Philippians — Chapter 2

9. For the which.) Caluin's blasphemie against Christ's owne merits. Caluin doth so abhorre the name of merit in Christian men toward their owne saluation, that he wickedly and vnlearnedly denieth Christ himself to haue deserued or merited any thing for himself: though these wordes (which he shamefully writheth from the proper and plaine sense, to signifie a sequele and not a cause of his exaltation) and diuers other in holy writ, proue that he merited for himself according to al learned mens iudgement. As Apoc. 5. The Lamb that was slaine, is worthie to receiue power and Diuinitie. And Heb. 2. We see IESVS for the passion of death, crowned with glorie and honour. See S. Augustin vpon these words of the Psalme 109. propterea exaltabit caput.

10. Name of IESVS.) The Protestants wil haue no reuerence done at the name of IESVS. By the like wickednes they charge the faithful people for capping or kneeling when they heare the name of IESVS. As though they worshipped not our Lord God therin, but the syllables or letters or other material elememts wherof the word written or spoken consisteth; and al this, by sophistication to draw the people from due honour and deuotion toward CHRIST IESVS, which is Satans drift by putting scruples into poore simple mens minds about his Sacraments, his Saints, his Crosse, his name, his image, & such like, to abolish al true religion out of the world, and to make them plaine Atheists. How Catholikes honour the name of IESVS, and other things pertaining to him. But the Church knoweth Satans cogitations, and therfore by the Scriptures and reason, warranteth and teacheth al her children to doe reuerence when so-euer IESVS is named. Because Catholikes doe not honour these things nor count them holy, for their matter, colour, sound, and syllables, but for the respect and relation they haue to our Sauiour, bringing vs to the remembrance and apprehension of Christ, by sight, hearing, or vse of the same signes: els why make we not reuerence at the name of Iesus the sonne of Sirach, as wel as of IESVS CHRIST? And it is a pitieful case to see these prophane subtelties of Heretikes to take place in religion, which were ridiculous in al other trade of life. When we heare our Prince or Soueraigne named, we may without these scruples doe obeisance, but towards Christ it must be superstitious.

12. With feare and trembling.) Veine securitie of saluation. Against the vaine presumption of Heretikes that make men secure of their predestination and saluation, he willeth the Philippians to worke their saluation with feare and trembling, according to that other Scripture, Blessed is the man that alwaies is fearful. Prouerb. 28, v. 14.

13. Worketh in you.) S. Augstin answereth the obiection against free-wil. Of this thus saith S. Augustin: Not because the Apostle saith, it is God that worketh in you both to wil and worke, must we thinke he taketh away our free-wil. For if it were so, then would be not a litle before haue willed them to worke their owne saluation with feare and trembling. For when they be commanded to worke, their free-wil is called vpon: but, with trembling and feare, is added, lest by attributing their wel-working to themselues, they might be proud of their good deeds as though they were of themselues. August. de gratia & lib. arbit. c. 9.

17. The Sacrifice.) Martyrdom. The obedience of faith and Martyrdom be so acceptable actes to God, when they be voluntarily referred to his honour, that by a metaphore they be called sacrifice & pleasant Hosts to God.