1 Corinthians — Chapter 5

be profitable unto beim. for in deede they be not profitable for ad men. and vuhy fo? but becaule of the diffe- rence and diserfitie of mens laes vubsles they vere in flefh, The like hehath in diners other places, Auguft, li, de Brad. San, ¢, 12.& ad Dulcit. q. 2. wind fo bath S. Denys c. 7. Ec. Hierarch,

S. Cyprian(de ums, Ecnu.7.)calleth them , corrupters ofthe Goipel, falfeinterpreiers, artificers and cratiefinatters in cor- rupting thetruth. On the other tide, for (pecial reucrence and finceritie of dealing in thofe matters,ihe fathers and al Catholike preachers or Expcetitors vvere of old called according to §. Paules yvordesto Timothee, Reéte tractantes verbum Dei, right handlers of the vvord of God.

in fo auftere maner : yer through their obe- the excommu- dience to the Apoftle became onthe other fide fo rigorous , and fo farre detefted the ma- anicate. lefadtor after ht yvas excommunicated, thatthe Apoftle novy meaning to abfolue him, yvas glad tointreate and commaund them alfoto accept him to their companie and grace againe. The Apoftle ° 9. Obedient. 3 Though in the laft chapter he difcharged him felfof tyrannical domi- chalengeth nionouer them, yet he chalengeth their obedience in al things-as their Paftor and Supe- their obediéce rior ,, and confequently in this point ef receiuing to mercie the penitent Corinthian. tohis Ecclefi- Vvhereby wve fee, that as the poWer and authoritie of excommunicating , fo of abfuluing aftical autho- alfo ywasin S$. Paules perfon, though both were to be done in the face ofthe Church: els ritie. he vvould not hauc commaunded or required their obedience. ro. 1 alfo.) ‘The Heretikes andothers not vvel founded inthe Scriptures and antiqui- _ tie, maruel atthe Popes pardons, counting them either fruitles or ynlavvful or no elder ‘The authori- then §. Gregorie. But in deede the authoritie, power , and right of them is of Chriftes tie of Indul- ovyne yvord and commifsion,principally giuen to Peter., and (0 aftervvard to al the Apo— gences vvher- fties , andin their perfons to al the checfe Paftors of the Church, vvhen it vvas faid, vp6 itis gTOU- Whatfoeuer you leofe in earth, {had be leofed in beauen. Voy vvhich commifsion the holy Bifhops ager. 3, ded. ofold did cut of large peeces of penance enioyned to offenders, and gaue peace, grace, Or js, indulgence,* before they had accomplif{hed the meafure oftheir appointed or deferued punifhment. and that isto giue pardon. And fo S$. Paul here did tovvardes the Corin- thian, vvhom he affoiled of mere grace and mercic, asthe vvord donare or condonare doth fignifie, Whenhe might longer hauc kept him in penance and temporal! affliction for his offence. Vvherof though he had already before God invvardly repented, yet vvas he Vvhat isa pardon or 10- the offence it felf and the guilt therof be forgiuen of God, is an Indulgence or pardon. dulgence. which the principal Magiftrates of Gods Church by Chriftes vvarrant and the Apofties example,haue euer done, being no Ieffe authorifed to pardon then to punif h, and by imi- Cypria.ep.

8. Let vs feast.) Puritie in receiuing the B. Sacrament. The Paschal lamb, which was the most expresse figure of Christ euery way, *was first sacrificed and afterward eaten with azymes or vnleauened bread. So Christ our Paschal, being then newly sacrificed on the Crosse, is recommended to them as to be eaten with al puritie and sinceritie, in the Holy Sacrament. Which mysterie the holy Church in these words commendeth to the faithful euery yeare at the feast of Easter. *Exo. 12.

Vvorkes me- i) woskes. Neitheris faith alone fufficient to procure faluation, nor Jacke of faith the onely caufe ritorious and of damnation: by good deedes men merite the one, and by ildeedes they deferue the other. This demcrivori- js the Apofties dodtrine here and in other places, hovv fo eucr the Aducrfaries of good life and ous. vvorkes teach otherwvile, bifhops and 18. Theminifferie of reconciliation.) Chrift is the cheefe Minifter,according to his manhod,of al Priefts wader our reconcilement to God: and for him, as his minifters , the Apoftles and their fucceffors the Chrift mini- Bifhops and Psiefts of his Church, in vvhom the word of reconcilement, as vvel by miniftring of fers of our the Sacrifice and Sacraments for remithion of Gnnes, asby preaching and gouernement of the reconeiliati6. vyvorld to faluation, is placed. And thesfore their preaching mutt be ro vs,as if Chnitt him felf did preach:their abfelution and remiffion of finnes,as Chriftes ovvne pardon :their yyhole otice being nothing els (as vve fee by this pafiage) but the Vicacfhip of Chrilt. a1, The suffice of God) Euen as (Qaith $. Anguftine) vvben vur'reade,Saluation as our Lordesit is 80 meant that falnasio W bereby our Lard is faned,bus vubereby they are fausdvubo-be fanssh:-vvhé it fia Efa 43»

11. Not to take meat.) We are bound to auoid, not al sinners, but the excommunicate only, & them, except in certaine cases. It is not meant that we should separate our selues corporally from al sinnes, or that we might refuse to liue in one Church or fellowship of Sacraments with them, which was the errour & occasion of the Donatistes great schisme: nor that euery man is straight after he hath committed any deadly sinne, excommunicated, as some Lutherans hold: but that we should auoid them when the Church hath excommunicated them for such: though in mind, and condemnation of their faults, euery one ought to be alwaies farre from them. As for the Heathen & Pagans, which be not vnder the Churches discipline, and at that time in external worldly affaires dealth with Christians and liued amongst them whether they would or no, the Apostle did not forbid Christians their companie.