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,…

Tears are counted as certain things added and joined to repentance,¹ and also to prayers. For not only the repentant, when they with a grievous sorrow detest their since, do use to weep: but also as many as do earnestly and vehemently contend to obtain any thing. Howbeit the tokens of ⟨image 69⟩true repentance are not always measured by tears.² For we read both in the book of Genesis, and also in the Epistle to the Hebrews, that Esau also wept. Tears also do not always declare, that the prayers are of efficacy to obtain that which is desired. For David after his adultery fasted and wept whilst he earnestly prayed that life might be spared unto his son which was borne unto him by Bethsabe: which thing nevertheless he could not obtain, but that tears in those examples had no good success, there were diverse causes thereof. For Esau as we shall straight way declare, mourned not of faith: And David obtained not that which he desired, because GOD had ordained to give him that, which was much better and more noble than that which he required. In deed the son which was conceived by adultery remained not a live. But of the same mother he afterward had Solomon, who succeeded the Father in a peaceable and most ample kingdom after his death, yea and he being yet living. But contrariwise let us mark how in Peter tears were tokens of very true repentance. And also in that woman, which (as the Evangelists declare) with her tears washed the feet of the Lord.

TEares are counted as certayne thynges added and ioyned to repentaunce,¹ and also to prayers. For not onely the repentaunte, when they with a grieuous sorowe deteste their synnes, do vse to weepe: but also as many as do earnestly and vehemently contend to obteyne any thyng. Howbeit the tokens of ⟨image 69⟩true repentaunce are not alwayes measured by teares.² For we reade both in the booke of Genesis, and also in the Epistle to the Hebrues, that Esau also wepte. Teares also do not alwayes declare, that the prayers are of efficacye to obteyne that whiche is desired. For Dauid after hys aduoutry fasted and wepte whilest he earnestly prayed that lyfe might be spared vnto hys sonne whiche was borne vnto hym by Bethsabe: whiche thyng neuerthelesse he could not obteyne, but that teares in those examples had no good successe, there were diuerse causes thereof. For Esau as we shall strayght waye declare, mourned not of fayth: And Dauid obtayned not that whiche he desired, bycause GOD had ordayned to geue him that, whiche was much better and more noble than that whiche he required. In dede the sonne whiche was conceaued by aduoutry remayned not a lyue. But of the same mother he afterwarde had Salomon, who succeded the Father in a peaceable and moste ample kyngdome after his death, yea and he beyng yet lyuyng. But contrarywyse let vs marke howe in Peter teares were tokens of very true repentaunce. And also in that woman, whiche (as the Euangelistes declare) with her teares washed the feete of the Lorde.