A68840:170
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.
And this being thus finished and concluded, we must diligently take heed,1 that when many ends are set before us, we may prefer that before the rest, which by good right excelleth the rest. For if it should be otherwise done, and if those things which are hindermost and of smaller value should be preferred before the better, we should be justly condemned for perverting the order of things. Wherefore we must take heed, that we direct not God him self or the worshipping of him, either to our own commodity, or else to any other ends. For them should that surely happen unto us which Augustine doth so sore detest,2 that we should have the fruition of those things which we only ought to use, & contrariwise we should use those things which we should have the fruition of, than which perverseness in humane actions no worse thing can be thought.3 Wherefore when it is demanded, whether it be lawful in well doing to have a respect to the gain or reward. We can not well deny but that it is lawful: for as much as god him self hath promised a reward to them which live godly: neither did God that for any other cause than by his gifts and allurements to stir up men to just, good, godly and holy works.4 But although we do not unjustly in having a regard unto the reward offered us by God, when we are occupied in good works: yet this is diligently to be taken heed of, that we be not moved only because of the reward which is offered us. Neither is this sufficient, for if a man would say that he would in doing good both obtain the reward set forth, and by the same work obey God, he must take heed, that he attribute not the chiefest parts to the gift or reward, because always (as I have already said) that among the ends each of them as he is more excellent by nature, so ought it to be preferred in the first place. And in this there needeth a singular diligence: because it oftentimes happeneth, that we deceive our selves, falsely supposing that nothing is more excellent or dearer to our minds than god, from whom nevertheless we are by little and little withdrawn and plucked back by reason of to much desire and delight of reward or gift. Wherefore it afterward happeneth,5