Matthew — Chapter 11

3. Art thou he.) Iohn himself doubted not, for he baptized him and gave great testimonie of him before: Io. 1. But because his Disciples knew him not, nor esteemed of him so much as of Iohn their owne Maister, therfore did he send them unto Christ, that by occasion of Christs answer he might the better instruct them what he was, & so make them Christs Disciples, preferring them to a better Maister.

7. What went you out.) Eremitical life. High commendation of Iohns holines, as wel for his fasting, rough attire, solitary life, and constancie, as for the dignitie of his function.

12. Eating and drinking.] The wicked quarrelers of the world misconstre easely al the actes and life of good men. If they be great fasters and austere liuers, they are blasphemed & counted hypocrites: if they conuerse with other men in ordinary manner, then they be counted dissolute.

15. Elias.) Elias. As Elias shal be the messenger of Christs latter comming, so was Iohn his messenger and Precursour at his former comming: & therfore is he called Elias; because of his like office and like spirit. Luc. 1 Grego. ho. 7 in Euang.

21. Pennance in sackloth.) By this sackcloth and ashes added here, & in other places, wee see euidently that Penance is not only leauing of former sinnes, and change or amendment of life past, no nor bare sorowfulnes or recounting of our offenses already committed, but requireth punishment and chastisement of our Persons by these and such other meanes, as the Scriptures do els where set forth, and therfore concerning the word also, it is rather to be called Pennance, as in our translation; then (as the Aduersaries, of purpose auoyding the word) Repentance or Amendment of life: & that according to the very vsual signification of the *Greeke word in the most ancient Ecclesiastical Greeke writers: who for Penitents (which in the primitive Church did publike Pennance) say **οι εν μετανοια οντες that is, Men that are doing Pennance. And concerning that part of Pennance which is Confession, the Ecclesiastical historie calleth it by the same Greeke word, and the Penitents comming to confession, τοὐς μετανοοῦντας. Sozam. li. 76 16 Socrat. li. 5 c. 19. *Μετάνοια. **Dionys. Eccl. hier. c. 3 in initio.

25. Litle ones.) These litle ones do not signifie here only the vnlearned, as though Coblers and weauers and women, & girles had this reuelation, & therfore do vnderstand al Scriptures and are able to expound them: but here are signified the humble, whether they be learned or vnlearned: as when he sayth: *vnles you become as litle ones, you shal not enter into the Kingdom of Heauen. And so also the greatest Doctours (who as they were most learned, so most humbled themselues to the iudgement of the Catholike Church) are these litle ones: and Heretikes, who although vnlearned, yet vant their knowledge & their spirit of vnderstanding aboue al ancient Fathers and the whole Church, can not be of these litle and humble ones. Mat. 18,3.

30. Yoke sweet.) The commandements possible. What is this light burden and sweet Yoke, but his commandements, of which S. John saith 1 Ep. 5 His commandements are not heavy? cleane contrary to the Aduersaries that say, they are vnpossible to be kept.