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,…

¹It is true in deed that Jeremiah in the 31. chap: writeth, as it is also alleged to the Hebrews the viii. chap. that there must be another league made in the name of GOD, not as it was made in the old time with the fathers. And among other things he sayeth, that GOD would give his laws in the hearts and bowels of men, so that none should need any more to teach his neighbour, because all, from the least to the greatest should have the knowledge of GOD. And farther it is said in the person of God, I will be merciful unto their since, and will no more remember their iniquities, &c. As touching these words both of Jeremy, and also of the Epistle to the Hebrews, we must understand, that those words prove not that there is any difference between the testaments as touching the thing and substance it self, but as concerning the properties and qualities, as we have before said. Neither must we think that the old fathers which in obeying the commandments of God, and in right faith worshipped him purely, could perform these things of their own strength or natural power. For unless they had had the laws and promises of God written in their hearts and minds by the holy Ghost, and also a will by the grace of God ready to obey his commandment they had never ben able to have performed such things. They wanted not therefore the light of God which shined before them to cause them to believe. Yea and their since were forgiven them by Christ. Wherefore they also had the fruition of those things, which God promised to give in the new league. The difference was only in this thing as touching largeness and perspicuity for at that time those gifts were distributed to very few,² but now they are every where communicated to the gentiles. They were somewhat dark at that age, but to us they are made evident and clear, so that we have no more need of the old discipline. Hereby it manifestly appeareth, how they err from the truth, which will have the old league to have had promises only for possessing of the land of Canaan and for worldly felicity. And that the people of the Hebrews were bound only to an outward observation of certain rites and works, and not to show forth good and right motions of the mind toward God.

¹It is true in dede that Ieremy in the 31. chap: writeth, as it is also alleged to the Hebrues the viii. chap. that there muste be another league made in the name of GOD, not as it was made in the olde tyme with the fathers. And among other thynges he sayeth, that GOD woulde geue hys lawes in the heartes and bowelles of men, so that none should nede any more to teache hys neyghboure, bycause all, from the least to the greatest should haue the knowledge of GOD. And farther it is sayde in the persone of God, I wyll be mercifull vnto their synnes, and will no more remember their iniquities, &c. As touching these wordes both of Ieremye, and also of the Epistle to the Hebrues, we must vnderstande, that those wordes proue not that there is any difference betwene the testamentes as touchyng the thyng and substaunce it selfe, but as concernyng the propertyes and qualities, as we haue before sayde. Neither muste we thincke that the olde fathers whiche in obeyeng the commaundementes of God, and in right fayth worshypped hym purely, coulde performe these thynges of theyr owne strengthe or naturall powre. For vnlesse they had had the lawes and promises of God written in their heartes and myndes by the holy Ghost, and also a will by the grace of God ready to obey hys commaundement they had neuer ben able to haue performed such things. They wanted not therfore the lyght of God which shined before them to cause thē to beleue. Yea and their synnes wer forgeuen them by Christ. Wherfore they also had the fruition of those thynges, whiche God promised to geue in the newe league. The difference was onely in this thyng as touchyng largenesse and perspicuitye for at that tyme those gyftes were distributed to very few,