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,…

The kindness and mercy of God is far greater than the kindness and mercy of men. For if any through their own default fall into any miseries,¹ men for the most part have no compassion on them. Which manifestly appeareth in the Roman laws, in the Digestes de deposito vel contra. In the law, bona fides, it is ordained that a pledge should not be restored, but should be given to the treasury, when he which owed the pledge doth so offend, that he deserveth banishment, because that he suffered it thorough his own default, and therefore is it meet that he should be punished with poverty. A woman also, if she commit adultery, did not only loose her dowry, but also she can claim none of her husbands goods, because through her own default ⟨image 88⟩she falleth into that misery: which is also written in Decretalibus, title de consuetudine, chap. Ex parte. But god is so merciful and long suffering that he saith in Jeremiah: I will do that, which none of you will do. No husband would receive again a wife which he hath repudiated, especially for adultery sake. But I, so that thou wilt return, will take thee again, although thou hast most filthily played the harlot with thy lovers. This goodness of god ought we also to follow not only to have compassion on those,² which without their own fault are thrust into miseries but of those also which for their faults are chastised. Wherefore we ought to be gentle towards them, but yet so far as good laws will suffer: which I therefore add, lest hereupon any should think that such as are condemned to death or are captives for wicked acts which they have committed might be delivered against the will of the Magistrates. Christ commanded, that we should forgive the repentant sinner, not once nor seven times, but seventy times seven times: this doth he himself toward his people: they fall in deed oftentimes, and most filthily sin, and yet when they return the heavenly Father both receiveth and also delivereth them.

The kindnesse and mercy of God is farre greater than the kindnesse and mercy of men. For if any through their own default fal into any miseryes,¹ men for the moste parte haue no compassion on them. Which manifestly appeareth in ye Romane lawes, in the Digestes de deposito vel contra. In the lawe, bona fides, it is ordayned that a pledge shoulde not bee restored, but shoulde bee geuen to the treasorye, when he whiche owed the pledge doth so offende, that he deserueth banishemente, bycause that he suffred it thorough hys owne default, and therefore is it meete that he shoulde bee punyshed with pouertye. A woman also, if she committe aduoutrye, dyd not only loose her dowery, but also she cā clayme none of her husbands goods, bicause through her own default