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.

Of Comelinesse, and order in the Church.

* 1.1 19 But Paule in the first to the Co∣rinthians the 14. Chapter, added a verie ex∣cellent conclusion; to wit, That all things be done decently and in order. But that parti∣cle, Decently, must be rightly vnderstood, least we should thinke that this comelinesse con∣sisteth in instruments of silke, in vessels of golde and siluer, in cuppes set with precious stones, in the ringing of Bels, in swéete per∣fumes, & in y^e shining of lights. They which boast of these things as decent, fall into the false argument which Aristotle calleth A se∣cundum quid ad simpliciter, * 1.2 that is, From that which is in some respect, to y^t which is abso∣lute. Comelie we graunt these things to be: howbeit vnto the eyes of the bodie, vnto the sense of the flesh, and to the iudgement of the world: which things we must rather denie than follow. * 1.3 The comelinesse which in these things is required, consisteth in mortificati∣on, holines, modestie, contempt of the world, and especially in edification. Let it not be ob∣iected vnto vs, * 1.4 that God in y^e old Testament required of vs these outward ornaments: * 1.5 as golde, siluer, precious stones, &c. For these things were conuenient for that time and age, when the people of God was vnskilfull, and were detained as infants vnder the ru∣diments of this world. Nowe hath Christ brought a more perfect state, therefore in his Church we must retaine those things which of themselues be decent, not those which for some certaine time were méete for the people of God being newlie sprong vp. Also he wil∣leth that all things should be done in order, that is, without confusion. For it is order where some things doe fitlie goe before and follow one another. * 1.6 For Augustine De Ciui∣tate Dei defined it: Order is a disposing of things that be like and vnlike, giuing to eue∣rie one their proper places. In a Church let there be Doctors, Disciples, People, a Pa∣stor, Elders. And in rites, let some things be set before, and other things follow after, so that in euery place nothing be done vnorder∣ly or confusedlie,

Notes

• * 1.1

  In 1. Co. 14 at the end.
• * 1.2

  A false ar∣gument.
• * 1.3

  What come¦linesse is required in the seruice of God.
• * 1.4

  Exod. 25.
• * 1.5

  The orna∣ments of gold & sil∣uer &c. were conuenient for the olde law, & why?
• * 1.6

  A definition of order by Augustine.