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.

An Oration concerning the Resurrection of Christ.

CHrist in the Prophets is called the Sunne, not onely because it lighteneth, but because it set∣teth & afterward riseth againe: So Christ died and rose againe. He called himselfe a wheate corne which suf∣ficeth not to be sowen, for vnlesse it be cor∣rupted and deade, it brings foorth no fruite: so was it not ynough for Christ to be borne, but he would die, that he might bring foorth fruite. We haue made mention of his death: now will we speake of his resurrection. First we shall sée that Christ is risen: Secondlie that we are risen together with him: Third∣lie what we must now doe being raised vp.

As touching the first, Matthew saith that the women came earlie in the morning. They say that vnto women was first shewed the resurrection, to the intent that they which first brought death into the worlde, might first bring tidings of the resurrection: be∣cause they be weake, and Christ vseth the ministerie of féeble things. Leauing these al∣legations,

we must rather say, that they had earnestly sorrowed at his death, and for a certaine recompence it was good right that they should first reioyce. So do the penitent with sorrow for the death of Christ, especial∣lie because they crucified him, receiue com∣fort. Further they sought Christ, and they which séeke him, lose not their labour. Wherefore if we do not finde Christ, it is for that we do not repent, and because we séeke him not. These women worshipped him while he liued: also they meant to do him the last honours, when he was deade. They did not as doth the world, which first killeth the saintes, and afterwarde worshippeth them when they be deade. Howbeit if we shall speake the trueth, the zeale and feruencie of these women was without faith and with∣out a iust knowledge. They had heard Christ tell them as touching his resurrection, euen as the Angell tolde them nowe: and yet they carried oyntments & confections, as though he shoulde not rise againe: either they belée∣ued verie little, or else they were forgetfull. They were onely mooued of a certaine affec∣tion, but not of faith. Therefore they dealt vnwisely in their iourney. At the length came to their minde the rowling away of the graue stone: which if they had considered of before, they might haue brought one or two men with them. So doth it happen, where the wisedome of faith is not. So did Peter thinke that hee had doone worthily when drawing out his sworde, he cut off the eare of the high Priests seruant. When we deale without faith, manie thinges are foolishlie committed, and oftentimes is giuen to God that which he requireth not: as these women which vainely carried these swéete oynt∣ments with them: and as many at this day vse masses, and choise of meates, and such o∣ther kinde of thinges. An Angel descended from heauen, the testimonies of men wan∣ted, an Angell was present to shewe the re∣surrection. By one and the same worke in the selfe same thing is shewed the state of the life to come. Wee shalbe as the Angels of God, and shining as the sunne: Wherefore the Angel did shine marueilously. There was made an earthquake, because in the re∣surrection is inuerted the nature of things. And it behooued that the kéepers were terri∣fied. The women at the sight of the Angell were afraide, by reason of the discorde which through sinne sprung vp betwéene our na∣ture and the nature of Angels, with whom neuerthelesse we ought to be familiar, for they be our kéepers. This dissention will in∣dure vntill we haue put off our bodie. The kéepers became as it were deade men, they meant to haue kept downe Christ in the graue. So woulde princes at this day by armes and councels haue the gospell to be buried. Let mans counsell breake out, it can preuaile nothing against God, nay rather all things do happen quite otherwise. They meant to terrifie all such as came, and they themselues were made afraid. They inten∣ded to let Christ from comming foorth, and they themselues were let, and became as deade men. The Angell comforteth the wo∣men: Feare ye not. The Godly after feare, doe receiue comfort by Angels, because they speake the words of God, and the worde of God doth comfort vs. The kéepers are not comforted, because they be enimies of God, and in enmitie doe perseuere. He is risen, he is not heere. The bodie of Christ is not eue∣riewhere. Tydings is brought vnto the dis∣ciples. When we haue obtained any good thing we must communicate it with others. He shall goe before into Galile. Yet appeared he vnto them the viij. dayes together where∣in they were to tarry at Ierusalem by reason of the feast. They were to returne into Ga∣lile, because from thence they came. The Lord was oftentimes conuersant with them in that place. Vntill the time of Pentecost it behooued them to returne to Ierusalem: then vpon mount Oliuet they saw him ascend in∣to heauen, and they were commaunded to tarrie at Ierusalem, vntill they should be in∣dued with power from heauen. Nowe that the Lord is risen againe, it appeareth by the testimonie of the Angel, of the women, and of the Euangelist. But in the olde testament wheresoeuer we read that Christ shal reigne for euer, there is shewed his resurrection. In the oppression and deliuerance of the god∣ly, which is read in the olde Testament, we haue the death and resurrection of Christ, not in a figure but truely, because Christ truelie suffereth in his members: As for example, Saule Saule, whie doost thou persecute me? Ionas shewed both, as Christ saith. And Da∣uid saith: Thou shalt not leaue my Soule in hel, nor suffer thy holie one to see corruption. Christ foreshewed the same: Destroy this temple, and in three dayes I will builde it vp againe. And in other places he oftentimes spake of betraying the sonne of man. He prooued his resurrection by appearing the space of fortie daies. He saith to his disciples in Emaus, that Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalmes doe beare witnesse that it behooued Christ should suffer and so enter into his glo∣rie. Vnto the Corin. If Christ be not risen againe, vaine is our preaching and vaine is

your faith. We are founde false witnesses: They that bee deade in Christ are perished. Neither should Christ haue béene the Lorde of the liuing and of the deade. And vnto the Romans it is saide vnto this ende he is risen againe. This much for the first point.

We are risen vp together with him. For to the intent he might shewe this: when hée rose vp, he had manie bodies of the saintes with him which appeared vnto others. Fur∣ther he rose not to himselfe but vnto others, vnto vs I meane, séeing hee is our head. If he himself be risen, the members also are rai∣sed vp with him. Example of those that bee drowned in the waters. To the Rom. Seeing he hath giuen his sonne, howe shall hee not with him giue all thinges? But and if he haue giuen all thinges, hee hath also giuen resur∣rection. Vnto the Ephesians: When ye were dead in your sinnes he quickened you toge∣ther with him, and not onelie quickened you, but also made you to sit together on the right hand in the heauenlie places. And in the same Epistle to the Ephesians, What is the excee∣ding greatnes of his power towards vs which beleue according to y^e working of his mightie power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the deade, &c. Furthermore he is risen vp vnto vs, and sitteth at the right hande of the father and obtaineth for vs the spirite, which was in him the beginning of the resurrection. For vnto the Romanes it is saide: If the spirite of him which raised vp Christ from the deade doe dwell in you, hee will quicken also your mortall bodies, be∣cause of the spirit that dwelleth in you. Also vnto the Romanes the sixt Chapter, Likewise thinke yee also that ye are deade to sinne, but are aliue to God in Christ Iesus. Weare all dead through Adam, and doe presentlie taste of death. Wherefore if we will not make Christ to bee worser than Adam, let vs saie that he also gaue a newe life which we maie now presentlie tast. Christ is the first fruits of them that rise againe, as it is saide vnto the Corinthians. First fruites doe not so goe before other fruites, but that they be to∣gether with them, indéede they be not ripe, but yet they are nowe extant: so likewise our resurrection, although it be not ripe, yet is it. And as Christ by Baptisme hath drawen vs with him into his death and buriall, so hath he drawen vs out vnto life. This doeth the dipping into the water and the issuing foorth againe signifie, when we are baptised. It is saide vnto the Romanes: But and if wee con∣fesse the Lorde Iesus to haue risen from the dead, wee shall be saued. Wherefore the re∣surrection of Christ pertayneth to our resur∣rection. For we cannot be saued, vnlesse we be pertakers of the same. Hee was deliuered to death for our sinnes, and rose againe for our iustification &c. If ye bee risen together with Christ, seeke ye those thinges which are aboue, &c. The minor proposition must bee added. But ye are risen together with Christ, therefore ye ought to seeke those things that be aboue. He that beleeueth in the sonne hath eternall life. By hope wee are saued. Howbeit we are yet still after a sort vnder death. Nei∣ther doe we saie, as doe the Libertines, that the resurrection is alreadie past: wee onelie affirme that it is begunne. For God bringeth not by and by vnto the high and perfect de∣grée, he first giueth certaine entrances and beginninges. Before that Moses colde be declared captaine of the people of God, if we shall giue credite to Iosephus, he cast vppon the ground the diademe of Pharao, and trode it vnder his féete, he slewe an Egyptian, and made peace betwéene the Israelites: whereby is declared that hee was partaker of his vo∣cation, although it were not as yet fullie re∣uealed. Also Dauid being a childe slew Ly∣ons and Beares, and being a young man kil∣led Goliath: whereby he beganne nowe to bée a partaker of the gouernment of the Is∣raelites, although he were not declared king. So wee, although we haue not as yet obtey∣ned a perfect resurrection, yet are we conuer∣sant therein.

Now must we sée wherein this resurrec∣tion of ours standeth. First in good woorkes, which are nothing else but enterances and beginninges of eternall life. They are de∣grées whereby God draweth vs vnto a per∣fect life. They are no merites but pathes and imperfect beginninges. We are debters not to liue after the fleshe, but after the spi∣rite: for if according to the spirite yee morti∣fie the deedes of the fleshe, yee shall liue. Mortifie your members which bee vppon the earth. And those doeth Paul expresse to bee Fornication, couetousnesse, and Idolatrie, &c. And our olde man the more he is destroi∣ed, the more hee is euerie daie renewed. Also in the seconde Epistle to the Corinthians: He died for all men, that hee which nowe li∣ueth maie not liue to himselfe, but vnto him which died for vs. Whereuppon Paul: I liue, yet not I nowe, but Christ liueth in mee. We must take héede that not onelie we testifie in woordes that Christ is risen againe, but to shewe that hee is also risen againe in vs. Christ when he was risen againe, entered into the glorie of the father, that we in this resurrection begun, might prooue our selues to be the children of God, as we bée. Where∣fore

it is saide vnto the Romanes: Christ is defined or rather declared to bee the sonne of God, by his rising againe from the dead. All things are subdued vnto Christ: so ought we to ouercome all thinges and to faint in nothing. Let vs stande out in temptations and triumph ouer our tribulations. Christ is aboue, and let our conuersation be in hea∣uen. Finallie let vs perseuere: For in that Christ dyed, he died once and death hath no more dominion ouer him, &c.

Notes

• Ioh. 12. 24.
• The resur∣rection of Christ. Matt. 28. 1.
• Mark. 16. 3.
• Mat. 26. 51.
• Against the vbiquitie of Christs bodie.
• Acts. 1. 4. &c.
• Acts. 9. 4. Mat 12. 40 Psal. 16. 10
• Iohn. 2. 19.
• Mat. 17. 22.
• Acts. 1. 3.
• Luk. 24. 26.
• 1. Co. 15. 14
• Mat. 27. 52
• Rom. 8. 32.
• Ephe. 2. 1.
• Ephe. 1. 19.
• Rom. 8. 11.
• Verse. 11.
• 1. Co. 15. 20
• Rom. 10. 9.
• Rom. 4. 25.
• Col. 3. 1. Iohn. 3. 36. Rom. 8. 24.
• 1. Sa. 17. 34 Ib. ver. 49.
• Rom. 8. 12.
• Col. 3. 5.
• 2. Cor. 5. 15
• Rom. 1. 4.
• Col. 3. 1.
• Rom. 6. 10.