Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMatthew 6

Justice.

^◦ Hereby it is plain that good works be justice, and that man doing them doth justice, and is thereby just and justified, and not by faith only. All which justice of a Christian man our Saviour here compriseth in these three works, in Alms, fasting, and prayers. Aug. li. perf. just. c. 8. So that to give alms, is to do justice, and the works of mercy are justice. Aug. in Ps. 49. v. 5.

• ◦ Good works justify.

Repay.

^◦ This repaying and rewarding of good works in heaven, often mentioned here by our Saviour, declareth that the said works are meritorious, and that we may do them in respect of that reward.

• ◦ Merits.

Hypocrites.

^◦ Hypocrisy is forbidden in all these three works of justice, and not the doing of them openly to the glory of God and the profit of our neighbour, and our own salvation: for Christ before (c. 5.) biddeth, saying: Let your light so shine before men &c. And in all such works S. Gregory's rule is to be followed, The work so to be in public, that the intention remain in secret. Ho. 11. in Evang. c. 10.

• ◦ Hypocrisy.

Much speaking.

Long prayer is not forbid, for Christ ^[1] himself spent whole nights in prayer, and he saith, ^[2] we must pray always, and ^[3] the Apostle exhorteth to pray without intermission, and the holy Church ^[4] from the beginning hath had her Canonical hours of prayer: but idle and voluntary babbling, either of the heathens to their gods, or of Heretics, that by long Rhetorical prayers think to persuade God: whereas the Collects of the Church are most brief and most effectual. See S. Augustine ep. 121, c. 8. 9. 10.

• 1 Luc. 6, 12.
• 2 18, 1. 21, 36.
• 3 1 Thes. 5, 17.
• 4 Cypr. de orat. Do. in fine.

Supersubstantial bread.

By this bread so called here according to the Latin word and the Greek ^[1], we ask not only all necessary sustenance for the body, but much more all spiritual food, namely the blessed Sacrament itself ^[2], which is Christ the true bread that came from heaven, and the bread of life to us that eat his body. Cypr. de orat. Do. Aug. ep. 121. c. 11. And therefore it is called here Supersubstantial, that is, the bread that passeth and excelleth all creatures. Hiero. in 2. Tit. In. 6. Mat. Amb. li. 5. de Sacr. c. 4. Aug. ser. 28. de verb. Do. sec. Mat. S. Germanus in Theoria.

• 1 τὸν ἐπιούσιον.
• 2 The B. Sacrament.

Debts.

^◦ These debts do signify not only mortal sins, but also venial, as S. Augustine often teacheth: and therefore every man, be he never so just, yet because he cannot live without venial sins, may very truly and ought to say this prayer. Aug. cont. duas ep. Pelag. li. 1. c. 14. li. 21. de Civit. c. 27.

• ◦ Venial sins.

Lead us not.

^[1] S. Cypr. ^[2] readeth, Ne patiaris nos induci. Suffer us not to be led, as S. Augustine noteth li. de do. persev. c. 6. and so the holy Church understandeth it, because God (as S. James saith) tempteth no man: though for our sins, or for our probation and crown, he permit us to be tempted. Beware then of Beza's exposition upon this place, who (according to the Calvinists' opinion) saith, that God leadeth them into tentation, into whom himself bringeth in Satan for to fill their hearts: so making God the author of sin.

• 1 God is not author of evil.
• 2 In Expos. orat. Do. Iac. 1.

If you forgive.

This point, of forgiving our brother, when we ask forgiveness of God, our Saviour repeateth again, as a thing much to be considered: and therefore commended in the parable also of the servant that would not forgive his fellow servant, Mat. 18.

Fast.

^[1] He forbiddeth not open and public fasts, which in the ^[2] Scriptures were commanded and proclaimed to the people of God, and the Ninivites by such fasting appeased God's wrath: but to fast for vain glory and praise of men, and to be desirous by the very face and look to be taken for a faster, that is forbidden, and that is hypocrisy.

• 1 Public fast.
• 2 Iud. 20, 26. 2. Esd. 9. Ioel. 2, 15. Ion. 3.

Treasures in heaven.

^◦ Treasures laid up in heaven, must needs signify, not faith only, but plentiful alms, and deeds of mercy, and other good works. which God keeping as in a book, will reward them accordingly: as of the contrary the Apostle saith, He that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly. 2. Cor. 9.

• ◦ Meritorious works.

Two Masters.

Two religions, God and Baal, Christ and Calvin, Mass and Communion, the Catholic Church and Heretical Conventicles. Let them mark this lesson of our Saviour, that think they may serve all masters, all times, all religions. Again, these two masters do signify, God and the world, the flesh and the spirit, justice and sin.

Careful.

Prudent provision is not prohibited, but too much doubtfulness and fear of God's provision for us: to whom we ought with patience to commit the rest, when we have done sufficiently for our part.