A68840:1071
Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…
Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity, in the University of Tygure with a very profitable tract of the matter and places. Herein is also added [and] contained two most ample tables, aswell of the matter, as of the words: with an index of the places in the holy scripture. Set forth & allowed, according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctions.Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie, in the Vniuersitye of Tygure with a very profitable tract of the matter and places. Herein is also added [and] contained two most ample tables, aswel of the matter, as of the wordes: wyth an index of the places in the holy scripture. Set forth & allowed, accordyng to thorder appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions.
London: printed by John Day, 1564London: printed by Iohn Day, 1564
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This word whoring is to be understand Metaphorically,1 which is a thing very common in the scriptures. For the Church is the Spouse of God, and therefore it ought to worship him only, and to depend only of him. Wherefore, even as a married woman, if she leaving her own husband, follow other men, is counted an harlot and unchaste: even so also the Church, when it forsaketh the worshipping of the true God, and giveth place to superstitions, is justly called a harlot and an adulteress. And this is it which is now written, that the children of Israel went a whoring after the Ephod, instituted by Gideon.
This woord whooring is to be vnderstand Methaphorically,1 which is a thing very cōmon in the scriptures. For the Church is the Spouse of God, and therefore it ought to worship him onely, and to depend onely of him. Wherfore, euen as a maried woman, if she leauing her own husband, follow other men, is counted an harlot and vnchaste: euen so also the Churche, when it forsaketh the worshipping of the true God, and geueth place to supersticions, is iustlye called a harlot and an adultresse. And this is it whiche is nowe wrytten, that the chyldren of Israel went a whooryng after the Ephod, instituted by Gideon.
- 1The Methaphore of who• ting.The Methaphore of who• tyng.
Wherefore Augustine's opinion is, that Gideon would have had God worshipped so in his country, that the same things might there have been done, which were done in Silo, where the Ark was. Which opinion, although it can not be confuted by the scriptures, yet it appeareth not very likely: For we read not that he had Priests with him. Neither do the Hebrew Doctors (who otherwise are diligent in expressing of things done) attribute these things unto him, but rather agree with the other sentence, namely that he constituted it for a monument of the victory which he had obtained, which afterward was an occasion of superstition. Wherefore it seemeth to be spoken more probably, that this erected sign was had in admiration of the foolish people, so that they thought it to be a place very meet to do sacrifice there, and especially for the offering of peace offerings unto the true God, which seemed not worthy of reproving. For at that time it was lawful to do that in a manner every where, but superstition daily creeping more abroad, they began to attribute more then was meet unto that sign, as to a thing divine, and which had in it some power of God, and for that cause they offered sacrifices, and did incense unto it, keeping nevertheless a pretence of the worshipping of God, and the name of God the Lord, as in the time of Hezekiah they did incense and sacrifice unto the brazen serpent.