Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMatthew 12

In Beelzebub.

The like blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is, to attribute the miracles done by Saints either dead or alive, to the Devil.

Not with me.

^◦ They that are indifferent to all religions, commonly and fitly called Neuters, joining themselves to neither part, let them mark these words well, and they shall see, that Christ accounted all them to be against him and his Church, that are not plainly and flatly with him and it.

• ◦ Neuters in religion.

Gathereth not with me.

He speaketh not only of his own person, but of all to whom he hath committed the government of his Church, and specially of the chief Pastors succeeding Peter in the government of the whole. As S. Hierom writing to Damasus Pope of Rome ^◦, applieth these words unto him, saying of all Heretics, He that gathereth not with thee, scattereth: that is to say, He that is not with Christ, is with Antichrist.

• ◦ Ep. 58.

The blasphemy of the Spirit.

He meaneth not that there is any sin so great, which God will not forgive, or whereof a man may not repent in this life, as some Heretics at this day affirm: but that some heinous sins (as namely this blasphemy of the Jews against the evident works of the Holy Ghost, and likewise Arch-heretics who willfully resist the known truth and works of the Holy Ghost in God's Church) are hardly forgiven, and seldom have such men grace to repent. Otherwise among all the sins against the Holy Ghost (which are commonly reckoned six) one only shall never be forgiven, that is, dying without repentance willfully, called Final impenitence ^[1]. Which sin he committeth that dieth with contempt of the Sacrament of Penance, obstinately refusing absolution, by the Church's ministry: as S. Augustine plainly declareth in these words. ^[2] Whosoever he be that believeth not man's sins to be remitted in God's Church, and therefore despiseth the bountifulness of God in so mighty a work, if he in that obstinate mind continue till his life's end, he is guilty of sin against the Holy Ghost, in which Holy Ghost Christ remitteth sins. Enchir. 83. Ep. 50. in fine.

• 1 Final impenitence.
• 2 Remission of sins in the Church.

Son of man.

The Jews in their words sinned against the son of man, when they reprehended those things which he did as a man, to wit, calling him a glutton, a great drinker of wine, a friend of the Publicans, a Samaritane, and taking offence because he kept company with sinners, brake the Sabboth, and such like: and this sin might more easily be forgiven them, because they judged of him as they would have done of any other man: but they sinned and blasphemed against the Holy Ghost (called here the finger of God whereby he wrought miracles) when of malice they attributed the evident works of God in casting out devils, to the devil himself: and this sin shall not be remitted, because it shall hardly be remitted, as we see by the plague of their posterity until this day.

Nor in the world to come.

^◦ S. Augustine and other Holy Doctors gather hereupon, that some sins may be remitted in the next life, and consequently prove purgatory thereby. De Civit. Dei li. 21, c. 13. D. Gregor, Dial. li. 4, c. 39.

• ◦ Purgatory.

Idle word.

If of every idle word we must make account before God in judgement, and yet shall not for every such word be damned everlastingly: then there must needs be some temporal punishment in the next life.

Who is my mother.

The dutiful affection toward our parents and kinsfolk is not blamed, but the inordinate love of them to the hindrance of our service and duty toward God. ^◦ Upon this place some old Heretics denied Christ to have any mother. Aug. li. de Fid. & Symb. c. 4. Neither ever was there any heresy so absurd, but it would seem to have Scripture for it.

• ◦ All Heretics allege Scriptures.