Original Douay–Rheims Annotations2 Kings 5
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read 2 Kings 5 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read 2 Kings 5 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
2 Kings 5:19
Go in peace.
Schismatics, as they are commonly (but improperly) now called in England, which being in mind and judgement Catholics, go sometimes to Protestants common prayers, or sermons, draw an excuse of their fact, from this warrant of the Prophet, permitting a Nobleman of Syria to go and serve his King in the temple, when he adored an Idol. [1] But whosoever will duly consider this example, shall find great difference in respect of the times, places, persons, and of the very doubts proposed, between this man's case and ours. For before Christ's Gospel was promulgate, neither all Articles of faith were so expressly taught, nor the external profession thereof so strictly commanded, as now they are in time of more grace, which giveth more aid to man's weakness, wherein also more perfection is required, and therefore our Saviour exacteth of all to confess him, and his Religion, before men: else he will deny them before his Father. [2] Likewise in the place, [3] where this Nobleman dwelt, his presence in the temple, and service to the King, could not be accounted a revolt from true religion, which was never professed there, nor be scandalous to any man, being all Infidels: but in a christian country, where all bear the name of Christians, especially where men are at controversy about the true Christian religion, all that frequent, or repair to the same assemblies, for public service of God, are reputed to be of the same religion; or else dissemblers, as it were to have no care of religion, knowing God, and not glorifying him as God, and revolting from the truth which they had learned. [4] The difference also of persons is great. [5] For this Nobleman having before his conversion served his King, in the office of sustaining him, when he bowed to the Idol, if he should have refused to do the same, it would rather have been supposed that he disdained his Master, or shewed disloyalty, than thought, that he refrained for religion: whereas in our case, very few do such temporal service, about the King in the church: and such as do carry the sword, sceptre, or the like, are accounted of that religion, which is there practised; except they manifest the contrary, as this man did, and our men commonly do not. Yea if any do say they are Catholics, and yet go to the Protestants' church, they are counted of that rank S. Paul speaketh of, which confess they know God, but deny him in their deeds. [6] And those which refuse such an office, cannot be judged disloyal, because it is sufficiently known, that Catholics refuse of mere conscience. Another most especial difference is in the things demanded. [7] This Syrian promising expressly before the Prophet, and his own great train, that he would never again serve false gods, and that he would serve the only true God, and for that purpose carried earth with him, to make an Altar for Sacrifice, and returning home preached the miracle wrought in himself, desired not to do any thing, whereby he might seem to serve an Idol: [8] but that when the King leaning upon him should adore Remmon, he might bow with his master, not adoring the Idol, for he resolve & promised the contrary, but adoring God Almighty, in whom now he believed. And this the Prophet approved, in that time, place, and person to be lawful. [9] But those that now in England go to Protestants' service, or sermons, do neither publicly renounce all heresies, nor profess to frequent Mass, the true Sacrifice of the Christian Church, nor avouch the erecting of an Altar, but go to Church, to shew themselves obedient to the Parliament law, which abandoned the true Divine Service, and in place thereof appointed and commanded all to be present at a new form of common prayer, thereby making it a distinctive sign of conformity, and participation in that religion, which these dissemblers in their conscience know to be false.
This example therefore doth in no sort warrant their going to the heretical Church: but contrarywise admonisheth all to take resolution in our case (as Naaman did in his) of our Eliseus, or spiritual Superior, and if he should say: Go in peace, then might they plead an excuse, but he saith: None can go without incurring grievous sin, and eternal damnation. The case being so much different from Naaman's. [1] It is indeed more like to that of Eleazarus, and other Machabees, who were commanded by eating swine's flesh, to depart from the law of God, and their fathers. [2] Which by no means was lawful to do, nor to make shew of doing it, but rather to die, as they did most gloriously.