Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsEphesians 1
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Ephesians 1 in the BibleEphesians 1:22
Head.
[1] It maketh a high proof among the Protestants, that no man can be head of the Church, because it is a calling and dignity proper to Christ. But in truth by as good reason there should be no king nor lord, because, [2] He is King and Lord. neither should there be Bishop or Pastor, because he is [3] the Bishop and Pastor of our souls: nor Pontifex nor Apostle, for by those titles S. Paul termeth him Hebr. 3: none should be pillar, foundation, rock, light, or master of the Church or truth, because Christ is properly all these. And yet our new doctors (though they be exceeding seditious and would for the advantage of their sect be gladly rid of kings and all other Superiors temporal, if they feared not the sword more than God, and would find as good Scriptures to be delivered of them, as they now find to discharge themselves of obedience to Popes.) yet (I say) they will not deny, all the former titles and dignities (notwithstanding Christ's sovereign right in the same) [4] to be given and communicated to the Princes and Magistrates of the earth both spiritual and temporal. though Christ in a more divine, ample, absolute, excellent, and transcendent sort, have all these things attributed or appropriated to himself. So then, though he be the head of the Church, and the only head in such sovereign and principal manner, as no earthly man or mere creature ever is or can be, and is joined to the Church in a more excellent sort of conjunction, than any king is to his subjects or Country, or any Pope or Prelate to the Church whereof he is governor, even so far that it is called his body Mystical: life, motion, spirit, grace issuing down from him to it and the members of the same, as from the head to the natural body. though in this sort (we say) no man can be head but Christ, nor the Church be body to any but to Christ: yet the Pope may be the ministerial head, that is to say, the chief Governor, Pastor, and Prelate of the same, and may be his Vicar or Vicegerent in the regiment of that part which is in earth: as S. Hierom [5] calleth Damasus the Pope, Summum Sacerdotem, the chief and highest Priest: and the Apostle saith of this ministerial head, [6] The head cannot say to the feet, you are not necessary for me. For therein also is a great difference between Christ and every mortal Prelate, that (as the Apostle here saith) he is head of the whole Church, meaning of the triumphant (& of all Angels also, though in another sort) no less than of the Church militant. So Peter was not, nor any Pope, nor any man can be. where you must observe, that for this sovereign preeminence of Christ in this case, the Church is not called the body mystical of any Governor, Peter, Paul, or what Prelate or Pope so ever.
- 1 As Christ is king, and yet men are kings also: so Christ is head of the Church, and yet man may be head thereof also.
- 2 Apoc. 19.
- 3 1. Pet. 2, 25.
- 4 Christ is head of his Church in a far more excellent sort, than any man can be.
- 5 Hiero. ep. 123.
- 6 1. Cor. 12, 21.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Ephesians 1:21
All Principality.
The Fathers upon this, and other places of the old and new Testament, where they find the orders of holy Angels or spirits named, agree that there be nine orders of them. Of which some be here counted and called, as we see: in the Epistle to the Colossians, the order of Thrones is specified, which maketh five: to which if we add these four, Cherubim, Seraphim, Angels, and Archangels, which are commonly named in holy writ, in all there be nine [1]. S. Denys coel. Hier. c. 7. 8. 9. & Ec. Hier. c. 1. S. Athanas. li. de Communi essent. in fine. Gregor. Moral. li. 32. c. 18. Therefore good Reader, make no account of [2] Calvin's and other's infidelity, which blasphemously blame and condemn the holy doctors' diligence in this point, of curiosity and impiety. The whole endeavour of these heretics is, to bring all into doubt, and to corrupt every Article of our Religion.