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.

Necessarie.

[proposition 1] IN the holie scriptures there séemeth contrari∣etie attributed to the lawe of God, according as it is taken either by it selfe, or by the acci∣dent; or else, as it is considered perfect & whole, or otherwise maimed and vnperfect. When it is taken by it selfe and perfect, that is, not without Christ and faith, then it is said to be spirituall, quickening, and comfortable: but contrarie∣wise, if it be vnderstood as it dooth happen, and not whole; that is, without faith and Christ, it is said to bring damnation, death, the wrath of God, and such like euils.

[proposition 2] The works of the lawe must not be vtterlie denied to be the causes of our righteousnes and saluation; but it must be denied, that they be the principall and whole causes of these good things: the mercie of God in verie déed is the chéefe and verie true cause of our iustification.

[proposition 3] The works of the lawe, yea and faith it selfe, when it is vnderstood by it selfe, that is, seueral∣lie from Christ, and the mercie of God, as they procéed from vs, they haue alwaies sinne ioined with them, yea and they be sinnes.

[proposition 4] If we take the lawe without Christ, there shall we sée commanded vs things vnpossible, and such as stir vp ill affections.

[proposition 5] Séeing God ioined the Gospell with the lawe, it behooueth vs that we receiue the same in such wise as it is giuen vs by him, so that we sepa∣rate not the one from the other.

[proposition 6] Albeit that the lawe cannot be fullie kept of anie mortall man in this life, yet must not the promises of the lawe be accounted vaine.

[proposition 7] The works of the lawe declare righteousnesse by that which followeth, that is by an argument which bringeth in the cause by the effect: and by the continuall vse of those works we obteine righteousnesse, whereby nature is restored and made perfect; but yet are we not iustified before God with it by it selfe.

[proposition 8] Albeit that the works of the lawe are said to iustifie by another thing, that is, by faith annex∣ed therevnto, yet is it not accidentallie, bicause the knitting togither of faith with works is of it selfe.

[proposition 9] The ciuill and morall lawes of the old people be abrogated, not as touching the substance, but as touching the maner, obseruations, or cir∣cumstances; but the morall part remaineth sim∣plie in his owne strength, yet may it in some re∣spect be said to be abrogated, bicause it condem∣neth not the faithfull; secondlie, bicause it is not gréeuous vnto them, séeing willinglie and of their owne accord they bend themselues there∣vnto.

[proposition 10] Euerie faithfull man according to the propor∣tion of his faith is partaker of this deliuerance from the lawe.

[proposition 11] Such is the vse of the lawe among the faith∣full, as they preach the same vnto the vnbelée∣uers: further, that by it they stir vp themselues to repentance, and renew themselues to good works, and to a better life.

[proposition 12]

The law of God requireth thrée maner of per∣fections in our works. First, that what we doo outwardlie, it be honest: secondlie, that we doo this willinglie, and of our owne accord: lastlie, that by a good and spirituall motion we refer all this vnto God.

[proposition 13] We must by the discretion of the law of God, not by our owne iudgement, determine of that which is honest, and that which is dishonest, or of the goodnesse and naughtinesse of our owne actions.