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Common Places

Name: Common Places
Author: Pietro Martire Vermigli

Pietro Martire Vermigli 1583

Vermigli's comprehensive theological commonplaces systematically organizing Reformed doctrine across four principal divisions with extensive doctrinal and practical discourses.

EEBO-TCP A14350 (TEI), original spelling, printed page numbers. EEBO 99853089; STC/Wing STC 24669; ESTC S117880

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, from p. 1, in the spelling of this edition.

p. 1Of the ends of good and euill among the Christians. The first Chapter.

[Out of the Epistle to the Rom. Chap. 8, verse. 25.] AVGVSTINE in his 19. booke De Ciuitate Dei, the fourth Chapter, very wel declareth, how Christian hope is caried vnto those good things, [Hope is caried to inuisible things.] which cannot be séen. For if thou askest (saith hée) a faithfull man, what he maketh to be the end of good and euill things, he will answere; Life and death euerlasting: [The ends that a faithfull man putteth.] which things can not be séene, nor comprehended by mans reason. And therefore the wise men among the Ethnikes being puffed vp with pride, would not settle their hope vpon those things. For which cause, some held, that the ends of good things, are the goods of the mind; some the goods of the bodie, and some, either vertue, pleasure, or both ioined togither. But GOD laughed them to scorne, and sawe how vaine their cogitations were. For they would rather account those things for the chéefe good, which be tempered with manie miseries and calamities, than to receiue those sincere, perfect, and most firme things, which are offered by the word of God. For who can woorthilie expresse, vnto what miserable and horrible mischances this bodie of ours is cast out? It is sicke, it is wounded, it is dissolued, made crooked, torne, and maimed. Oftentimes men become blind, oftentimes deafe. And as touching the mind, they are oftentimes mad, oftentimes frantike, and they that most labour about the truth, can not attaine to the knowledge of the same, without intermingling of infinite errours. How could the Ethnikes boast of vertues, [Naturall vertues are testimonies of our calamities. The end of temperance.] as the chéefe good things, séeing we haue them as witnesses of our calamities? To what purpose serueth temperance, which is therefore giuen, to bridle drunkennes, gluttonie, lusts, and the foule and shamefull motions of the mind? For these things declare, that it hath no place, but in minds, which be yet subiect to corruption. The which corruption, the more inward it is, the more miserable it maketh vs: and, as a domesticall enimie, violentlie assaileth the secret parts of our harts. These affections (saith Augustine) are vices: [Rom. 7, 19.] bicause (as Paule saith) they hinder vs, that we cannot doo those things which we would. Besides, [The end of wisedome.] what is the part of wisedome, but to foresée, that by errour we be not deceiued in the choise of good things, and auoiding of euill? Certainlie, if we were not bewrapped in errours and darknes, we should not néed of this remedie. But séeing it is vsed, it argueth, that men are not yet happie; but are folded in great and gréeuous errours, vnlesse wisedome doo helpe on euerie side. Also iustice, [The end of iustice.] whereby euerie man commeth by his owne, is necessarie for none other cause, but to suppresse robberies, extortions, and violent dealings. And yet, neither can p. 2that so preuaile among men, but that iust and honest men oftentimes suffer manie things, both shamefullie and vniustlie. [The end of fortitude.] Now what shall we speake of fortitude? The same doubtlesse armeth men patientlie to abide all sorrowes, dangers, torments; yea and death it selfe, if necessitie shall require. Among those so great euils, these wise fellowes durst appoint the chéefe goodnes. Which euils neuertheles, they said might sometime be so increased, as a man may kill himselfe. Oh happie life (crieth Augustine) that séeketh the helpe of death to finish it! For if it be happie, why doo they cut it off, and shun it? But if it be miserable, why doo they place in it the chéefe goodnes? Thus are they derided of God, bicause they despised that hope, which is neither séene, nor attained vnto by mans reason. And bicause they mocked it, when they heard it preached in the woord, therfore hath God, by his heauenlie doctrine, condemned them, as fooles & ridiculous persons.

p. 2[Out of the Preface vpon the Epistle to the Romans.] 2 Another sort doubtlesse, perceiuing the often fallings into wickednesse, and that of verie excellent men, thought by their religious procurements; yea rather by their superstitions, and worshippings deuised of themselues, to cause God to be fauourable vnto them; of whom afterward they might obtaine all good things. [The commō opinion of the chiefest good. The Philosophers puffed vp thorough their knowledge of naturall things.] And this for the most part was the opinion of the common people: who after a sort iudged not so euill as did the Philosophers. For these men were so puffed vp in the pride of their vertues, and ciuill duties, and with the knowleges of natural things, that they thought these things to be sufficient vnto themselues for the obteining of felicitie. But the common people were not ignorant both of the filthines of sinnes, and of the dailie offendings of the Maiestie of God. Wherefore they thought it good to flie vnto religions, the which since they had them not pure and vncorrupt, they fell into idolatrie. [The Hebrues opinion of the chiefest good.] And here came in the Hebrue people among them, and tooke part with both. For by reason of the ten commandements, they boasted that they had the summe of all vertues among them: and that if they fell at anie time from them, they had ceremonies prepared for them, whereby they might make satisfaction. Against these things Paule disputeth in his Epistle to the Romanes, [Paules iudgement concerning the chiefest good.] and sheweth, that it cannot be, that we should obtaine righteousnes by morall or naturall duties: bicause as well the Iewes, as the Gentiles, doo not in their life and maners expresse so much, as they acknowledge that the lawe of nature, or Moses lawe requireth. …

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HONI SOIT MAL Y PENSE E Rp. 1
Of the ends of good and euill among the Christians. The first Chapter.p. 1
The second Chapter. Of the naturall knowledge of God by the things…p. 10
The third Chapter. Concerning Prophesie; out of the first of Samuel…p. 17
The fourth Chapter. Of Visions; and how, and how much God may bee…p. 24
The fift Chapter. Of Dreames; chieflie out of the booke of Iudges…p. 32
The sixt Chapter. Of the holie scriptures; out of the Preface vpon…p. 39
An exhortation to the reading of the scriptures.p. 44
Of Historie.p. 48
The seuenth Chapter. Whether yong and incontinent men, and finallie…p. 52
The eight Chapter. Of Lots, whereby Gods counsell was asked: and…p. 58
Of forespeaking or foretelling; called Omen.p. 61
The ninth Chapter. Of Miracles; and what power they be of to…p. 62
The tenth Chapter. Of appeerings of diuels; of their answers, and…p. 72
VVhether the diuell can appeare, and knowe things to come, and giue…p. 77
VVhether it be lawfull to aske counsell of the Diuell, and to vse his…p. 90
The eleuenth Chapter. Of a good intent, zeale, prescription, and…p. 92
Of Prescription and Custome.p. 96
The twelfe Chapter. Of sundrie things attributed vnto God, and the…p. 99
VVhether the holie Ghost be God.p. 103
The xiij. Chapter. Of the creation of all things; wherein is…p. 110
Of Angels and their creation.p. 111
Of the estate of man; Jn Gen. 2, verse 7.p. 121
Of Paradise.p. 125
Of the long life of the Fathers.p. 126
Of Giants.p. 128
The xiiij. Chapter. Of Felicitie in generall, and of the cheefest…p. 132
Of Pleasure, and wherein it may concur with the cheefest good, and…p. 134
Of Honour, that it is not the cheefest good; but wherein it…p. 141
Of certeine good things attending vpon Felicitie; namelie, riches…p. 145
Of contemplation, and what Felicitie is therein.p. 149
That vertue is not the cheefest good; and wherein the same agreeth…p. 150
Of the causes of Felicitie.p. 154
The xv. Chapter. Whether anie man can be counted happie, while he…p. 158
The xvj. Chapter. Of Prouidence; vpon Genesis the 28. chapter, verse…p. 167
The .xvij. Chapter. Whether God be the Author of sinne; out of the…p. 176
VVe haue added these few things out of the like place vpon the first…p. 201
An other discourse of the same argument.p. 205
The xviij. Chapter. How it may be said, that God dooth repent, and…p. 206
How it could be said to Saule, that his kingdome should be…p. 208
Of Temptation.p. 210
The first Chapter. Of Sinne, especiallie originall sinne; and of the…p. 213
These things I thought good to adde out of the fift to the Romans…p. 241
That sinne is the cause of death.p. 246
How by Sinne all things are subiect vnto vanitie.p. 247
The second Chapter. Of Free will.p. 252
These things which followe are taken out of the like place vpon the…p. 275
Of Voluntarie and Not voluntarie.p. 280
Of that which is Voluntarie.p. 289
Of mans Election, or making of choise.p. 293
The third Chapter. Of the Lawe.p. 280
Of Philosophie, and of the comparison hereof, especiallie morall…p. 300
Necessarie rules aswell for the expounding, as for obeieng of the…p. 304
The fourth Chapter. Of Idolatrie, forbidden by the first Commandement.p. 307
VVhether it be lawfull for Christians to dwell among Infidels.p. 309
Of the Iewes.p. 328
Of Heresies.p. 330
VVhat is, to tempt God.p. 332
Of Curiositie.p. 332
The fift Chapter. The second Precept, which concerneth Images.p. 333
Of Cherubim.p. 356
Of humane sacrifices.p. 359
The establishing of the second commandement; whether the child shall…p. 362
The sixt Chapter. The third Precept; of the sanctification of the…p. 368
The seuenth Chapter. The fourth precept; of sanctifieng the sabboth…p. 374
The eight Chapter. The fift precept; of the honouring of Superiours.p. 377
Of Ambition.p. 381
Of desire of Praise.p. 382
Of Flatterie.p. 383
The ninth Chapter. Wherein is treated vpon the sixt precept; and…p. 384
Of Homicide, or Manslaughter.p. 385
Of the fact of Elias, and that a peruerse imitating of him must be…p. 386
VVhether Helias did well, in killing of the Baalits.p. 388
Of Parricide or slaieng of parents.p. 390
Of Sword-plaie.p. 390
VVhether it be lawfull for anie man to kill himselfe.p. 391
Of resisting of violence.p. 397
Of curssings, imprecations, or bannings.p. 397
How far it may be lawfull to reioise in our enimies ouerthrowe.p. 400
Of a cursse.p. 403
Of Affects, or affections in generall; out of the Commentaries vpon…p. 405
Of some of the Affects seuerallie.p. 411
Of Shamefastnes.p. 411
Of Temperance.p. 412
Of Mercie, and the affect called Nemesis.p. 412
Of Crueltie.p. 414
Of Enuie.p. 416
Of Emulation.p. 417
Of Reuenge.p. 417
The tenth Chapter. The seuenth precept; Thou shalt not commit…p. 418
Of Polygamie, or the hauing of more wiues than one.p. 321
Of Barrennesse.p. 430
VVhether it be lawfull for children to marrie without the consent of…p. 431
Of Rauine, or violent taking awaie.p. 437
VVhether marriages be lawfull betweene persons of diuers religions.p. 442
Of Degrees forbidden to make contract in marriage.p. 447
VVhether anie dispensation may be made in degrees of kindred…p. 453
Of Dowries; In the Commentaries vpon Iudges, the first chapter, and…p. 454
Of Diuorsements, and putting awaie of wiues.p. 457
The eleuenth Chapter. Of Whoredome, fornication, adulterie, and other…p. 468
Of Bastards, and children vnlawfullie borne.p. 475
Of Adulterie.p. 478
Of Idlenesse, and other intisements vnto wickednes.p. 479
Of the punishments of Adulterie.p. 482
Of the reconciliation of man and wife after adulterie committed.p. 495
Of VVine and Droonkennesse.p. 497
Of Danses.p. 504
Of Garments and Apparell.p. 506
Of Counterfet, Fuke, or false colouring.p. 507
The twelfe Chapter. ¶ The eight commandement; Thou shalt not steale.…p. 517
Of well dooing, and Hospitalitie.p. 518
Of benefiting and vnthankfulnesse.p. 523
Of Plaies or Pastimes.p. 524
Of Gentlenesse and affabilitie.p. 528
The. 13. Chapter. The ninth Precept; Thou shalt not beare false…p. 528
Of suspicions.p. 533
Of mocking and tawnting.p. 534
Of Deceipt or Guile.p. 534
VVhether Guile be lawfull for the rooting out of Idolatrie and…p. 539
Of Dissimulation.p. 541
Of Truth, and of a Lie: which place is treated of In Iudges 3. and…p. 542
VVhether it be lawfull to lie, for preseruing the life of our…p. 546
VVhether for modestie sake it be lawfull to lie; vpon the second of…p. 547
VVhether faith must be kept toward him that breaketh his promise.p. 548
Of a Fable and Apollogie.p. 550
The xiiij. Chapter. The last precept; Thou shalt not lust. Wherein is…p. 551
Of the comparison betweene sinnes.p. 553
Of Salutations.p. 560
The xv. Chapter. VVhether the commandement of God be so set foorth…p. 562
VVhether we ought by rewards, to be moued to the obedience of God.p. 573
Of the vse and abrogating of the lawe.p. 575
The xvj. Chapter. Of the likenesse and vnlikenesse of the Old and New…p. 582
The xvij. Chapter. Of Christ, and his manifestation in the flesh; and…p. 599
The xviij. Chapter. A plaine exposition of Peter Martyr, vpon the…p. 612
Fiue other principall points belonging to the person of the sonne.p. 614
Conceiued of the holie Ghost, borne of the virgine Marie.p. 616
He suffered vnder Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, buried…p. 617
He was buried, he descended into hell.p. 620
He rose againe the third daie, he ascended into heauen, he sitteth at…p. 621
From thence he shall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead.p. 625
I beleeue in the holie Ghost.p. 627
I beleeue in the holie catholike church, the communion of Saints, &c.p. 629
The remission of sinnes.p. 634
The Resurrection of the flesh.p. 636
The life euerlasting.p. 638
The first Chapter. Of Predestination. Vpon the ninth chapter to the Romans, at the latter…p. 1
VVhether God would kill or destroie anie man.p. 42
The second Chapter. Of the calling of God, and of his grace.p. 44
Of Grace.p. 48
How grace and works are vnto eternall life.p. 50