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,…

Farther the authority of the speaker helped thereunto. For Deborah was by ⟨image 103⟩God constituted in the ministry, not undoubtedly by an ordinary prerogative, but by a certain singular and principal prerogative. And if we should look upon the Etymology of her name,¹ we shall think that her orations were very sweet. For Deborah with the Hebrews is a bee, which beast we know is a diligent artificer in making of honey. And yet all these things had not ben sufficient, to make Barak to believe her, unless the power of the holy Ghost had persuaded in his mind those things which were commanded. For faith is only the work of the holy Ghost, which he can work in the hearts of men without any outward instrument, but he hath decreed for the most part to use them, I mean the word and the ministry, not as though he were bound unto them, but to show unto us, how much we ought to make of these two instruments. Neither do I think that it is to be doubted, but that this holy woman, was both by miracles, and also by prophesying of things to come, declared to be the Minister of the true God and the most healthful Judge of the Israelites. We therefore ought hereby to learn, that we must altogether hear the Ministers of God, when they set forth unto us, his words, promises, and also threatenings out of the holy scriptures neither is there any authority in the world, which ought to be preferred before the ministry of the Church and word of God.² Wherefore justly ought Barak to believe the things which Deborah commanded, although they seemed both grievous and heard. For she commanded him, to move sedition and tumult, to rebel against his prince, a private man to gather an host, and that a little one against a most mighty king.

Farther the authoritie of the speaker helped thereunto. For Deborah was by ⟨image 103⟩God constituted in the ministery, not vndoubtedly by an ordinary prerogatiue, but by a certayn singular and principall prerogatiue. And if we should looke vppon the Etimology of her name,¹ we shall thinke that her orations were verye sweete. For Deborah with the Hebrues is a bee, which beast we know is a diligent artificer in makyng of hony. And yet all these thinges had not ben sufficiēt, to make Barac to beleue her, vnles the power of the holy Ghost had persuaded in his mynde those things which were commaunded. For fayth is onely the worke of the holy Ghost, whiche he can worke in the heartes of men without any outward instrument, but he hath decreed for the most part to vse them, I meane the worde and the ministery, not as though he were bound vnto them, but to shew vnto vs, how much we ought to make of these two instrumentes. Neither do I thinke that it is to be doubted, but that this holy woman, was both by miracles, and also by prophesieng of things to come, declared to be the Minister of the true God and the most healthfull Iudge of the Israelites. We therefore ought hereby to learne, that we must altogether heare the Ministers of God, when they set forth vnto vs, his wordes, promises, and also threatninges out of the holy scriptures neither is there any authority in the worlde, whiche ought to be preferred before the ministery of the Church and word of God.