A14350:912
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.
But to give a more colourable show to this his devise, 1he bringeth a similitude of a most liberal prince, who not only giveth freedom to a servant of his; but also endues him with lordship, and heaps of riches, the which also should come to his posterity. And he only chargeth him faithfully to observe certain commandments of his, the which he transgressing, knoweth that all those riches and preferments shall be taken from him, and he to return to his old bondage again. This servant, as an undiscreet and ungrateful person, breaketh the princes commandment; whereby not only himself is become a servant, as before he was, but also his seed borne unto him become bond-slaves. He saith, that those children have nothing wherefore they should complain of bondage to their prince; but rather to give thanks, that he had so liberally showed himself to their fathers: but that as concerning their father, they may grievously sorrow, because he lost those benefits, as well from himself, as from his posterity. Yea, & what if this also be added; namely, that the princes liberality was so great, as he invited the posterity of that ungrateful servant, to the very same, & much greater preferments; & so invited them, as frankly he sent his own son to provoke them? Even so (saith he) standeth our matter. ⟨p. 217⟩Adam was so created of God, that he was capable of that supernatural felicity; who nevertheless setting light by the commandments of God, was despoiled of all those supernatural gifts, and was left to the first state of his own nature. And in the same state we also are procreated, and so for his sin are we damned, do die, and are banished out of the kingdom of heaven, suffering many discommodities, which are derived from the originals of our nature. Wherefore we may complain of our first parents, but not of God; for he was most liberal unto him: and especially, seeing he calleth us again unto himself (which is the highest felicity) by his only son, and him would have to suffer death for our salvation.
But to giue a more colourable shew to this his deuise, 1he bringeth a similitude of a most liberall prince, who not onelie giueth fréedome to a seruant of his; but also indueth him with lordship, and heapes of riches, the which also should come to his posteritie. And he onelie chargeth him faithfullie to obserue certeine commandements of his, the which he transgressing, knoweth that all those riches and preferments shall be taken from him, and he to returne to his old bondage againe. This seruant, as an vndiscréet and vngratefull person, breaketh the princes commandement; whereby not onlie himselfe is become a seruant, as before he was, but also his séed borne vnto him become bond-slaues. He saith, that those children haue nothing wherefore they should complaine of bondage to their prince; but rather to giue thanks, that he had so liberallie shewd himself to their fathers: but that as concerning their father, they may gréeuouslie sorowe, bicause he lost those benefits, as well from himself, as from his posteritie. Yea, & what if this also be added; namelie, that the princes liberalitie was so great, as he inuited the posteritie of that vngratfull seruant, to the verie same, & much greater preferments; & so inuited them, as franklie he sent his owne sonne to prouoke them? Euen so (saith he) standeth our matter.