Page:Bible (Douay Rheims OT1, 1609).djvu/44

Rh But S. Ciril of Alexandria (li. 9. aduer. Iulian) S. Chrisostom (homil 22. in Gen) S. Ambrose (de Noe & arca. c. 4.) S. Augustin (li. 15. c. 23. de ciuit) S. Hierom (Tradit. Hebraic) and other most principal Doctors teach it to be vntrue, yea vnpossible, that these giants should haue bene begotten by anie other creatures then by men. For that Angels and diuels are mere spirits without al natural bodies. And if they had ayrie bodies (as they haue not) yet they could not haue such generation. For the powre or force to engender belongeth* to the vegatatiue soule, whose proper operations are to turne nutriment into the substance of the subiect wherin it is, and to engender new issue or ofspring from the same, as Aristotle sheweth (li. 2. de anima, textu. 24.) And in what bodies soeuer there is vegetatiue soule, it must needes be, that the same was engendred, and must some times decay and die, and so diuels should be mortal. Moreouer if they could haue generation togeather with mankind, then such issue should be a distinct species both from man and diuel, as a mule differeth both from horse and asse. Againe, if spirits had abused wemen in assumpted bodies, and shape of men, yet they did not take them to wiues as the Scripture saith they did, who begate these giants. Finally the holie Scripture here expresly calleth the giants men. These be the mightie ones, famous men. The modestie of Scripture terming them famous, whom our common phrase would cal infamous being more monstrous in wickednes of mind, then in hugenes of bodie. For they were most insolent, lasciuious, couetous, cruel, and in al kinde of vices most impious.

5. Al the coigtation bent to euel.] Luther (in his 21. article condemned by Leo the tenth) would proue by these wordes, and the like folowing, Al flesh had corrupted his way vpon earth, that al workes of men are sinnes For (saith he) seeing the hartes of al men are bent alwaies to euil, and al humane actions proceede from the hart, it must needes be that the hart as the fountaine being corrupt, the streames also issuing from the same must be corrupted. Againe al flesh hauing corrupted his way vpon earth, there is not any iust man (saith he) nor any man without sinne: and with Protestantes al sinnes are mortal. But Heretikes arguments are like to that the Poëts feyne of Sisyphus laboring to carie a great stone to the toppe of an high hil, which when he hath brought almost to the height, it stil falleth from him, & tumbleth againe to the bottome. Euen so their arguments that make greatest shew of prouing their opinions, are nothing but vaine traueling, when they come to be tried by the true sense of holy Scripture. In this place Moyses describeth the enormitie of sinne that reigned in the world before the floud, for which God sent that destruction. For it was haynous in deede, and that especially in foure respects. First the malice and wickednes was general, which is signified by those wordes, al flesh hath corrupted his way vpon earth. Secōdly it was great malice, signified by the words much, and, al the cogitations of their hart is bent to euil. For they committed al maner of wickednes in hautines of pride, in al lasciuiousnes of the flesh, in al crueltie of robbing, sacking, & murthering, in al impietie, against God & man. Thirdly, it was of long continuance, and dayly iterated. For Cain once fallen into damnable sinne neuer repented, and al his progenie was exceding wicked and after that Adam and Seth were dead, and Enoch translated, manie of the faithful fel to the wicked sorte, and became worse and worse omni tempore, alwaies, or euerie day. Fourthly they were obstinate and obdurate, not repenting when Noe built the arke, and preached iustice (as S. Peter testifieth) and therfore God saued him and his familie, bringing in the deluge vpon the world of the impious. Al which maketh nothing at al for Luther. For although the malice of man, and cor