A68840:1824
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 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:1 & vndoubtedly it is possible, that he which hath the office may be a wicked & noghty mā, when as yet neuerthelesse the power is good & very profitable. For there is nothing so good, but that men by theyr malice may vse it ill. Therfore it is no meruaile if there haue bene kings & Emperors, which sometimes haue abused yt power geuen thē, which yet they were not so able to corrupt, but that mē receiued by it many good things & cōodities, as I haue before shewed. By the testimony of Daniell it is most manifest that Magistrates ar of God. For he (saith he) geueth & transferreth kingdōs as it pleaseth him. Farther we se that ye Monarche hath somtimes bene in ye East, somtimes in ye South, afterwarde in the Weast, & somtimes in ye North: & also that there hath sometimes bene good princes, and somtimes euill: sometimes haue reigned noble men, & sometimes obscure men. And we vnderstād that it oftentimes happeneth that riches or power profite not to get or kepe a kingdome: and to thinke that these things are done by chaunce without the prouidence of God, it is most absurd.