John — Chapter 3
These annotations are from the original 1582 Rheims New Testament, produced by English scholars in exile at the English College of Rheims. 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 5
5. Borne againe of water.) Baptisme in water necessarie to saluation. As no man can enter into this world not haue his life and being in the same, except he be borne of his carnal parents: no more can a man enter into the life and state of grace which is in Christ, or attaine to life euerlasting, vnles he be borne and baptized of water and the Holy Ghost. Whereby we see first, this Sacrament to be called our regeneration or second birth, in respect of our natural and carnal which was before. Secondly, that this Sacrament consisteth of an external element of water, and internal vertue of the Holy Spirit: wherein it excelleth Iohns Baptisme, which had the external element, but not the spiritual grace. Thirdly, that no man can enter into the Kingdom of God, not into the fellowship of Holy Church, without it. Whereby the *Pelagians, and Caluinists be condemned, that promisse life euerlasting to yong children that die without Baptisme, and al other that thinke only faith to serue, or the external element of water superfluous or not necessarie: our Sauiours wordes being plaine and general. Baptisme in water in two cases otherwise supplied. Though in this case, God which hath not bound his grace, in respect of his owne freedom, to any Sacrament, may and doth accept them as baptized, which either are martyred before they could be baptized, or els depart this life with vow and desire to haue that Sacrament, but by some remedilesse necessitie could not obtaine it. Lastly, it is proued that this Sacrament giueth grace ex opere operato, that is, of the worke itself (which al Protestants denie) because it so breedeth our spiritual life in God, as our carnal birth giueth the life of the world. *Aug. hæres. 88.
Verse 18
18. Is iudged already.) Euery infidel, and namely Heretikes, are iudged already. He that beleeueth in Christ with faith which worketh by charitie (as the Apostle speaketh*) shal not be condemned at the later day nor at the houre of his death: but the Infidel, be he Iew, Pagan, or Heretike, is already (if he die in his incredulitie) by his owne profession and sentence condemned, and shal not come to iudgement either particular or general, to be discussed according to his workes of mercie done or omitted. In which sense S. Paul saith** that the obstinate Heretike is condemned by his owne iudgement, preuenting in himself, of his owne free wil, the sentence both of Christ and of the Church. *Gal. 5,6. **Tit. 3,11.
Verse 31
31. He that commeth from aboue.) The excellencie of Christs power and graces. As though he should say: No maruel that men resort to Christ so fast and make lesse account of me. For, his baptisme and his preaching and his Person are al from Heauen immediatly. He bringeth al from the very bosome, mouth, and substance of God his Father. Whatsoeuer is in me, is but a litle drop of his grace. His spirit and graces are aboue al measures or mens gifts, euen according to his Manhood: and al power temporal and spiritual, the Kingdom and the Priesthood, and al soueraigntie in Heauen and earth are bostowed vpon him as he is man also.