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,…

Now resteth to show reasons & testimonies of the holy scriptures,¹ for the disallowing of this conversation. First our Saviour feared not to say in Matthew the 5. and 18. chap. If thy hand, foot or eye be an offence, or let unto thee, cut him of, and cast him from thee, And these (as the wiser interpreters do declare) spake he not of the members of the body, but referred them unto those, which are our familiars, & most nigh of kindred unto us. They all are to be separated from our company, although they seem profitable and commodious, when they either separate us from God, which is the everlasting salvation, or do put lets and hinderances, whereby we are called from him.² Chrysostom in a manner entreating the self same argument saith in the 56. Homely upon John: If we cut of a rotten member from the body, least it should corrupt the other parts of the body, which undoubtedly we do not, because we despise that member. For who at any time hated his own flesh? How much more should we do the same in those which are wickedly joined unto us, not that we should despise them, but that we should provide that our salvation be not there endangered, where we see that we can nothing at all profit them. Wherefore in this case, it is much unprofitable to desire, or to seek for familiarity or concord. To this also doth the law of Christ tend which he gave in the 18. of Matthew, that they which are in a manner past hope of salvation, & will not hear their brethren justly admonishing them, yea and also despise the voice of the church correcting them, let them be counted as Ethnics and publicans. Which thing Paul also hath taught, who in the first of the Corinthians the v. chap. commanded the incestuous person to be excommunicated, that a little leaven should not pollute the whole dough of the saints.

Now resteth to shewe reasons & testimonyes of the holy scriptures,¹ for ye dysalowing of this conuersation. Fyrst our Sauiour feared not to say in Mathew the 5. and 18. chap. If thy hand, fote or eye be an offence, or let vnto thee, cut him of, and cast him from thee, And these (as the wyser interpreters do declare) spake he not of the members of the body, but referred thē vnto those, which are our familiars, & most nygh of kynred vnto vs. They al are to be seperated frō oure cō pany, although they seme profitable and cōmodious, when they eyther seperate vs frō God, which is the euerlastyng saluation, or do put lets and hynderāces, wherby we are called frō hym.