Original Douay–Rheims Annotations1 Peter 4
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read 1 Peter 4 in the Bible1 Peter 4:17
That judgement begin.
◦ In this time of the new Testament, the faithful and all those that mean to live godly (specially of the Clergy) must first and principally be subject to God's chastisement and temporal afflictions, which are here called judgement. Which the Apostle recordeth for the comfort and confirmation of the Catholic Christians, who were at the time of the writing hereof, exceedingly persecuted by the heathen Princes & people.
- ◦ The better men most afflicted in this life.
1 Peter 4:18
If the just.
[1] Note that a man dying just and in the favour of God, can afterward be in doubt of his salvation, or may be rejected of God: but that the just being both in this life subject to assaults, tentations, troubles, and dangers of falling from God and losing their state of justice, & also oftentimes to make a strait count, & to be temporally chastised in the next life, cannot be saved without great watch, fear, and trembling, and much labouring and chastisement. [2] And this is far contrary to the Protestants' doctrine, that putteth no justice but in faith alone, maketh none just indeed and in truth, teacheth men to be so secure and assured of their salvation, that he that hath lived wickedly all his life, if he only have their faith at his death, that is, if he believe steadfastly that he is one of the elect, he shall be as sure of his salvation immediately after his departure, as the best liver in the world.
- 1 The just man himself is hardly saved.
- 2 Against the vain security of only faith.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
1 Peter 4:9
Charity covereth.
[1] Faith only cannot justify, seeing that charity also doth cause remission of sins. And saying charity, he meaneth love and charitable works toward our neighbours, unto which works [2] of mercy the Scriptures do specially attribute the force to extinguish all sins. See S. Augustine c. 69 Enchiridij and tract. 1. in ep. 1. Io. c. 1. and venerable Bede upon this place. And in the like sense the holy Scriptures commonly commend unto us alms and deeds of mercy for redemption of our sins. Proverb. c. 10. Ecclesiastici 12. v. 2. Danielis c. 4 v. 24.