Mathan begat Iacob. 16and Iacob begat ″ Ioseph the husband of Marie: ∷[1] of whom was borne Iesvs, who is called Christ.
17Therefore al the Generations from Abraham vnto Dauid, fourteen Generations. And from Dauid to the Transmigration of Babylon, fourteen generations. And from the Transmigration of Babylon vnto Christ, fourteen generations.
18And the Generation of Christ was in this wise. When his Mother Marie was spoused to Ioseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child, by the Holy Ghost. 19Whereupon Ioseph her husband for that he was a iust man, & would not put her to open shame: was minded secretly to dimisse her. 20But as he was thus thinking, behold the Angel of our Lord appeared to him in sleepe saying: Ioseph sonne of Dauid, feare not to take Marie thy wife, for that which is ″ borne in her, is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shal bring forth a Sonne: and thou shalt call his name ∷[2] Iesvs. For he shal saue his people from their sinnes. 22And al this was done that it might be fulfilled which our Lord spake by the Prophet saying. 23Behold ″ a Virgin shal be with childe, and ″ bring forth a sonne, and they shal cal his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with vs. 24And Ioseph rising vp from sleepe, did as the Angel of our Lord commaunded him, & tooke his wife. 25And he knew her not ″ til she brought forth her ″ first borne Sonne: & called his name Iesvs.
ANNOTATIONS
Chap. I.
1. Thamar.] Christ abhorred not to take flesh of some that were il, as he chose Iudas among his Apostles: Let not vs disdaine to receaue our spiritual birth and sustenance of such as be not alwayes good.
16. Ioseph.] Ioseph marying our Lady as neere of kinne (for so was the law) by his pedegree sheweth hers, and consequently Christs pedegree from Dauid.
16. Husband.] True and perfect mariage, and continual liuing in the same, without carnal copulation. Aug. lib. 2. Consen. Euang. c. 1.
20. Borne in her.] The triple good or perfection of mariage accomplished in the parents of Christ, to wit, Issue, Fidelitie, Sacrament. Aug. de nup. & conc. li. 1. c. 12.
23. A Virgin.] Our Sauiour borne in mariage, but yet of a Virgin, would honour both states: and withal, teacheth vs agaynst Iouinian the old Heretike and these of our time, that virginity and the continent life are preferred before mariage that hath carnal copulation, See S. Hierom. adu. Iouin. and S. Greg. Nazianz. Ser. 20. de studio in pauperes, in initio.
23. A Virgin.] As our Ladie both a virgin and a mother, brought forth Christ the head corporally: so the Church a virgin and a mother, bringeth forth the members of this head spiritually. Aug. li. de Virg. ca. 2.
23. And bring forth.] The Heretike Iouinian is here refuted, holding that her virginity was corrupted in bringing forth Christ. Aug. har. 28. Li. 1 cont. Iulian. c. 2.
25. Til First-borne.] Heluidius of old abused these wordes, til, and, first-borne, against the perpetual virginity of our B. Ladie. Hiero. cont. Helu. which truth though not expressed in Scripture, yet our Aduersaries also do graunt, & Heluidius for denial therof was condemned for an heretike by tradition only. Aug. har. 84.
