Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsJohn 15

Every branch in me.

By this it appeareth that Christ hath some branches in his body mystical that be fruitless: therefore ill livers also may be members of Christ and the Church, though none can be saved but fruitful branches.

More fruit.

This proveth that a just man may continually increase in justice & sanctification so long as he liveth.

Unless it abide.

^◦ Whosoever by Heresy or Schism or for any other cause is cut off or separated from the Church, he can do no meritorious work to Salvation.

• ◦ No salvation out of the Church.

Unless you abide.

^◦ These conditional speeches, if you remain in the vine, if you keep my commandments, and such like, give us to wit that we be not sure to persist or persevere, nor to be saved, but under conditions to be fulfilled by us. Aug. de corrept. & gra. c. 13.

• ◦ No man sure of perseverance.

Keep my precepts.

^◦ This careful and often admonition of keeping his commandments, proveth that a Christian man's life is not only or principally in faith, but in good works.

• ◦ Only faith sufficeth not to salvation.

If I had.

If the Jews had not sinned by refusing Christ, in case he had not done greater miracles than any other: then were it a great folly of Catholics to believe Luther's or Calvin's new opinions without any miracles at all.

Whom I will send.

The Holy Ghost is sent by the Son, therefore he proceedeth from him also, as from the Father: though the late Schismatical Greeks think otherwise.

You shall give.

He vouchsafeth to join together the testimony of the Holy Ghost, and of the Apostles: that we may see the testimony of truth jointly to consist in the Holy Ghost and in the Prelates of the Church.