Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsJoshua 3
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Joshua 3 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Joshua 3 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Joshua 3:8
Command the Priests.
[1] Because Josue commanded the Priests to take the ark, and stand with it in Jordan, for that also (chap. 5.) he ministered, or appointed others to minister, the Sacrament of Circumcision; likewise (chap. 8.) blessed the people, and (chap. 24.) renewed God's covenant with them, English Protestants infer, that he was chief superior in spiritual causes; and therefore lay Princes are supreme heads & governers of the Church immediately under God. [2] But none of these actions, nor all put together do prove their purpose. For notwithstanding he very lawfully did these, and other like things, yet he had a spiritual superior in earth, which was Eleazar the high-Priest. [3] For Moyses being extraordinary superior of all, both in spiritual and temporal causes, the ordinary priesthood and spiritual supremacy was established in Aaron and his sons, as appeareth Levit. 8. Num. 20. and other places: and the temporal government after Moyses and given to Josue, succeeding to him (Num. 27.) not in all, but in part of his glory (or authority) his whole honour (or power) [4] being distributed between the high-Priest, and the temporal Prince [5], as learned Theodoret (q. 48. in Nu.) noteth upon the sacred text, expressly distinguishing their offices (v. 21.) that Eleazar the Priest should consult our Lord for him (and so receive answer in doctrine and verity, Exod. 28. Levit. 8. ) and that Josue should go out and go in, and all the children of Israel with him (that is, lead and govern the people) at Eleazar's word. [6] Where it is manifest that Josue was not set over Eleazar, but Eleazar over him. That therefore which Josue did in spiritual affairs, was in subordination [7] to the high-Priest, by whose direction, approbation, or ratihabition, he commanded some of the Priest's to carry the ark, and with it to go into Jordan, and coming into the mid channel to stand there, whiles all the army and people passed over [8]: also gave order that all should be circumcised [9], blessed the people [10], read the law [11], and after godly exhortations, renewed the covenant between God and them [12]; all in way of execution of God's will & commandments, not by any pretended jurisdiction in spiritual things.
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In like sort many other good temporal Princes, as well in the old as the new Testament, have disposed and executed diverse things pertaining to God's service: their office requiring that they should set forward, maintain & defend true faith and religion. Especially Christian Princes, of whom Esay Prophesied (chap. 49.) that Kings should be foster fathers, and Queens the nurses of the Church.
Conformably whereto S. Augustin teacheth (li. 3. c. 51. cont. Crescon.) that Kings, in that they are Kings, serve God by commanding good things, and forbidding evil, not only pertaining to human society, but also belonging to God's religion. To this effect Constantine the Great did many religious acts: yea even those things which our adversaries wrest to their own sense, shew evidently his due submission to his spiritual pastor. As when urged by the Donatists' perverse importunity, and being desirous (as S. Augustine testifieth Epist. 116. ) to bridle so great impudency, he heard and judged Bishop Cecilian's cause, after other Bishops' sentence for him against the heretics, where he both gave judgement agreeable to the Bishops, and yet pleading pardon, excused himself for this fact [1]. Which had not needed, if he had been the ordinary or competent judge. Optatus also writeth (li. 1. cont. Parmen.) that the same Emperor Constantine exclaimed against the appellants in these words: O rabida furoris audacia! sicut in causis Gentilium fieri solet, appellationem interposuerunt. O outrageous boldness of fury! Like as in causes of Gentiles is wont, they have interposed an appeal. The like good offices did Justinian, and Charles the Great, and many other Christian Emperors and Kings, for which they are much renowned in the whole Church, and some have been honoured for their religious zeal with glorious titles [2] given to them and their successors. To the Kings of Spain, from the time of Alfonsus King of Castile, above eight hundred years agone, for expelling the Arians, was given the title of Catholic, as Michael Ritius a Neapolitan writeth. To the French Kings the title of most Christian, from the time of Philip the Emperor, about 400. years since, for expelling the Albigenses, as recordeth Nicholaus Gillius. To our King Henry the eighth of England [3], for his book of the Sacraments against Luther, Pope Leo the tenth gave the title: Defender of the faith.
340 Josue 4
Chapter IV.