Most learned and fruitful commentaries of D. Peter Martyr Vermilius Florentine, professor of divinity…Most learned and fruitfull commentaries of D. Peter Martir Vermilius Florentine, professor of diuinitie…

And the same Paul was not afeard to go unto Jerusalem to confer the Gospel with the chief Apostles, not as though he had small confidence in his doctrine, which he had received from the Lord out of heaven: for he had an assured persuasion, and as the Grecians say such a [Greek or Hebrew], that he pronounced him to be Anathema or accursed, which preached any other Gospel: neither as touching this thing spared he the angels. Neither is it any marvel, for such a certainty faith requireth. Wherefore we learn, that Councils are not to this end to be called, as though our faith ought to depend of their determinations: but that there we should make manifest, that those things which we believe exactly agree with the holy scriptures, and plainly to prove the same to our adversaries. Neither is there any more fruit or commodity therehence to be looked for. The loving mercy also of God provided, that that also turned to good to the Church that Paul had at the beginning so vehemently persecuted it. For they which afterward saw him suddenly converted unto Christ, could not believe, that this could have happened with out the mighty power of God. For as a man doth not upon the sudden become most vile, so also is not a man of a wicked man straight way made most holy, unless the Spirit of God work the same. Paul was none of the common and mean sort, he was not an obstinate Jew, which wanted learning and knowledge, but he was most studious in the law: neither had he bent his study to it only, but also applied himself to the traditions of the fathers. And thereof it came, that he persecuted the Church of Christ. For if he had given himself to the law of God only, without adding unto it the leaven of humane traditions, he should the easelier have acknowledged Christ. But whosoever have addicted themselves to humane traditions, they must needs be persecutors of the Church of Christ. They say that Paul did these things of a good pretence, and not of an evil purpose, but of an holy intent (as they use to speak) For my part as I confess, that this somewhat diminisheth the grievousness of the sin both before God and before man (for I do not make all sins a like) so also affirm I that the case is thereby the more dangerous.

And the same Paul was not aferd to go vnto Ierusalem to conferre the Gospell with the chiefe Apostles, not as though he had small confidence in his doctrine, which he had receaued from the Lord out of heauen: for he had an assured persuasion, and as the Greaciās say such a 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, that he pronounced him to be Anathema or accursed, which preached any other Gospel: neither as touching this thing spared he the angels. Neither is it any meruail, for such a certaintie fayth requireth. Wherefore we learne, that Counsells are not to this end to be called, as though our fayth ought to depend of theyr determinations: but that there we should make manifest, that those thinges which we beleue exactly agree with the holy scriptures, and playnly to proue the same to our aduersaries. Neither is there any more fruite or commodity therehence to be looked for. The louing mercy also of God prouided, that that also turned to good to ye Church that Paul had at the beginning so vebemently persecuted it. For they which afterward saw him sodenly cōuerted vnto Christ, could not beleue, that this could haue happened with out the mighty power of God. For as a man doth not vpon the sodayn become most vile, so also is not a man of a wicked man straight way made most holy, vnles the Spirite of God worke the same. Paul was none of the commō and meane sort, he was not an obstinate Iewe, which wanted learning and knowledge, but he was most studious in the law: neither had he bent his study to it only, but also applied himselfe to the traditions of the fathers. And thereof it came, that he persecuted the Church of Christ. For if he had geuen himselfe to the law of God only, without adding vnto it the leuen of humane traditions, he should the easelier haue acknowledged Christ. But whosoeuer haue addicted themselues to humane traditions, they must nedes be persecuters of the Church of Christ. They say that Paul did these thinges of a good pretence, and not of an euill purpose, but of an holy entent (as they vse to speake) For my part as I confesse, that this somewhat diminisheth the greauousnes of the sinne both before God and before man (for I do not make all sinnes a like) so also affirme I that the case is thereby the more dangerous.