A68840:43
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.
1Furthermore the word signifieth to revenge & to set at liberty, which these excellent men performed, whose noble acts are declared in this volume. They by their authority, through their might and counsel, delivered the Israelites when they were oppressed of strangers, and kept them in the observing of the law & true worshipping of God. And that their office may the better be perceived, we will briefly expound the face and estate of that public weal. God himself was the true and proper king of that nation,2 for he only had the principal power there, but not as he had over other nations, but so, that he by his beck, oracle, and certain commandment, governed the estate of the Israelites, which he promised to do in the .18. chap. of Exodus. Whereas he said that that people should be his chief kingdom. But because he would also use the ministry of men, he provided all things necessary for the Hebrews, first by Moses and then by Joshua as long as they lived. They exercised the office of princes or captains, which men being dead god would have the best and most excellent men to have the rule over them (for such men were picked out to be of the senate, whose excellent conditions are set forth as well in Exodus as in Deuteronomy: for the laws of God would not suffer every one to be called to that office.3) If thou shalt therefore consider these men then shalt thou see the form of that government which is called Aristocratia. But because that it was not lawful to attempt great matters without the peoples consent, we may therefore justly think that it was also a common wealth which endured to the time of Saul and David the first kings. That estate therefore in respect of god was a kingdom, but in respect of the Senate & those chief men it was Aristocratia. Because in electing of them they had no regard to their riches but to their virtue and godliness, & for that the weightiest matters were referred to the people, therefore we may say it was a common wealth. Wherefore it manifestly appeareth that the administration of matters of the Israelites was very well tempered of three kinds of governments.4 And because, whereas many govern the common wealth, it is needful when dangerous times do happen, for the better success and expedition of things to be done, one must be ⟨p. 2⟩