Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMatthew 7

Judge not.

It is no Christian part to judge ill of men's acts which be in themselves good and may proceed of good meaning, or of man's inward meanings and intentions which we cannot see: of which fault they must beware that are too suspicious and given to deem always the worst of other men. But to say, that Judas, or an Heretic evidently known to die obstinately in heresy, is damned, and in all other plain and manifest cases, to judge, is not forbidden.

Holy to dogs.

^◦ No holy Sacrament and specially that of our Saviour's blessed body, must be given wittingly to the unworthy, that is, to them that have not by confession of all mortal sins examined and proved themselves. See the Annot. 1. Cor. 11, 27. 28. 29.

• ◦ Worthy receiving.

Every one that asketh.

All things that we ask necessary to salvation with humility, attention, continuance, and other due circumstances, God will undoubtedly grant when it is best for us.

Clothing of sheep.

^[1] Extraordinary appearance of zeal and holiness is the sheep's cote in some Heretics: but these of this time wear not that garment much, being men of unsatiable sin. This is rather their garment, common to them with all other Heretics, to crake much of the word of the Lord, and by pretensed allegations and ^[2] sweet words of benediction, and specially by promise of knowledge, light and liberty of the Gospel, to seduce the simple and the sinful.

• 1 Heretics wolves in sheep-skins.
• 2 Ro. 16, 18.

Fruits.

^◦ These are the fruits which Heretics are known by, division from the whole Church, division among themselves, taking to themselves new names and new masters, inconstancy in doctrine, disobedience both to others and namely to spiritual officers, love and liking of themselves, pride and intolerable vaunting of their own knowledge above all the holy Doctors, corruption, falsification, and quite denying of the parts of Scriptures that specially make against them, and these be common to all Heretics lightly. Othersome are more peculiar to these of our time, as Incestuous marriages of vowed persons, Spoil of Churches, Sacrilege and profanation of all holy things, and many other special points of doctrine, directly tending to the corruption of good life in all states.

• ◦ Heretics known by their fruits.

Lord, Lord.

These men have faith, otherwise they could not invocate, Lord, Lord: Ro. 10. But here we see that to believe is not enough, and that not only infidelity is sin, as Luther teacheth. ^◦ Yea Catholics also that work true miracles in the name of our Lord, and by never so great faith, yet without the works of justice shall not be saved. 1. Cor. 13. Again, consider here, who they are that have so often in their mouth, The Lord, the Lord, and how little it shall avail them, that set so little Esa. 53, 4. 1. Pet. 2, 24.

Lu. 9, 57.

• ◦ Not only faith.