A14350:982
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.
38 But some man will object; If we understand that God doth only punish such as do imitate the vices of their forefathers, what need was there to add; Unto the third & fourth [generation,] seeing punishment is to be done always against all sinners, whatsoever they shall be? With this objection Augustine was so troubled, as he said, that By this form of speaking; Unto the third and fourth generation, must be understood all posterity in general, and that a number definite is used for a number infinite: 1for if thou join four unto three, it maketh the number of seven; which is accustomed to be put for any other number. In the like manner he saith, it is written in the prophet Amos; For there wickednesses and for four I will not spare him: and he saith, this is the meaning of that place. If one shall once or twice offend, God may forgive him; but if he shall heap sin upon sin, and so shall proceed to unmeasurable sinfulness, now God cannot forgive him. In this place three or four wickednesses are set down for the continuance of sins: and so God may be said to punish to the third & fourth generation, of them which hate him; when as he will use punishment against all such whatsoever they be. 2But it might be otherwise answered; namely, that God did therefore prescribe the third and fourth generation, to declare his wrath to be tempered and joined with benignity, that he may once stay his torments, and proceed no further forward in punishing. Albeit others there be, which think, that the third & fourth generation is particularly set down; because the posterity, so far forth are led to sin by the evil example of their progenitors: for none of the ancestors doth live past that time; for most commonly they die, when they have seen the fourth descent. Thus we see, that the words of the prophet are nothing at all repugnant unto the law, but do rather interpret the same. For therefore he saith, that the son shall not bear the fathers iniquity, because the law saith, that he doth persecute the sin of the fathers upon the children, if they also do follow the sins of their parents: to the intent, that when they be punished, they may understand that they suffer for their own sins, and not for their parents.
38 But some man will obiect; If we vnderstand that God dooth onelie punish such as doo imitate the vices of their forefathers, what néed was there to adde; Vnto the third & fourth [generation,] séeing punishment is to be doone alwaies against all sinners, whatsoeuer they shall be? With this obiection Augustine was so troubled, as he said, that By this forme of speaking; Vnto the third and fourth generation, must be vnderstood all posteritie in generall, and that a number definite is vsed for a number infinite: