A14350:262
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.
What will you more? From hence flow the fountains of our saviour, where every one is willed to draw frank and free, whereby our intolerable thirst may be slaked, & the exceeding desire of obtaining felicity is satisfied. Here the store-house of God most throughly fraughted with abundance of all good things, is opened and laid abroad; where it is free for all sorts to provide for their want in necessity. Here the board is furnished with all kind of dainties; where the wisdom of God hath mixed for us most sweet wine, wherewith every one may most liberally refresh himself. Here is offered unto all comers a more pleasant garden and paradise, than ever had Alcinous and Solomon: wherefore, let us gather therein profitable things: and not pernicious. Let us rather follow the bees than the spiders, sucking thereout most sweet juice, and not deadly poison. We are accustomed with incredible desire, to employ our zeal and diligence to peruse books set forth by the endeavour of mortal men, wherein we learn nothing else, but either the means to maintain bodily health, or the way to augment our substance, or precepts to govern the common-weal, or else rules of husbandry, and other occupations, or else some enticement of pleasures: how much more requisite were it for us, to apply all our hart and mind to the study of divine doctrine? For therein we hear not the wisdom of man, but have God himself speaking before us, to whom if we give ear; we shall conceive a singular joy, we shall chase away pensive cogitations, and be lightened with most sweet comfort; we shall be strengthened beyond the condition of man, nothing shall be thought hard and painful unto us; we shall think the yoke of the Lord and his cross to be easy things, and we shall offer our selves to be most ready to suffer any thing for his name. Yea and being thus instructed with heavenly eloquence, we shall talk with men, not like sensual men; but as if our speech proceeded from God himself.
What will you more? From hence flowe the fountaines of our sauiour, where euerie one is willed to drawe franke and frée, whereby our intollerable thirst may be slaked, & the excéeding desire of obtaining felicitie is satisfied. Here the store-house of God most throughlie fraughted with abundance of all good things, is opened and laid abroad; where it is frée for all sorts to prouide for their want in necessitie. Here the boord is furnished with all kind of deinties; where the wisedome of God hath mixed for vs most swéet wine, wherewith euerie one may most liberallie refresh himselfe. Here is offered vnto all commers a more pleasant garden and paradise, than euer had Alcinous and Salomon: wherefore, let vs gather therein profitable things: and not pernicious. Let vs rather followe the bées than the spiders, sucking thereout most swéet iuice, and not deadlie poison. We are accustomed with incredible desire, to imploie our zeale and diligence to peruse bookes set foorth by the indeuour of mortall men, wherein we learne nothing else, but either the meanes to maintaine bodilie health, or the waie to augment our substance, or precepts to gouerne the common-weale, or else rules of husbandrie, and other occupations, or else some intisement of pleasures: how much more requisit were it for vs, to applie all our hart and mind to the studie of diuine doctrine? For therein we heare not the wisedome of man, but haue God himselfe speaking before vs, to whom if we giue eare; we shall conceiue a singular ioie, we shall chase awaie pensiue cogitations, and be lightened with most swéet comfort; we shall be strengthened beyond the condition of man, nothing shall be thought hard and painefull vnto vs; we shall thinke the yoke of the Lord and his crosse to be easie things, and we shall offer our selues to be most readie to suffer any thing for his name. Yea and béeing thus instructed with heauenlie eloquence, we shall talke with men, not like sensuall men; but as if our speach procéeded from God himselfe.