Matthew — Chapter 4

1. Desert.] Eremites. As Iohn the Baptist, so our Sauiour by going into the desert, and there liuing in contemplation even among brute beasts, and subiect to the assaults of the Diuel for our sinnes, giveth a warrant and example to such holy men as have liued in wildernesse for penance and contemplation, called Eremites.

2. Fasted fourtie daies.] The Lent-fast. Elias and Moyses (saith S. Hierom) by the fast of 40 daies, were filled with the familiaritie of God, and our Lord himself in the wildernesse fasted as many to leaue vnto vs the solemne daies of fast (that is, Lent.) Hierom. in c. 58 Esa. S. Augustine also hath the very like wordes ep. 119. And generally al the ancient Fathers that by occasion, or of purpose speake of the Lent-fast, make it not only an imitation of our Sauiours fast, but also an Apostolical tradition, and of necessitie to be kept. Contemne not Lent, (*Saith S. Ignatius) for it containeth the imitation of our Lords conuersation. And S. Ambrose saith plainely, **that it was not ordained by men, but consecrated by God: nor inuented by any earthly cogitation but commaunded by the heauenly Majestie. And againe, that it is sinne not to fast al the Lent. S. Hieroms words also be most plaine: ***We (saith he) fast fourtie daies, or, make one Lent in a yeare, according to the tradition of the Apostles, in time conuenient. This time most conuenient is (as S. Augustine saith ep. 119) immediatly before Easter, thereby to communicate with our Sauiours Passion:and (as other writers do adde) thereby to come the better prepared and more worthily, to the great solemnitie of Christs Resurrection: beside many other goodly reasons in the ancient Fathers which for breuitie we omit. See (good Christian Reader) 12. notable sermons of S. Leo the Great de Quadragesima, of Lent: namely Ser. 6. and 9. where he calleth it the Apostles ordinance by the doctrine of the Holy-Ghost. See S. Ambrose from the 23. Sermon forward; in S. Bernard 7. Sermons, and in many other Fathers the like. Last of al, note wel the saying of S. Augustine, ****who affirmeth that by due obseruation thereof, the wicked be separated from the good, Infidels from Christians, Heretikes from faithful Catholikes. *Igna. ep. 5. **Ambr. de. Quadrag. ser. 36. 34. ***Hier. ep. 54 ad Marcel. adu. Montanum. ****Aug. Ser. 69 de temp.

6. It is written.) Heretikes alleage scriptures, as here the Deuil doth in the false sense; the Church vseth them, as Christ doth in the true sense, and to confute their falsehood. Aug. cont. lit. Petil. lib. 2. c. 51. to 5.

11. Him only serue.) It was not sayd, saith S. Augustine: The Lord thy God only shalt thou adore, as it was said, Him only shalt thou serve; in Greeke, λατρεύσεις Aug. sup. Gen. 9. 16. Wherevpon the Catholike Church hath alwayes vsed this most true & necessarie distinction, that there is an honour dew to God only, which to give vnto any creature, were idolatrie; and there is an honour dew to creatures also according to their dignitie, as to Saints, holy things, and holy place. See Euseb. Hist. Ec. li. 4 c. 14. S. Hierom. cont. Vigil. ep. 53. Aug. lib. 10 Ciuit. c. 2 li. 1. Trin. c. 6 Conc. Nic. 2 Damasc. li. 1 de Imag. Bed. in 4 Luc.

17. Doe pennance.) That penance is necessarie also before Baptisme, for such as be of age; as Iohns, so our Sauiours preaching declareth, both beginning with penance.

23. Healing euery maladie.) Christ (saith S. Augustine) by miracles gat authoritie, by authoritie found credit, by credit drew together a multitude, by a multitude obtained antiquitie, by antiquitie fortified a Religion, which not only the most fond new rising of Heretikes vsing deceitful wiles, but neither the drowsie old errours of the very Heathen with violence setting against it, might in anie part shake and cast downe. Aug. de vtil. cred. c. 14.