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,…

But returning unto him, they faithfully implored his aid: which when they had obtained, they again prevailed against their enemies. In them (except we be utterly blind) we see the image of the goodness of God towards the saints, and his severity upon the wicked painted, and lively expressed as it were in a table that is most rightly polished. Blessed is God, which defendeth his in most great dangers and calamities, and faithfully keepeth his safe and found: which cometh of his goodness, neither suffereth he them wholly to fall from piety, or utterly to be consumed with miseries and adversities. And we, if we note these things in this holy history, shall not marvel that the people of God were often times tossed, and even in manner oppressed with so many and grievous chances: for whether we behold the godly, or whether we behold the ungodly, we shall perceive that all these things were done with great fruit, and most wise consideration. For unto those, whom God the heavenly father hath even from without beginning chosen unto him by Jesus Christ, and our of an innumerable number of mortal men adopted to be his children, adversities did to this end happen, that even as gold and silver are by the power of fire purged, so their minds should prove more pure by adversities. For by them as by lively flames, the love of our self, and of frail and transitory things is burnt up. But the studies of piety and innocency are wonderfully kindled and inflamed. But of the ungodly, whom the divine providence hath most justly decreed to punish with eternal death, the consideration is far otherwise. For adversities do not burn away their spots and vices, but rather increase and augment them, by the augmentation of which adversities the impiety of their minds also increaseth, even as we see that with one and the self same fire clay waxeth hard, and wax melteth away.

But returning vnto him, they faithfully implored his ayde: which when they had obtayned, they agayne preuailed against their enemies. In them (except we be vtterly blinde) we see the image of the goodnes of God towardes the sayntes, and his seuerity vpon the wicked painted, and liuely expressed as it were in a table that is most rightly polished. Blessed is God, which defendeth his in most great daungers and calamities, and faythfully keepeth his safe and found: which commeth of his goodnes, neither suffereth he them wholye to fall from piety, or vtterly to be consumed with miseries and aduersities. And we, if we note these thinges in thys holye historye, shall not maruayle that the people of God were often times tossed, and euen in maner oppressed with so many and greuous chaunces: for whether we behold the godly, or whether we behold the vngodly, we shall perceaue that al these thinges were done with great fruit, and most wyse consideracion. For vnto those, whom God the heauenlye father hath euen from without beginning chosen vnto him by Iesus Christe, and our of an innumerable number of mortall men adopted to be his children, aduersities did to this end happen, that euen as gold and syluer are by the power of fire purged, so their mindes should proue more pure by aduersities. For by them as by lyuelye flames, the loue of our selfe, and of frayle and transitorye thinges is burnt vp. But the studies of piety and innocency are wonderfully kindled and inflamed. But of the vngodly, whom the diuine prouidence hath most iustly decreed to punish with eternal death, the consideracion is farre otherwise. For aduersities do not burne away their spots and vices, but rather encrease and augment them, by the augmentaciō of which aduersities the impiety of their minds also increaseth, euen as we see that with one and the selfe same fyre claye waxeth hard, and wax melteth away.