A14350:650
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.
121 But some do not allow of it, that so excellent a thing as felicity is, should have need of goods far inferior unto it: howbeit this knot is undone by our distinction. In it self and of his own nature it hath no need of them: for if in it self it should have need of these things, nothing might be happy, unless it abounded with these things: which must not be granted, seeing God and the angels are blessed without the small help of these goods. This poor lack, which is of a corruptible and mortal man, is joined to this felicity. Even as our power of understanding is not able, by consideration, to do any thing at all, without the senses and similitudes which we contemplate: which in very deed happeneth unto it, not in respect it is a mind or understanding: for if it were on this wise, neither God nor angels should understand any thing without senses and imagination. So then, the mind and understanding require those things, not by themselves, or their own nature; but in respect they belong unto men. It is to be noted moreover, that the matter which is subject, may be understood two ways: for either it representeth that matter, about which our actions are occupied; or else it is the matter wherein our mind is, namely the body, to the nourishing, sustaining and feeding whereof these outward goods are in any wise required; wherefore in these two respects felicity hath need of the outward good things.
121 But some doo not allow of it, that so excellent a thing as felicitie is, should haue néed of goods far inferiour vnto it: howbeit this knot is vndoone by our distinction. In it selfe and of his owne nature it hath no néed of them: for if in it selfe it should haue néed of these things, nothing might be happie, vnlesse it abounded with these things: which must not be granted, séeing God and the angels are blessed without the small helpe of these goods. This poore lacke, which is of a corruptible and mortall man, is ioined to this felicitie. Euen as our power of vnderstanding is not able, by consideration, to doo anie thing at all, without the senses and similitudes which we contemplate: which in verie déed happeneth vnto it, not in respect it is a mind or vnderstanding: for if it were on this wise, neither God nor angels should vnderstand anie thing without senses and imagination. So then, the mind and vnderstanding require those things, not by themselues, or their owne nature; but in respect they belong vnto men. It is to be noted moreouer, that the matter which is subiect, may be vnderstood two waies: for either it representeth that matter, about which our actions are occupied; or else it is the matter wherein our mind is, namelie the bodie, to the nourishing, sustaining and féeding whereof these outward goods are in anie wise required; wherefore in these two respects felicitie hath néed of the outward good things.