Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsEcclesiastes 4

It is better that two be together.

Besides the commendation of charity, and friendship amongst men, which is one proper sense of this place: ^[1] S. Jerome expoundeth it also of the necessity of Christ's dwelling in man's soul, & of his continual assisting grace: that man alone lie not open to the deceits of the adversary. The benefit of fellowship (sayth he) is straight ways shewed in the profit of society. For if the one fall (as ^[2] the just falleth often) Christ raiseth up his partner: for woe to him, who falling hath not Christ in him, to raise him up. If one also sleep, that is, be dissolved by death, and have Christ with him, being warmed, and quickened, he sooner reviveth. And if the devil be stronger in impugning against a man, the man shall stand, and Christ will stand (pro homine suo, pro sodali suo) for his man, for his companion. ^[3] Not that Christ's power alone is weak against the devil, but that free will is left to man, and we doing our endeavour he becometh stronger in fighting. And if the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost come withal, this sodality is not soon broken. Yet that which is not soon broken, may sometimes be broken. For this triple cord was in Judas the Apostle, but because after the morsel the devil entered into him, ^[4] this cord was broken. Thus S. Jerome teacheth, that neither can man without Christ resist tentations, nor rise from any sin in this life, or ^[5] in the next: neither will Christ without man's consent and endeavour, stay him from falling, nor raise him up being fallen.

• 1 Man without Christ's help can neither resist tentations, nor rise from sin.
• 2 Pro. 24. v. 16.
• 3 And without man's free consent Christ will not stay him, nor raise him up.
• 4 Ioan. 13. v. 27.
• 5 * In purgatory.