A14350:17
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.
Wherefore, to the intent that all ye, my beloved brethren, whose salvation in Christ I regard as mine own, may have continually before your eyes, if ye be of the reformed church, how to answer your adversaries, or if ye be of the deformed synagogue, how to discern your errors; I have laid before your eyes, in your own mother tongue, the sum of all D. Martyrs doctrine: not your countryman indeed; but yet one, that for your sakes passed many dangerous brunts by sea and by land, before kings and princes, publicly and privately: that left his own wealth and quietness, to instruct you in truth and godliness: that rested neither day nor night to teach you the right way of the Lord, and who contemned his own life to gain you to the Gospel of Christ. Innumerable books at this day are written by many zealous and faithful men, wherein the errors of the Romish church have been discovered; but yet in none, nor scarcely of all are so clearly confuted all the arguments of the adversaries, as in this book. Many hard questions in the scriptures by many have been assoiled, but no-where so many and so difficult, as in this book. Behold therefore here in the steed of all volumes one, to satisfy both the learned and unlearned, the true professor and the false worshipper, in all the ways of godliness, and all the principal points of true religion. If this will not suffice thee in all the controversies handled therein (and therein are handled in a manner all) of what opinion soever thou be, thou wilt never be satisfied. Five years continually have I travelled herein: that since the Lord hath not endued me with such sufficient knowledge and utterance, as I might be accounted worthy the room of a builder in the church, yet at the least-wise I might serve the servants of the Lord, in bringing to their hands such excellent stuff and matter, as the most skilful artificers and messengers of Christ have already prepared for the work. What pains, diligence, and faithfulness I have used therein, I shall not need to be mine own witness, others will testify for me. And to show the manner of my proceeding, and the manifold lets I had before I could achieve to my purpose, by reason of the heap of Editions, and multitude of Additions that came forth together, while the work was in hand, were over-long to recite.
Wherfore, to the intent that all ye, my beloued brethren, whose saluation in Christ I regard as mine owne, may haue continuallie before your eies, if ye be of the reformed church, how to answer your aduersaries, or if ye be of the deformed synagog, how to discerne your errors; I haue laid before your eies, in your owne mother toong, the summe of all D. Martyrs doctrine: not your countrieman indeed; but yet one, that for your sakes passed manie dangerous brunts by sea and by land, before kings and princes, publikelie and priuatelie: that left his owne welth and quietnes, to instruct you in truth and godlinesse: that rested neither daie nor night to teach you the right waie of the Lord, and who contemned his owne life to gaine you to the Gospell of Christ. Innumerable books at this daie are written by manie zealous and faithfull men, wherein the errors of the Romish church haue beene discouered; but yet in none, nor scarselie of all are so cleerelie confuted all the arguments of the aduersaries, as in this booke. Manie hard questions in the scriptures by manie haue beene assoiled, but no-where so manie and so difficult, as in this booke. Behold therefore here in the steed of all volumes one, to satisfie both the learned and vnlearned, the true professor and the false worshiper, in all the waies of godlinesse, and all the principall points of true religion. If this will not suffice thee in all the controuersies handled therein (and therein are handled in a maner all) of what opinion soeuer thou be, thou wilt neuer be satisfied. Fiue yeeres continuallie haue I trauelled herein: that since the Lord hath not indued me with such sufficient knowledge and vtterance, as I might be accounted woorthie the roome of a builder in the church, yet at the least-wise I might serue the seruants of the Lord, in bringing to their hands such excellent stuffe and matter, as the most skilfull artificers and messengers of Christ haue alreadie prepared for the worke. What paines, diligence, and faithfulnesse I haue vsed therein, I shall not need to be mine owne witnesse, others will testifie for me. And to shew the maner of my proceeding, and the manifold lets I had before I could atchieue to my purpose, by reason of the heape of Editions, and multitude of Additions that came foortn togither, while the worke was in hand, were ouer-long to recite.