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,…

¹Ambrose in his .3. book de Virginitate sayth, that the maiden was in very deed immolated, & he writeth ye Jephthah vowed not before the battle, but in the fight, & in the very conflict, when things were doubtful. And he addeth: I do not allow the murder, but I see a laudable fear, that he would not violate his promise that he had made. And he saith moreover, that this act is to be conferred with the work of Abraham. For Abraham, when he was about to kill his son, the Lord cried out unto him: Now I know, that thou lovest me. And he concludeth, that after the same manner may Jephthah be praised, because he showed by his example, that the oracle of god, wherein he commanded ye vows should be performed, was to be preferred before children, although the only begotten child should be killed. But he demandeth, whether God have a respect unto persons, which letted Abraham, that he should not offer up his son, but with stood not Jephthah. He denieth ye God accepteth persons, but it behoved (saith he) to declare unto Abraham, that he delighted not in humane sacrifices. Afterward succeeded the law, which in Deut. & Levi. prohibited the immolation of children. Wherefore the will of god was already declared both in Abraham, & in the law, wherefore there needed no new oracle, or new prohibition. Farthermore, he noted that in Jephthah was not that perfection which was in Abraham. ⟨p. 194⟩For Abraham wept not, tare not his garments, deferred not two months, but straightway went, and Isaac followed him. Therefore it is no marvel (saith he) if God prohibited not Jephthah, for so much as he would punish his long tarrying.

¹Ambrose in his .3. booke de Virginitate sayth, yt the mayden was in very deede immolated, & he writeth ye Iiphtah vowed not before the battaile, but in the fight, & in the very conflict, when things were doubtfull. And he addeth: I do not allow ye murther, but I se a laudable feare, yt he would not violate his promise yt he had made. And he saith moreouer, yt this act is to be cōferred wt the worke of Abrahā. For Abrahā, when he was about to kill his sonne, the Lord cried out vnto him: Now I know, yt thou louest me. And he concludeth, yt after the same maner may Iiphtah be praised, bycause he shewed by his example, yt the oracle of god, wherin he cōmaunded ye vowes should be performed, was to be preferred before childrē, although the onely begotten child should be killed. But he demaūdeth, whether God haue a respect vnto persons, whiche letted Abrahā, yt he should not offer vp his sonne, but with stoode not Iiphtah. He denieth ye God accepteth persons, but it behoued (saith he) to declare vnto Abrahā, yt he delighted not in humane sacrifices. Afterward succeded the law, which in Deut. & Leui. prohibited the immolatiō of children. Wherfore the will of god was already declared both in Abrahā, & in the law, wherfore there neded no new oracle, or new prohibition. Farthermore, he noted that in Iiphtah was not that perfection whiche was in Abraham.