A68840:939
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.
Unto the question I answer: That after a sort it is lawful to desire signs, and the same also after a sort is unlawful. The first part of the sentence is thus proved: When holy men desire, as touching any unaccustomed vocation to be made more assured of the will of God, & are afraid, least peradventure they should be deceived (for as concerning it they have nothing for certain in the holy scriptures and we must not lightly believe men and angels in those things: for evil angels use sometimes to be transformed into angels of light) when I say they are troubled with such doubt, & the will is ready, yea desirous to obey the commandment of the Lord, if than they desire to be confirmed by some sign, these godly men can not be accused of tempting of god, or of rashness. For who soever in those cases desireth those things, which god useth to offer, he departeth not from the right way. No man is ignorant, but that to Ahab was offered a sign, that he might be confirmed of the promises offered him by Isaiah. Wherefore to desire those things which god sometimes giveth and freely offereth, ought not to be prohibited as unlawful. The thing wanteth no examples. Moses when he had need of the help of god, oftentimes in the desert obtained miracles for the people of god. And to confirm the doctrine of truth, both Elijah and Helizeus, desired of god that life might be restored unto the children of their hosts. And to the same end Christ said: But that ye should know that the son of man hath power to forgive sins, he turned to the man sick of the palsy and said:1 Take up thy bed, rise and walk. Wherefore miracles are desired of holy men, and that justly, either that they may be made the more assured of their vocation, or to help a great and urgent necessity, or else to bear witness unto sound doctrine. And always, when they desire miracles to these ends,2 let them desire the same not of any creatures, but of god only, and in asking them let them use a mean: for they declare that they will or desire nothing, but that which is agreeable unto the will of god.
Vnto the question I answere: That after a sort it is lawful to desire signes, and the same also after a sorte is vnlawfull. The first parte of the sentence is thus proued: When holy men desire, as touching any vnaccustomed vocation to be made more assured of ye wil of God, & are afrayd, least peraduenture they should be deceaued (for as concerning it they haue nothing for certayn in the holy scriptures and we must not lightly beleue men and angels in those thinges: for euil angels vse sometimes to be trāsformed into angels of light) when I say they are troubled with such doubt, & the will is ready, yea desirous to obey the commaū dement of the Lord, if than they desire to be confirmed by some signe, these godly men cā not be accused of tempting of god, or of rashnes. For who soeuer in those cases desireth those thinges, whiche god vseth to offer, he departeth not from the right way. No man is ignoraunt, but that to Achab was offred a signe, that he might be cōfirmed of the promises offred him by Esay. Wherfore to desire those thinges whiche god sometymes geueth and frely offreth, ought not to be prohibited as vnlawfull. The thing wanteth no examples. Moses when he had nede of the helpe of god, oftentymes in the desert obteyned miracles for the people of god. And to confirme the doctrine of truth, both Helias and Helizeus, desired of god that life might be restored vnto the children of their hostes. And to the same end Christ sayd: But that ye should know that the sonne of man hath power to forgeue sinnes, he turned to the man sicke of the palsey and sayd: