Deuteronomy — Chapter 17
These annotations are from the original 1609 Douay Old Testament, the first complete English Catholic Bible translation, produced by English scholars in exile at the English College of Douai. The archaic spelling is preserved.
This content was digitized from the original 1609 Douay (Old Testament) and 1582 Rheims (New Testament) print editions by OCR. The OCR process sometimes confused print page numbers with verse numbers, and may have assigned annotations to the wrong chapter. Chapter and verse labels on this page reflect the OCR output from the original print pagination and may not correspond to canonical Scripture chapter/verse numbers. For canonical reference, consult a standard Douay-Rheims edition. The annotation texts themselves are authentic 1609/1582 Douay-Rheims content.
Verse 8
If the iudgement be heard.] For a ful and assured decision of al controuersies, God here instituted to his people a supreme Tribunal, that in case inferiour Iudges varied in iudgement, recourse might be had to the Councel of Priests, where one chiefe Iudge, the High-Priest, was appointed to giue sentence, and al others commanded to receiue and obey the same.
Verse 9
Who shal shew the truth.] God so assisted this Consistorie with his spirit of truth, that their sentence was infallible: though otherwise they might erre, either in life, or in priuate opinion. Wherfore, our Sauiour distinguishing between their publike doctrine, and their workes, taught the people, that for so much as the Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moyses chaire, and yet transgressed Gods commandements, euerie one should obserue and doe as they said: but not doe according to their workes, Mat 23. And S. Iohn ascribeth the true sentence giuen by Caiphas in the Councel, to his office of High-Priest, saying: (Ioan. 11.) He said not this of himselfe, but being the high-priest of that yeare, he prophesied that IESVS should die for the nation, & to gather into one the children of God. Where the high-Priest by vertue and priuiledge of his office, vttered the truth, which himselfe neither meant nor vnderstood. And this happened when the Law and Priesthood of the Iewes was to decline and giue place to Christs new ordinance, and therfore no doubt God euer directed the sentence of the high-Priest: and most specially now Christ preserueth the Apostolike See from errour in faith, and in general decrees touching manners: yea though the chiefe visible Iudge were as wicked as Caiphas. And therfore the Protestants euasion is friuolous, limiting the Priests sentence to bind the subiects, so long as he is the true minister of God, and pronounceth according to his word. For except God assisted him, that we should pronounce according to his word, and so al men rest satisfied, submitting themselues to his sentence, the controuersie should be endles, and this Consistorie nothing worth: but stil be new examinations, and new iudgements, whether the former were according to Gods word or no.
Verse 12
He that shal be proud.] This also conuinceth, that al were bound to accept of the high-Priests sentence, the law condemning him of pride, that refused to obey the commandments of the Priest, which at that time ministred to our Lord; and for his disobedience punishing him with death.