Matthew — Chapter 5

10. For iustice.) False Martyrs. Heretickes and other malefactours sometime suffer willingly and stoutly: but they are not blessed, because they suffer not for iustice. For (sayth S. Aug.) they can not suffer for iustice, that have devided the Church, and, where sound faith or charitie is not, there cannot be iustice. Cont. ep. Parm. li. 1 c. 9 Ep. 50 Psal. 34 Conc. 2. And so by this scripture are excluded al false Martyrs, as S. Augustine often declareth, and S. Cypr. de Vnit. Eccl. nu. 8.

12. Reward.) Merces. μισθὸς. In Latin and Greeke the word signifieth very wages, and hire, due for workes, and so presupposeth a meritorious deede.

15. The light.) The Church visible. This light of the world, and citie on a mountayne, and candle vpon a candlesticke, signifie the Clergie, and the whole Church, so built vpon Christ the mountayne, that it must needes be visible, and cannot be hid nor unknowen. Aug. cont. Fulg. Donat. c. 18 Li. 16 cont. Faust. c. 17. And therfore, the Church being a candle not vnder a bushel, but shining to al in the house (that is) in the world, what shal I say more (sayth S. Augustine) then that they are blind which shut their eyes agaynst the candle that is set on the candlesticke? Tract. 2 in ep. Io.

17. Your light.) The good life of the Clergie edifieth much, and is Gods great honor: whereas the contrarie dishonoureth him.

20. One of these.) Behold how necessarie it is, not only to beleeue, but to keep al the commaundements, euen the very least.

21. Your Iustice.) True inherent iustice. It is our justice, when it is given us of God. Aug. in Ps. 30. Conc. 1 De Sp. & lit. c. 9. So that Christians are truely iust, & haue in themselues inherent iustice, by doing Gods commaundements, without which iustice of workes no man of age can be saued. Aug. de fid. & oper. c. 16. Whereby we see saluation, iustice, & iustification, not to come of only faith, or imputation of Christes iustice.

23. Hel of fyre.) Venial sinnes. Here is a playne difference of sinnes, some mortal, that bring to Hel, some lesse, and lesse punished, called venial.

24. Guift at the Altar.) Beware of coming to the holy altar or any Sacrament out of charitie. But be first reconciled to thy brother, and much more to the Catholike Church, which is the whole brotherhood of Christian men, Heb. 13,1.

33. Excepting the cause of fornication.) Mariage a Sacrament and is not dissolued by diuorce. This exception is only to shew, that for this one cause a man may put away his wife for ever: but not that he may marrie an other as it is most plaine in S. Marke and S. Luke, who leave out this exception, saying: *Whosoever dismisseth his Wife and marieth an other, committeth aduoutrie. See the Annot. Luc. 19,9. But if both parties be in one and the same fault, then can neither of them not so much as deuorce or put away the other. *Mark 10,11. Luke 16,18.

35. Not to sweare.] The Anabaptists here not folowing the Churches iudgement, but the bare letter (as other Heretikes in other cases) hold that there is no oath lawful, no not before a iudge, whereas Christ speaketh against rashe and vsual swearing in common talke, when there is no cause.

39. Not to resist euil.) Here also the Anabaptists gather of the letter, that it is not lawful to go to law for our right; as Luther also vpon this place held, that Christians might not resist the Turke. Whereas by this, as by that which foloweth, patience only is signified, & a wil to suffer more, rather then to reuenge. For neither did Christ nor S. Paule folow the letter, by turning the other cheeke. Iohn. 18. Act. 23.