A68840:1925
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.
¶Of Merits.
¶Of Merites.
Where as it is said that the Israelites went up, wept, fasted, & did sacrifice,1 we must not think that by those actions they satisfied the anger of god: for we have no merits, for as much as we cannot perfectly obey the law of God. ⟨image 278⟩Farther, if there were any merits of ours, they should consist of such works which we are not of duty bound to do unto God: otherwise if we owe unto God whatsoever we do, what thing can our merit then be? But both we our selves and all ours, doings I say, sayings, thoughts, and counsels are due unto god. Wherefore our merits do utterly perish. Moreover those works whereby we should merit, ought to be of our selves: which cannot be affirmed, for as much as it is god which worketh in us both to will & to perform, & that not as we will, but according to his good will.2 Wherefore Augustine was accustomed very well to say, that God which crowneth his gifts in us. And in his .100. Epistle ad Sixtū Presbiterum, Paul (saith he) when he had said: The reward of sin is death, did not straightway add contrarily: The reward of righteousness is everlasting life. But Grace saith he, is eternal life, for that is not rendered to our merits, but is given freely. He might in deed have written after the same manner if he would. For the holy Scripture sometimes so speaketh. But for that he was a defender of grace, he would not give occasion unto his enemies to impugn it. Farther, our works, how holy so ever they appear, are nevertheless unpure and imperfect. Wherefore they are worthy rather of punishment, then that they should deserve any good. And without doubt they should be punished, were not the redemption and justification which we have by Christ our Lord.