The Marginal Notes of the Popish Testament Translated Into English, Book 23
1. IOHN.
1. Iohn. 2. 16.
The text.
Because all that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eies, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The note.
How all sinne and temptation proceede of these three, see Saint Thomas Summ. 1. 2. quaest. 77. arti. 5.
The answer.
Your labours (I perceiue) are bestowed vponupon them that least néede them, that is, vponupon the learned, for I do not suppose you to be such fooles, as to send the vnlearned multitude to search in the doctors and schoolemen.
… 2. 19.
The text.
They went out from vsus, but ⸫ they were not of vsus, for if they had bene of vsus, they would surelie hauehave remained with vsus.
The note.
They were of vsus for a time, that is, of, and in the church, otherwise they could not hauehave gone out: but they were not of the constant sort, or of the elect and predestinate, for then they had taried within, or returned before their death.
The answer.
You dare conclude contrarie to the Apostle, he saith they were not of vsus, you say they were of vsus, otherwise they could not hauehave gone out, and therefore I can not maruell that you are so bold with vsus. The societie and companie of men whom we call the church, do nurse as it were in their bosome, manie hipocrites and enemies to Christ, which in time shew them selues, who though they go out from the church, yet in trueth were neuer of the church, for if they had bene of the church truelie, then at the least they shuld not hauehave seuered them selues from the church at their end: for none are truelie of the Church, but those whom God hath elected and chosen.
…. Iohn. 1. 24.
The text.
You, that which you hauehave ⸫ heard from the beginning let it abide in you.
The note.
Keepe that firmly and constantly, which you heard euen from the beginning, by the mouth of the Apostles: and not that which you hauehave receiued by writing.
The answer.
If the apostles taught one thing by mouth, and another thing by writing then your note hath some reason in it. I would faine see some papists collect this vnwritten doctrin, and then shew vsus how we may be assured that they had it from the apostles. For the things that hauehave béene heretofore forged vnderunder the apostles names, the papists themselues do not obserue the tenth part of them. In the meane space they shall giuegive vsus leaue to beléeue that the apostles whole doctrine is conteined in the Canonicall Scriptures.
1. Iohn. 2. 29.
The text.
If you know that he is iust, know yee that eueryevery one also ⸫ which doth iustice is borne of him.
The note.
Wee see that that it is an apostolical doctrine that men may do or work iustice, and that so dooing they be iust by works, proceeding of Gods grace, and not by faith or imputation onelyonly.
The answer.
We sée indéed, that it is an apostolical doctrin, that a man may do, or worke iustice, and farther that that doing and working is an assured testimonie, that we are regenerate and borne of God. But that by so doing we are made iust, or iustified afore God: that is your owne addition, without warrant of this text or anie other. For though whomsoeuer God hath sanctified, him also he hath iustified, yet regeneration and sanctification whereof the apostle speaketh here, are things distinct from iustification wherof he speaketh not here. And bicause iustice is a word of generall signification, and somtimes spoken of iustification, that is, of that righteousnes whereby we are made iust, and sometime (as here) of sanctification, that is, of that righteousnes whereby we are declared to be iust, this ambiguitie serueth your humor to dallie, and deceiue withall.
1. Iohn. 3. 1.
The text.
See what maner of charitie the father hath giuen vsus, that we should be named and be ⸫ the sonnes of God.
The note.
Not by nature as Christ, but by grace and adoption.
The answer.
And can we be both named and be the sonnes of God, and yet doubt of our saluation? Were not that to doubt either of the power, or goodnes of our father? Why are you then the doctors of doubtfulnes?
1. Iohn. 3. 2.
The text.
We know that when he shall appeere we shall be like to him, bicause we shall ⸫ see him as he is.
The note.
How we shall see God and be like to him in the next life. See S. Aug. ep. 111. 112. de Ciuitate dei. lib. 12. cap. 29.
The answer.
It is well that you affoord vsus so good a schoolemaster, but how shall they do, that either vnderstand not the latin toong, or are not able to buy the fathers? It is manifest that your meaning is not to helpe the poorer and more ignorant sort.
1. Iohn. 3. 3.
The text.
And eueryevery one that hath this hope in him ⸫ sanctifieth himselfe as he also is holie.
The note.
This teacheth vsus that man sanctifieth himselfe, by his free wil working togither with Gods grace. See Augustine vponupon this place.
The answer.
You know that your collection will not hold, and therfore you turne Saint Augustine to vsus. Wherein still is to be noted that you of purpose flie from these works, which Augustine wrote against Pelagius, wherein of purpose he handleth the matter of fréewill, and scrape and scratch for it here and there, where he speaketh little of it, and that but by the way. The spéech that Augustine vseth in this place is this: that God sanctifieth, but hée sanctifieth not them which are not willing to be sanctified. And therfore bicause man adioineth his will to God, he is said to sanctifie himselfe. This spéech of Augustine though it may be racked against his minde, to serue your assertion of fréewill, yet being interpreted according to his vndoubted meaning (as in manie places he vttereth against Pelagius) of those onelyonly whose wils God altered, and to whom God also giueth power in some measure to performe their good desires, is verie tollerable, and may well stand.
1. Iohn. 3. 17.
The text.
He that shall hauehave the substance of the world, and shall see his brother hauehave need, and shal shut his bowels from him, how doth the charitie of God abide in him?
The note.
Euerie man is bound to giuegive almes according to his abilitie when he seeth his brother in great necessitie.
The answer.
And yet not to thinke his déede meritorious, but onelyonly to declare, and shew that the louelove of God dwelleth in him.
1. Iohn. 3. 23.
The text.
And this is his commandement, that we beleeue in the name of his sonne Iesus Christ: and ⸫ louelove one another as he hath giuen commandement to vsus.
The note.
Least any man should thinke by the words next before onelyonly faith in Christ to be commanded, or to please God, he addeth to faith the commandement of charitie or louelove of our neighbor.
The answer.
If there be any that thinke faith onelyonly commanded, or do separate louelove from it, tell vsus (I pray you) who they be, and where they remaine, that we also may know them, hate, abhor, and detest them.
1. Ioh. 4. 12.
The text.
God ⸫ no man hath seene at any time.
The note.
No man in this life, nor with corporall eies can see the proper essence, or substance of the deitie. See S. Augustine ad Paulin. de videndo Deo. Epist. 112.
The answer.
Still you send vsus to those schoolmasters, to whom the simple can hauehave no accesse, and therefore by whom they cannot be the better.
2. Ioh. v. 8.
The text.
Looke to your selues, that you lose not the things which you hauehave wrought, but that you may receiue a full ⸫ reward.
The note.
Reward for keeping fast the catholike faith.
The answer.
Which is full contrarie to the faith of the Romish church at this day.
2. Ioh. v. 9.
The text.
EueryEvery one that ⸫ reuolteth, and persisteth not in the doctrine of Christ: hath not God.
The note.
To go backe or reuolt from the receiued truth and doctrine apostolicall, is damnable.
The answer.
But al papists are gone backe from the truth in the primitiue church receiued, therfore except they repent, they are damned.
3. Ioh. v. 5.
The text.
My deerest, thou doest faithfully, whatsoeuer thou workest on the brethren, ⸫ and that vponupon strangers.
The note.
A great grace to be beneficiall to strangers, specially to them that be of our catholike faith, and suffer for the same.
The answer.
Remember then your vngracious gouernment in the daies of Quéene Mary, when al those strangers, which afore in the daies of good king Edward were intertained and comforted in England, bicause they had left their countries for the kéeping of a good conscience, and for the testimonie of the true, ancient, most holie catholike faith, were banished this land, and sent to séeke a resting place, where they might find or get it.
3. Ioh. v. 9.
The text.
I had written perhaps to the church, but he that loueth to beare ⸫ primacie amōgst them, Diotrepes doth not receiue vsus.
The note.
It seemeth (saith saint Bede) he was an archheretike or proud sectmaster.
The answer.
Uery much resembling my Lord Bishop of Rome in louelove of primacie, though far comming behind him in height of pride, and in all other wickednes and mischiefe.
3. Ioh. v. 10.
The text.
For this cause if I come, I wil ⸫ aduertise his works which he doth: with malicious words chatting against vsus.
The note.
That is, I wil rebuke them, and make them knowen to be wicked. Bede.
The answer.
This exposition we receiue, and God hath verified it vponupon your owne heads. For your Diotrepes of Rome his casting out all those that beare fauor to them that louelove the truth, is now to al the world made manifest to be wicked, and they are sufficiently aduertised both of him and his works.
I…de vers. 4.
The text.
For there are certaine men secretly entred in (which were long ago prescribed vntounto this iudgement) impious, transferring the grace of our God ⸫ into riotousnes, and denieng the onelyonly dominator, and our Lord Iesus Christ.
The note.
Diuers heretikes abuse the libertie of Christs grace and Gospell, to the fulfilling of their carnall lusts and concupiscences.
The answer.
It is very true, and yet none so much and so grossely as papists. For if they would leaue their lies and forgerie, and sticke to such testimonies as are without exception, they should easily sée it, and be compelled to confesse it.
Iude vers. 5.
The text.
But I will admonish you, that once know al things, that ⸫ Iesus sauing the people out of the land of Egypt, secondly destroied them which beleeued not.
The note.
This is our Sauiour, not Iosue as saint Hierom noteth. ep. 17. see Abac. c. 3. verse 18.
The answer.
That it could not be Iosua that is héere meant, both the truth of the storie of the children of Israels deliuerie out of Egypt, and of the punishment of the incredulous, and also the Gréeke text, which hath not Iesus but the Lord, doth plainly and euidently testifie.
Iude vers. 8.
The text.
In like maner these also defile the flesh, and ⸫ despise dominion, and blaspheme maiestie.
The note.
Such be heretikes, that will not be subiect to anie superior, or that refuse to obey the lawes, either of spirituall or temporall rulers: in which kind (speciallie in blaspheming the supreme spirituall magistrate) the Protestants do passe.
The answer.
It is somewhat, that you do not alwaies passe ouer those places with silence, wherein you are so liuelie described: for of these heretikes the pope is the head, and you his clawbackes are members. For to what superior doeth the Pope acknowledge himselfe subiect? and do not all ecclesiasticall persons of his church, challenge exemption from the authoritie of temporall power? what maiesty is there vponupon the earth, which he blasphemeth not, when he abaseth the highest earthlie maiestie so farre vnderunder him selfe,Innocentius de maioritate & obedientia cap. Solita. as the moone is inferior to the sunne? Iudes description therefore agréeth to none so well as to your selues.