Matthew — Chapter 23

2. Chaire of Moyses.) The See of Rome preserued in truth. God preserueth the truth of Christian Religion in the Apostolike See of Rome, which is in the new Law answerable to the chaire of Moyses, notwithstanding the Bishops of the same were neuer so wicked of life: yea though some traitour as il as Iudas were Bishop thereof, it should not be preiudicial to the Church and innocent Christians, for whom our Lord prouiding said: Doe that which they say, but doe not as they doe. August. Epist. 165.

3. Whatsoeuer they shal say.) The dignitie of the See of Rome, notwithstanding some euil Bishops thereof. Why (Saith S. Augustin) *doest thou call the Apostolike Chaire the chaire of pestilence? If for the men, Why? Did our Lord Iesus Christ for the Pharisees, any wrong to the Chaire wherein they sate? Did he not commend that chaire of Moyses, and preseruing the honour of the Chaire, reproue them? For he saith: They sit vpon the Chaire of Moyses, that which they say, doe ye. These things if you did wel consider, you would not for the men whom you defame, blaspheme the See Apostolike, wherwith you doe not communicate. And againe he saith: **Neither for the Pharisees (to whom you compare vs not of wisdom but of malice) did our Lord command the Chaire of Moyses to be forsaken, in which Chaire verily he figured his owne, for he warned the People to doe that which they say, and not to doe that which they doe, and that the holinesse of the Chaire be in no case forsaken, nor the vnity of the flock deuided, for the naughty Pastours. *Contra lit. Petil. li. 2. c. 51. **Contra lit. Petil. li. 2. c. 61

6. Loue the first places.) He condemneth not due places of Superiority giuen or taken of men according to their degrees, but ambitious seeking for the same, and their proud hart and wicked intention, which he saw within them, and therfore might boldly reprehend them.

8. One is your Maister.) Many maisters are many Archheretikes. In the Catholike Church there is one Maister, Christ our Lord, and vnder him one Vicar, with whom al Catholike Doctours and teachers are one, because they teach al one thing. But in Archheretikes it is not so; where euery one of them is a diuerse Maister, and teacheth contrarie to the other, and wil be called Rabbi & Maister, euery one, of their owne Disciples: Arius a Rabbi among the Arians, Luther among the Lutherans, and among the Caluinists Caluin.

10. Maisters.) Doctours, Maisters, and spiritual Fathers. Wyclefe, and the like Heretikes of this time, doe herevpon condemne degrees of Schoole & titles of Doctours and Maisters: where they might as wel reproue S. Paul for calling himself *Doctour and Maister of the Gentiles: and for saying *that there should be alwayes Doctours in the Church. And whereas they bring the other words folowing, against Religious men who are called Fathers; as wel might they by this place take away the name of carnal fathers, and blame S. Paule for calling himself ***the only spiritual Father of the Corinthians. But indeed nothing is here forbidden but the contentious diuision and partiality of such as make themselues Ringleaders of Schismes & Sects, as Donatus, Arius, Luther, Caluin. *1 Tim. 2. 2 Tim. 1. **Eph. 4. ***1 Cor. 4,15.

13. Scribes & Pharisees.) The honour of Priesthood. In al these reprehensions it is much to be noted, that our Sauiour for the honour of Priesthood neuer reprehendeth Priests by that name. Cypr. ep. 65. Whereas our Heretikes vse this name of purpose in reproach and despite.

14. Praying long prayers.) The intention. They are not reprehended here for the things themselues, which for the most part are good, as, long prayer, making Proselytes, garnishing the Prophets sepulchres, &c, but for their wicked purpose and intention, as before is said of fasting, prayers, almes. Mat. 6.

15. Double more.) Not only faith. They that teach that it is enough to haue only faith, doe make such Christians, as the Iewes did Proselytes, children of Hel farre more then before. August. lib. de fide & oper. cap. 26.

19.Sanctifieth.) The Altar is sanctified by our Lords body therevpon. Note that donaries and guifts bestowed vpon Churches and Altars, be sanctified by dedication to God, and by touching the Altar and other holy things: as now specially the vessels of the Sacrifice and Sacrament of Christes body and bloud, by touching the same, and the Altar itself whervpon it is consecrated. Wherof Theophylact writeth thus vpon this place: *In the old law, Christ permitteth not the guift to be greater then the Altar, but with vs, the Altar is sanctified by the guift: for the hostes by the diuine grace are turned into our Lords body, and therfore is the Altar also sanctified by them. *Theoph. 23 in Mat.

21. By him that dwelleth in it.) By this we see that swearing by creatures, as by the Ghospel, by Saints, is al referred to the honour of God, whose Ghospel it is, whose Saints they are.

28. Appeare to men.) Christ might boldly reprehend them so often and so vehemently for hypocrisie, because he knew their harts and intentions: but we that can not see within men, may not presume to cal mens external good doings, hypocrisie: but iudge of men as we see and know.

29. Garnish.] Christ blameth not the Iewes for adorning the sepulchres of the Prophets, but rebuketh them of their malice toward him, and of that which by his diuine knowledge he foresaw, that they would accomplish the wickednes of their Fathers in sheeding his bloud, as their Fathers did the bloud of the Prophetes. Hilar.