A68840:329
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 they say that those things which are said & done in the Mass,1 had their beginning by the institution of Christ, although they were afterward vitiated thorough mens default. That helpeth them nothing, for as much as in these things we may not have a regard or consideration to their beginning but to their nature and form. And we must diligently mark whether they agree with the word of God. The brazen Serpent by the commandment of God had his beginning, it was also endowed with miracles,2 for the Israelites were by looking upon it delivered from their venomous biting. The same Serpent nevertheless, ⟨image 55⟩when the Jews worshipped him, and offered incense unto it, the godly men detested it. So that the most holy king Hezekiah brake him in pieces, & therewithal utterly put away the worshipping thereof. We must not therefore have a regard to the original of a thing,3 but we must look how it is used, whether it agree with the first institution. The Hebrews when they compelled Aaron, to make them a calf to worship, had not that mind to fall from the true GOD, when as they confessed that he brought them out of Egypt. This was only their intent, to worship him under some sign or visible form, and they chose that form whereby they had seen the Egyptians express their God by.4 So the Ethnics testified that they worshipped one God, as the chief author of all things, which they fashioned unto them selves by divers and manifold shapes. For by Pallas they say was signified his wisdom: by Mars his power and might. By Jupiter his justice and goodness. Wherefore rites and ceremonies are not to be esteemed by the counsel and will of men. No otherwise must we think to have happened of Jeroboam the son of Nabat. 5For he would not (as he pretended) pluck away the people from worshipping of the true God, but because he was afeard of his kingdom, and saw that it might easily happen, that if his men should often go unto the temple of Jerusalem, they would fall from him, and return unto the family of David. He said therefore, that to worship the true God, they needed neither the temple of Jerusalem, nor yet the ark of the covenant.