John — Chapter 2

2. IESVS also was called.) Christ with his presence honoureth and approueth Mariage. By his vouchsafing to come with his to the Mariage, he approueth the custome of the faithful in meeting at honest feastes and recreations for maintenance of love, peace, and amitie among themselues: he reproueth the heresie of Tatian, Marcion, and such like condemning wedlocke: lastly (as S. Cyril saith*) he sanctifieth and blesseth the Mariage of the Faithful in the new Testament, making it a new creature in him, and discharging it of the manifold maledictions and disorders wherein it was before. By which benediction the often diuorces, remariages, and pluralities of wiues, and the womens seruile subiection and imparitie in that case, be redressed and reduced to the primitiue institution, and so Christian mariage made a Sacrament. See S. Aug. de nupt. & concup. li. 1 c. 10 & 21. li. 1 de adult. coniug. c. 8. *Cyril in 2. Io. c. 42.

3. They haue no wine.) Our Ladies intercession. Our Lady many waies vnderstood that now the time approched of manifesting himself to the world by miracles and preaching, and nothing doubted but that he would now begin at her request. Whereby we learne that Christ ordinarily giueth not his graces, but humbly asked and requested thereunto; and that his mothers intercession is more then vulgarly effectual, and that he denieth her nothing.

4. What is to me and thee?) Translatours of holy Scriptures. Because this speach is subiect to diuers senses, we keepe the wordes of our text, left by turning it into any English phrase, we might straiten the Holy Ghosts intention to some certaine sense either not intended, or not only intended, and so take away the choise and indifferencie from the Reader, whereof (in holy Scripture specially) al Translatours must beware. Christ then may meane here, what is that, woman, to me and thee being but strangers, that they want wine? as some interpret it. Or (which is the more proper vse of that kind of speach in holy writ) what haue I to doe with thee? that is, why should I have respect to thy desire in this case? in matters touching my charge and the commission of my Father for preaching, working miracles, and other graces, I must not be tied to flesh and bloud. Which was not a reprehension of our Lady, or signification that he would not heare her in this or other things pertaining to Gods glorie or the good of men, for the euent showeth the contrarie. But it was a lesson to the companie that heard it, and namely to his Disciples, that respect of kinred should not draw them to doe any thing against reason, or be the principal motion why they doe their dueties, but Gods glorie.

5. Whatsoeuer he shal say.) Our Lady doubteth not but Christ wil grant her petition. By this you see, our Lady by her diuine prudence and entire familiaritie and acquaintance with al his manner of speaches, knew it was no checke to her, but a doctrine to others: and that she had no repulse, though he seemed to say his time was not yet come to worke miracles: not doubting but he would begin a litle before his ordinary time for her sake, as S. Cyril* thinketh he did: and therfore she admonisheth the waiters to marke wel, and to execute whatsoeuer Christ should bid them doe. *li. 2. in Io.c. 23.

15. Cast them out.) Profaners of Gods Church are to be punished in soul and body by the Spiritual power. By this chastising corporally the defilers and abusers of the Temple, he doth not only shew his power, that being but one poore man he could by force execute his pleasure vpon so many sturdy fellowes: but also his soueraigne authoritie ouer al offenders; and that not vpon their soules only, as by excommunication and spiritual penalties, but so farre as is requisite for the execution of spiritual iurisdiction, vpon their bodies and goods also. That the Spiritualtie may learne, how farre and in what cases, for just zeale of Christs Church, they may vse and exercise both spiritually and temporally their forces and faculties against offenders, specially against the prophaners of Gods Church, according to the Apostles allusion 1 Cor. 3. If any defile the Temple of God, him wil God destroy.

24. IESVS committed not himself.) The B. Sacrament is not to be giuen to nouices or younglings, in faith. S. Augustine applieth this their first faith and beleefe in Christ, sodenly raised vpon the admiration of his wonders, but yet not fully formed or established in them, vnto the faith of Nouices or Catechumens in the Church and Christ not committing his Person to them as yet, to the Churches like warinesse and wisedom, in not opening nor giuing to them our Lord in the B. Sacrament, because al were not to be trusted with that high point without ful trial of their faith.