Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsLuke 6

Neither this have you read?

^◦ The Scribes and Pharisees boasted most of their knowledge of the Scriptures: but our Saviour often sheweth their great ignorance. Even so the Heretics that now a days vaunt most of the Scriptures and of their understanding of them, may soon be proved to understand little or nothing.

• ◦ Heretics understand not the Scriptures.

Save a soul.

Hereby it seemeth that Christ (as at other times lightly always) did not only heal this man in body, but of some correspondent disease in his soul.

The whole night.

^◦ Our Saviour instantly prayed, alone in the mount without door, all night long, as a preparation to the designment of his Apostles the day after: to give example to the Church of praying instantly when priests are to be ordered, and a lesson to us all what we should do for our own necessities, when Christ did so for other men's.

• ◦ The Church's prayers at the times of giving Holy Orders.

Whom he named Apostles.

Here it is to be noted against our Adversaries that deceitfully measure to the simple the whole nature and quality of certain sacred functions, by the primitive signification and compass of the names or words whereby they be called, with whom as a Priest is but an elder, and a Bishop, a watchman or Superintendent, so an Apostle is nothing but a Legate or Messenger, and therefore (as they argue) ^[1] can make no Laws nor prescribe or teach any thing not expressed in his mandatum. ^[2] Know therefore against such deceivers, that such things are not to be ruled by the vulgar signification of the word or calling, but by use and application of the holy writers, and in this point by Christ's own express imposition. And so this word, Apostle, is a calling of Office, government, authority, and most high dignity given by our Master, specially to the College of the Twelve: whom he endued above that which the vulgar etymology of their name requireth, with power to bind and loose, to punish and pardon, to teach and rule his Church. Out of which room and dignity, which is called in the Psalm ^[3] and in the acts ^[4], a Bishopric, when Judas fell, Mathias was chosen to supply it, and was numbered among the rest, who were as founders or foundations of our religion, as the Apostle termeth them ^[5]. Therefore to that college this name agreeth by special imposition and prerogative, though afterward it was by use of the Scriptures extended to S. Paul and S. Barnabas, and sometimes to the Apostles' successors: as also (by the like use of Scriptures ^[6] ) to the first converters of countries to the faith, or their coadjutors in that function. In which sense S. Paul challengeth to be the Corinthians' Apostle, and nameth Epaphroditus the Philippians' Apostle: as we call S. Gregory & his Disciple S. Augustine, our Apostles of England. In all which taking, it ever signifieth dignity, regiment, Paternity, Principality, and Primacy in the Church of God: according to S. Paul 1. Cor. 12. He hath placed in his Church, first indeed Apostles &c. Whereby we may see that S. Peter's dignity was a wonderful eminent Prerogative and Sovereignty, when he was the head not only of other Christian men, but the head of all Apostles, yea even of the College of the Twelve. And if our Adversaries list to have learned any profitable lesson by the word Apostle, more profitably and truly they might have gathered, that Christ called these his principal officers, Apostles, or Sent (himself also specially and above all other being Missus, that is, Sent ^[7], and called also Apostle in the Scriptures ^[8] ) to warn us by the nature of the word, that none are true Apostles, Pastors, or Preachers, that are not specially sent and called, or that cannot shew by whom they be sent, and that all Heretics therefore be rather Apostates than Apostles, for that they be not sent, nor duly called, nor chosen to preach.

• 1 Calv. Inst. li. 4. c. 8.
• 2 The name and dignity of Apostles.
• 3 Ps. 108, 8.
• 4 Act. 1, 20.
• 5 Eph. 2, 20.
• 6 Act. 14. 1. Cor. 12. Eph. 4, 11. 1. Cor. 9, 2. Phil. 2, 25.
• 7 Lu. 4, 18.
• 8 Hebr. 3, 1.

Simon.

^◦ Peter in the numbering of the Apostles, always first named and preferred before Andrew his elder brother and senior by calling, See Annotat. Mt. 10. 2.

• ◦ Peter's preeminence.

Be glad.

^◦ The common miseries that fall to the true preachers and other Catholic men for Christ's sake, as poverty, famine, mourning, and persecutions, be indeed the greatest blessings that can be, and are meritorious of the reward of heaven. Contrarywise, all the felicities of this world without Christ, are indeed nothing but woe, and the entrance to everlasting misery.

• ◦ All persecution for Christ, is a blessing.

Shall bless you.

^◦ This woe pertaineth to the Heretics of our days, that delight to have the people's praises and blessings and shouts, preaching pleasant things of purpose to their itching ears: as did the False-Prophets, when they were magnified and commended therefore of the carnal Jews.

• ◦ The vanity of Heretical preachers.

Lend, hoping nothing.

In that we may here seem to be moved to lend to those whom we think not able nor like ever to repay again, it must be holden for a counsel rather than a commandment, except the case of necessity. ^◦ But it may be taken rather for a precept, wherein usury, that is to say, the expectation not of the money lent, but of vantage for lone, is forbidden: as by other places of Scripture it is condemned, and is a thing against the Law of nature and nations. And great shame and pity it is, that it should be so much used or suffered among Christians, or so covered and cloaked under the habit of other contracts, as it is.

• ◦ Against usury.