A14350:689
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.
The xv. Chapter. Whether any man can be counted happy, while he liveth in this world.
The xv. Chapter. Whether anie man can be counted happie, while he liueth in this world.
1Aristotle in his first book of Ethics, disputing whither a man may be accounted happy in this life, saith; that Since unto all men, though they live justly and well, may happen the same things that happened unto Priamus, 2there is left a doubt, whether any man, while he liveth, being subject to so many alterations, can rightly be called happy. And having secluded brute beasts and children, it seemeth for good cause to be doubted, whether any man should be accounted partaker of that blessedness: which as it might seem, is not rashly to be affirmed; because of the manifold alterations. For what sea or river is there, that can be tossed with so many storms, that can be disquieted with so many troublesome tossings, as is the life of men, which though it be wholly well settled; one day, or one unfortunate night doth not a little cast it under foot, yea ofttimes utterly bring it to naught? And not only the body is changed, which after a sort would be tolerable; but also the mind, whereby we now learn precepts, and now forget them; now receive counsels, now reject them; what within a while we decreed, we overthrow; what a little before pleased us, is now earnestly refused. These things Eustratius considering with himself, and perceiving the cause of alteration of all these things to be derived from the body, saith; that Our soul, when it is joined with it, is as if it should be let down into a water troubled and most swiftly running, whose whirlpools our mind is so far unable to resist, as it is rather most vehemently drawn by them. By which saying we may perceive the great infirmity of mans mind, wherewith he is so holden, as he is not able to rule the violent course of worldly alterations.