Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 81
PRINCIPLES CONCERNING ETERNALL LYFE. LXXXI.
1 THe Article concerning the Reſurrection of the fleſh, being handled at large in the former principles; we are now at the length come to the expoſition of that which is touching Aeternall life.
2 This Article is therefore ſet laſt in the belief, becauſe it is the end and ſhutting vp of all thoſe things, which are there propounded vntounto vsus to be beleeued.
3 We make life in this place, to be that power and facultie, whereby the ſoule doth not onelie moue it ſelf, but doth alſo giuegive motion & ſenſe vntounto the body: and this latter effect thereof in this life, doth PAVL cal foreign that is, naturall, as being applied vntounto the vſe of this preſent life: of which ſort alſo, was the life of ADAM before his fall, although it was neither ſubject vntounto mortalitie, neither vntounto thoſe things which tend vntounto death, as he was after his fal. But the ſoule being againe ioyned to the bodie, ſhall both moue it ſelf by a farre more excellent power, and ſhall alſo quicken the bodie in a far diuers ſort from that naturall life, which ſhall be done away, namelie, by a ſpirituall life and aequall vntounto the Angels: as alſo the verie bodie ſhall riſe again, endued with far more excellent qualities, whervpon it was called of PAVLE a ſpirituall bodie, not in regard of the ſubſtance, but of the qualities thereof.
4 To liue therfore the etetnall life, is to be in that ſtate wherein the elect, being after the bleſſed reſurrection, moſt fully joyned with Chriſt their head, ſhal know God in heauen, together with the Angels, after a manner altogether vnknowne vntounto vsus at this day, enjoy his preſcence, and glorifie him eternally.
We do therfore juſtlie condemne the error of the CHILIASTES.
5 By the worde ETERNAL in this place, we vnderſtand that which hath a beginning, but neuer ſhall hauehave an end.
6 Touching curious and difficult queſtions, as concerning the ſight of God, which we are to hauehave in the life to come, and ſuch like, wee thinke meete to omitte them, becauſe it is ſufficient for vsus to knowe, that God hath prepared for vsus, thoſe thinges which neither eie hath ſeene, eare hath heard, nor enterd into the hart of man.
7 The Author of that life is God, who freely beſtoweth the ſame vponupon thoſe, whome of his meere merciemercy he hath choſen in Chriſt before the foundation of the world, from whome as from the head, this bleſſed immortallitie dooth flowe in a moſt full ſorte into his members that are joyned vntounto him.
8 For the foundation both of our reſurrection vntounto life, and alſo of that eternall life is that reſurrection and glory of Chriſt our head, becauſe hee is the firſt fruites of the riſing from the deade of thoſe for whome hee prayed, that they ſhould be there where he is.
9 That life therfore is not without reſpect generally beſtowed vponupon all men, but only vpō the elect, as being thoſe who onelie are found in Chriſt according vntounto that ſaying of PAVL, ROM. 11. The elect hauehave obtained it, the reſt are hardened, and according vntounto that voice of Chriſt: Come yea bleſſed of my Father.
10 This bleſſed immortallitie ſhal be common in deed vntounto all the elect, but not in the ſame meaſure as it may be probablie gathered by the conſideration of the contrarie puniſhment of the wicked.
11 The eſpeciall ende for the which eternall life is beſtowed vponupon vsus is this, namly that acknowledging the immeaſurable and infinit mercy of God, wee may attribute vntounto him eternall praiſes as it is meete.
12 We ſhall at the time when God hath appointed, be put in full poſesſion of that life, at which time the number of thoſe that are to bee ſaued being fulfilled, Ieſus Chriſt ſhall be ſeene of vsus, who looke for him to our ſaluation, to come as a redemer from Heauen.
13 Seeing the Lord hath put this day in his own power, to be inquiſitiue when the ſame ſhalbe, is a point of extreame madnes.
We do therefore condemne thoſe both olde and new writers, who breaking into the ſecrets of God, do think that they can ſet downe, when that day ſhall be, whereas the knowledge heereof is not giuen, no not to the Angels themſelues.
14 It is our dutie therefore rather to be watchful, leaſt being drowned with the delightes of the worlde, and the fleſh; and as it were overwhelmed in a dead ſleepe, that laſt day do come vponupon vsus (being vnprepared) at vnawares.
15 Now although the full perfection of that life, which wee hope for, be referred vntounto the very laſt day, yet notwithſtanding, it taketh certaine beginnings in our mindes even while we are heere, when as the holy Ghoſt dooth by the preaching of the worde, diſpell the darcknes of our minde, and indue the ſame with the true knowledge of God, whence afterwarde doth proceed a willing minde to obey his commandements, and that hope which cannot deceaue them that beleeue.
16 VntoUnto this eternall life, which ſhall bring vnſpeakable felicitie vntounto the elect, death eternall is opoſed, which ſhall bring vntounto the wicked that deſtruction, which neuer ſhall hauehave an end.
17 Even as that moſt happie felicitie, cannot nowe be comprehended of vsus: ſo alſo that miſerie of the damned is altogether incomprehenſible.
18 This moſt horrible ſtate is called the ſecond death, not becauſe that, either the ſoul is thereby ſeperated from the bodie, or that the ſoule or the body of the damned do ſuffer death, but becauſe, that as by the firſt death, the body and the ſoul of the wicked is diſſolued, the one of them haſtning vntounto putrefaction, the other going to hauehave a taſt of the eternall paines; even ſo by this ſecond puniſhment both the ſoule and the body are not only wholie excluded for euer from Gods fauor, but alſo adjudged vntounto his moſt fearefull and neuer ending curſe.
19 For the like cauſe is this death called eternall fier, becauſe that fier is a moſt ſharp & vehement puniſhment: but wee are not here curiouſlie, to diſpute touching the paines of Hell, leſt that wee thereby run into poeticall fables.
20 Yet do theſe verie fables teach vsus, that the doctrine concerning the eternall puniſhment, which the wicked are to vnderunder goe euen after this life, did alwaies ſound in the worlde.
The Epicures therefore, and ſuch as deny the immortallitie of the ſoule, are confuted not onelyonly by the word of God, but alſo by common ſenſe.
21 That theſe puniſhments are eternall, whereunto eternall life is opoſed, it is manifeſt by the expreſſe… …ord of God, and alſo by the infinit nature of Gods majeſtie who is offended.
The Church therfore juſtly condemned the Origeniſts, whoe dreamed that the wicked and the Diuells themſelues, hauing fulfilled thoſe puniſhments, ſhould at the length be deliuered.
22 Yet dooth our Sauiour Chriſt manifeſtlie witnes, MAT. 10.13. that the ſtate of the damned in reſpect of the meaſure of their puniſhments ſhall not be alike.
Defended by IAMES TREMVLAEVS of Geneua.
FINIS.