Matthew — Chapter 25
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. Virgins.) Good works necessarie. These Virgins fiue wise, and fiue foolish, signifie that in the Church militant there be good and bad: which bad shal be shut out at the later day, although they haue lamps (that is faith) as the other, because their lamps are out; that is, their faith is dead without charitie and good works to lighten them. Greg. ho. 12.
Verse 3
3. Oyle.) Right intention. This oyle is the right inward intention directing our works to Gods glorie, and not to the praise of our selues in the sight of men. Aug. ep. 120. c. 33.
Verse 27
27. With vsurie.) Vsurie is here taken for the lawful gaine that a man getteth by wel employing his goods. When God giueth vs any talent or talents, he looketh for vsurie, that is, for spiritual increase of the same by our diligence and industrie.
Verse 29
29. That which he seemeth to haue.) We must vse Gods guifts. He is said to have Gods guifts, that vseth them, and to such an one God wil increase his guifts. He that vseth them not, seemeth to haue, rather then hath them, and from him God wil withdraw that which before he gaue.
Verse 31
31. Separate.) Good and bad in the Church. Loe here is the separation; for in the Church militant they liued both togeather. As for Heretikes, they went out of the Church before, and separated them selues, and therfore are not to be separated here, as being iudged already.
Verse 34
34. Come ye. 41. Get ye away.) Heauen is the reward of good workes, and Hel of the contrarie. It is no incongruitie that God should say: Goe into euerlasting fire, to them that by their free wil have repelled his mercie; and to the other: Come ye Blessed of my Father, take the Kingdom prepared for you, that by their free wil haue receaued faith, and confessed their sinnes, and done pennance. Aug. li. 2. act. cum Fel. Manich. c. 8.
Verse 35
35. You gaue me.) Hereby we see how much almes-deedes and al works of mercy preuaile towards life euerlasting, and to blot out former sinnes. Aug. in Ps. 49.
Verse 42
42. Gaue me not.) He chargeth them not here that they beleeued not, but that they did not good works. For such did beleeue, but they cared not for good works, as though by dead faith they might haue come to Heauen. Aug. de fid. & op. c. 15. & ad Dulcit. q. 2. 4.