John — Chapter 14

12. Greater then these.) We may and must easily beleeue the miracles of Saints and of their relikes, when Christ himself foretelleth they shal doe such wonderful things. aS. Chrysostom in a whole book against the Pagans proueth that this was fulfilled not only in Peters shadow, and Paules garments, which as we read in the *Actes, healed infirmities: but also by the relics and monuments of Saints, namely of St. Babylas, of whom he there treateth: thereby inferring that Christ is God, who could and did perform these wonderful words, by the very ashes of his seruants. The Protestants clean contrary, as patrons of the Pagans infidelity, as though our Sauiour had promised these and the like miraculous works in vain, either not meaning or not able to fulfill them, to do they discredit al the approued histories of the Church concerning the miracles wrought by Saints, namely that S. Gregorie Thaumaturgus **remoued a mountain, the miracles of S. Paul the Eremite, and S. Hilarion written by S. Hierome, the miracles of S. Martin written by Seuerus Sulpitius, the miracles testified by S. Augustine de Ciuit Dei, the miracles approued by S. Gregorie in his Dialogues, the miracles reported by S. Bede in his Ecclesiastical story and liues of Saints: and al other miracles neuer so faithfully recorded in Ecclesiastical writers. The Heretikes as faithles in this point, as the old Pagans. In al which things aboue their reach of reason and nature, they are as litle persuaded and haue no more faith then had the Pagans, against whom S. Chrysostom in the foresaid book, and S. Augustine de Ciu. Dei li. 22 c. 2. and other Fathers heretofore haue written. No man therefore needeth to maruel that the very image of Our Lady, and the like, do miracles, euen as Peters shadow did: nor wonder, if such things seem stranger and greater then those which Christ himself did: whereas our Sauiour to put vs out of doubt, saith expressly, that his Saints shall do greater things then himself did. aLi. de Babyla mart. to. 5. *Act. 5,15. 19,12. **See Anon. Mat. 17,20.

16. For euer.) The Holy Ghost is promised to the Church for euer. If the Holy Ghost had been promised only to the Apostles, their successors and the church after them could not haue challenged it, but it was promised them for euer. Whereby we may learn, both that the priuileges and promises made to the Apostles were not personal, but pertaining their offices perpetually: and also that the Church and Pastors in all ages had and haue the same Holy Ghost to gouern them, that the Apostles and primitiue Church had.

17. The Spirit of truth.) The Spirit of truth shal assist the Church alwaies. They had many particular gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost before, and many virtues by the same, as al holy men haue at times: but the Holy Ghost here promised to the Apostles and their successors for euer, is to this vse specially promised, to direct them in al truth and verity: and is contrary to the spirit of error, heresy, and falsehood. And therefore the Church cannot fall to Apostasy or Heresy, or to nothing, as the Aduersaries say.

28. Father greater then I.) The Arians allege as plaine Scriptures as the Protestants. There is no place of Scripture that seemeth anything so much to make for the Sacramentaries, as this and other in outward show of words seemed to make for the Arians, who denied the equality of the Son with the Father. Which words yet in deed rightly vnderstood after the Churchs sense, make nothing for their false Sect, but only signify that Christ according to his Manhood was inferior in deed, and that according to his Diuinity he came of the Father. And if the heresy or disease of this time were Arianism, we should stand vpon these places and the like against the Arians, as we now do vpon others against the Protestants, whose Sect is the disease and bane of this time.