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,…

¹But they say that the holy books were vitiated and corrupted, by the Hebrews. To this Jerome upon Isaiah the .vi. Chapter toward the end answereth thus. Either they did this before the coming of Christ and Preaching of the Apostles, or else afterward. If a man will say that it was done of them before, then seeing Christ and his Apostles reprehended the most grievous wicked acts of the Jews. I marvel why they would speak nothing of that sacrilege, and so detestable a wicked act. Undoubtedly they would have reproved them for vitiating and corrupting the Scriptures. But if thou wilt contend that there were afterward faults brought in by them, then will I say that they ought chiefly to have corrupted those places which do testify of Christ and his religion, and which were alleged by the Lord himself, and of the Apostles in the new Testament. But they remain uncorrupt, and the same sentence remaineth still in the Hebrew Bibles which they put. For they were not so careful for the words. Wherefore it is not likely that they as touching other places have corrupted the holy scriptures. Yea if a man diligently read over their books, he shall find in ⟨p. 58⟩them a great many more testimonies and those more plain and manifest, than our common translation hath. Do not they read in the second Psalm: Kiss ye the son, which ours have translated, Take ye hold of discipline? Which words undoubtedly are referred unto Christ. But I mean not at this present to bring all such testimonies. It is sufficient if with Jerome I prove that the books of holy Scriptures are not corrupted by the Hebrews, neither assuredly if they would they should have missed of their purpose. For there are found many most ancient & handwritten books, which have been of a long time most diligently kept by Christians, which came never in their hands to corrupt.

¹But they say that the holy bookes were vitiated and corrupted, by the Hebrues. To thys Ierome vpon Esaye the .vi. Chapter towarde the ende aunswereth thus. Eyther they dyd thys before the comming of Christ and Preachyng of the Apostles, or els afterwarde. If a man will saye that it was done of them before, then seing Christ and his Apostles reprehended the moste greuous wicked actes of the Iewes. I maruaile why they would speake nothing of that sacrilege, and so detestable a wicked acte. Vndoubtedly they woulde haue reproued them for viciating and corrupting the Scriptures. But if thou wilt contend yt there were afterward faultes brought in by them, then will I say yt they ought chiefly to haue corrupted those places which do testifye of Christ and his religiō, and which were alledged by the Lord himself, and of the Apostles in the newe Testament. But they remaine vncorrupt, and the same sentence remaineth stil in the Hebrue Bibles which they put. For they wer not so carefull for ye words. Wherfore it is not likely that they as touching other places haue corrupted the holy scriptures. Yea if a man diligently reade ouer their bookes, he shall finde in