Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsJohn 4

Our Fathers adored.

By adoration is meant doing of sacrifice. ^[1] for other offices of Religion might be done in any place. The Samaritanes to defend their adoring in Garizim, pretended their worshipping there to be more ancient than the Jews in Hierusalem, referring it to Jacob: Whereas indeed that Patriarch adoring there before the Temple was appointed, or the Law given, made nothing for their Schism: Which was begun by Manasses a fugitive Priest, only to hold his unlawful wife thereby, and to obtain Superiority, in Schism: ^[2] which he could not do in the unity of his brethren: long after the Temple of Hierusalem, from which the revolt was made. Therefore Christ giveth sentence for the Jews and the Temple of Hierusalem, affirming that they had a good ground thereof, but the Samaritanes none at all.

• 1 The Schismatical temple contendeth against the true Temple.
• 2 Ioseph. li. antiq. 11. c. 8.

Josephus also recordeth how the Samaritanes demanded of Alexander the Great, the like privileges and immunities as he had granted to the high Priest and Temple of Hierusalem, pretending their Temple to be as great and as worthy, ^[1] and themselves to be Jews as the other, and to worship the same God. but their Schismatical hypocrisy was easily spied and dimissed with nothing. Another time the Jews and Samaritanes (as the same writer testifieth) ^[2] made a great stir in Alexandria about the truth and antiquity of the Schismatical temple and service in Garizim and the other true Temple of Salomon: in so much that the matter was put to arbitrement by Ptolomæus the king's commandment, only to try whether of the two was first. And the Schismatics (as their custom is) per saltum can make their Church or service as old as they list, referring it to the Patriarchs, as our Schismatics do now to Christ and the Apostles. But when the trial was made, only they of Hierusalem did invincibly prove by continual succession of their Priests, ^[3] and by the just note of the time when the Schismatics went out from them, that theirs was the lawful, and the other the false temple and false adoration. and to it was judged, and the Samaritanes put to silence. Afterward the said Schismatics (which is lightly the end of all Schisms) revolted quite from the Jews' religion, and dedicated their temple in Garizim to Jupiter Olympius, as Calvin's supper and his bread and wine is like at length to come to the sacrifice of Ceres and Bacchus.

• 1 The true Temple prevaileth.
• 2 Ioseph. li. 13. antiq. c. 6.
• 3 The true Temple is proved by continual succession.

In Spirit and verity.

Our Saviour foretelleth her that the end & ceasing of their sacrifice & adoration in both the Temples should shortly be, ^[1] and even then was begun to be fulfilled: instructing her in three things concerning that point. First, that the true Sacrifice should be tied no more to that one place or nation, but that true adoration should be throughout all Nations according to the Prophecy of Malachie. ^[2] Secondly, that the gross and carnal adoration by the flesh and blood of beasts and other external terrene creatures, not having in them grace, spirit, and life, should be taken away, & another sacrifice succeed, which should be in itself invisible, celestial, divine, full of life, Spirit, and grace. and thirdly, that this adoration and sacrifice should be the verity itself, whereof all the former sacrifices and hosts were but shadows and figures. and he calleth that here spirit and truth, which in the first Chapter is called grace and truth. ^[3] All which is no more but a prophecy and description of the Sacrifice of the faithful Gentiles in the body and blood of Christ: not that it is not by external means given to us (for otherwise we being men consisting of flesh and blood could not be capable thereof) but that it is spirit and life in itself, being the flesh of the Word of God. And if a man enlarge the word of Adoration, (which here as is said, signifieth properly the worship of God by sacrifice) to all the Sacraments of the new Law, they all likewise be spirit and grace, the Holy Ghost working invisibly and internally upon our souls by every one of them. Whereupon our Baptism, is water & the Holy Ghost: our Penance, the word of absolution and the Holy Ghost: our Confirmation, oil & the Holy Ghost by imposition of hands: finally, all the adoration of the Catholic Church, is properly spiritual, though certain external creatures for our natures, state and necessity, be joined thereunto. Take heed therefore thou gather not of Christ's words, that Christian men should have no use of external office towards God: for that would take away all sacrifice, Sacraments, prayers, Churches, and society of men in his Service.

• 1 Christian adoration throughout all nations in every place, in spirit & verity: that is, in the Sacraments and service of the new law, full of spirit & grace: in the verity of things before prefigured, specially the true sacrifice of Christ's body and blood.
• 2 Mal. 1, 11.
• 3 Io. 1, 17.