ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIX.
6. Not man separate.] This inseparability betwixtman and wife riseth of that, that wedlocke is a Sacrament. Aug. li. 2. de pec. origine c. 34. to. 7. De••upt. & concupis. li. 1. c. 10.
9. But for fornication.)* 1.1 For aduoutrie one may dimisse an other, Mat. 5. But neither party can marry againe for any cause during life. Aug. li, 11. de adult. coniug. c. 21. 22. 24. for the which vnlawful act of marrying agayne, Fabiola that noble matrone of Rome albeit shee was the inno∣cent part,* 1.2 did publike penance, as S. Hierom writeth in her high commendation therefore. And in S. Paul Ro. 7. it is plaine that shee which is with an other man, her husband yet liuing, shal be called an aduouteresse: contrary to the doctrine of our Aduersaries.
11. Not al take.) Whosoeuer haue not this gift geuen them, it is either for that they wil not haue it, or for that they fulfil not that which they wil: and they that haue this gift or attayne to this word, haue it of God and their owne free wil. Aug. li. de grat. & lib. arbit. c. 4. So that it is euident no man is excluded from this gift,* 1.3 but (as Origen here saith) it is geuen to al that aske for it: contrarie to our Aduersaries that say it is impossible, and that for excuse of breaking their vowes, wickedly say, they haue not the gift.
12. Gelded them selues.)* 1.4They geld them selues for the kingdom of heauen which vow chasti¦ty. Aug. de virginitate c. 24. which proueth those kind of vowes to be both lawful, and also more meritorious, and more sure to obtaine life euerlasting, then the state of wedlocke, contrarie to our Adu, in al respectes.
14. He that can.)* 1.5 It is not said of the Precepts, keepe them who can, for they be necessarie vnder paine of damnation to be kept:* 1.6 but of Counsels only (as of virginity, abstaining from flesh and wine, and of geuing al a mans goods away to the poore) it is said, He that can attaine to it, let him doe it: which is counsel only, not a commaundement. Contrary to our Adu. that say, there are no Counsels, but only precepts.
13. Impose.)* 1.7 They knew the valour of Christes blessing, and therfore brought their children to him: as good Christian people haue at al times brought their children to Bishops to haue their blessing. See Annotation before Chap. 10, 12. And of Religious mens blessing see Russin. li. 2. c. 1. hist. S. Hierom in Epitaph. Paulae c. 7. & in vit. Hilarionis, Theodoret, in historia sanctorū Patrum num. 8.
21. If thou wilt be perfect.]* 1.8 Loe, he maketh a plaine difference betwene keeping the commaun∣dements, which is necessary for euery man: and being perfect, which he counseleth only to them that wil. And this is the state of greate perfection which Religious men doe professe, according to Christes counsel here, leauing al things and folowing him.
21. Folow me.] Thus to folow Christ is to be without wife and care of children, to lacke pro∣priety, and to liue in common, and this hath great reward in heauen about other states of life: which, S. Augustine saith, the Apostles folowed, and him self, and that he exhorted others to it as much as lay in him. Aug. ep. 19. in fine, & in ps. 103 Conc 3. post med.
26. Al things possible.] This of the camel through a nedels eye, being possible to God, although he neither hath done it, nor by like wil doe it: maketh against the blasphemous infidelity of our Aduersaries that say, God can do no more then he hath done or wil doe. We see also that God can bring a camel through a nedels eye, and therfore his body through a doore, and our of the sepul∣chre shut, and out of his mother a virgin, and generally aboue nature and contrary to nature do with his body as he list.
27. Left al.)* 1.9 This perfection of leauing al things the Apostles vowed. Aug. li. 17. de Ciu. Dei c. 4.
27. What shal we haue.) They leaue al things in respect of reward, and Christ doeth wel allow it in them by his answer.
28. You also shal sitte.)* 1.10 Note that not only Christ, who is the principal and proper iudge of the liuing and the dead, but with him the Apostles and al perfect Saints shal iudge: and yet that doeth nothing derogate to his prerogatiue, by whom and vnder whom they hold this and al other dignities in this life and the next.