Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsExodus 1
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Exodus 1 in the BibleExodus 1:19
Hebrew women are not.
Herein the midwives sinned. For it is never lawful to lie. Because the law of God is truth [1], whereby S. Augustine proveth (li. cont. mend. c. 10.) that whatsoever varieth from truth is unlawful [2]. When therefore (saith he) examples of lying are proposed to us out of holy Scripture, either they are not lies, but are thought to be whiles they are not understood, or if they be lies, they are not to be imitated, because they are unlawful. S. Gregory teacheth the same (li. 18. Moral. c. 26.) Quia profecto ab equitate discrepat quicquid a veritate discordat, Because assuredly whatsoever disagreeth from verity, differeth from equity. Yet these fathers hold such an officious lie, as this was, to be a less sin [3], and more easily pardoned, and purged by good works following.
- 1 Ps. 118. v. 142.
- 2 All lies are sins and unlawful.
- 3 Venial sins.
Exodus 1:21
Because the midwives feared God.
[1] Fear of God as it is properly taken in holy Scripture, is that holy fear, by which the children of God refrain from sin, and that with temporal danger, lest they should offend the divine Majesty. So these midwives endangering their own lives, by not fulfilling Pharao's commandment, had the true fear of God, and for the same were rewarded, as is most probable, eternally: though mention be here made only of temporal reward, after the manner of the old Testament [2]. Where such promises were made to Abraham, and other most godly Patriarchs, for an essay only and taste of everlasting life, which is more expressly promised in the Gospels of Christ, as S. Hierom teacheth, Epist. ad Dardanum.
- 1 Fear of God meritorious.
- 2 Temporal rewards promised in the old Testament, eternal in the new.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Exodus 1:17
But the midwives feared God.
In commendation of the midwives not obeying the king's commandment, Moyses opposeth the fear of God [1], to the fear of Princes; shewing thereby that when their commandments are contrary, the subjects must fear God, and not do that the Prince commandeth. So did our Saviour himself teach, and that for fear of damnation, saying: Fear him who hath power to cast into hell [2]. And so his Apostles endowed with the Holy-Ghost practised, answering in this case, that they must hear God rather than men. Again, God must be obeyed rather than men: [3] Always understood, when they are contrary. For otherwise both S. Peter [4] and S. Paul [5] teach us, that Princes [6], yea Infidels, of whom they especially speak, must be obeyed.