Matthew — Chapter 18
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 1
1. Who is the greater.) The occasion of this question, & of their contention for Superioritie among the rest of their infirmities, which they had before the comming of the Holy Ghost, was (as certaine holy Doctours write) vpon emulation toward Peter, whom only they saw preferred before the rest, in the payment of the tribute, by these wordes of our Sauiour: *Giue it them for me and thee. Chrys. ho. 59. Hier. in Mat. Vpon this place. C. 17, v. 27.
Verse 7
7. Scandals.) The simple be most annoyed by taking scandal of their Preachers, Priests, and elders il life; and great damnation is to the guides of the People, whether they be temporal or spiritual, but specially to the spiritual, if by their il example and scandelous life the People be scandalized.
Verse 8
8. Hand, foot, eye.) By these parts of the body so necessarie and profitable for a man, is signified, that whatsoeuer is neerest and deerest to vs, wife, children, friendes, riches, al are to be contemned and forsaken for to saue our soule.
Verse 10
10. Their Angels.) Protection of Angels. A great dignitie and a maruelous benefit, that euery one hath from his Natiuitie an Angel for his custodie and patronage, against the wicked, before the face of God. Hier. upon this place. And the thing is so plaine, that Calvin dare not deny it, and yet he wil needes doubt of it. lib. 1. Inst. c. 14. sect. 7.
Verse 17
17. Not heare the Church.) Disobedience to the Church. Not only Heretikes, but any other obstinate offender that wil not be iudged nor ruled by the Church, may be excommunicated, & so made as an Heathen or Publican was to the Iewes, by the discipline of the same, casting him out of the felowship of Catholikes. Excommunication. Which Excommunication is a greater punishment, then if he were executed by sword, fire, & wild beastes. Aug. cont. Adv. leg. li. 1. c. 17. And againe he saith: Man is more sharply & pitifully bound by the Churches Keyes, then with any iron or adamantine manicles or fetters, in the world. Aug. ibidem.
Verse 18
18. You shal bind.) Power to bind and loose. *As before he gave this power of binding and loosing over the whole, first of al and principally to Peter, vpon whom he builded his Church: so here not only to Peter, and in him to his successours, but also to the other Apostles, & in them to their successours, euery one in their charge. Hierom. lib. 1. c. 14. aduers. Jouin. and Epist. ad Heliod. Cyprian. de vnit. Eccl. nu. 3. Mat. 16,19.
Verse 20
20. In the middes of them.) Catholike Assemblies. Not al assemblies may chalenge the presence of Christ; but only such as be gathered togeather in the vnity of the Church, and therfore no conventicles of Heretikes directly gathering against the Church, are warranted by this place. Cypr. de vnit. Eccles. nu. 7. 8.
Verse 22
22. Seauentie times seauen.) There must be no end of forgiuing them that be penitent, either in the Sacrament by absolution, or one man an other their offenses.