Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMatthew 18

Who is the greater.

The occasion of this question and of their contention for Superiority among the rest of their infirmities which they had before the coming of the Holy Ghost, was (as certain holy Doctors write) upon emulation toward Peter, whom only they saw preferred before the rest in the payment of the tribute ^◦, by these words of our Saviour, Give it them for me and thee. Chrys. ho. 59. Hiero. in Mat. Upon this place.

• ◦ C. 17, v. 27.

Scandals.

The simple be most annoyed by taking scandal of their preachers, Priests, and elders ill life: and great damnation is to the guides of the people, whether they be temporal or spiritual, but specially to the spiritual, if by their ill example and scandalous life, the people be scandalized.

Hand, foot, eye.

By these parts of the body so necessary and profitable for a man, is signified, that whatsoever is nearest and dearest to us, wife, children, friends, riches, all are to be contemned and forsaken for to save our soul.

Their Angels.

^◦ A great dignity and a marvelous benefit that every one hath from his Nativity an Angel for his custody and Patronage against the Wicked, before the face of God. Hiero. upon this place. And the thing is so plain, that Calvin dare not deny it, and yet he will needs doubt of it, lib. 1. Inst. c. 14. sect. 7.

• ◦ Protection of Angels.

Not hear the Church.

^[1] Not only Heretics, but any other obstinate offender that will not be judged nor ruled by the Church, may be excommunicated, and so made as an Heathen or publican was to the Jews, by the discipline of the same, casting him out of the fellowship of Catholics. Which ^[2] Excommunication is a greater punishment than if he were executed by sword, fire, and wild beasts. Aug. cont. Adv. leg. li. 1. c. 17. And again he saith, Man is more sharply and pitifully bound by the Church's Keys, than with any iron or adamantine manacles or fetters in the world. August. ibidem.

• 1 Disobedience to the Church.
• 2 Excommunication.

Heathen.

Heretics therefore because they will not hear the Church, be no better nor no otherwise to be esteemed of Catholics, than heathen men and Publicans were esteemed among the Jews.

You shall bind.

^[1] As before he gave this power of binding and loosing over the whole, first of all and principally to Peter, upon whom he builded his Church: so here not only to Peter ^[2], and in him to his successors, but also to the other Apostles, and in them to their successors, every one in their charge. Hierom. lib. 1. c. 14. advers. Iovin. and Epist. ad Heliod. Cyprian. de unit. Eccl. nu. 3.

• 1 Power to bind and loose.
• 2 Mat. c. 16, 19.

Shall loose.

Our Lord giveth no less right and authority to the Church to loose, than to bind, as S. Ambrose ^◦ writeth against the Novatians, who confessed that the Priests had power to bind, but not to loose.

• ◦ Li. 1. de poenit. c. 2.

In the middes of them.

^◦ Not all assemblies may challenge the presence of Christ, but only such as be gathered together in the unity of the Church. And therefore no conventicles of Heretics directly gathering against the Church, are warranted by this place. Cypr. de unit. Eccles. nu. 7. 8.

• ◦ Catholic Assemblies.

Seventy times seven.

There must be no end of forgiving them that be penitent, either in the Sacrament by absolution, or one man another their offences.