A68840:401
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 before we come to entreat of the oration of this legate, it were good to declare what he was. The Hebrew word Melach, 1and also the Greek word [Greek or Hebrew], are doubtful, and sometimes they signify a nature without a body, I mean spirits the ministers of God, and other sometimes they signify a messenger, what soever he be. There are examples of these in many places of the scriptures, which should be superfluous now to declare. Some supposed that some certain spirit was sent from God, which appeared unto the people in a visible form, and reproved them as he was commanded: And they persuade them selves that he was first seen in Gilgal, and there commanded the people, to ascend from thence to a place, which was afterward called Bochim of weeping. The Hebrew word Melach is not against this interpretation: and that maketh with it also, because he speaketh as God.2 I have made you (saith he) to ascend out of Egypt. With which self same kind of speech the Angel in Genesis spake to Abraham, and in Exodus to Moses. Where it is also written, that God put his name in him. But it seemed unto the ancient fathers,3 that that angel which in the old Testament appeared & spake in the name of God, was Christ the son of God. For it is written in John, No man hath seen God at any time: the son which in the bosom of the father he hath declared him. These words declare unto us that what soever things are said to have ben spoken by God in the old Testament, the same were made open by Christ. But other suppose that this messenger or legate was a minister of the Church, that is either a Priest or a Prophet, whose office was, to reprehend the sins of the people. Among the Hebrew Rabbins, 4Levi the son of Gerson doth therefore think this to be very likely, because it is not convenient, that an angel should openly speak to so great a multitude. But his reason is very weak. for seeing God when he gave the law spake in the mount Sinai to the whole multitude of the Hebrews, what should let, but that he could teach an angel to do the same? But this is of some what more strength, because it is declared in the history, that this messenger ascended from Gilgal to Bochim. For if he were an angel, it seemeth that it should rather have ben said, that he descended from heaven, & not ascended from Gilgal to Bochim.