Matthew — Chapter 20
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. In the morning.) God calleth some in the morning, that is, in the beginning of the world, as Abel, Enoch, Noe, and other the iust and faithful of the first Age; at the third houre, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, and the rest of their Age; at the 6. houre of the day, Moyses, Aaron, and the rest; at the 9. houre, the Prophets; at the eleuenth, that is, at the later end of the world, the Christian Nations. Aug. de verb. Domini ser. 59. Briefly, this calling at diuerse houres signifieth the calling of the Iewes from time to time in the first Ages of the world, and of the Gentils in the later Age thereof. It signifieth also that God calleth countries to the faith some sooner, some later; and particular men to be his seruants, some yonger, some elder, of diuerse ages.
Verse 9
9. Penie.) Diuersitie of glorie in Heauen. The penie promised to al, was life euerlasting, which is common to al that shal be saued. But in the same life there be degrees of glorie, as *betwixt starre and starre in the element. Aug. li. de virginis. c. 26.
Verse 16
16. Few elect.) Those are elect which despised not their caller, but folowed and beleeued him; for men beleeue not but of their owne free wil. Aug. li. 1. ad Simplic. q. 2.
Verse 23
23. To whom it is prepared.) Differences of merits and reward. The Kingdom of Heauen is prepared for them that are worthie of it and deserue it by their wel doing; as in holy Scripture it is very often: That *God wil repay euery man according to his workes. And, **Come ye blessed, possesse the Kingdom prepared for you. Why? Because I was hungrie, and you gaue me meate; thirstie, and you gaue me drinke &c. Therfore doth Christ say here, It is not mine to giue. Because he is iust and wil not give it to euerie man without respect of their deserts; yea nor alike to euerie one, but diuersly according to greater or lesser merits; as here ***S. Chrysosto. maketh it plaine, when our Sauiour telleth them, that although they suffer martyrdom for his sake, yet he hath not to giue them the two cheefe places. See S. Hiero. vpon this place, and li. 2. adu. Iouin. c. 15. This also is a lesson for them that have to bestow Ecclesiastical benefices, that they have no carnal respect to kinred &c. but to the worthines of the persons. *Mat. 16,27. Ro. 2,6. **Mat. 25,34. ***Chrys. ho. 66. in Mt.
Verse 28
28. As the Sonne of man.) Christ himself as he was the Sonne of man, was their and our Superiour, and *Lord & Maister, notwithstanding his humilitie, and therfore it is pride and haughtines which is forbidden, and not Superioritie or Lordship, as some Heretikes would haue it. Io. 13, 13.