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,…

As much as we can gather by the history, the host of Gideon consisted of 32000. soldiers: which number although it may seem great, yet in comparison of the enemies it was but small. For they had 13500. men in camp, but of the 32000. soldiers of Gideons, god chose only 300, by whom he would give the victory unto the Israelites. This is a very small number, that of every thousand he toke only .x. But so god wrought. For there are few good, said he. If in Sodom there had ben only x. men just, the whole City had ben saved. The number of good men, though it be small, yet it is of such force, that God for their sakes spareth the rest. Wherefore most true are the oracles, wherein it is said: Many are called, but few are chosen, and the remnants only shall be saved. But although God ⟨image 139⟩allowed not so great a number, yet the act of Gideon is not to be condemned, which gathered it unto himself: for he used that prudence, which was not contrary to the word of god: yea if he had not collected an host, he might have seemed to tempt god, as he which had refused helps prepared, and those just helps. Let us remember that in humane actions there are two notable dangers: One is of rashness,¹ when we will not use means and helps set before us. With which evil the Anabaptists are grievously infected: for they will use no weapons, and they abhor from the offices of Magistrates. The other danger is, least we attribute to much unto humane and natural aides, which they do that trust to much in their works. Of these two dangers the one Gideon by himself avoideth in collecting a sufficient great army: for in his enterprise he would not neglect an ordinary aid of soldiers. And God provideth that he should not fall into the other danger: for from the multitude of those soldiers he withdrew the greatest part.² And why he did it, this reason he bringeth, because men do gladly usurp glory unto themselves, neither will they grant any of it even unto God, as it is mete they should. Therefore he saith that his will is, that even as the victory should be given by him, so also it should evidently appear, to be granted by him.

As much as we can gather by the history, the host of Gideon consisted of 32000. souldiers: whiche nomber although it may seme great, yet in comparison of the enemies it was but small. For they had 13500. men in campe, but of the 32000. souldiers of Gideons, god chose onely 300, by whom he would geue the victory vnto the Israelites. This is a very smal number, that of euery thousand he toke only .x. But so god wrought. For there ar few good, said he. If in Sodome there had ben onely x. men iust, the whole Citie had ben saued. The number of good men, thoughe it be small, yet it is of such force, that God for their sakes spareth the rest. Wherfore most true are the oracles, wherin it is sayd: Many are called, but few are chosen, and the remnauntes onely shalbe saued. But although God