2 Corinthians — Chapter 3

3. The Epistle of Christ.) The Apostles wrote the Ghospel in mens harts much more then in paper. S. Paul and other holy Writers of Scriptures did set downe many things in writing, by penne, inke, and paper, al which be of the Holy Ghost: but the special and proper book of Christes truth and Ghospel, is not the external writing in those dead creatures, but in the harts of the faithful, being the proper subiect of these truths and graces preached in the new Testament, and the habitacle of the Holy Ghost. In the which book of faithful mens harts S. Paul wrote diuers things not vttered in any Epistle: as sundrie of the Apostles wrote the Christian religion in the harts of their hearers only, and in other material books not at al. Scripture written, and Tradition vnwritten. Wherof S. Irenæus li. 3. c. 4. saith: What and if the Apostles also had left no Scriptures, ought we not to follow the order of the tradition, which they deliuered vnto them to whom they committed the Churches? To the which ordinance many Nations of those barborous people that haue beleeued in Christ, doe consent, without letter or inke, hauing saluation written in their harts, and keeping diligently the tradition of the Elders. And S. Hierom. (cont. Io. Hieros. c. 9. ad Pam.) in the Creed of our faith and hope, which being deliuered by tradition from the Apostles, is not written in paper and inke, but in tables carnal of the hart. And this is the Churches book also, whereby and wherin she keepeth faithfully al truth written in the harts of those to whom the Apostles did preach, with the like diligence as she keepeth & preserueth the other book which is of holy Scriptures, from al corruption of Heretikes and other iniuries.

5. Of our selues.) God's grace & free wil both must concurre. This maketh first against the Heretikes called Pelagians, that hold our meritorious actions of cogitations to be of free-wil only, and not of God's special grace. Secondly against the Protestants, who on the contrarie side referre al to God, and take away man's freedom and proper motion in his thoughts and doings: the Apostle confessing our good cogitations to be our owne, but not as comming of ourselues, but of God.

6. The letter killeth.) The letter killeth both Iew and Heretike. As the letter of the old Law not truely vnderstood, nor referred to Christ, commanding and not giuing grace and spirit to fulfil that which was commanded, did by occasion kil the carnal Iew: so the letter of the new Testament not truely taken nor expounded by the Spirit of Christ (which is only in his Church) killeth the Heretike: who also being carnal and void of spirit, gaineth nothing by the external precepts or good lessons of the Scriptures, but rather taketh hurt by the same. See. S. Augustin to. 10. Ser. 70. & 100. de tempore & li. de Sp. & lit. c. 5. 6. & seq.

9. Much more.) The preeminence of the new Testament, Sacraments, &c. The preeminence of the new Testament and of the priesthood or Ministerie therof before the old, is, that the new, by al her Sacraments and Priests as Ministers immediate of grace and remission of sinnes, doth so ex opere operato giue the spirit of life and charitie into the harts of the faithful, as the old did giue the letter or external act of the Law.

14. The self-same veile.) The Heretikes more blind in not seeing the Church, then the Iewes in not seeing Christ. As the Iewes reading the old Testament, by reason of their blindnes (which God for the punishment of their incredulitie suffereth to remaine as a couer vpon their eyes and harts) can not see Christ in the Scriptures which they daily heare read in their Synagogues, but shal, when they beleeue in him and haue the couer remoued, perceiue al to be most plainely done and spoken of him in their law & Scriptures: euen so Heretikes hauing (as *S. Augustin noteth) a farre greater couer of blindnes and incredulitie ouer their harts in respect of the Catholike Church which they impugne, then the Iewes haue concerning Christ, can not see, thought they read or heare the Scriptures read neuer so much, the maruelous euidence of the Catholike Church & truth in al points: but when they shal returne againe to the obedience of the same Church, they shal find the Scriptures most cleare for her & her doctrine, and shal wonder at their former blindnes. *Aug. in Psal. 30. Conc. 2.

17. Libertie.) The Christian libertie. The Spirit and grace of God in the new Testament dischargeth vs of the bondage of the Law and sinne, but is not a warrant to vs of fleshly licence, as *S. Peter writeth: nor dischargeth Christians of their obedience to order, law, and power of Magistrates spiritual or temporal, as some Heretikes of these daies doe seditiously teach. *1. Pet. 2,16.