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 wandering Spirits.

23 Furthermore, * 1.1 the spirits of them that be dead, wander not here and there vpon the earth, (as Chrysostome verie well taught in his se∣cond homilie of Lazarus, * 1.2 and vpon the eight chapter of Matthew, the 29. homilie) where he de∣mandeth the cause, whie those possessed with the diuell, which are there spoken of, are said to haue dwelt in the graues. And he testifieth, that in his time there was an ill opinion, by which the spi∣rits of them that died of a violent death, were thought to be turned into wicked spirits, and were seruiceable and obedient vnto them, which had béene authors of the murther. And he saith, that the diuell feigned these things; first, that he might obscure the glorie of the martyrs; as though that their soules after death became di∣uels. Further, by this persuasion he brought the coniurers and soothesaiers cruellie to kill chil∣dren, and yong men; as if they should haue their soules for bondslaues. Howbeit, these things (as that verie learned father testifieth) are altoge∣ther

repugnant to the holie scriptures, which saie; * 1.3 that The soules of the righteous are in the hand of God. And vndoubtedlie Christ said vn∣to the théefe; * 1.4 This daie shalt thou be with me in paradise. And of the rich man, who inlarged wide his barns; * 1.5 This daie shall they take thy soule frō thee. And of the soule of Lazarus it is written; That by the angels it was carried into the bo∣some of Abraham: and contrariewise, the soule of the rich man is described to haue béene tor∣mented with flames in hell; who when he de∣sired to haue some man to be sent vnto his bre∣thren, might not obteine the same. But if it were lawfull for soules, seuered from their bodies, to wander about in the world, either he himselfe might haue come to his brethren; or else he could haue obteined the same of some other spirit. * 1.6 Ouer this, Paule said, that He desi∣red to be loosed, and to be with Christ. And Stee∣uen, * 1.7 being at the point of death, praied; Lord re∣ceiue my spirit.

* 1.8 I knowe indéed, that Gregorie writeth in his dialogs; that There be certeine spirits of the dead, appointed to serue in common baths, and to practise some harder exercises abroad in the world. But bicause that booke conteineth manie tales, I therefore thinke it better to beléeue Chrysostome, who dealeth by the scriptures. A∣gaine, he also prooueth, that that peruerse opini∣on is against reason: for he saith; If it should be lawfull for soules, after this life, to wander a∣broad in the world, they would much more easilie returne to their owne bodies. Nor is it agréea∣ble vnto reason, that wicked men for parricide should carrie awaie a benefit; namelie, to haue the spirits of them (whom they haue cruellie slaine) to be seruiceable vnto them at their owne pleasure. * 1.9 And euen as it cannot be, that the bo∣die of a man should be turned into the bodie of an a•…•…e; so it is vnpossible, that the soule of a man should be turned into the nature and sub∣stance of an ill spirit. And when as euill spirits by vsing of coniurations are demanded what they be, and they answer, that they are the soule of this or that man, who be alreadie departed; he saith, that there must be no credit giuen vnto them: for their testimonie must not be of anie value, séeing they be infamous. And therefore Paule (as we haue it in the Acts of the apostles, the 16. chapter) when an euill spirit witnessed that those men were the seruants of the liuing God, and preached the saluation of men; he re∣buked the spirit, and commanded the same to si∣lence. And Christ reiected the testimonie of the diuell, who said, that he knew him, &c. And not without cause: for the diuell is a deceiuer, and among true things, which he somtime speaketh, he mingleth manie false. So as he must not be credited vpon any shew of truth, seing he is not commanded by God to teach men, or to preach saluation vnto them. These things are written by Chrysostome, in the places now alledged. Whereby may be confuted the fables of those men, which feigne, that the soules of the saints doo stand, and are present abroad in the world at their sepulchres and reliks, to giue helpe vnto those, which call vpon them. For that father la∣boureth to prooue, that soules seuered from the•• bodies doo not wander abroad vpon the earth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In 1. Kin. 12
• * 1.2

  Chrysost.
• * 1.3

  Wisd. 3, 1.
• * 1.4

  Luk. 23, 43.
• * 1.5

  Luk. 16, 22.
• * 1.6

  Phil. 1, 23.
• * 1.7

  Acts. 7, 59.
• * 1.8

  The opini∣on of Gre∣gorie tou∣ching souls departed.
• * 1.9

  A simili∣tude.