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,…

Here I see was committed rapt, which thing the Chaldee Paraphrast hath signified, which paraphrast among the Hebrews is of an incredible authority. And assuredly Moses saith not that they desired those wives of their Parents, but only took them whom they liked best. By that place may easily be noted the course, and as it were the degree of mans perverseness. For first they saw, and then they desired, and at the last they rapt. Neither were they won by their virtues, but only by the beauty of the body. Wherefore God punished that sin by a flood. And although there were many other since in men, yet this one is expressed with a great emphasis.

Here I see was committed rapt, which thing the Chaldey Paraphrast hath signified, which paraphrast among the Hebrues is of an incredible authority. And assuredlye Moses saith not that they desired those wiues of their Parentes, but onely tooke them whom they lyked best. By that place may easely be noted the course, and as it were the degree of mans peruersnes. For first they sawe, and then they desiced, and at the last they rapted. Neither were they wonne by their vertues, but onely by the beauty of the body. Wherfore God punished that sinne by a flood. And although there were many other synnes in men, yet this one is expressed with a great emphasis.

Moreover in the .34. chap. of the same book, Shechem the son of Hemor did rapt Dinah the daughter of Jacob. But what end that rapt had, it is not needful now to declare.¹ But the cause why Dinah was rapt, was her curiosity: the maiden would go forth, and understand the manners of other women. Curiosity did then hurt her, & also will always hurt women. For if it were hurtful unto the family of Jacob, being so great a Patriarch, for a maiden to wander a broad, how much more dangerous is it for other families, which are not so holy nor acceptable unto god? But the nature of women is much infected with this vice. And therefore Paul to Titus, admonisheth women to love their husbands, to bring up their children, and to be bidders at home. And to Timothy, when he entreateth of wanton and young widows: they wander abroad (saith be) and run from house to house, and at the last go after Satan. Yea, & these virgins, of whom we now entreat, when they wandered thorough the vineyards, and gave themselves idly unto dancings, were taken up by the Beniamites. Some man will say, that the brethren of Dinah oppressed the Hemorhites by guile. It is true in deed, but when they were reproved of their Father, they said: Ought they to have done Niblah, that is, a foolish and wicked thing in Israel? And that Dinah was rapt not willingly, but against her will, hereby appeareth, because it is written that Shechem, after he had oppressed her, spake unto her hart, which signifieth nothing else, then that he would by flattery have comforted her.