not the gift of chastitie.