Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMatthew 19

Not man separate.

This inseparability betwixt man and wife riseth of that, that wedlock is a Sacrament. Aug. li. 2. de pec. origine c. 34. to. 7. De nupt. & concupis. li. 1. c. 10.

But for fornication.

For adultery one may dismiss another, Matt. 5. ^[1] But neither party can marry again for any cause during life. Aug. li. 11. de adult. coniug. c. 21. 22. 24. For the which unlawful act of marrying again, Fabiola that noble matron of Rome albeit she was the innocent part, did public penance, as S. Hierom ^[2] writeth in her high commendation therefore. And in S. Paul Ro. 7. it is plain that she which is with another man, her husband yet living, shall be called an adultress: contrary to the doctrine of our Adversaries.

• 1 Marriage after divorce unlawful.
• 2 In Epitaph. Fabiola.

Not all take.

Whosoever have not this gift given them, it is either for that they will not have it, or for that they fulfil not that which they will: and they that have this gift or attain to this word, have it of God and their own free will. Aug. li. de grat. & lib. arbit. c. 4. So that it is evident no man is excluded from this gift, but (as Origen ^◦ here saith) it is given to all that ask for it: contrary to our Adversaries that say it is impossible, and that for excuse of breaking their vows, wickedly say, they have not the gift.

• ◦ Orig. tract. 7. in Mat.

Gelded themselves.

^◦ They geld themselves for the kingdom of heaven which vow chastity. Aug. de virginitate c. 24. Which proveth those kind of vows to be both lawful, and also more meritorious, and more sure to obtain life everlasting, than the state of wedlock, contrary to our Adv. in all respects.

• ◦ Vow of chastity.

Impose.

^◦ They knew the value of Christ's blessing, and therefore brought their children to him: as good Christian people have at all times brought their children to Bishops to have their blessing. See Annotation before Chap. 10. 12. And of Religious men's blessing see Ruffin. li. 2. c. 8. hist. S. Hierom in Epitaph. Paulæ c. 7. & in vit. Hilarionis. Theodoret. in historia sanctorum Patrum num. 8.

• ◦ Bishops and Religious men's blessing.

He that can.

^{[1] [2]} It is not said of the Precepts, keep them who can, for they be necessary under pain of damnation to be kept: but of Counsels only (as of virginity, abstaining from flesh and wine, and of giving all a man's goods away to the poor) it is said, He that can attain to it, let him do it: which is counsel only, not a commandment. Contrary to our Adv. that say, there are no Counsels, but only precepts.

• 1 Counsels not Precepts.
• 2 Aug. ser. 6. de temp.

If thou wilt be perfect.

^◦ Lo, he maketh a plain difference between keeping the commandments, which is necessary for every man: and being perfect, which he counseleth only to them that will. And this is the state of great perfection which Religious men do profess, according to Christ's counsel here, leaving all things and following him.

• ◦ The Religious state of perfection.

Follow me.

Thus to follow Christ is to be without wife and care of children, to lack propriety, and to live in common, and this hath great reward in heaven above other states of life: which, S. Augustine saith, the Apostles followed, and himself, and that he exhorted others to it as much as lay in him. Aug. ep. 89. in fine, & in Ps. 103. Conc. 3. post med.

All things possible.

This of the camel through a needle's eye, being possible to God, although he neither hath done it, nor by like will do it: maketh against the blasphemous infidelity of our Adversaries that say, God can do no more than he hath done or will do. We see also that God can bring a camel through a needle's eye, and therefore his body through a door, and out of the sepulchre shut, and out of his mother a virgin, and generally above nature and contrary to nature do with his body as he list.

Left all.

^◦ This perfection of leaving all things the Apostles vowed. Aug. li. 17. de Civ. Dei c. 4.

• ◦ Vow of poverty in respect of reward.

What shall we have.

They leave all things in respect of reward, and Christ doeth well allow it in them by his answer.

You also shall sit.

^◦ Note that not only Christ, who is the principal and proper judge of the living and the dead, but with him the Apostles and all perfect Saints shall judge: and yet that doeth nothing derogate to his prerogative, by whom and under whom they hold this and all other dignities in this life and the next.

• ◦ Aug. in Ps. 121.