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,…

Furthermore they say: These things we do nothing at all vitiate, yea we would have them uncorrupt and perfect. Wherefore what sin soever is here committed, it ought not to be ascribed unto us. Whereunto I answer. That ⟨image 56⟩that is true in deed, that an other mans sin is imputed to no man, but yet whilst ye are present at profane rites, that is blamed in you, and justly imputed unto you, in that you communicate with an other mans ungodliness. The Apostle in his first Epistle to the Corinthians said: do ye not know that they which do eat of the sacrifice, are made also partakers of the Temple? What say I than? That the Image is any thing? or that it which is offered unto Images is any thing? Nay. But this I say: that the things which the Gentiles offer, they offer unto devils. But I would not that you should be partakers of devils, ye can not drink of the Cup of the Lord, and of the Cup of the devils, ye can not be partakers of the Lords table, and of the table of devils. &c. Wherefore, though the corruption of the Sacrifices is not to be imputed to the communicants, yet for all that the communicating it self, from which they ought to have kept them selves, maketh them blameworthy. And unless the thing were so, why would not the holy Martyrs communicate with the rites of the Ethnics? why did Paul so reprove the Corinthians? But here they return again to this, to say, That the Mass is not to be compared with the Idolatry of the Ethnics. For (say they) though it somewhat stray from the institution of Christ,¹ yet ought it not to be counted a profane and an Idolatrous thing. But I affirm it to be so much perverted, that almost it nothing at all agreeth with the institution of Christ, yea it is most utterly contrary unto it. Which is very easy for me to declare.

Furthermore they saye: These thynges we do nothyng at all vitiate, yea we would haue them vncorrupte and perfecte. Wherfore what synne soeuer is here committed, it ought not to be ascribed vnto vs. Whereunto I aunswere. That ⟨image 56⟩that is true in dede, that an other mans synne is imputed to no man, but yet whilest ye are present at prophane rites, that is blamed in you, and iustely imputed vnto you, in that you communicate with an other mans vngodlynesse. The Apostle in hys firste Epistle to the Corinthians sayde: do ye not knowe that they whiche do eate of the sacrifice, are made also partakers of the Temple? What saye I than? That the Image is any thyng? or that it whiche is offred vnto Images is any thyng? Nay. But this I say: that the thyngs which the Gentiles offre, they offre vnto deuilles. But I woulde not that you shoulde be partakers of deuilles, ye can not drynke of the Cup of the Lorde, and of the Cup of the deuilles, ye can not be partakers of the Lordes table, and of the table of deuilles. &c. Wherefore, thoughe the corruption of the Sacrifices is not to be imputed to the communicantes, yet for all that the communicatyng it selfe, from whiche they ought to haue kepte them selues, maketh them blameworthy. And vnlesse the thyng were so, why would not the holy Martyrs communicate with the rites of the Ethnikes? why did Paul so reproue the Corinthians? But here they returne agayne to this, to saye, That the Masse is not to be compared with the Idolatrye of the Ethnikes. For (saye they) thoughe it somewhat straye from the institution of Christe,