A14350:433
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.
Whether it be lawful to ask counsel of the Devil, and to use his help.
VVhether it be lawfull to aske counsell of the Diuell, and to vse his helpe.
30 Now must we consider of that, which we ⟨p. 91⟩set down in the third place; namely, whether it be lawful to ask counsel of ill spirits, or to use their help. First indeed it seemeth to be lawful; for God useth the labour of devils: why then should it not be lawful for us? And Paul delivered men unto satan; 1and therefore it is lawful for us also to use the ministry of spirits. Here we must make a distinction. For we use spirits either by authority & commandment, as when we command them any thing in the name of God: or else by acquaintance, fellowship, covenant, obedience, or prayers. God beareth rule over the devils, 2and Christ and the apostles commanded that they should go out of the bodies possessed; 3but to require or expect any thing of them upon any covenant or bargain, that is not lawful; for it is idolatry. And the devil seeketh nothing more, than to lead us from God, to the worshipping of him. Hereunto also tendeth customs, ceremonies, and sacrifices: by this means men fall from God unto the devil. Further, they which do these things, do sin against themselves; for we never read that the end of these arts was good: whereof wretched Saul may be an example and instruction unto us. 4The devil indeed feigneth himself to be compelled, and to be bound by little stones or rings: howbeit the same compulsion is only a voluntary and deceitful compulsion: he feigneth, as though he would cast out another spirit, but it is nothing. For the ill spirits do but dally one with another to deceive men. None of us would commit our doings to a man, whom we know to be full of fraud and treachery. Now the devil is not only a liar, but even the father of lies.