1 Corinthians — Chapter 2

Therfore S. Irenæus excellently declaring that the Church and euery spiritual child therof, iudgeth and condemneth al false Prophets and Heretikes of what sort soeuer, at length he concludeth with these notable words: *the spiritual shal iudge also al that make schismes, which be cruel, not hauing the loue of God, and respecting their owne priuate, more then the vnitie of the Church; mangle, deuide, and (as much as in them liteth) kil for smal causes the great and glorious body of Christ, speaking peace, and seeking battaile. He shal iudge also them that be out of the truth, that is to say, out of the Church: which Church shal be vnder no man's iudgement for to the Church are al things knowen, in which is perfect faith of the Father, and of al the dispensation of Christ, and firme knowledge of the Holy Ghost that teacheth al truth. *Iren. li. 4. c. 62.

11. But the spirit of man.] How Angels and Saints & mortal men know our cogitations. One man can not know another's cogitations naturally: but God giueth to Prophets and other, euen in this world oftentimes, by extraordinary grace to know mens secrets. As he did to S. Peter, to know *the fraud of Ananias and Saphira: and to Eliseus, his seruant's bribery in his absence, and what was done in the **King of Syria his chamber. And as he giueth to al ***Angels and Saints (so farre as is conuenient to our necessities and their heauenly glorie) to vnderstand not only our vocal praiers, but our inward repentance and desires. *Act. 5. **4. King. 5. & 6. ***Luke 15,7.

12. That we may know.) The Heretikes allegation for their vaine securitie, answered. The Protestants that chalenge a particular spirit reuealing to each one his owne predestination, iustification, and saluation, would draw this text to that purpose. Which importeth nothing els (as is plaine by the Apostles discourse) but that the Holy Ghost hath giuen to the Apostles, & by them to other Christian men, to know God's ineffable guifts bestowed vpon the beleeuers in this time of grace: that is, Christes Incarnation, Passion, presence in the Sacrament, & by the incomprehensible ioyes of Heauen, which Pagans, Iewes and Heretikes deride.

14. The sensual man.) The sensual man. The sensual man is he specially, that measureth these heauenly mysteries by natural reason, humane prudence, external sense, and worldly affection, as the Iew, Pagane, and Heretike doe: and sometime both here and elswhere the more infirme and ignorant sort of Christian men be called sensual or carnal also, who being occupied in secular affaires, and giuen to sensual ioy and worldlines, and haue no such sense nor feeling of these great guifts of God, as the perfecter sort of the faithful haue. Who trying these high points of religion, not by reason and sense, but by grace, faith, and Spirit, be therfore called spiritual. The spiritual man. The spiritual then is he, that iudgeth and discerneth the truth of such things as the carnal can not attaine vnto: that doth by the spirit of the Church, wherof he is partaker in the vnitie of the same, not only see the errours of the carnal, but condemneth them and iudgeth euery power resisting God's spirit and word: the carnal Iew, Heathen, or Heretike, hauing no meanes nor right to iudge of the said spiritual man. How the Spiritual man iudgeth al, & is iudged of none. For when the spiritual is said to be iudged of none, the meaning is not that he should not be subiect or obedient to his Pastours and spiritual Powers and to the whole Church, specially for the trial or examination of al his life, doctrine, and faith: but that a Catholike man namely a Teacher of Catholike doctrine in the Church, should not be any whit subiect to the iudgement of the Heathen or the Heretike, nor care what of ignorance of infidelitie they say against him. For such carnal men haue no iudgement in such things, nor can attaine to the Churches wisedom in any ceremonie, mysterie, or matter which they condemne. The Church is vnder no man's iudgement. Therfore S. Irenæus excellently declaring that the Church and euery spiritual child therof, iudgeth and condemneth al false Prophets and Heretikes of what sort soeuer, at length he concludeth with these notable words: *the spiritual shal iudge also al that make schismes, which be cruel, not hauing the loue of God, and respecting their owne priuate, more then the vnitie of the Church; mangle, deuide, and (as much as in them liteth) kil for smal causes the great and glorious body of Christ, speaking peace, and seeking battaile. He shal iudge also them that be out of the truth, that is to say, out of the Church: which Church shal be vnder no man's iudgement for to the Church are al things knowen, in which is perfect faith of the Father, and of al the dispensation of Christ, and firme knowledge of the Holy Ghost that teacheth al truth. *Iren. li. 4. c. 62.