Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMatthew 5

For justice.

^◦ Heretics and other malefactors sometime suffer willingly and stoutly: but they are not blessed, because they suffer not for justice. For (saith S. Aug.) they cannot suffer for justice, that have divided the Church, and, where sound faith or charity is not, there cannot be justice. Cont. ep. Parm. li. 1. c. 9. Ep. 50. Psal. 34. Conc. 3. And so by this scripture are excluded all false Martyrs, as S. Augustine often declareth, and S. Cypr. de Unit. Eccl. nu. 8.

• ◦ False Martyrs.

Reward.

In Latin and Greek the word ^◦ signifieth very wages and hire due for works, and so presupposeth a meritorious deed.

• ◦ Merces. Μισθὸς.

The light.

This light of the world, and city on a mountain, and candle upon a candlestick, signify the Clergy, and the whole Church, so built upon Christ the mountain, that it must needs be visible ^◦, and cannot be hid nor unknown. Aug. cont. Fulg. Donat. c. 18. Li. 16. cont. Faust. c. 17. And therefore, the Church being a candle not under a bushel, but shining to all in the house (that is) in the world, what shall I say more (saith S. Augustine) than that they are blind which shut their eyes against the candle that is set on the candlestick? Tract. 2. in ep. Io.

• ◦ The Church visible.

Your light.

The good life of the Clergy edifieth much, and is God's great honour: whereas the contrary dishonoureth him.

One of these.

Behold how necessary it is, not only to believe, but to keep all the commandments, even the very least.

Your justice.

^◦ It is our justice, when it is given us of God. Aug. in Ps. 30. Conc. 1. De Sp. & lit. c. 9. So that Christians are truly just, and have in themselves inherent justice, by doing God's commandments. Without which justice of works no man of age can be saved. Aug. de fid. & oper. c. 16. Whereby we see salvation, justice, and justification, not to come of only faith, or imputation of Christ's justice.

• ◦ True inherent justice.

Hell of fire.

^◦ Here is a plain difference of sins, some mortal that bring to Hell, some less, and less punishment, called venial.

• ◦ Venial sins.

Gift at the altar.

Beware of coming to the holy altar or any Sacrament out of charity. But be first reconciled to thy brother, and much more to the Catholic Church, which is the whole brotherhood of Christian men, Heb. 13, 1.

Excepting the cause of fornication.

This exception is only to shew, that for this one cause a man may put away his wife for ever: but not that he may marry another: as it is most plain in S. Mark and S. Luke, who leave out this exception, saying: ^{[1] [2]} Whosoever dismisseth his wife and marrieth another, committeth adultery. See the Annot. Luc. 19, 9. But if both parties be in one and the same fault, then can neither of them not so much as divorce or put away the other.

• 1 Marriage a Sacrament, and is not dissolved by divorce.
• 2 Mr. 10, 11. Lu. 16, 18.

Committeth adultery.

The knot of Marriage is a thing of so great a Sacrament, that not by separation itself of the parties it can be loosed, being not lawful neither for the one part nor the other, to marry again upon divorce. Aug. de bo. Coniug. c. 7.

Not to swear.

The Anabaptists here not following the Church's judgement, but the bare letter (as other Heretics in other cases) hold that there is no oath lawful, no not before a judge. Whereas Christ speaketh against rash and usual swearing in common talk, when there is no cause.

Not to Resist evil.

Here also the Anabaptists gather of the letter, that it is not lawful to go to law for our right; as Luther also upon this place held, that Christians might not resist the Turk. Whereas by this, as by that which followeth, patience only is signified and a will to suffer more, rather than to revenge. For neither did Christ nor S. Paul follow the letter by turning the other cheek. Io. 18. Act. 23.