A68840:1806
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.
But they say: The lesser evil is to be preferred before the greater.1 I know that men are wont so to say. But it must rightly be understand, namely that it taketh place in outward afflictions and griefs of the body, and of the life. Because in such discommodities, as often as we must take deliberation what we ought to prefer, the lesser hurt is to be preferred before the greater: because it hath the nature and reason of goodness. But in sin there is no consideration of goodness. And undoubtedly what soever is sin, the same must straightway be rejected, let follow what will. But Augustine, excuseth after a sort Lot and this old man, because they fell with a heavy and troubled mind. It oftentimes happeneth unto wise men, with a troubled mind to do those things, which afterward when they come to themselves, they allow not. ⟨image 259⟩But this excuse doth not utterly absolve these men from sin, although it somewhat release them. But if a man will say, Paul preferred the lesser sin before the greater, when he said, he would be accursed of Christ for his brethren, rather then they should persist in that blindness and stubbornness, wherein they were holden. He which objecteth this unto us, must know that he doth not rightly understand that place of Paul. For the Apostle desired to redeem the salvation of the Jews with his danger, not undoubtedly with sin, but with his loss or hurt, namely to be accursed of Christ, not certainly to be made an Apostate, or to cease to believe in Christ, but only not to have the fruition of the eternal and blessed life.2 Augustine also hath many things against this compensation of sins. And among other things: What (sayeth he) if a man require, either of a maiden fornication, or of a married woman adultery, and threateneth to kill himself, unless he obtain his request, ought the pure and chaste women to fulfil his desire? No undoubtedly. Neither though he afterward slay himself, shall the chaste women be counted guilty of his death. They ought in deed to be sorry for him, to deplore his act, but not to think they have done evil, because they granted him not unlawful things. The same Augustine upon the .146.3 Psalm writeth: