Luke — Chapter 16

8. The Lord praised.) Good workes. This mans deceiuing his maister is not praised, nor we warranted by his fact to gaine vniustly for to haue wherewith to giue almes: but his prudence, in that he prouided so substantially for him selfe whilest his maisters goods were in his handes, is commended, not for a vertue, but for a worldly pollicie: and proposed as an example of the careful prouision that rich men (who are Gods stewards in earth) should make for their soules, against they be put out of their bailiship and be called to account, which is the day of their death: and for a condemnation of faithful mens folly and negligence, that being assured they shal out of their offices, and well knowing they might gaine saluation by their money, haue so litle regard thereof.

9. They may receiue.) Almes meritorious. A great comfort to al great almes-men, and a wonderful force and vertue in almes, which beside the merit of the worke of mercie, which (as in other places of Scripture is said*) purgeth sinne and gaineth Heauen, pocureth also not only the prayers of their beadsmen in earth, but their patronage in Heauen also. The Saints doe pray for vs. Whereby also the prayers of Saints for the liuing, and namely for them to whom they were beholding in their life, are proued. Yea and that they be in such fauour with God, that they may and doe receiue their freinds which were once their benefactours, into their mansions in Heauen, no lesse then the farmers whom the il steward pleasured, might receiue their freind into their earthly houses. Which also insinuateth to vs, that almes bestowed specially vpon holy men, who by their merites and prayers are great in Gods grace, may much more helpe vs then our charitable deedes done vpon vulgar men in necessitie, though that be of exceeding great merite also. See al this in these Doctours following. Hiero. quæst. 6. Algas. tom. 3. Ambros. in Luc. August. serm. 35 de verb. Do. c. 1. Gregor. moral. li. 21. c. 14. August. li. 2 qu. Euang. qu. 34. Chrys. ho. 33. ad Po. Antioch. to. 5. * Tob. 12,9. Mat. 25.

18. And marieth.) Mariage after diuorce vnlawful. The good of Mariage throughout al Nations and men, is in issue and fidelitie of chastitie, but among the people of God it consisteth also in holines of Sacrament: whereby it commeth to passe that is a heinous crime to mary againe, though there be a diuorce made, so long as the parties liue. Aug. de bono coniug. c. 24 to. 6. See the Annotations vpon Marke 10,11.

22. Of the Angels.) Vnmerciful rich men. Angels carie good mens soules to Heauen now, as they did then his to Abrahams bosome. See the reward of pouerty, affliction, and patience: and on the contrarie, the end and reward of wealth ioyned with vnmercifulnes. Note also here that at the day of euery mans death there is a particular iudgement, and therfore the soule sleepeth not, nor hangeth in suspense til the general iudgement.

26. A great chaos.) Purgatorie. A great distance betwixt Abrahams bosome and the inferiour Hel. Some iudge Purgatorie to be placed there, from whence (no doubt) Christ also deliuered some at his descending to Hel. For, these in Abrahams bosome were not in paines: and S. Augustine saith *the Scriptures be plaine that he tooke some out of the places of punishment, and yet none out of the Hel of the damned. What other place then can that be but Purgatorie? *Aug. ep. 99.

28. Lest they also.) Saints doe hear our praiers & haue care of vs. If the damned had care of their freindes aliue, how and for what cause soeuer, much more haue the Saints and saued persons. And if those in Hel haue meanes to expresse their cogitations and desires, and to be vnderstood of Abraham so far distant both by place and condition, much rather may the liuing pray to the Saints and be heard of them: betwixt earth (that is to say) the Church militant and Heauen, being continual passage of soules, and *Angels ascending and descending by Iacobs ladder. Caluins blasphemie. Men must not for al that be curious to search how the soules of the deceased expresse their mindes, and be heard one of another, and so fal to blasphemie, as Caluin doth, **asking whether their eares be so long to heare so far off, and wickedly measuring al things by mortal mens corporal grosse manner of vttering conceits one to another. Which was not here done by this damned nor by Abraham, with corporal instruments of tongue, teeth, and eares: though for the better expressing of the damneds case, Christ vouchsafed to vtter it in termes agreeing to our capacitie. *Gen. 32. **Cal. li. 2. Instit. c. 22. sect. 24.