A68840:1823
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.
By these testimonies and reasons it followeth that god is the true & proper cause of Magistrates.
But here some cavil, & say that if all magistrates are of God, then must all things be rightly governed: but in governing public wealths many things as we see, are done viciously & perversely. Undoubtedly under Nero, Domitian, Commodus, Caracalla, & Heliogabalus good laws were contemned, good men killed, & discipline of the city was utterly corrupted. But if Magistrates were of god, such things could never have happened. This reason neither can nor ought any thing to move us: because the office is to be separated from the person:1 & undoubtedly it is possible, that he which hath the office may be a wicked & naughty man, when as yet nevertheless the power is good & very profitable. For there is nothing so good, but that men by their malice may use it ill. Therefore it is no marvel if there have been kings & Emperors, which sometimes have abused yt power given them, which yet they were not so able to corrupt, but that men received by it many good things & commodities, as I have before showed. By the testimony of Daniel it is most manifest that Magistrates are of God. For he (saith he) giveth & transferreth kingdoms as it pleaseth him. Farther we see that the Monarch hath sometimes been in the East, sometimes in the South, afterward in the West, & sometimes in the North: & also that there hath sometimes been good princes, and sometimes evil: sometimes have reigned noble men, & sometimes obscure men. And we understand that it oftentimes happeneth that riches or power profit not to get or keep a kingdom: and to think that these things are done by chance without the providence of God, it is most absurd.
But here some cauell, & saye that if all magistrates are of God, then must all things be rightly gouerned: but in gouerning publike welthes many things as we se, are done viciously & peruersly. Vndoubtedly vnder Nero, Domician, Commodus, Caracalla, & Heliogabalus good lawes were contēned, good men killed, & discipline of ye city was vtterly corrupted. But if Magistrates were of god, such thinges coulde neuer haue happened. This reason neither can nor oughte any thing to moue vs: bicause the office is to be seperated from the person: