Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsActs 10

Doing many alms deeds.

He knew God creator of all, but that his omnipotent Son was incarnate, he knew not: ^[1] and in that faith he made prayers and gave alms which pleased God. And by well doing he deserved to know God perfectly, to believe the mystery of the Incarnation, and to come to the Sacrament of Baptism. So saith Venerable Bede ^[2] out of S. Gregory. And S. Augustine thus, li. 1. de Bapt. c. 8. Because whatsoever goodness he had in prayers and alms, the same could not profit him unless he were by the band of Christian Society and peace, incorporated to the Church, he is bidden to send unto Peter, that by him he may learn Christ, by him he may be baptized, &c. Whereby it appeareth that such works as are done before justification, though they suffice not to salvation, yet be acceptable preparatives to the grace of justification, and such as move God to mercy, as it might appear also by God's like provident mercifulness ^[3] to the Eunuch, though all such works preparative come of grace also: otherwise they could never deserve at God's hand of congruity or any otherwise toward justification.

• 1 Good works before faith, are preparatives to the same, not properly meritorious.
• 2 Bed. in hunc locum.
• 3 Act. 8.

To pray about the sixth hour.

^[1] The hour is specified, for that there were certain appointed times of prayer used in the Law, which devout persons, according to the public service in the Temple, observed also privately: and which the Apostles and holy Church afterward both kept and increased. Whereof thus writeth S. Cyprian ^[2] very notably. In celebrating their prayers, we find that the three children with Daniel observed the third, sixth, and ninth hour, as in Sacrament (or mystery) of the holy Trinity. &c. And a little after, Which spaces of hours the worshippers of God spiritually (or mystically) determining long since, observed set times to pray: and afterward the thing became manifest, that it was for Sacrament (or mystery) that the just so prayed. For at the third hour the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles ^[3] , fulfilling the grace of our Lord's promise, and at the sixth hour Peter going up to the higher room of the house ^[4] , was both by voice and sign from God instructed, that all Nations should be admitted to the grace of salvation, whereas of cleansing the Gentiles he doubted before. And our Lord being crucified at the sixth hour ^[5] , at the ninth washed away our sins with his blood. But to us (dearly beloved) beside the seasons observed of old, both the times and sacraments of praying be increased. For we must pray in the morning early ^[6] , that the Resurrection of our Lord may be celebrated by morning prayer: as of old the Holy Ghost designed in the Psalm ^[7] , saying, In the morning early will I stand to thee, early in the morning wilt thou hear my voice. Toward the evening ^[8] also when the sun departeth, and the day endeth, we must of necessity pray again.

• 1 The Canonical hours.
• 2 De Orat. Dom. nu. 15.
• 3 Act. 2.
• 4 Act. 10.
• 5 Luc. 23.
• 6 Matins.
• 7 Psal. 5.
• 8 Evensong.

S. Hierom also writing of ^[1] Daniel's praying three times in a day, saith: There are three times, wherein we must bow our knees to God. The third, the sixth, and the ninth hour the Ecclesiastical tradition doth well understand. Moreover at the third hour the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles. At the sixth, Peter went up into a higher chamber to pray. At the ninth, ^[2] Peter and John went to the Temple. Again writing to Eustochium a virgin and Nun ep. 22. c. 16. Though the Apostle bid us pray always, and to holy persons their very sleep is prayer: yet we must have distinct hours of prayer, that if perhaps we be otherwise occupied, the very time may admonish us of our office or duty. The third, sixth, ninth hour, morning early, and the evening, no man can be ignorant of. And to Demetrias ep. 8. c. 8. that in the Psalms and prayer she must keep always the third, sixth, ninth hour, evening, midnight, and morning. He hath the like ep. 7. c. 5. And (ep. 27. c. 10.) he telleth how Paula the holy Abbess with her religious Nuns sang the Psalter in order, in the morning, at the third, sixth, ninth hour, evening, midnight: by midnight meaning the time of Matins (therefore called Nocturnes agreeably to S. Cyprian de Orat. Do. num. 15.) and by the morning, the first hour called Prime: all correspondent to the times and hours of Christ's Passion, as in S. Matthew is noted c. 26. 27. By all which we see, how agreeable the use of the Church's service is even at this time to the Scriptures and primitive Church: and how wicked the Puritan-Calvinists be, that count all such order and set seasons of prayer, superstition: and lastly, how insufficient and unlike the new pretended Church-service of England is to the primitive use, which hath no such hours of night or day, saving a little imitation of the old Matins and Evensong, and that in Schism and Heresy, and therefore not only unprofitable, but also damnable.

• 1 Dan. 6.
• 2 Act. 3.

Adored.

^[1] S. Chrysostom ho. 21. in Act. thinketh Peter refused this adoration of humility only, because every falling down to the ground for worship sake, is not Divine worship or due only to God, ^[2] the word of adoration and prostration being commonly used in the Scriptures toward men. But S. Hierom. adv. Vigil. c. 2. to. 2. rather thinketh that Cornelius by error of Gentility, and of Peter's person, did go about to adore him with Divine honour, and therefore was lifted up by the Apostle, adding that he was but a man.

• 1 Adoration of creatures.
• 2 * προσκυνεῖν.

Gave him.

Christ did not utter his Resurrection and other mysteries to all at once, and immediately to the vulgar: but to a few chosen men that should be the governors of the rest, instructing us thereby to take our faith and all necessary things of salvation, at the hands of our Superiors.

Baptized, which have received.

^◦ Such may be the grace of God sometimes toward men, and their charity and contrition so great, that they may have remission, justification, and sanctification before the external Sacrament of Baptism, Confirmation, or Penance be received, as we see in this example, where at Peter's preaching they all received the Holy Ghost before any Sacrament. But in the same we learn one necessary lesson, that such notwithstanding must needs receive the Sacraments appointed by Christ, which whosoever contemneth, can never be justified. Aug. super Levit. q. 84. to. 4.

• ◦ They that are justified before, must not omit the Sacraments.