Leviticus — Chapter 11
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 4
Vncleane you shal repute it.] In the first age of the world, before Noes floud, and so forward by tradition; and after by the written Law, some liuing creatures were reputed vncleane, and forbid to be eaten or offered in sacrifice. Not as euil of themselues, for euerie creature of God is good, by nature and creation: but this distinction and prohibition was made in the old Testament, for iust causes, as the ancient fathers note specially three. First, for instruction of the people much inclined to idolatrie. Secondly, God commanded this obseruance to exercise his people in obedience. For obseruation of this law old Eleazarus, and the seuen brethren with their mother, did giue their liues, rather then they would eate swines flesh, and for the same are glorious Martyrs. Thirdly, and most specially these obseruations were commanded for signification of vertues to be embraced, and of vices or sinnes to be auoided. Such beasts therfore were holden for cleane, as diuide the hoofe, and ruminate, signifying discretion betwixt good and euil; and diligent meditation of Gods law.