A14350:391
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.
111 But now we must confute those reasons, which are wont to be alleged by others. These things (say they) may be done by natural causes. I grant indeed, that natural causes are oftentimes great and secret; and do bring many wonderful things to pass. But these effects, which we speak of; as images to speak and give answers, and to utter the distinct voices of men; also to foretell things to come, and those not common, but hidden and secret matters; an ignorant man to have suddenly learned arts & sciences; and he to speak Greek, Hebrew, and the Syrian tongue, and to recite the sentences of philosophers and poets, which never learned those tongs, nor ever handled poets or philosophers; a man to walk invisibly; to stir things that are a far off; to put out a torch far distant from us; an ox or an ass to speak like a man: these things I say do far exceed all force of nature. The magicians also, which work these things, do join therewithal prayers, enchantments, conjurings & commandments: wherein certainly, there is no natural power of working at all. Hereunto they ad also their lines, characters, and circles; which things be within the compass of quantity. But quantities be never reckoned of the philosophers among things that work. The temperature of mans body (I grant) hath great force, but yet not so great; and besides it must needs work by touching. Imagination can do much. True it is: but every one in his own body. Howbeit no man, no not in his own proper body, how strongly soever he imagine, can work all things. For if a man have a withered arm, and so stopped, as the pores cannot have their passage; let him use as great imagination as he will, he shall not cure the same.
111 But now we must confute those reasons, which are woont to be alledged by others. These things (saie they) may be doone by naturall causes. I grant indéed, that naturall causes are oftentimes great and secret; and doo bring manie woonderfull things to passe. But these effects, which we speake of; as images to speake and giue answers, and to vtter the distinct voices of men; also to foretell things to come, and those not common, but hidden and secret matters; an ignorant man to haue suddenlie learned arts & sciences; and he to speake Gréeke, Hebrue, and the Syrian toong, and to recite the sentences of philosophers and poets, which neuer learned those toongs, nor euer handled poets or philosophers; a man to walke inuisiblie; to stir things that are a farre off; to put out a torch far distant from vs; an oxe or an asse to speake like a man: these things I saie doo far excéed all force of nature. The magicians also, which worke these things, doo ioine therewithall praiers, inchantments, coniurings & commandements: wherein certeinlie, there is no naturall power of working at all. Herevnto they ad also their lines, characters, and circles; which things be within the compas of quantitie. But quantities be neuer reckoned of the philosophers among things that worke. The temperature of mans bodie (I grant) hath great force, but yet not so great; and besides it must néeds worke by touching. Imagination can doo much. True it is: but euerie one in his owne bodie. Howbeit no man, no not in his owne proper bodie, how stronglie soeuer he imagine, can worke all things. For if a man haue a withered arme, and so stopt, as the pores cannot haue their passage; let him vse as great imagination as he will, he shall not cure the same.