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,…

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 ⟨image 209⟩in fields or manors, not to sleep, or to give themselves to sluggishness and idleness, but to refresh their minds, and that they might return the more prompt and better instructed to accomplish things. And the most noble Rhetoricians being wearied with pleading causes of the law, went sometimes into the country, to hear, to talk, to read somewhat, to peruse over the orations before herd, and so by that means to return more learned and ready to the place of judgement: So the Nazarites for a certain time departed from the company and fellowship of other men, that they might be the better and holier afterward to execute the duties of life. Christ also in the night time departed to the mountain: But in the day time he returned unto the people.

We se that god by this kind of vowe would instruct the people with singuler wisedome. The Philosophers write that a manne muste contende, to be able to beholde highe thinges, and wyth his knowledge to embrace whole nature. And that they saye canne neuer be done, vnles the affections in vs be tempered, otherwise we are verye often caried awaye by anger and luste. Wherefore God would haue his to be voyd of these affections, namely of mourninge, pleasure, to much care and vexation about the decking of the bodye. For these do not a little hinder the tranquility of the mind, and spirituall cogitations therof. Wherfore in the olde lawe he instituted in a manner to prepare his, that they shoulde not come vnapte and vnmete to higher thinges. Vndoubtedly they which are indewed with the knowledge of God, oughte to frame and prepare themselues, before that they come to heare the woorde of God, or to receaue the Sacramentes. Ieremy in his 4. Chapter hath very wel admonished vs: Breake vp your fallow ground, and sow not among the thornes. And they vowed this kind of vowe (as we haue sayd) for a certayne time, either for a yeare or for a moneth, or as euery man thought it most profitable for himselfe: for the natures of menne are oftentimes chaunged, and the studies of piety do waxe feable. Therfore they oughte by some meanes to be restored. Hereof sprange the departures of the Elders, into solitary places for a time. So they whyche gouerned the publike wealth, when they were wery with matters, kept themselues close oftentimes