Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMatthew 4

Desert.

As John the Baptist, so our Saviour by going into the desert, and there living in contemplation even among brute beasts, and subject to the assaults of the Devil for our sins, ^◦ giveth a warrant and example to such holy men as have lived in wilderness for penance and contemplation, called Eremites.

• ◦ Eremites.

Fasted forty days.

Elias and Moyses (saith S. Hierom) by the fast of 40 days were filled with the familiarity of God, and our Lord himself in the wilderness fasted as many, ^[1] to leave unto us the solemn days of fast, (that is, Lent.) Hiero. in c. 58. Esa. S. Augustine also hath the very like words ep. 119. And generally all the ancient Fathers that by occasion or of purpose speak of the Lent-fast, make it not only an imitation of our Saviour's fast, but also an Apostolical tradition, and of necessity to be kept. Contemn not Lent (saith S. Ignatius ^[2] ) for it containeth the imitation of our Lord's conversation. And S. Ambrose ^[3] saith plainly, that it was not ordained by men, but consecrated by God: nor invented by any earthly cogitation, but commanded by the heavenly Majesty. And again, that it is sin not to fast all the Lent. S. Hierom's words ^[4] also be most plain: we (saith he) fast forty days, or, make one Lent in a year, according to the tradition of the Apostles, in time convenient. This time most convenient is (as S. Augustine saith ep. 119.) immediately before Easter, thereby to communicate with our Saviour's Passion: and (as other writers do add) thereby to come the better prepared and more worthily, to the great solemnity of Christ's Resurrection: beside many other goodly reasons in the ancient Fathers which for brevity we omit. See (good Christian Reader) 12 notable sermons of S. Leo the Great de Quadragesima, of Lent: namely Ser. 6. and 9. where he calleth it the Apostle's ordinance by the doctrine of the Holy Ghost. See S. Ambrose from the 23. sermon forward: in S. Bernard 7 sermons, and in many other Fathers the like. Last of all, note well the saying of S. Augustine ^[5], who affirmeth that by due observation thereof, the wicked be separated from the good, infidels from Christians, Heretics from faithful Catholics.

• 1 The Lent-fast.
• 2 Igna. ep. 5.
• 3 Ambr. de Quadrag. ser. 36. 34.
• 4 Hier. ep. 54. ad Marcel. adv. Montanum.
• 5 Aug. Ser. 69. de temp.

It is written.

Heretics allege scriptures, as here the Devil doth, in the false sense: the Church useth them, as Christ doth, in the true sense, and to confute their falsehood. Aug. cont. lit. Petil. li. 2. c. 51. to. 7.

Him only serve.

It was not said, saith S. Augustine, The Lord thy God only shalt thou adore, as it was said, Him only shalt thou serve: in Greek, λατρεύσεις. Aug. sup. Gen. q. 61. Whereupon the Catholic Church hath always used this most true and necessary distinction ^◦: that there is an honour due to God only, which to give unto any creature, were idolatry: and there is an honour due to creatures also according to their dignity, as to Saints, holy things, and holy places. See Euseb. Hist. Ec. li. 4. c. 14. S. Hierom. cont. Vigil. ep. 53. Aug. li. 10. Civit. c. 1. Li. 1. Trin. c. 6. Conc. Nic. 2. Damasc. li. 1. de Imag. Bed. in 4. Luc.

• ◦ Latria. Dulia.

Do penance.

That penance is necessary also before baptism, for such as be of age: as John's, so our Saviour's preaching declareth, both beginning with penance.

Healing every malady.

Christ (saith S. Augustine) by miracles gat authority, by authority found credit, by credit drew together a multitude, by a multitude obtained antiquity, by antiquity fortified a Religion, which not only the most fond new rising of Heretics using deceitful wiles, but neither the drowsy old errors of the very Heathen with violence setting against it, might in any part shake and cast down. Aug. de util. cred. c. 14.