Ptōchomuseion [sic]. = The poore mans librarie Rapsodiæ G.A. Bishop of Exceter vpon the first epistle of saint Peter, red publiquely in the cathedrall church of saint Paule, within the citye of London. 1560. Here are adioyned at the end of euery special treatie, certaine fruitful annotacions which may properly be called miscellanea, bicause they do entreate of diuerse and sundry matters, marked with the nombre and figures of Augrime. 2.

Responsio.

Peter here hath a respecte vnto his countrie men, and to their na∣tion, whiche were accustomed and nousled in the Prophetes, of whose doctrine they had no doubt, but to be infallible and moste true. VVher∣fore when the Iewes were persuaded that whatsoeuer was written in the Prophets, did come frō the Lord, it is no maruell that Peter sayd, we haue a more sure word. In the whiche words this is no question to be mo∣ued. VVhether the Prophets deserued more fayth and credite, then the doctrine of the Gospell, but Peter in speakyng these wordes, had a re∣spect onely what reuerence, honour, and credite the Iewes gaue to the Prophetes. In whose studye the Iewes are brought vp euen from theyr childhoode. In fine, Peter calleth it a more firme worde, for their sakes whiche were infirme and weake in the fayth, to make the texte playne. Because there were many, whiche as yet gaue no credit to the Gospell, and to the preaching of the Apostles. Peter willing and wishing to allure and driue them to the light of truth, he sayth, that he prea∣cheth

nothynge, but that whiche was shewed before by the Prophetes. As though he should say, that which we speake of the diuinitie of Christ, the Prophetes spake the same (As Dauid writeth in his Psalmes.* 1.1) Do∣minus dixit ad me, filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te. The Lord hath sayd vnto me: Thou art my sonne, this day haue I begotten thee. Agayne. Ex vtero ante luciferum genui te.* 1.2 Therfore Peter calleth it a more sure worde, for their cause, whiche were not yet confirmed in the fayth, and which were newly conuerted from the Iudaicall religion vnto Christia∣nitie, and who also were wholly bent to the Prophetes and to the study of them. And not that Peter doth by these wordes preferre the testimo∣monie of the Prophetes before the testimonie of God spoken from hea∣uen: but that he myght the better receyue them into the faith, he doth allowe and commende their diligent studie in the Prophets, and so cal∣leth it a more sure worde, not bycause it was so Simpliciter, but bycause the Iewes so counted it. VVhere some do say that the comparative is put here for the positiue, they do not thoroughly expounde the texte and cir∣cumstaunce therof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 2.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 110.