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,…

There is often mention made in the holy scripture of a good age.¹ And in the 15. chap. of Genesis, it is promised unto Abraham as a certain excellent good thing. And it seemeth to show two things: first a just space of life, so that death should not come untimely, and strike as yet in tender age. Farthermore it signifieth prosperity of life and a profitable end. Wherefore it is required thereunto that the mind be sound, the body not broken with diseases, no want of riches, the family, country, and dignity abiding firm: this is judged a good age. But what shall we reckon of eternal life? I think Gideon obtained it also,² for as much as in the Epistle to the Hebrews the .11. chap. he is numbered with those fathers, which lived adorned with faith. Thou wilt say peradventure that his faith was not justifying and perfect, but only of that kind of faith which sufficed to work miracles. But I do not think that the Apostle, when he made mention of Gideon, and of the other fathers, wrote of that faith. For the faith which there he speaketh of, he defined in the beginning that it is an [Greek or Hebrew] or (as they say) the substance of things to be hoped for, & a certainty of the which is not seen. And in composing the Catalogue of the men, which where adorned with this faith, he maketh mention of Abraham, whom he testifieth to have ben justified by faith. Whereby is gathered that the faith which is there attributed unto the saints, is the true and perfect faith, by which the godly are counted just before God.

There is often mencion made in the holy scripture of a good age.¹ And in the 15. chap. of Genesis, it is promised vnto Abraham as a certaine excellent good thing. And it semeth to shewe two things: first a iust space of lyfe, so that death should not come vntimely, and strike as yet in tender age. Farthermore it signifieth prosperity of life and a profitable end. Wherfore it is required therunto that the minde be sound, the body not broken with diseases, no want of riches, the famely, countrey, and dignity abiding firme: this is iudged a good age. But what shal we reckē of eternal life? I thinke Gideon obteyned it also,² for as much as in the Epistle to the Hebrues the .11. chap. he is numbred with those fathers, which liued adorned with faith. Thou wilt say peraduenture that his faith was not iustifieng and perfect, but onely of that kinde of faith which sufficed to worke miracles. But I do not thinke that the Apostle, when he made mencion of Gideon, and of the other fathers, wrote of that faith. For the faith whiche there he speaketh of, he defined in the begynning that it is an or (as they say) the substaunce of things to be hoped for, & a certaynty of ye which is not sene. And in composing the Cataloge of the mē, which where adorned with this faith, he maketh mēcion of Abraham, whō he testifieth to haue ben iustified by faith. Wherby is gathered that the faith whiche is there attributed vnto the saintes, is the true and perfect faith, by whiche the godly are counted iust before God.