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 spies laboured with the young man the Levite after they knew his ministry, to ask an oracle for them. And he answereth them in the name of Jehovah, when they asked him by this word Elohim. Those men were wise & witty.¹ For when they heard the young man speak, they perceived he was a Levite. And although all the Israelites spake Hebrew, yet were there sundry forms of speech among those tribes. Wherefore we have before heard, that the Ephraites were known by the pronunciation of this word Siboleth. They might therefore peradventure note that the young man spake in the speech of the tribe of Judah, forasmuch as he was of Bethlehem, & peradventure they heard him entreating of things divine: wherefore when they perceived that he was a Levite, which executed holy services there, straightway they enquired of him an answer of the success of their journey. They nothing regarded how rightly he did it, but straightway said: Ask of god. So at this day soldiers when they go on warfare, they come to their Mass Priests, & desire them to say a Mass for them either of George, or of Sebastian, neither have they any regard whether the Mass be good or evil. This is to deal with god after our blind reason, At the first burnt it may seem that the spies did not evil. For it is a point of piety to ask counsel of god, when we shall do any thing. But we ought to take heed, that what soever is taken in hand, the same be joined with right reason & sound judgement of the mind. For our actions must flow from the heart, which as it is affected,² so are they to be judged either good or evil. Wherefore although god require of us actions, yet he much more requireth the hart. We must not separate the action & hart or purpose a sunder: let them abide joined together as the Lord requireth them.

The spyes laboured with ye yong mā the Leuite after they knew his ministery, to aske an oracle for thē. And he answereth thē in the name of Iehouah, whē they asked him by this word Elohim. Those men were wise & witty.¹ For when they heard the yong mā speake, they perceaued he was a Leuite. And althoughe all the Israelites spake Hebrew, yet were there sundry formes of speech amōg those tribes. Wherfore we haue before heard, yt the Ephraites wer knowen by the pronū ciatiō of this word Siboleth. They might therfore peraduenture note yt the yong man spake in ye speech of the tribe of Iuda, for asmuch as he was of Bethlehem, & peraduenture they heard him intreatyng of things deuine: wherfore when they perceaued yt he was a Leuite, whiche executed holy seruices there, straightwaye they enquired of him an answer of ye successe of their iorney. They nothing regarded how rightly he did it, but strayghtway sayd: Aske of god. So at this day souldiers whē they go on warfare, they come to their Masse Priests, & desire them to say a Masse for thē either of George, or of Sebastiā, neither haue they any regarde whether ye Masse be good or euill. This is to deale wt god after our blind reason, At ye first burnt it may seeme yt the spyes did not euil. For it is a point of piety to aske coūsel of god, whē we shal do any thing. But we ought to take hede, yt what soeuer is taken in hande, ye same be ioyned wt right reasō & sound iudgement of ye minde. For our actiōs must flow frō the heart, which as it is affected,