of those Countries, where the Princes were Magi; and Magi the greatest about the Prince; or as we read in the Scriptures, of Melchisedech King of Salem, & many other Kings that dwelt within a smal compasse: or as Iobes three friends are called Kings. These are commonly called the three kings of Colen, because their bodies are there, translated thither from the East Countrie; their names are said to haue been Gaspar, Melchior, Baltasar.
11. Gifts.] The Sages were three, and their guifts three, and each one offered euerie of the three, to expresse our Faith of the Trinitie. The Gold, to signifie that he was a King, the frankincense, that he was God, the myrrh, that he was to be buried as man. Aug. ser. 1. de Epiph.
15. Out of Aegypt.] This place of the Prophet (and the like in the new Testament) here applied to Christ, wheras in the letter it might seeme otherwise; teacheth vs how to interprete the old Testament, and that the principal sence is of Christ, and his Church.
16. Murdered.] By this example we learne how great credite we owe to the Church in Canonizing Saints, and celebrating their holy-daies: by whose only warrant, without any word of Scripture, these holy Innocents haue been honoured for Martyrs, and their holy-day kept euer since the Apostles time, although they died not voluntarily, nor al perhaps circuncised, and some the children of Pagans. Aug. cp. 28. Orig. ho. 1. in diuersos.
Chap. III.
Iohn Baptist by his Eremites life, by his preaching and Baptisme, calleth al vnto penance, to prepare them to Christ. 10. He preacheth to the Pharisees and Sadducees, threatening to them (vnles they truly doe penance) reprobation here, and damnation hereafter; and for saluation sendeth them to Christ and his Baptisme. Which being far more excellent then Iohns, yet Christ himself among those penitents vouchsafeth to come vnto Iohns baptisme. Where he hath testimonie from heauen also.
AND in those dayes cometh Iohn the Baptist preaching in the ″ desert of Iewrie, 2& saying, ″ Doe penance: for the Kingdom of Heauen is at hand. 3For this is he that was spoken of by Esay the Prophet, saying: A voyce of one crying in the desert, prepare ye the way of our Lord, make straight his paths. 4And the sayd Iohn had his garment of Camels heare, and a girdle of a skinne about his loynes: and his meate was locustes & wilde honie.
5Then went forth to him Hierusalem and al Iewrie, and al the countrey about Iordan: 6& were baptized of him in Iordan, ″ confessing their sinnes. 7And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his Baptisme, he said to them.
Ye vipers brood, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Yeald therfore ″ fruit worthie of pennance. 9And delight not to say within your selues, we haue Abraham to our father. For I tel you that God is able of these stones to raise vp children to Abraham. 10For now the ″ axe is put to the roote of the trees. Euery tree therfore that doth ∷[1] not yeald good fruit, shal be cut downe, & cast into the fyre. 11I indeed baptize you ″ in water vnto penance, but he that shal come after me, is stronger then I, whose shoes I am not worthie to beare, he shal baptize you in the Holy Ghost
- ↑ It is not only damnable, to doe il, but also, not to do good Aug ser. 6. de temp.
