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,…

The third thing was, that they should not defile themselves with any mourning for the dead. For as we are with joy to much lifted up, so sometimes are we grievously troubled with heaviness and mourning. But God would have his ministers to be void of affections, especially of the vehementer affections, when as by them men are more grievously moved then is mete. Neither yet were these observations merits, wherein they constituted righteousness, but they were rites only and exercises, whereby they should after a sort be kept in doing their duty. For the vow of a Nazarite was a certain separation from other men. But what they did in the mean time, it is not prescribed: howbeit many think that they were commanded, to endeavour themselves to the contemplation and knowledge of the law, and to worship and call upon God purely and sincerely.

The third thing was, that they shoulde not defile themselues with any mourninge for the deade. For as we are with ioy to muche lifted vp, so sometimes are we greuously troubled with heauines and mourninge. But God woulde haue his ministers to be voyde of affections, especiallye of the vehementer affections, when as by them men are more greuously moued then is mete. Neyther yet wer these obseruations merites, wherin they constituted righteousnes, but they were rites onely and excercises, whereby they should after a sorte be kepte in doinge theyr deuty. For the vow of a Nazarite was a certayne seperacion from other mē. But what they did in the meane time, it is not prescribed: howbeit many thinke that they were commaunded, to endeuour themselues to the contemplacion and knoweledge of the lawe, and to worshyppe and call vpon God purelye and sincerely.

We see that god by this kind of vow would instruct the people with singular wisdom. The Philosophers write that a man must contend, to be able to behold high things, and with his knowledge to embrace whole nature. And that they say can never be done, unless the affections in us be tempered, otherwise we are very often carried away by anger and lust. Wherefore God would have his to be void of these affections, namely of mourning, pleasure, to much care and vexation about the decking of the body. For these do not a little hinder the tranquility of the mind, and spiritual cogitations thereof. Wherefore in the old law he instituted in a manner to prepare his, that they should not come unapt and unmeet to higher things. Undoubtedly they which are endued with the knowledge of God, ought to frame and prepare themselves, before that they come to hear the word of God, or to receive the Sacraments. Jeremiah in his 4. Chapter hath very well admonished us: Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among the thorns. And they vowed this kind of vow (as we have said) for a certain time, either for a year or for a month, or as every man thought it most profitable for himself: for the natures of men are oftentimes changed, and the studies of piety do wax feeble. Therefore they ought by some means to be restored. Hereof sprang the departures of the Elders, into solitary places for a time. So they which governed the public wealth, when they were weary with matters, kept themselves close oftentimes