Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMark 2

Uncovered.

Such diligence ought to be used to bring sinners to Christ in his Sacraments, as was used to procure this man and others, by Christ, the health of their bodies.

Sick of the palsy.

Such as this man was in body by dissolution of his limbs, such also was he in soul, by the noisome desires of the world occupying his heart; and withdrawing him from all good works. Aug. de Pastor. c. 6. to. 9.

Thy sins.

Hereby it appeareth that Christ healed this sick man first in his soul, before he took away his bodily infirmity: which may be an instruction for all men in bodily disease, first to call for the Sacraments ^◦, which be medicines of the soul. As hereby also may be gathered that many diseases come for sin, and therefore cannot be healed till the sins be remitted.

• ◦ The Sacraments to be called for in sickness.

The Son of man.

^◦ As Christ proveth unto them, that himself as man, and not as God only, hath power to remit sins, by that in all their sights he was able to do miracles, and make the sick man suddenly arise; so the Apostles having power granted them to do miracles, though they be not God, may in like manner have authority from God to remit sins, not as God, but as God's ministers.

• ◦ Man hath power to remit sins.

In earth.

^[1] This power that the Son of man hath to remit sins in earth, was never taken from him, but dureth still in his Sacraments, and ministers, by whom he remitteth sins in the Church, and not in heaven only. For concerning sin, there is one court of conscience in earth, and another in heaven: and the judgement in heaven followeth and approveth this on earth: as is plain by the words of our Saviour to Peter first, and then to all the Apostles, ^[2] Whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound in heaven: Whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed in heaven: whereupon S. Hierom saith ^[3], That Priests having the keys of the kingdom of heaven, judge after a sort before the day of judgement. And S. Chrysost. li. 3. de Sacerd. paul. post princip. more at large.

• 1 Christ remitteth sins by the Priest's ministry.
• 2 Mt. 16, 19. Mt. 18, 18.
• 3 ad Heliod. ep. 1.

In necessity.

In necessity many things be done without sin, which else might not be done: and so ^◦ the very chalices and consecrated jewels and vessels of the Church in cases of necessity, are by lawful authority turned to profane uses: which otherwise to alienate to a man's private commodity is sacrilege.

• ◦ Amb. li. 2. off. c. 28.