A14350:133
The Common Places
The common places of the most famous and renowned divine Doctor Peter Martyr divided into four principal parts: with a large addition of many theological and necessary discourses, some never extant before. Translated and partly gathered by Anthony Marten, one of the sewers of her Majesties most honourable chamber.The common places of the most famous and renowmed diuine Doctor Peter Martyr diuided into foure principall parts: with a large addition of manie theologicall and necessarie discourses, some neuer extant before. Translated and partlie gathered by Anthonie Marten, one of the sewers of hir Maiesties most honourable chamber.
Imprinted at London : In Pater noster Rowe, by Henry Denham and Henry Middleton at the costs and charges of Henry Denham, Thomas Chard, William Broome, and Andrew Maunsell, 1583Imprinted at London : In Pater noster Rovve, by Henry Denham and Henry Middleton at the costs and charges of Henrie Denham, Thomas Chard, VVilliam Broome, and Andrew Maunsell, 1583
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
11 Perhaps thou wilt demand how it cometh to pass, that the truth which we have by faith, is of more strength to break out into act, than is the truth, which we naturally perceive. This undoubtedly cometh not for this cause, that one truth by it self, and severally understood, is of more force than another. For truth on both parts hath the self-same nature; but the ⟨p. 16⟩difference cometh by the mean and instrument, whereby the same is perceived. The strength of nature is corrupt, feeble, and defiled through sin: and therefore the truth, which it taketh hold of, it hath not effectually. But faith hath joined with it the inspiration of God, and the power of the holy Ghost, and therefore it taketh hold of the truth effectually: wherefore the diversity is not in the truth it self, but in the mean and instrument, whereby we embrace the same. Hereof it cometh, that there we be changed, but here we remain the self-same that we were before. 1Of which thing we have a clear testimony in the Gospel. Christ set forth unto the young man what he should do to obtain salvation, the which he hearing, was not persuaded to give place, but went away sorrowful. He trusted unto natural strength, and therefore demanded of the Lord what he might do to obtain eternal life. But contrariwise, Matthew so soon as he heard of his calling, 2embraced the same with so great faith, as leaving his money and customership, he straightway followed Christ. And Zacheus, otherwise a man greedy of gain, 3when he had heard of the Lord, that he would turn in unto him, he not only received him into his house with a glad hart; but also offered immediately to distribute half his goods to the poor, and to restore fourfold to those whom before he had defrauded. Wherefore the whole difference consisteth in the power, whereby the truth is taken hold of: 4which must not so be understood, as though we affirm, that we have not more truth revealed unto us by the scriptures, both of the old testament and new, than we do naturally know. Only we have made a comparison between the self-same truth, when it is naturally known, and when it is perceived by faith.