Matthew — Chapter 19

6. Not man separate.) This inseparability betwixt man and wife riseth of that, that wedlock is a Sacrament. Aug. li. 2. de pec. origine c. 34. to. 7. De nupt. & concupis. li. 1. c. 10.

9. But for fornication.) Mariage after diuorce vnlawful. For aduoutrie one may dimisse an other, Mat. 5. But neither party can mary againe for any cause during life. Aug. li. 11. de adult. coniug. c. 21. 22. 24. For the which vnlawful act of marying againe, Fabiola that noble matrone of Rome albeit she was the Innocent part, did publike penance, as *S. Hierom writeth in her high commendation therfore. And in S. Paul Ro. 7. it is plaine that she which is with an other man, her husband yet liuing, shal be called an aduouteresse: contrary to the doctrine of our Aduersaries. *In Epitaph. Fabiola.

11. Not al take.) Whosoeuer haue not this guift giuen them, it either for that they wil not haue it, or for that they fulfil not that which they wil; & they that haue this gift or attaine to this word, haue it of God and their owne free wil. Aug. li. de grat. & lib. arbit. c. 4. So that it is euident no man is excluded from this guift, but (as *Origen here saith) it is giuen to al that aske for it; contrarie to our Aduersaries that say it is impossible, & that for excuse of breaking their vowes, wickedly say, they haue not the guift. *Origen. tract. 7. in Mat.

12. Gelded them selves.) Vow of chastitie. They geld them selues for the Kingdom of Heauen which vow chastity. Aug. de virginitate c. 24. Which proueth those kind of vowes to be both lawful, and also more meritorious, and more sure to obtaine life euerlasting, then the state of wedlock, contrarie to our Adu. in al respects.

13. Impose.) They knew the valour of Christs blessing, and therfore brought their children to him; as good Christian people have at al times brought their children to Bishops to have their blessing. See Annotation before Chap. 10, 12. And of Religious mens blessing see Russin. li. 2. c. 8. hist. S. Hierom in Epitaph. Paulæ c. 7, & in vit. Hilarionis. Theodoret. in historia Sanctorum Patrum num. 8.

14. He that can take.) Councels not Precepts. It is not said of the Precepts, keepe them who can, for they be necessarie vnder paine of damnation to be kept; but of Counsels only (as of virginity, abstaining from flesh and wine, and of giuing al a mans goods away to the poore) it is said: He that can attaine to it, let him doe it; which is counsel only, not a commandement. Contrary to our Adu. that say there are no Councels, but only precepts. Aug. ser. 6. de temp.

21. If thou wilt be perfect.) Loe, he maketh a plaine difference between keeping the commandements, which is necessary for euery man: and being perfect, which he counseleth only to them that wil. And this is the state of great perfection which Religious men doe professe, according to Christes counsel here, leauing al things and folowing him.

26. Al things possible.) This of the camel through a needels eye, being possible to God, although he neither hath done it, nor by like wil doe it: maketh against the blasphemous infidelity of our Aduersaries that say, God can do no more then he hath done, or wil doe. We see also that God can bring a camel through a needels eye, & therfore his body through a doore, and out of the sepulchre shut, and out of his mother a virgin, and generally aboue nature doe with his body as he list.

27. Left al.) Vow of pouertie in respect of reward. This perfection of leauing al things the Apostles vowed. Aug. li. 17. de Ciuit Dei c. 4.

28. You also shal sit.) Note that not only Christ, who is the principal and proper Iudge of the liuing and the dead, but with him the Apostles and al perfect Saints shal iudge; and yet that doeth nothing derogate to his prerogatiue, by whom and vnder whom they hold this and al other dignities in this life and the next. Aug in ps. 121.