The Annunciation and Conception, first of the Precursor: 26. and six months after, of Christ also himself. 39. The Visitation of our Lady, where both the mothers do prophesy. 57. The Nativity and Circumcision of the Precursor, where his father doth prophesy. 80. The Precursor is from a child an Eremite.The Annunciation and Conception, first of the Precursour: 26. and six months after, of Christ also him self. 39. The Visitation of our Ladie, where both the mothers doe prophecie. 57. The Natiuitie and Circumcision of the Precursour, where his father doth prophecie. 80. The Precursour is from a child an Eremite.
The first part: of the Infancy both of the Precursor, and of Christ himself.THE FIRST part: of the Infancie both of the Precursour, and of CHRIST himself.
Because many have gone about to compile a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us;BECAVSE many haue gone about to compile a Narration of the things that haue been accomplished among vs;Quoniam quidem multi conati sunt ordinare narrationem, quæ in nobis completæ sunt, rerum :
2according as they have delivered unto us, who from the beginning themselves saw and were ministers of the Word;according as they haue deliuered vnto vs, who from the beginning them selues saw and were Ministers of the Word;sicut tradiderunt nobis, qui ab initio ipsi viderunt, et ministri fuerunt sermonis :
3it seemed good also unto me, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, good Theophilus,it seemed good also vnto me hauing, diligently attained to al things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, Good * Theophilus,visum est et mihi, assecuto omnia a principio diligenter, ex ordine tibi scribere, optime Theophile,
4that thou mayest know the verity of those words whereof thou hast been instructed.that thou maist know the veritie of those wordes wherof thou hast been instructed.ut cognoscas eorum verborum, de quibus eruditus es, veritatem.
5There was in the days of Herod the King of Jewry, a certain Priest named Zacharie, of the vice: a priestly division, the rota of temple service of Abia; and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.There was in the daies of Herod the King of Iewrie, a certaine Priest named Zacharie, of the * course of Abia; & his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.Fuit in diebus Herodis, regis Judææ, sacerdos quidam nomine Zacharias de vice Abia, et uxor illius de filiabus Aaron, et nomen ejus Elisabeth.
6And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justificationibus: God's just commandments, the keeping of which is justification of our Lord without blame,And they were both iust before God, walking in al the commandements and iustifications of our Lord without blame,Erant autem justi ambo ante Deum, incedentes in omnibus mandatis et justificationibus Domini sine querela.
7and they had no son: for that Elizabeth was barren, and both were well striken in their days.and they had no sonne: for that Elizabeth was barren, and both were wel striken in their daies.Et non erat illis filius, eo quod esset Elisabeth sterilis, et ambo processissent in diebus suis.
8And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,And it came to passe, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,Factum est autem, cum sacerdotio fungeretur in ordine vicis suæ ante Deum,
9according to the custom of the priestly function, he went forth by lot to offer incense, entering into the Temple of our Lord;according to the custome of the Priestlie functio, he went forth by lot * to offer incense, entring into the Temple of our Lord;secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii, sorte exiit ut incensum poneret, ingressus in templum Domini :
10and all the multitude of the people was praying foris: outside at the hour of the incense.and * al the multitude of the People was praying without at the houre of the incense.et omnis multitudo populi erat orans foris hora incensi.
11And there appeared to him an Angel of our Lord, standing on the right hand of the Altar of incense.And there appeared to him an Angel of our Lord, standing on the right hand of the Altar of incense.Apparuit autem illi angelus Domini, stans a dextris altaris incensi.
12And Zacharie was troubled, seeing him; and fear fell upon him.And Zacharie was troubled, seeing him; and feare fel vpon him.Et Zacharias turbatus est videns, et timor irruit super eum.
13And the Angel said to him: Fear not, Zacharie, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:And the Angel said to him: Feare not Zacharie, for thy praier is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shal beare thee a sonne, and thou shalt cal his name Iohn:Ait autem ad illum angelus : Ne timeas, Zacharia, quoniam exaudita est deprecatio tua : et uxor tua Elisabeth pariet tibi filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Joannem :
14and thou shalt have joy and exultation, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.and thou shalt haue ioy and exultation, and many shal reioyce in his natiuitie.et erit gaudium tibi, et exsultatio, et multi in nativitate ejus gaudebunt :
15For he shall be great before our Lord; and shall not drink wine nor strong drink: and he shall be replenished with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb.For he shal be great before our Lord; and shal not drinke wine nor strong drinke: and he shal be repleenished with the Holy Ghost euen from his mothers womb.erit enim magnus coram Domino : et vinum et siceram non bibet, et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suæ :
16And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.And he shal * conuert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.et multos filiorum Israël convertet ad Dominum Deum ipsorum :
17And he shall go before him in the spirit and virtute: power, might of Elias, that he may convert the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.And he shal goe before him in the spirit and vertue of Elias, that he may conuert the harts of the fathers vnto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the iust, to prepare vnto the Lord a perfect People.et ipse præcedet ante illum in spiritu et virtute Eliæ : ut convertat corda patrum in filios, et incredulos ad prudentiam justorum, parare Domino plebem perfectam.
18And Zacharie said to the Angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am old; and my wife is well striken in her days.And Zacharie said to the Angel: Whereby shal I know this? for I am old; and my wife is wel striken in her daies.Et dixit Zacharias ad angelum : Unde hoc sciam ? ego enim sum senex, et uxor mea processit in diebus suis.
19And the Angel answering said to him: I am Gabriel that assist before God, and am sent to speak to thee, and to evangelize these things to thee.And the Angel answering said to him: I am Gabriel that assist before God, and am sent to speake to thee, and to euangelize these things to thee.Et respondens angelus dixit ei : Ego sum Gabriel, qui asto ante Deum : et missus sum loqui ad te, et hæc tibi evangelizare.
20And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall be done, for-because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.And behold, thou shalt be dumme, and shalt not be able to speake vntil the day wherein these things shal be done, for-because thou hast not beleeued my wordes, which shal be fulfilled in their time.Et ecce eris tacens, et non poteris loqui usque in diem quo hæc fiant, pro eo quod non credidisti verbis meis, quæ implebuntur in tempore suo.
21And the people was exspectans: waiting for Zacharie; and they marvelled that he made tardaret: delay, tarrying in the Temple.And the People was expecting Zacharie; and they marueiled that he made tariance in the Temple.Et erat plebs exspectans Zachariam : et mirabantur quod tardaret ipse in templo.
22And coming forth he could not speak to them, and they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb.And comming forth he could not speake to them, and they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. And he made signes to them, and remained dumme.Egressus autem non poterat loqui ad illos, et cognoverunt quod visionem vidisset in templo. Et ipse erat innuens illis, et permansit mutus.
23And it came to pass, after the days of his office were expired, he departed into his house.And it came to passe, after the daies of his office were expired, he departed into his house.Et factum est, ut impleti sunt dies officii ejus, abiit in domum suam :
24And after these days Elizabeth his wife conceived; and hid herself five months, saying:And after these daies Elizabeth his wife conceiued; and hid her self fiue months, saying:post hos autem dies concepit Elisabeth uxor ejus, et occultabat se mensibus quinque, dicens :
25For thus hath our Lord done to me in the days wherein he had respect to take away my reproach among men.For thus hath our Lord done to me in the daies wherein he had respect to take away my reproach among men.Quia sic fecit mihi Dominus in diebus, quibus respexit auferre opprobrium meum inter homines.
26And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent of God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,b And in the sixt month, the Angel Gabriel was sent of God into a citie of Galilee, called Nazareth,In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilææ, cui nomen Nazareth,
27to a Virgin desponsatam: betrothed, promised in marriage to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the Virgin's name was Marie.* to a Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Ioseph, of the house of Dauid; and the Virgins name was MARIE.ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David : et nomen virginis Maria.
28And the Angel being entered in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, our Lord is with thee: Blessed art thou among women.And the Angel being entred in, said vnto her: Haile ful of grace, our Lord is with thee: Blessed art thou among women.Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit : Ave gratia plena : Dominus tecum : benedicta tu in mulieribus.
29Who when she had heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought what manner of salutation this should be.Who when she had heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought what manner of salutation this should be.Quæ cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio.
30And the Angel said to her: Fear not, Marie, for thou hast found grace with God.And the Angel said to her: Feare not MARIE, for thou hast found grace with God.Et ait angelus ei : Ne timeas, Maria : invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum.
31Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bear a Son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS.* Behold thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe, and shalt beare a Sonne; and thou shalt cal his name IESVS.Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum :
32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High, and our Lord God shall give him the seat of David his Father:He shal be great, and shal be called the Sonne of the most High, and our Lord God shal giue him the seat of Dauid his Father:hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus : et regnabit in domo Jacob in æternum,
33and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of his Kingdom there shall be no end.and he shal * reigne in the house of Iacob for euer, and of his Kingdom there shal be no end.et regni ejus non erit finis.
34And Marie said to the Angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?And MARIE said to the Angel: How shal this be done, because I know not man?Dixit autem Maria ad angelum : Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco ?
35And the Angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also that which of thee shall be born Holy, shall be called the Son of God.And the Angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shal come vpon thee, and the power of the most High shal ouershadow thee. And therfore also that which of thee shal be borne Holy, shal be called the Sonne of God.Et respondens angelus dixit ei : Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei.
36And behold Elizabeth thy cognata: thy kinswoman, blood-relative, she also hath conceived a Son in her old age; and this month is the sixth to her that is called barren:And behold Elizabeth thy cosin, she also hath conceiued a Sonne in her old age; and this month, is the sixt to her that is called barren:Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua, et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua : et hic mensis sextus est illi, quæ vocatur sterilis :
37because there shall not be impossible with God any word.because there shal not be impossible with God any word.quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum.
38And Marie said, Behold the handmaid of our Lord, be it done to me according to thy word. And the Angel departed from her.And MARIE said, BEHOLD the handmaid of our Lord, be it done to me according to thy word. And the Angel departed from her.Dixit autem Maria : Ecce ancilla Domini : fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus.
39And Marie rising up in those days, went unto the hill country with speed into a city of Juda,c And MARIE rising vp in those daies, went vnto the hil countrie with speed into a citie of Iuda,Exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis, abiit in montana cum festinatione, in civitatem Juda :
40And she entered into the house of Zacharie, and saluted Elizabeth.And she entred into the house of Zacharie, and saluted Elizabeth.et intravit in domum Zachariæ, et salutavit Elisabeth.
41And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Marie, the infant did leap in her womb. And Elizabeth was replenished with the Holy Ghost:And it came to passe, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Marie, the infant did leap in her womb. And Elizabeth was repleenished with the Holy Ghost:Et factum est, ut audivit salutationem Mariæ Elisabeth, exsultavit infans in utero ejus : et repleta est Spiritu Sancto Elisabeth :
42and she cried out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.and she cried out with a loud voice, and said, BLESSED art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.et exclamavit voce magna, et dixit : Benedicta tu inter mulieres, et benedictus fructus ventris tui.
43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord doth come to me?And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord doth come to me?Et unde hoc mihi, ut veniat mater Domini mei ad me ?
44For behold, as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the infant in my womb did leap for joy.For behold, as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eares, the infant in my womb did leap for ioy.Ecce enim ut facta est vox salutationis tuæ in auribus meis, exsultavit in gaudio infans in utero meo.
45And Blessed is she that believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to her by our Lord.And Blessed is she that beleeued because those things shal be accomplished that were spoken to her by our Lord.Et beata, quæ credidisti, quoniam perficientur ea, quæ dicta sunt tibi a Domino.
46And Marie said: My soul doth magnify our Lord:And Marie said: MY SOVLE doth magnifie our Lord:Et ait Maria : Magnificat anima mea Dominum :
47and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.and my spirit hath reioyced in God my Sauiour.et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.
48Because he hath regarded the humilitatem: the lowly estate, low condition of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.Because he hath regarded the humilitie of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth al Generations shal cal me blessed.Quia respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ : ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,
49Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.Because he that is mightie hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est : et sanctum nomen ejus,
50And his mercy from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.And his mercie from Generation vnto Generations, to them that feare him.et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
51He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath dispersed the proud in the mente: the imagination, the thoughts of their heart.He hath shewed might in his arme: he hath dispersed the proud in the conceit of their hart.Fecit potentiam in brachio suo : dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
52He hath deposed the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.He hath deposed the mightie from their seat, & hath exalted the humble.Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles.
53The hungry he hath filled with good things: and the rich he hath sent away empty.The hungrie he hath filled with good things: and the rich he hath sent away emptie.Esurientes implevit bonis : et divites dimisit inanes.
54He hath received Israel his puerum: his servant, being mindful of his mercy,He hath receaued Israel his child, being mindful of his mercie,Suscepit Israël puerum suum, recordatus misericordiæ suæ :
55As he spake to our Fathers, to Abraham and his seed for ever.As he spake to our Fathers, to Abraham and his seed for euer.sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini ejus in sæcula.
56And Marie mansit: stayed, remained, lingered with her about three months: and she returned into her house.And Marie taried with her about three months: and she returned into her house.Mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus : et reversa est in domum suam.
57And Elizabeth's full time was come to be delivered; and she bare a Son,And Elizabeths ful time was come to be deliuered; and she bare a Sonne,Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium.
58and her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that our Lord did magnify his mercy with her, and they did congratulabantur: rejoice together with her.and her neighbours and kinsfolke heard that our Lord did magnifie his mercie with her, and they did congratulate her.Et audierunt vicini et cognati ejus quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa, et congratulabantur ei.
59And it came to pass, on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father's name Zacharie.And it came to passe, on the eight day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his fathers name Zacharie.Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam.
60And his mother answering, said: Not so, but he shall be called John.And his mother answering, said: Not so, but he shal be called Iohn.Et respondens mater ejus, dixit : Nequaquam, sed vocabitur Joannes.
61And they said to her, That there is none in thy kindred that is called by this name.And they said to her, That there is none in thy kinred that is called by this name.Et dixerunt ad illam : Quia nemo est in cognatione tua, qui vocetur hoc nomine.
62And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.And they made signes to his father, what he would haue him called.Innuebant autem patri ejus, quem vellet vocari eum.
63And demanding a writing pugillarem: a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all marvelled.And demaunding a writing table, he wrote, saying: Iohn is his name. And they al marueiled.Et postulans pugillarem scripsit, dicens : Joannes est nomen ejus. Et mirati sunt universi.
64And forthwith his mouth was opened, and his tongue, and he spake blessing God.And forthwith his mouth was opened, and his tongue, and he spake blessing God.Apertum est autem illico os ejus, et lingua ejus, et loquebatur benedicens Deum.
65And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were divulgabantur: noised abroad, spread by report over all the hill-country of Jewry:And feare came vpon al their neighbours; and al these things were bruited ouer al the hil-countrie of Iewrie:Et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum : et super omnia montana Judææ divulgabantur omnia verba hæc :
66and all that heard, laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, putas: do you suppose, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of our Lord was with him.and al that heard, laid them vp in their hart, saying: What an one, trow ye, shal this child be? For the hand of our Lord was with him.et posuerunt omnes qui audierant in corde suo, dicentes : Quis, putas, puer iste erit ? etenim manus Domini erat cum illo.
67And Zacharie his father was replenished with the Holy Ghost, and he prophesied, saying:And Zacharie his father was repleenished with the Holy Ghost, and he prophecied, saying:Et Zacharias pater ejus repletus est Spiritu Sancto : et prophetavit, dicens :
68Blessed be our Lord God of Israel: because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people;BLESSED be our Lord God of Israel: because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his People;Benedictus Dominus Deus Israël, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suæ :
69and hath erected the cornu: the strength, the might (a Hebraism) of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant.and hath erected the horne of saluation to vs, in the house of Dauid his seruant.et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui,
70As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, that are from the beginning.As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophetes, that are from the beginning.sicut locutus est per os sanctorum, qui a sæculo sunt, prophetarum ejus :
71Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:Saluation from our enemies, and from the hand of al that hate vs:salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos :
72To work mercy with our Fathers, and to remember his holy Testament,To worke mercie with our Fathers, and to remember his holy Testament,ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris : et memorari testamenti sui sancti :
73The oath which he sware to Abraham our father,* The oth which he sware to Abraham our father,jusjurandum, quod juravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum, daturum se nobis
74that he would give to us. That without fear being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him,that he would giue to vs. That without feare being deliuered from the hand of our enemies, we may serue him,ut sine timore, de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati, serviamus illi
75In holiness and justice before him, all our days.In holines and iustice before him, al our daies.in sanctitate et justitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris.
76And thou child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of our Lord to prepare his ways.And thou child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest: for * thou shalt goe before the face of our Lord to prepare his waies.Et tu puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis : præibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias ejus,
77To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto remission of their sins,To giue knowledge of saluation to his People, vnto remission of their sinnes,ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi ejus in remissionem peccatorum eorum
78Through the viscera: the tender mercies, the inward seat of compassion of the mercy of our God, in which the oriens: the dayspring, the rising light (here a title of Christ), from on high, hath visited us.Through the bowels of the mercie of our God, in which the * Orient, from on high, hath visited vs.per viscera misericordiæ Dei nostri, in quibus visitavit nos, oriens ex alto :
79To illuminate them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.To illuminate them that sit in darkenes, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feete into the way of peace.illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent : ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.
80And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel.And the child grew, and was strengthned in spirit, and was in the deserts vntil the day of his manifestation to Israel.Puer autem crescebat, et confortabatur spiritu : et erat in desertis usque in diem ostensionis suæ ad Israël.
Annotations
3Having diligently attained. Hereby we see, that though the Holy Ghost ruled the pen of holy Writers that they might not err, yet did they use human means to search out and find the truth of the things they wrote of. Even so do Councils, and the Presidents of them, God's Vicar, discuss and examine all causes by human means, the assistance of the Holy Ghost concurring and directing them into all truth, according to Christ's promise Io. 16, 13: as in the very first Council of the Apostles themselves at Jerusalem is manifest. Act. 15, 7. and 28. Again here we have a familiar preface of the Author as to his friend or to every godly Reader (signified by Theophilus) concerning the cause and purpose and manner of his writing, and yet the very same is confessed Scripture, with the whole book following. Marvel not then if the Author of the second book of the Machabees ⟦margin: 2. Mach. 2 & 15.⟧ use the like human speeches both at the beginning and in the later end; neither do thou therefore reject the book for no Scripture, as our Heretics do; or not think him a sacred Writer.
6Just before God. Against the Heretics of this time, here is it evident that holy men be just, not only by the estimation of men, but in deed and before God.
6In all the commandments. Three things to be noted directly against the Heretics of our time. First, that good men do keep all God's commandments: which (they say) are impossible to be kept. Again, that men be justified not by only imputation of Christ's Justice, nor by faith alone, but by walking in the commandments. Again, that the keeping and doing of the commandments is properly our justification.
6Justifications. This word is so usual in the Scriptures (namely in the Psal. 118) to signify the commandments of God, because the keeping of them is justification, and the Greek is always so fully correspondent to the same, that the Heretics in this place (otherwise pretending to esteem much of the Greek) blush not to say, that they avoid this word of purpose against the justification of the Papists. And therefore one useth Tully's word forsooth, in Latin constituta: and his scholars in their English Bibles say, Ordinances.
14Joy and exultation. This was fulfilled, not only when he was born, but now also through the whole Church for ever, in joyful celebrating of his Nativity.
23He departed. In the old Law (saith S. Jerome) they that offered Hosts for the People, were not only not in their houses, but were purified for the time, being separated from their wives, and they drank neither wine nor any strong drink, which are wont to provoke concupiscence. Much more the Priests of the new Law that must always offer Sacrifices, must always be free from matrimony, Li. 1. c. 19. adv. Jovin. and ep. 50. c. 3. See S. Ambrose in 1. Tim. 3. And therefore if there were any religion in Calvin's Communion, they would at the least give as much reverence in this point, as they in the old Law did to their Sacrifices, and to the loaves of proposition. 1. Reg. 21.
28Hail, full of grace. Holy Church and all true Christian men do much and often use these words brought from Heaven by the Archangel, as well to the honour of Christ and our B. Lady, as also for that they were the words of the first glad tidings of Christ's Incarnation and our Salvation by the same, and be the very abridgement and sum of the whole Gospel. In so much that the Greek Church used it daily in the Mass.
28Full of grace. Note the excellent prerogatives of our B. Lady, and abhor those Heretics which make her no better than other vulgar women, and therefore to take from her fullness of grace, they say here, Hail freely beloved, contrary to all significations of the Greek word, which is at the least, endued with grace, as S. Paul useth it Ephes. 1. by S. Chrysostom's interpretation: or rather, full of grace, as both Greek and Latin fathers have always here understood it, and the Latins also read it, namely S. Ambrose thus, Well is she only called full of grace, who only obtained the grace, which no other woman deserved, to be replenished with the author of grace. And if they did as well know the nature of these kind of Greek words, as they would seem very skilful, they might easily observe that they signify fullness, as when themselves translate the like word (Luc. 16, 20.) full of sores. Beza ulcerosus.
34I know not man. These words declare (saith S. Augustine) that she had now vowed virginity to God. For otherwise neither would she say, How shall this be done? nor have added, because I know not man. Yea if she had said only the first words, How shall this be done? it is evident that she would not have asked such a question, how a woman should bear a son promised her, if she had married meaning to have carnal copulation. c. 4. de virgin. As if he should say, If she might have known a man and so have had a child, she would never have asked, How shall this be done? But because that ordinary way was excluded by her vow of virginity, therefore she asketh, How? And in asking, How? she plainly declareth that she might not have a child by knowing man, because of her vow. See S. Gregory Nyssen de sancta Christi Nativitate.
36Elizabeth thy cousin. By this that Elizabeth and our Lady were cousins, the one of the tribe of Levi, the other of Juda, is gathered that Christ came of both Tribes, Juda and Levi, of the Kings and the Priests: himself both a King and a Priest, and the Anointed (to wit) by grace spiritually, as they were with oil materially and corporally. August. li. 2. de Consens. Evang. c. 1.
42Blessed art thou. At the very hearing of our Lady's voice, the infant and she were replenished with the Holy Ghost, and she sang praises not only to Christ, but for his sake to our B. Lady, calling her blessed and her fruit blessed, as the Church doeth also by her words and example in the AVE MARIE.
43The mother of my Lord. Elizabeth being an exceeding just and blessed woman, yet the worthiness of God's mother doth so far excel her and all other women, as the great light the little stars. Hiero. Præf. in Sophon.
48Shall call me blessed. This Prophecy is fulfilled, when the Church keepeth her Festival days, and when the Faithful in all Generations say the Ave Marie, and other holy Anthems of our Lady. And therefore the Calvinists are not among those Generations which call our Lady blessed.
63John is his name. We see that names are of signification and importance, God himself changing or giving names in both Testaments; as, Abraham, Israel, Peter, and the principal of all others, JESUS: and here JOHN, which signifieth, God's grace or mercy, or, God will have mercy. For he was the Precursor and Prophet of the mercy and grace that ensued by CHRIST JESUS. Note also that as then in Circumcision, so now in Baptism (which answereth thereunto) names are given. And as we see here and in all the old Testament, great respect was had of names: so we must beware of strange, profane, and secular names (now a days too common) and rather according to the Catechism of the holy Council of Trent, take names of Saints and holy men, that may put us in mind of their virtues.
75In holiness and justice. Here also we see that we may have true justice, not only in the sight of men, or by the imputation of God, but in deed before him and in his sight: and that the coming of Christ was to give men such justice.
78The Orient. Marvel not if Heretics control the old authentical translation, as though it differed from the Greek; whereas here they make much a do to control not only all the Greek Interpreters of the old Testament, but also S. Luke himself, for the word ἀνατολὴ, as differing from the Hebrew.