Mark — Chapter 4
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 12
12. Lest they should be conuerted.) God is not authour of sinne, but mans owne wil. These speaches here and els where, we must not so vnderstand as though he spake in parables of purpose and to this end, that the hearers might not vnderstand, lest they should be conuerted; which were as much to say as that he would not haue them vnderstand, nor be conuerted: but we must learne the true sense of this very place in S. Matthew and in the Actes, where our Sauiour and S. Paul speake thus: *They have heard heauily, and haue shut their eyes, lest perhaps they may see, and vnderstand, and be conuerted, and I heale them. Wherby it is euident, that the speaking in parables was not the cause (for many beside the Apostles heard and vnderstood) but them selues would not heare, and vnderstand, and be conuerted: and so were the cause of their owne wilful and obstinate infidelity. And therfore also he spake in parables, because they were not worthy to vnderstand, as the other to whom he expounded them. *Mat. 13. Act. 28.
Verse 27
27. And sleep.) The Church, and Christs doctrine, (sleep we, wake we) increaseth by the great prouidence of God, only the Preachers must sow, and plant, and water, and *God wil giue the increase, nourishing the seed in mens harts. And therfore we may not giue ouer, or be impatient and solicitous, if we have not alwayes good successe: but doing our duty, commit the rest to God. *1. Cor. 3.
Verse 31
31. Mustard seed.] The Church visibly increasing. If the Church and Truth had more and more decayed and been obscured after the Apostles time vnto ours, as the Heretikes hold: then had it been great in the beginning, and smal afterward: where this Parable saith contrary, that it was a mustard seed first, and afterward a great tree. vide Chrys. to 5 contra Gentiles in vita S. Babylæ Mart.
Verse 32
32. The birds.] Christian religion wonderfully spreading. Of al Sectes or doctrine, Christs religion at the beginning was the smallest, and most contemptible; but the successe therof farre passed al mans doctrine: in so much that afterward al the wisest and greatest of the world made their residence and rest therein.