A68840:46
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.
I would to god that this kind of authority were diligently marked in the popish Church, where wicked men do so impudently usurp unto themselves spiritual promotion, seeing that Christ himself as he is the true priest, so also is he our only priest, for he only pacifieth the father towards us and they which are governors of the Church here on earth are to be counted only as his ministers. Wherefore they can not claim unto themselves that title, but they must cast away Christ and do him injury.
I would to god that this kynde of authoritye were diligently marked in the popysh Church, where wicked men do so impudently vsurpe vnto themselues spirituall promotion, seing that Christ hymselfe as he is the true priest, so also is he oure only priest, for he only pacifyeth the father towardes vs and they whiche are gouernoures of the Church here on earth are to be counted only as hys ministers. Wherfore they can not clayme vnto themselues that title, but they muste cast away Christ and do hym iniurye.
Neither is this to be passed over, that the Judges which were ordained of god did always deliver Israel from the misery wherewith they were oppressed: but the kings, into whom the common wealth did afterwards as it were degenerate, did not always deliver the people out of bondage, which was committed unto them,1 yea they oftentimes destroyed them and compelled them at the length to slavery. Wherefore it is to be judged that the estate of the Hebrews was far better under the judges than under the Kings: not ye God governed not that people in time of the kings, but because his administration showed forth it self more in the time of the judges. And in deed the people was never led away into captivity under the judges, although they were often times oppressed by outward ⟨image 9⟩tyrants which they deserved by their wickedness.2 That age therefore might be called as it were a golden age. Let us mark also that there were very few good and godly kings, but almost all the Judges were good and godly. For although as they were men so sometimes they fell, yet we must believe that they returned again into the right way and repented, for they are not condemned at any time by any testimony or Judgement of the scripture as far as I can perceive. How notably Sirach judged of them he plainly declareth in his book of wisdom the 46. chap. But we leaving his testimony aside, let us see what the Epistle to the Hebrews in the xi. chap. doth ascribe unto them, where as it is thus said. The time will be to short for me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, Sampson, and of Jephthah &c. All these certainly were judges, and they are mentioned of there together with other holy men, which were notable and of an excellent and wonderful faith.