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,…

Neither must we believe, those married folks,¹ which were by God taken to the office of prophesying or to the holy ministry, did straightway forsake their wives, for neither God nor yet Christ were authors that any man should divorce himself from his wife. We know in deed that Paul permitteth them which are married sometimes to be a sunder, whereby they might more expediently give them selves to fastings and prayers: but he permitteth not that unless they be both agreed thereunto, and that for a short time, and he commandeth them to return to their old estate, lest by the temptation of Satan they should be overthrown. Wherefore this sentence which they bring, is not sufficient to prove the necessity of sole life for ministers, forasmuch as the adversaries gather more out of it than can be gathered. For the Apostle saith that sometimes it is lawful to abstain from accompanying. But these men take it to be a commandment to all sorts of ministers, ever to be unmarried. Which argument is both weak and unprofitable, as the art of Logic manifestly showeth. For we grant, that it is mete for ministers sometimes to contain themselves, and that oftener than other men, but not continually. This they object, if other men moderate themselves, making their prayers but sometimes, what should they do, whose duty is always to apply themselves unto prayers & to the administration of the sacraments? I answer. First, that we much marvel at those which allege these things, when as the clergy for the most part never almost teach, & distribute the sacraments very seldom, & celebrate that their most filthy & abominable mass scarce once or twice in a whole year. But in the mean time play ye whoremongers & pollute themselves with adulteries. And they cavil that they cannot marry, because of the ecclesiastical degree which they have taken upon them. Undoubtedly the reasons which they bring do nothing defend this kind of men.

Neyther must we beleue, those maried folkes,¹ which were by God taken to the office of prophecying or to the holy ministery, did streightway forsake theyr wyues, for neyther God nor yet Christ were authors that any man shoulde deuource himselfe from his wife. We know in deede that Paule permitteth them which are maried sometimes to be a sunder, whereby they mighte more expediently geue them selues to fastinges and prayers: but he permitteth not that vnles they be both agreed therunto, and that for a short time, and he commaundeth them to returne to their old estate, lest by the temptacion of Sathan they should be ouerthrowne. Wherfore this sentence which they bryng, is not sufficient to proue the necessitye of sole life for ministers, forasmuche as the aduersaries gather more out of it than can be gathered. For the Apostle sayth that sometimes it is lawfull to abstaine from accompanieng. But these men take it to be a commaundement to all sortes of ministers, euer to be vnmaried. Which argument is both weake and vnprofitable, as the art of Logike manifestly sheweth. For we graunt, that it is mete for ministers sometimes to conteyne themselues, and that oftner than other men, but not continually. This they obiect, if other men moderate themselues, makinge their prayers but sometimes, what shoulde they do, whose duty is alwayes to apply themselues vnto prayers & to the administration of the sacramentes? I aunswere. First, that we much marueile at those which allege these thinges, when as the clergy for the most part neuer almost teach, & distribute the sacraments very seldom, & celebrate that their most fylthy & abhominable masse scarce once or twise in a whole yeare. But in ye mean time play ye whoremōgers & pollute thēselues with adulteries. And they cauile that they cānot mary, bicause of ye ecclesiastical degree which they haue takē vpō thē. Vndoubtedly the reasons which they bring do nothing defend this kind of men.