Fifty Sermons Containing the Chief Points of the Christian Religion, Sermons 3 · 4 (cont.) · Sermon 10

Fifty Sermons Containing the Chief Points of the Christian Religion · Sermons 3 · 4 (cont.) · Sermon 10

p. 754Of the reaſonable Soule of man, and of his moſt certeine ſaluation after the death of his bodie.

The tenth Sermon.

ALl men doe confeſſe that the reaſonable ſoule of man hathe affinitie or likeneſſe with ſpirites, neither is there any wiſeman, as I thinke, which doth denie that the knowledge of the reaſonable ſoule of man, wherof the Scripture teacheth ſo many thinges, and that too ſo diligently, is p. 755moſte wholeſome and neceſſarie to all the godly: the order therfore, the profite and the verie neceſſitie alſo of thinges doe require, that I ſpeake ſomewhat likewiſe of the reaſonable ſoule of man: wherein I will follow the plaineneſſe of the ſcripture, and of the interpretours thereof, leauing phyſicall or naturall poyntes vntounto them to be expounded, vntounto whom it belongeth by duetie and profeſſion: ſauing that we will ſo farre deale in them as wee cannot want them in this diſcourſe of oures. The holy ſcripture and the interpretours therof, neither moue curious queſtions of the ſoule of man, neither doe they ſatiſfie curious heads, when they deſire to knowe thoſe thinges, whiche cannot be declared, or if they coulde, yet it would alwayes ſéeme vntounto thē that nothing were vntounto them more aptly ſpoken, for they alwayes ſtagger, they are alwayes learning and yet doubte, they neuor come to the knowledge of the truthe with a quiet minde, they neuer abide in the plaine trueth when it is found, they ſearche after other & many more & ſubtiler matters than they vnderſtand. But we know y^t all things whiche are neceſſarie and for our ſaluatiō are ſimplie & plainely deliuered in the holy ſcripturs, & that we muſt ſimply godlily, & religiouſly reſt in them: therefore thoſe things that are not deliuered in thē (touching y^t matter of our ſaluation) we know y^t they are not to be ſought after of vsus, & that they hinder not our ſaluation if we be ignorāt of them. The word Anima (whiche we call ſoule) is diuerſly taken in The word Anima, (which we call ſoule) is diuerſlie taken.y^e holy ſcripture. Firſt of all (Anima) y^t ſoule is takē for eueryevery liuing thing For Moſes bringeth in the lord ſpeaking, Let the earth bring forth liuing creature after his kinde, catel, worme, & beaſt of the earth after his kinde. For who knoweth not that there are reckoned thrée kindes or parts (giuegive me leaue ſo to ſpeake for inſtruction ſake) or thrée principal powers of the ſouls? for there is y^• ſoule vegetatiue whiche worketh in plants. There is the ſoule ſenſitiue which is not without the ſoule vegetatiue, & it giueth life to brute beaſts, and other creaturs indued with life & féeling. There is alſo the reaſonable ſoule wherwith men are indued, whiche is furniſhed with many powers or abilities, and comprehendeth both y^• other. Hereof The ſoule is breath and life.(Anima) the ſoule is taken in y^e ſcripture for breath which men drawe in and let go againe, & alſo for the life of mā, or of a liuing creature. Thus we read (Anima eius, &c.) His life is in him. And, I wil doe thee no more harme (ſaith Saul to Dauid) becauſe (Anima mea) my life was precious in thine eyes this day. The Grecians cal Actes. 20.Acts 20(Anima) the ſoule foreign, as it were foreign, becauſe by drawing breth it refreſheth. The Hebricians call it Naephaeſeh, of comforting. Again (Anima) the ſoule is taken in the ſcriptures Soule is taken for man.for the thing it ſelfe y^t hath life, yea euen for any, or rather for the whole man. For it is ſaid in the law, The ſoule that worketh with a ſpirit, Leuit. 20.Lev 20or that is a ſouthſayer, ſhall die. Likewiſe in Paule we reade, Let eueryevery Rom. 13.Rom 13ſoule be ſubiect to the higher power. And again in Geneſis the king of Sodome ſaith to Abraham, GiueGive me the ſoules, & take the ſubſtance or goods Gen. 14.Gen 14to thy ſelfe. For the ſcripture is wont to name the whole by a part. For as by the ſoule he meanes y^t whole man, rehearſing the nobler part, ſo by fleſh alſo he ſignifies the whole baſer part. Moreouer ſince man, & alſo other liuing creatures hauehave an appetitiue or p. 756deſiring ſoule is vſed in the ſcripture for affection, wil deſire, or luſt. For Soule a …eſire.Ezechiel ſaith, They ſhal not ſatiſfie their ſoules (In Dutch, Sy werdend iren …. 7.gluſt n…t buffen) Noither ſhal their bellies be filled. Laſtly (Anima) y^• ſoule ſignifieth y^• reaſonable ſoule of man. Soule is the ſpirite of man.Whereof we will intreate (God aſſiſting) at this preſent. Yet here I cannot diſſemble, that among verie famous writers there is controuerſie (De anima, & animo) aboute the ſoule and the minde, whether they are one and the ſelfe ſame, or diuerſe, and that there are reaſons on bothe ſides. They that make a difference The ſoule …nd mindebetwéene them, ſay, that by the ſoule we liue, and that with the minde we vnderſtand: which thing Lactantius ſaith in his eightéenth cha. De opiſi…o Dei. I know that all the beſt & moſte approued writers vſe them bothe indifferently, and take the one for the other. For we muſt not thinke that there are two ſoules in man. For verie That there is but one ſoule.well hauehave the ſchooſe definitions defined vttering theſe wordes in y^• 15. cha. We do not ſay that there are two ſoules in one ma, as Iacobus & certein of the Syrians write, one natural, wherby the bodie hath life, and is mingled with bloud: the other ſpiritual which miniſtreth reaſon: But we ſay there is one & the ſelfe ſame ſoule in man, which both quickneth the body with his felowſhip, & ordereth him ſelf by his own reaſon. Therefore we do not think that there is any conſideration to be had of them, whiche altogether That there …s a ſoule.denie that there is a ſoule. For theſe are as madde as they, whiche denie that the ſunne ſhineth. For al of vsus do ſée & féele the ſunne: as alſo we liue by the benefite of y^e ſoule. Furthermore, what the reaſonable ſoule of man is, What the ſoule is.the wiſe heades of this worlde could not as yet with one agréement define. For they ſo differ, y^• a man ſhall hardly find two which ſay one thing. And there are …pinions not a few contrarie betweene themſelues. What, do not the old interpretours …f the ſcriptures doubtingly procéed in de…ining the ſoule Lactantius in his booke. De opificio Dei, denieth that man can atteine to the reaſon and nature of the ſoule. Therfore nothing at al did they erre from the truth, which thought the ſoule coulde be comprehended in no abſolute definition, wherin his nature might be expreſſed throughly & at the ful: yet that the nature or diſpoſition of the ſame might after a ſort b… ſhadowed out, and that by the workes or actions thereof, & by ſuch qualities as the ſcripture doth attribute. There are ſome therfore which hauehave ſaid that the ſoule is the ſpirite of life, created after the image of god, & breathed into y^e bodie of man. One ther is which deſcribes it thus, The ſoule is a ſpirit, whereby the bodie, to whiche it is coupled doth liue, made apt to the knowlege of God through louelove, and hereby méete to be ioyned within, vntounto euerlaſting bleſſedneſſe. Another defineth it after this ſort, A reaſonable ſoule is an vnderſtanding ſpirite, one part of the ſubſtance of man, neither dyeth it when it is departed frō the bodie, but is immortal. Caſsiodore defineth it, The ſoule of man is created of God, a ſpirituall and peculiar ſubſtance, which quickeneth the bodie whoſe owne it is, reaſonable in déed and immortal. We will ſetdown a deſcription fetched from the ſcripture, to be weyed & conſidered vponupon of the godly, & to direct & rule this our whole diſcourſe.

The ſoule is a ſpiritual ſubſtance, powred of God into mans bodie, that beeing ioyned there-vntounto, it might …uicken and direct the ſame: p. 757but being diffeuered from the bodie, it ſhould not die, but liue immortall foreuer.

Some denie that the ſoule is a ſubſtance. That ſouls are ſubſtā tes.For they contend that it is nothing elſe than the power of life in man, and in déede a certeine qualitie. But the holy ſcripture acknowledgeth that the ſoule is a ſubſtan…ce ſubſiſting. For the Lorde in the Goſpell witneſſeth that a ſoule may be formented in hell. Whiche forthwith by the ſelfe ſame authoritie of the Goſpell is ſhewed, as it were to be viewed withour eyes, in the ſoule of the riche glutton. The ſame Lord which cannot lye ſaide to the théefe: To day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe. Luke. 16. Luke. 32.Luke 16Whiche wordes can not be expounded of any other parte in the théefe, than of the ſoule. For his bodie was nailed and did hang on the croſſe. Wherevpon alſo the Apoſtle and Euangeliſt Iohn ſawe VnderUnder the Altar the ſoules of them that were ſlaine for the word of God. He heard them Apoc. 6.Rev 6crying with a loude voice, and ſaying. How long tarieſt thou Lorde whiche arte holy, and true, to iudge and to auenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth? The ſame Iohn ſawe long white garments giuen to eueryevery one of the ſoules, theſe wordes b…ing there withall ſpoken of the Lorde, Reſt yet for a litle ſeaſon, vntill your fellowe feruantes, and your brethren that ſhalbe killed as ye are, ſhalbe fulfilled. All which verily agrée not to qualities, but to ſubſtances, whiche hauehave their béeing: therfore the ſoules of men are ſubſtances. Which thing, y^t they might moſt plainely & pithily expreſſe, certeine Eccleſiaſtical writers I thinke hauehave ſet downe, that the ſoules of men are bodily, that is, ſubſtaunces of their kinde, haueing the… proper being. Neither doe I thinke (déerely beloned) I ſhalbe tedious vntounto you if I recite worde for worde that whiche ſaint Auguſtine hathe reaſoned of this matter on both partes, in his Epiſtle to Saint Hi… rome, which is in order the 28, ſaying That the ſoule is bodileſſe, thoughe it be harde to perſuade it to the duller ſort, yet I confeſſe that I am ſo perſuaded. But that I may not moue controuerſie about a word to no purpoſe, I wil willingly be ſilent: becauſe where there is no doubt of the thing, there is no need to ſtriue about the name. If euerie ſubſtance or eſſence be a body, or if that whiche after ſome ſort is in it ſelf is more aptly called ſomething, then the ſoule is a bodie. But if you will call that onelyonly a bodileſſe nature, which is altogether vnchangeable, & is wholy eueryevery where, thē the ſoule is a bodie, becauſe the ſoule is no ſome ſuche thing. Furthermore, if nothing bee a bodie but that which with ſome length, breadth, and height, reſteth or is moued in ſpace of place, that the greater parte thereof taketh the greater roome, and the leſſer part the leſſer roome, and be leſſe in part than in the whole, then the ſoule is not a bodie.

For that which giueth the power of life vntounto the bodie, is ſtreatched through the whole bodie, not by local ſpreading of it ſelfe, but by a certeine liuely extending of it ſelfe. For the whole ſoule is preſent in al and euerie part of the bodie at once, and not leſſer in the leſſer partes, nor greater in the greater partes, but in ſome places more vehement and quicke, in ſome more remiſſe and faint, and in all it is the whole, & in eueryevery part the whole. For that whole ſoule whiche in ſome parts of the bodie feeleth not, in ſome other partes where it feeleth, it doeth p. 758wholy feele in it ſelfe, and not only in ſome parte of it ſelfe. For where any parte of the quicke fleſhe is pricked with a ſharp thing, althogh that place be not onelyonly not of the whole bodie, no not ſo much almoſt as ſeene in the bodie, yet the whole …oule feeleth that pricking, and yet is not that paine that is felt diſperſed ouer al the partes of the bodie, but is onelyonly …eſt where it is. Howe then commeth that by and by to the whole ſoule, whiche is not felt, but in one place of the bodie▪ but becauſe that the whole ſoule is there, where the ſmarte is felt, and yet leaueth not the other partes of the bodie that it might be there wholy and all in all. For thoſe partes of the bodie liue alſo by the preſence of the ſoule, where no ſuche thing is done. If it were ſo that the griefe were in moe places than one at once, it ſhoulde bee felt by the whole ſoule in eache place. Therefore the whole ſoule coulde not bee bothe in all and in euerie parte of the bodie whoſe owne it is all at once, if it were ſo ſpreade through thoſe partes …s wee ſee bodies are by ſpaces of places, their leſſer partes taking the leſſer roome, and their greater partes the greater roome. Wherefore if the ſoule bee to bee termed a body, ſurely it is not ſuch a bodie, as is in ſubſtance like the earth, or like the water, or the …er, or the caeleſtial bodies. For al ſuch bodies are greater in greater places, and leſſer in leſſer places, and nothing of them is wholy in any ſome parte of theirs; but as the partes of the places bee, ſo are they filled with the partes of the bodies. Where-vppon the ſoule is perceiued, whether it bee a bodie, or whether it is to be called bodileſſe, to hauehave a certeine proper nature created of a more excellent ſubſtāce than al the elements of earthly mould: which cannot be conceiued by any fantaſie or imagination of bodily ſhapes, whiche we atteine vntounto by the ſenſes of our fleſhe, but is vnderſtoode in the minde and felt in the life. … I …ehearſed Auguſtines words.

The Scripture alſo aymeth chiefely … teache that the The ſoule is bodileſſe or a ſpirit.…. For aduiſedly … the ſame a ſpirite. For the Lorde in the Goſpell after Iohn ſaith, I will put my life from me, and I will take it againe. No man taketh it from me, but I put it away of my ſelfe. And in the Iohn. 10.John 10ſame Euangeliſt you reade, And Ieſus Iohn. 19.John 19ſaid it is …, and when he had bowed his head, he gaue vp the ghoſt. For he … out in another Euangeliſt, …ather into thy handes I committe my Luke. 23.Luke 23ſpirite. And Matthe we ſayth, And Ieſus when he had cryed Matth. 27.Matt 27againe with a loude voyce, yeelded vp the Ghoſt. Wher-vntounto doubtleſſe may be referred that which we reade in the Actes of the Apoſtles of the firſt martyr Stephan, And they Actes. 7.Acts 7ſtoried Stephan calling on and ſaying, Lorde … receiue my ſpirite. But by theſe things I cannot more plainly and … expreſſe what manner What mā ner of ſubſtance the ſoule of man is.of ſubſtaunce the ſoule of man is, whiche I beléeue to be a ſpirite, hauing in déede a ſubſtaunce created of God proper and peculiar to it ſelfe. For Auguſtine, whoſe wordes I alledged a litle before, ſaith yet againe, 1. Cap. de Q…ntitate Animae: I can not name the ſubſtance of the ſoule: For I do not thinke the ſame to bee of theſe vſuall and knowne natures, whiche we touche with the ſenſes of our bodie. For I thinke that the ſoule cōſiſteth not of earth, nor of water, nor p. 759of a…e, nor of the, neit…r yet of all … ioyned together, nor of any one of them. The nature of the ſoule may be called ſimple, becauſe it conſiſteth not of other natures. Whiche wordes of Auguſtine, Caſsidore willing to rehe…rſe and expreſſe by imitation, ſayth, The ſoul… of man created of God, is a ſpiritual and peculiar ſubſtance. Therefore I ſimpli… offirme that the ſoule haſhe a ſingular, yea, a certein more excellent … & differing from other ſpirite, hauing his true béeing and working always from his creator, but ſuche as we in our ſpéeche cannot …paſſ…, …ither are able to vtter.

In the meane … allow The ſoul… …s neithe… God nor parte of God.if thē … to …, what maker of ſubſta…ie▪ ſhe ſo…é is, ſay that the ſoule is God, or elſe ſurely a part or p…rtion of God. For the ſcripture reproueth them do the. For truly y^• ſoule is a creature & is drowned in variablenes & ſin…s: but a creator, & cleane of it ſelfe it is not. And becauſe God the creator is immutable a indiuiſible, the ſoule cannot be a portion of God. Therfore elegantly & truly An…chus Prudentius in his …, after he had in many words … theſe filthy errors, gathering at length al the meaning of the trueth, ſayth:

To ſay th… ſoule is GOD, or part of him

T'is follie great, and too abſurde a thing:

Since chiefe & … ioyes it … which ſwim

From alwayes f…eſhe, and euer-laſting ſpring.

Now it … falles to ſ…nne,

One while …, another while in paine:

For due … it … winne:

Now … t'is free againe.

To y^• end that we might ouerthrow this errour, and diſcerne the ſoule from other ſpirites and ſpiritual ſubſtances, we added in our deſcription, That the ſoule of man is powred into the bodie of man by God: Whereby euerie man vnderſtandeth wi…hout any adoe that it is created, and alſo is a ſpirit, not angeli…al but humane, that is breathed into mans bodie by God, of his owne eſſence and nature.

Where again, a new queſtion touching the original of ſoules doth offer Of the original of the ſouleit ſelf to vsus to be expounded. For it is wont to be aſked, from whence ſouls come? when or howe they enter into their bodies?

Sainte Hierome is the Author that in time paſt there were verie many opinions and thoſe ſame moſt contrarie betwéene them ſelues, touching the originall of ſoules. For hée writ…g to Marcellinus, and …, fayth, I remēber your queſtion, nay rather …, the queſt…n of the church touching the ſtate of the ſoule: whether it …el from heauen, as Pythagoras the Philoſpher, & al Platoniſte… and Origen doe thinke. Or whether it be of y^e proper ſubſtāce of God, as the Stoikes, Manichcus, and the hereſies of Priſcilianus of Spaine doe ſuppoſe. Whether they be counted in Gods treaſurie long ſince layd vp there, as certeine churchmen fooliſhly perſuaded, thinke. Whether they be daily made of God & ſent into bodies, according to y^t which is written in the goſpel, My father worketh hitherto, & I worke. Or whether E… traduce, that is, by the generation of the parentes, as Tertullian, Apolinarius p. 760t… the … of the Weſt C…rches …, that as a bodie is borne …f a bodie, ſo a ſoul… is borne of a ſoule, and hath his béeing after the like … as b…ite beaſtes hauehave. But all thoſe …pinions ar… … o… Eccleſiaſticall writers with found argumentes. That opinion is receiue… & auouched for the trueſt, which holdrth; That the ſoule is cr…ted of nothing, and powred of God unto the bodie, when the childe is … in ſhape and in euerie part of hi… bodie in the wombe of hi… mother. For thus the Eccleſiaſticall definition… do declare.

We ſay that the creator of al thinges doeth onelyonly knowe the creation of the ſoule, and that the bodi… onelyonly is ſowed by (carnal) … in marriage, that by the true appointment of God, it thickeneth in the matrice, becommeth a ſubſtance and receiu…th ſhape, and that when the bodie is faſhioned, the ſoule is created and powred into it. Where vponupon … H…erome alſo to … di…puting againſt the t…rors of … biſhop of Hieruſalem, after he … diuerſe opinions touching the origi…al of the ſoule he ſaith: Whe…her truely God createth ſoule… d…ily in whom his will i… his worke, … con… ſeth to be a … of them? which is an Eccleſraſtical opinion, according to the opinion of our Sauiour. The father worketh hitherto and I worke. And according to that of …ſai, Which formeth the ſpirit of man … him. And in the Pſalmes. Whiche … their harts in eueryevery one of thē. Th…s farre he. The ſcripture truly in expreſſe wordes doth tea…he, that the ſoule hath not originall …ut of earthe, neither that it is created before the bodie, but that it proc…deth out of the mo…the … the creator, to wit, from the ſecret power of God and that it is powred into the b…die when it is faſhioned.

For Moſes deſcribing the … of God our Father, d…eth firſte … that the body of Adam was faſhioned and made, and that afterwards the ſpirite of life was breathed …nto his bodie beeing perfectly made … The Lorde God (… he) … of the clay of the … vppon his face or i…to his … the breath of life and … liuing ſoule. For the b…eath of life doth ſignifie the liuing & reaſonable ſoule, that is to ſay, the …, whiche thou ſéeſt breathed o… powred into the bodie when it is …ſhioned. And when the ſame Lorde created the woman of Adams … he tooke not life frō Adam or out of his ſo…le and put it into Eue, but of hi… g…dn…ſſe and power hee powr…d the … into her bodie when it was p…fectly …. And that we are … created of the Lorde at this … that the ſoule may bee po…red into the bodie when it is faſhioned, Iob is a witneſſe ſufficient, ſaying▪ Thy handes (O God) hauehave Iob. 10.Job 10…, and faſhioned mee rounde abo…. … powred me as it … me to … like … ▪ T…ou haſt …ouered mee▪ with … and …, and ioyned, me together with bones and ſinewes▪ Loe, thou haſt he…e i… theſe wordes bothe the concepti… and alſo the faſhio…ng of … bodie in his mothers wombe moſt excellently deſcribed. And touching the ſoule, it followeth in Iob immediately, Thou haſt giuen me life, and grace, and thy … ha…he preſerued my ſpirite. B…hold, life, y^t is, the ſoule, is by God p. 761… and grace. … … merciemercy to life. For it is a … in ſo many … benefite of the … ſheweth it ſelfe in this. But it … by way of … thy viſitation, that … and preferuation, … ſerued My ſpirite. For … that, ſpirite, which … life, that is to ſayth… … we rightly … to the Scriptures, that … men are created of God, … into the bodyes when they … faſhioned in the womb…, … touch not eueryevery p…int … matter of this cauſe, … ſaying is) hit the nayl… …

Now it re…eth to … worketh my body of … The operations & powers of the ſoule.that briefly in the … ſaying that being … it giueth life to man, …

For the reaſonable … hendeth the powers … ſenſitiue, and thereby it giueth … to the bodie. Moreouer the …oul… hath two partes diſtinguiſhed in … not in ſubſtance, namely Vnderſtanding and Will, and the reby it … man. For by the vnderſtanding, whiche is called bothe the minde and reaſon, it conceiueth, iudgeth & knoweth thinges that are to be vnderſtood, and diſcerneth what to followe and what to auoide. But by will or appetite he chooſeth that which he knoweth, folowing one thing, and refuſing another. Which things again ſtretch verie farre. Therefore I will handle euerie part more largely. Firſt of all … Out of the …. cap. of A…guſt. de…antitate …imae.… and the … ſufficient, … and … But in theſe things … to man: For we ſée and … that they alſo liue, and that … in his kind, …, increaſed and ingendered, … the ſoule is …, and what it worke…h in the … ▪ where a more pe…fecte … deriued. The … in the ſenſe of … & … and diſcerit… …, by the … things, which are … to y^• … of the bodie … it is ioyn…d, & refuſeth and …, & alſo conſenteth not only do y^• pr…eation of children, but to the ch…riſhing, defending nouriſhing, & preſeruing of them. But all theſe things againe no man denieth but y^e li…e whiche is in beaſts may do alſo. Let vsus therfore cōſider what is the proper force of y^e ſoule of man. And here w…y with me y^e wonderfull power of vnderſtanding & reaſoning, & not a cōmon memorieas is in brute beaſts, but a remembrance of i… merable thinges commended vntounto vsus and kept in minde by ſignes and p. 762déepe … in geſture, in ſounde, in … ſeigned ſhowes: ſo … of nations, ſo many thinges or dein… ſo many newe thinges, ſo many … refourmed, ſuch a number of …, and of ſuch like … for th… maintenaunce of memorie, … a care of them whiche come … orders of offices, powers, …, and dignities, either in … in the common we…le … warre, either in … matters. Weigh with me … force and vertue of … riuers of eloquence, the … verſes in Poetrie … and … ſure & … …n inſtrument… … in meaſuri… … b…ring, … thinges to come, … Theſe verily are … or … perations in y^e … are common to the god …. Therefore the true … which riſeth from the powers of the ſoule vntounto man, and which are found in the godly only d… follow. The ſoule is bould to preferre it ſelfe before the whole bodie, and to thincke that the goods of the bodie are not his, but rather to deſpiſe them, and thereby how much, the more he delighteth himſelfe, ſo much y^• more he withdraweth himſelfe from filthines, and cle…ſeth himſelfe wholie by faith and y^e holy ghoſt, and ſtrengtheneth himſelfe againſt al thinges, whiche goe about to put him by from his good intent, and maketh … and … nothing to …other whiche …e would … to himſelfe. For hée … or doctrine of God, … that by this. God … ioyned by the holy … and …aith with God himſelfe, in … delighteth and liueth in true … forth all kind of … ſo excellent a ſtudi… the ſoule, there is …et great labo…r. For the ſoule fighteth ſtarcely with the worlds the fleſhe, and is … from the aſſaultes or …. But beeing … Lord, hee g…eth … …ictories and triumph… ▪ … therefore (I meane of … holy men) woorke all … of holy works, for the ſoules of the … heynous ſinnes of all … are many other …, whiche I ceaſe to … I ſhould be longer than … I hauehave entreated of … as yet ioyned to … diſcourſe the … of God appeareth, the … creatour of the ſoule, ye… of the whole man, from whoſe … account it receiu…, whatſoeuer praiſe is giuen to the ſoul…. Nowe I wil ſpeake of the ſoule ſeparated from the bodie.

The ſoule being ſeparated from the Of the ſoule ſeparated from the bodie.bodie, ceaſeth not to be that whiche it wa…, but the bodie being dead, y^e ſoule abideth aliue in his owne Eſſence, altogether immortall, and voide of all corruption. For the death of man is not the extinguiſhing or deſtruction of the ſoule: but onelyonly a ſeparation or departure from the bodie. Thou takeſt a candle out of a lanterne, thou haſt taken the light from the lanterne, p. 763but thou haſt not put out the candle: the lanterne tri…ely béecauſe the candle is taken away remaineth full of darckeneſſe, but the candle féeleth ſo little hurt by remouing of it, that béeing taken awaye from the lanerne, it then ſhineth more clearely, and caſteth forth the beames of his light more at large. So truely the ſoule, being ſeparated from his earthly or ſlimie bodie, doth ſo little féele any diſcommoditie, that béeing deliuered from the trouble and burthen of the bodie, it liueth more at libertie, and woorketh more effectually. But the common ſort vnderſtand not this, they ſée the body onelyonly amonge the The ſoule is immortall.dead ſpoiled of the ſoule: and becauſe this wanteth all féeling and mouing, yea and rotteth awaye, they thincke that the whole man periſheth. Neither is y^e world without ſome ſhameleſſe, and vngodly wretches, who hauehave in their mouth, that no man euer returned from death or from belowe, who by his returne proued that the ſoules remaine aliue, when the body is dead. But maliciouſly they lye, diſſembling that they knowe not that, which certeinely they know. For who knoweth not that Chriſt the ſonne of God died and was buried, and the third day was raiſed againe from the dead, the verie ſelfe ſame ſoule returning into his bodie, whithe before death gaue his bodie life and ruled it? Who knoweth not that Chriſte with his true bodie and with his reaſonable and naturall ſoule aſcended into heauen, and ſitteth at the right hand of the father, that hee layinge downe there as it were a moſt aſſured pledg, might teſtifie vntounto the whole world, that both oure owne proper ſoules, and our owne proper bodies ſhal one day be trāſlated thether? Who knoweth not that ſo many which were dead béeing raiſed from death to life, receiued, not newe ſoules, but thoſe their old ſoules? whiche ſhould not hauehave come to paſſe, if by the death of the bodie, the ſoules of men wete extinguiſhed.

They obiecte that the Scripture it Of the death of ſoules.ſelfe maketh mention of the death of the ſoule. I confeſſe no le…e in déede. For the ſoule of man is both mortall and immortall after a certaine manner of his owne. For the ſoule is not all manner of wayes immortall, as God is, of whome it is ſaid, that hée onelyonly hath immortalitie. And truely 1. Tim. 1. &. 6.1 Tim 1the death of the ſoule in the holy ſcripture is to be remembred, but the ſame is referred to the ſtate and condition, not to the ſubſtance of the ſoule. For if God be the life of the ſoule, ſurely to be forſaken of God, and to be left vntounto thy ſelfe, is the death of the ſoule. But neuertheleſſe y^• reaſonable ſome liueth in his proper Eſſence or béeing, ſo that when it liueth miſerably, a miſerable life is in verie déede called death: but deſperation alſo is the very death of the ſoule. For by hope wée liue. And Paule ſayeth, I liue, yet not Gal. 1.Gal 1I, but Chriſte liueth in mee, and the life whiche I nowe liue in the fleſhe, I liue by the faith of the ſonne of God: therefore they that are deſtitute of faith are dead, & they that hauehave faith liue. S. Auguſtine Cap. 10. De fide & Symbolo ſayeth: The ſoule, as it may bee called corruptible by reaſon of finne and wickednes, ſo it may be called mortal. For the death of the ſoule is the reuolting or falling from God, whiche firſt ſinne of the ſoule was committed in Paradiſe, as is declared in the holy Scriptures.

And the ſame Auguſtine againe, Lib. de Trinitate 14. Cap. 4. ſayeth, p. 764The ſoule alſo hath his death, when it lacketh a bleſſed life, whiche is to bee named the true life of the ſoule. But for this cauſe it is called immortall, for that whatſoeuer life it liueth, yea thoughe it bee moſt miſerable, yet it neuer ceaſeth to liue. Wée therefore fréely confeſſe that the ſoules of men ſeparated or taken out of their bodies doe not die, but liue immortall for euer, the faithfull in euerlaſting ioye and felicitie, but the vnbeléeners in eternall damnation.

Whiche thing I will now goe on to confirme by ſome ſubſtantial teſtimonies Teſtimo…ies of the …morta…e of …oules.of Scripture. But firſt take this with you, that teſtimonies of ſcripture in this caſe are farre more liuely, than mans reaſons framed out of Philoſophie. For theſe teſtimonies are fetched from the verie mouthe of the liuing God himſelfe, whiche preſerueth vsus in life who ſince he is true cannot lie, and who, ſince hee giueth life, and is life it ſelfe, is able to wittneſſe moſt certainely aboue all other touching life. Neither is it doubtfull that the ſpirit of God worketh ioyntly with the word of GOD, of whom vnleſſe the heartes of men be touched, the reaſons of Philoſophie, howe manifeſt ſoeuer they bee, ſhall preuaile nothing, eſpecially in the daunger of death, and in other temptations. They are fleſhlie therefore, and brutiſhe altogether, whiche are not aſhamed to ſay, That they cannot be perſuaded or brought to beléeue the immortalitie of ſoules by the Scriptures onelyonly.

Nay, which is more, that ſhall neuer be ſtedfaſt and ſtable in temptations, whiche ſhall procéede from fleſhe and bloud. Wee will therefore add ſome certaine teſtimonies, and thoſe too moſt manifeſt. Dauid the moſt …nuiſſaunt, and happieſt king in the world, compriſing in one verſe both the immortalitie of ſoules, and the reſurrection of bodies, ſayeth: Thou O Pſal. 61.Ps 61Lord ſhalt not leaue my ſoule in hell: neither ſhalt thou ſuffer thine holie one to ſee corruption.

Man conſiſteth of bodie and ſoule. The bodie rotteth awaye when it is dead, and is turned into duſt: but it ſhall not therefore periſh. For as the bodie of Chriſt which was buried did not rat, but roſe againe the third day, ſo in the day of iudgemente ſhall oure bodies be raiſed vpp, and by Chriſte …e deliuered from corruption. And our ſoul goeth not into hell there to remaine. But as the ſoule of Chriſt returned from the nether parts vntounto his bodie, and aſcended into heauen in his bodie which he had taken againe: euen ſo ſhall oure ſoules alſo liue by Chriſt▪ they ſhall not dit.

Solomon the ſonne of Dauid excelling all kinges and mortall men in wiſedome, in one verſe likewiſe expounding the prouidence of GOD touching the ſoule and the body ſaith: The duſt ſhall bee turned againe vntounto Eccle. 12.Eccl 12earth from whence it came, and the ſpirite ſhall returne vntounto God, who gaue it. Solomon calleth mans bodie Duſt, béecauſe it is ſaid in Moſes that GOD made it of the duſt of the earth. Therefore the bodie turneth againe vntounto duſt, for it putrifieth and is reſolued into that which firſt it was euen vntill the Iudgement daye, as the Lord ſayeth: For duſt thou art, Gen. 3.Gen 3and into duſt ſhalt thou be turned againe. But the ſpirite, that is to ſay, y^e reaſonable ſoule, dieth not with the bodie, it is not reſolued into duſt, béecauſe it is not taken out of y^e duſt, neither is it ſcattered into y^e aire, becauſe it doeſt not conſiſt of aire, but returneth p. 765aliue from death vntounto God. And therefore it returneth vntounto GOD, becauſe God gaue the ſoule, and after a ſingular manner made man after his owne likenes & image, breathing into his face the ſpirite of life, of life I ſay, that is of liuely power, not the ſpirite of death. Therefore the ſoule cānot periſh, béecauſe it receiueth immortalitie from God, who, ſince hee is life, is able to preſerue that breath of life which he hath made.

The Lord Ieſus the true and verie ſonne of God, the life and reſurrection of the faithfull, ſayeth plainely in the Goſpell: Feare (ye) not them whiche kill the bodie, but are not able to Matth. 10.Matt 10kill the ſoule, but rather feare him, whiche is able to deſtroye both bodie and ſoule in hell. If when the bodie being ſlaine by tyrauntes, the ſoule is not killed, then it remaineth aliue after the bodie is deſtroyed, and ſo aſſuredlie it remaineth, that hauing put off the bodie, it ſhould bee caſte of the moſt iuſt God into hell, there euerlaſtingly to burne for his vn…aithfulnes. For in the ſame Goſpel the Lord ſaith againe: Whoſoeuer wil ſaue his life, ſhall looſe it: againe whoſoeuer will Matth. 16.Matt 16looſe his life for my ſake, ſhal finde it. For not he only looſeth his life or ſoule whiche bridleth it from the pleaſures of the world, and liueth moſt temperately, but hée alſo, who offereth himſelfe into the bloudy hands of tyrants to be ſlaine, for the confeſſion of Chriſtian faith. And hée findeth his life or ſoule whiche he loſt. Therefore the ſoules of men, euen after the death of the bodie, remaine aliue and immortall. In the Goſpel according to S. Iohn the Lord ſaith: Verilie, verilie, I Iohn. 8.John 8ſay vntounto you, hee that heareth my word, and beleeueth on him that ſent mee, hath euerlaſting life, and ſhall not come into iudgement▪ but is e… caped from death vntounto me.

Thou haſt in theſe words of the Lord the death of the bodie. But forthwith afterward, he witneſſeth that wée Eſcape vntounto life: therefore mens …oules remaine aliue after death. For nowe hee ſpeaketh nothing of the raiſing againe or of the ſaluation of the bodie, but of the life of the ſoule after death. In the ſame Goſpel the Lord ſayth againe: Verilie, verilie, I ſay vntounto you, if a man keepe my ſaying, he ſhall neuer Iohn. 8.John 8ſee death. But it is euident, that all men are ordeined once to die, Heb. 9.Heb 9namely with bodily death: therefore the ſoule liueth after the death of the bodie. For it muſt néedes be that a faithfull man ſhall neuer ſée or …eele death: vnleſſe hee told a lie, who affirmed with an oth that which he ſpake. For in eueryevery other place he addeth an o…he ſaying: Verilie I ſay vntounto you, that wée ſhould not doubt of the unmortalitie of ſoules. There are very many teſtimonies and thoſe moſt euident of Chriſt the ſonne of God in the ſame Goſpell; as in the ſixte and eleuenth Chapiters: to whiche wee will ioyne one or two out of the writings of y^e bleſſed Apoſtles of Chriſt Sainct Peter ſpeaking of the ſoules of the fathers which were dead a great while agoe, ſayeth, that The Goſpell was preached alſo to the dead, that they 1. Pet. 4.1 Pet 4ſhould bee iudged like other men in the fleſh, but ſhould liue before God in the ſpirite.

Spirites or ſoules of the bleſſed fathers, whoſe bodies being buried a great while agoe, doe waite for the vniuerſall ſentence of that generall and laſt iudgement: that is, that their fleſh may be raiſed vp againe & be iudged with other men in y^e laſt day: but in the meane while their ſoules liue p. 766with God: ſo that mens ſoules are aliue, thoughe their bodies were rotten a great while agoe.

S. Paule in his epiſtle to Timothie ſayeth, that life and immortalitie 1. Tim. 1.1 Tim 1is made manifeſt and brought by Chriſt. The ſame Paule eueryevery where doeth ſo plainely auouche the immortalitie of ſoules, that hee muſt néedes be blinde which ſéeth it not. S. Iohn the Apoſtle and Euangeliſt ſawe vnderunder Apoc. 6.Rev 6the altar in heauen (that is, vnderunder the protection of Chriſte whoe is the ſacrifice and propitiation for the ſinnes of the world,) liuing ſoules lying and crying: Howe longe tarieſt thou Lord to reuenge our bloud? He ſawe them cloathed with white garmentes, and enioying euerlaſting reſt. But theſe ſoules were the ſoules of the martyrs of Chriſte, whoſe bodies died, béeing murthered on the earth vnderunder tyrauntes and perſecuters of the Chriſtian faith. Therefore the ſoules of men are immortall. Moſt true therefore, yea and vndoubted are thoſe woordes, whiche are read in the booke of Wiſedome, vttered in this Wiſd. 3.Wis 3manner: The ſoules of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there ſhal no torment touch them. In the ſight of the vnwiſe they appeared to die, and their ende is taken for a miſerie, and their departing from vsus to be vtter deſtruction, but they are in reſt. For thoughe they ſuffer paine before men, yet is their hopefull of immortalitie. They are puniſhed but in few things, neuertheleſſe in many thinges ſhall they be well rewarded. For God proueth them & findeth them meete for himſelfe. As gold in the fornace doth he trie them, and receiueth them as a burnte offering: and when the time commeth they ſhalbe looked vponupon. They ſhall ſhine and runne thoroughe, as the ſparckles amonge the ſtubble. They ſhall iudge the nations, and hauehave dominion ouer the people, and their Lord ſhall reigne for euer.

Wherefore, moſt truely and according to the Canonicall Scripture doe the Eccleſtaſticall definitions pronounce, Cap. 16. Wee beleeue that man onelyonly hath a ſubſtantiall ſoule, whiche hauing put off the bodie liueth, and keepeth his ſenſes and diſpoſition liuelie. It doeth not die with the bodie, as Aratus affirmeth, nor a little while after as Zenon ſayeth: becauſe it liueth ſubſtantiallie. But the ſoules of beaſtes and other mortall creatures, are not ſubſtantiall, but are borne with their fleſhe, thorough the life of their fleſhe, and with the death of their fleſh are at an end and doe die.

Furthermore, that truth touching the immortalitie of ſoules, as it were All wiſe men hauehave thought that ſoules are immortal.by the lawe of nature, is written and imprinted in the mindes of all men. Wherevppon it is no meruaile that all the wiſe men amonge the Gentiles, could neuer abide that the ſoule ſhould be called mortall. For the conſent of all, whiche is thought the voice of nature, (ſpecially of the chiefeſt) declareth y^• ſoules are immortall. And M. Tullie alſo affirmeth that, ſaying, As by nature wee thincke there are Gods, and by reaſon wee know what they bee, ſo wee hold opinion with the conſent of all nations, that ſoules doe ſtil continue. All y^• auncient writers therefore, and all that followed them, hauehave ſaid that ſoules are euerlaſting or immortal, as Triſmegiſtus, Muſęus, Orphęus, Homerus, Pindarus, and Pherecydes the Sy…ian the maiſter of Pythagoras, and his ſcholer Socrates. Plato himſelfe, who, to p. 767learne the opinions of Pythagoras, ſailed into Italie, was not onelyonly of the ſame opinion that Pythagoras was of, touching the immortalitie of ſouls, but brought reaſons alſo to confirme the ſame. Theſe reaſons (as Tullie witneſſeth) are many, that he whiche readeth his booke, cannot ſeeme to deſire any thing further. Seneca ſo plainely affirmeth and proueth the immortalitie of ſoules, that nothing can be more plaine. And Epictetus a famous Philoſopher, who liued in the time of Seneca, hath done no leſſe. If as yet there be any light headed men, to whome the immortalitie of y^e ſoule ſéemeth doubtfull, or whiche vtterly denie the ſame, theſe truely are vnworthy to hauehave the name of men. For they are plagues of the cōmon wealth and verie beaſtes, worthy to be hiſſed and driuen out of y^e company of men. For hee lacketh a bridle to reſtraine him, and hath caſt awaye all honeſtie and ſhame, & is prepared in all points to committ anye miſchiefe, whoſoeuer beléeueth that the ſoule of man is mortall.

I ſhewed that ſoules by death béeing ſeparated from their bodies, doe In what place ſoules liue when they are ſeparated from their bodies.not die, but remaine aliue: it reſteth now behinde that I teach you, where the ſoules when they are deſtitute of the dwelling place their bodies, leads their life and are conuerſaunt. While they were coupled to the bodies, they vſed them as their dwelling houſes, ſo that though they be ſaid, not to be limitted in place, yet they doe not wander out of their bodies, but they are as it were ſhut vp in them as in priſons, vntill the time they be diſſolued and ſett at libertie. Thoſe ſame ſoules therefore being now diſſeuered from their bodies, ſince they reteine their ſound ſenſes, their nature or diſpoſition, and their whole ſubſtance in liuely manner, albeit they are ſaid no not euen now to be limitted in place not are they not let looſe & runne aftraye, hauing their abiding in no place, but beeing compacte and ſett faſt in their owne Eſſence or béeing, are in ſome place againe, hauing no newe bodies, (for the ſoules are frée euen till the Iudgement day, when they ſhall bee ioyned againe to their bodies) how beit certaine abiding places are prepared for them of God wherin they may liue. Although other, by my leiue, verie ſubtily and wittilie doe reaſon, howe ſpirites are conteyned in place or not conteined: I ſimplie affirme with the ſcripture, that ſoules ſeparated from bodies, are taken vpp either into heauen it ſelfe, or elſe are drowned in the depthe of hell, and that their béeing and abiding is euen ſo there, that when they are héere they are not elſe where. For the Lord moſt plainly and pithilie ſaieth in the Goſpell, that the ſoule of beggerly Lazarus Luke. 16.Luke 16was carried into Abrahams boſome, and the ſoule of the rich glutton was caſte downe into hell. But that more is, it foorthwith followeth in the hiſtorie, Betweene vsus and you, (for the bleſſed and curſed ſoules talke together) there is a great goulfe ſtedfaſtly ſett, ſo that they whiche would goe from hence to you, cannot, neither can they that would, come from thence to vsus. And Paul alſo deſireth to Phil. 1.Phil 1be diſſolued & to be with Chriſt. Wée are diſſolued by death, for when the ſoule departeth, the bodie is diſſolued, and dieth: the ſoule flieth vntounto Chriſt. But the Scripture ſheweth vsus that Chriſt is in heauen at the right hand of the father.

Nowe where heauen is, there is none but can tell. And we elſe-where p. 768hauehave largely … of that …. In the Goſpell after Samuel Iohn, the Lord himſelfe calleth the conuerſation of ſoules whiche is prepared for the ſoules after they are ſeparated from the bodies, both a place and manſion, an habitation or dwelling: adding theſe woordes the r…ppon, I will receiue you (euen) vntounto Iohn. 14.John 14my ſelfe, that where I am, there maye ye bee alſo.

And therefore Sainct Iohn ſawe ſoules in heauen, abiding and taking Apoc. 6.Rev 6their reſt vnderunder the altar or protection of Chriſt. For thether when they departed from their bodies he had gathered them vntounto himſelfe. Herevnto belongeth that notable place of the Apoſtle Paule merueylous fitt for this purpoſe, written in the ſecond to the Corinthians in theſe woordes, Wee know that if our earthly hóuſe of this tabernacle were deſtroyed, wee hauehave a building of God, euen an habitation not made with handes, but eternal in heauen, &c.

Loe, while our ſoules were ioyned to our bodies, they inhabited & dwelt in them as in their houſes, but after oure corruptible houſe is deſtroyed, God hath builded another better, and of longer continuance, Heauen I meane it ſelfe, into the whiche hee louingly receiueth our ſoules departing out of our bodies. For that manner bodie whiche we now hauehave, he calleth The houſe of this tent or tabernacle. For as tentes for a time are made of light ſtuffe, and pitched without any ſtrong foundation, and a while after are pulled downe, or doe fall of their owne accord: ſo a mortall body is giuen to men as a ruinous cottage wherein they inhabite a fewe dayes, and immediatly packe away againe. S. Peter vſed the like Allegorie. Againſt …. Pet. 1.this (ten…) hée oppoſeth a … of euerlaſting continuance, heauen, I mean…, it ſelfe. For …hen hée had ſaid that wée hauehave a Building of God, hee addeth by interpretation, (euen) an habitation not made with handes. And yet more plainely, eternall in heauen. Neither doeth that which by and by followeth, hinder th…, impor… another meaning. For therefore … wee deſiring (vppon our deathing) to be further cloathed with our houſe, which is from heauen. For From heauen, ſignifieth as much as if thou wouldeſt ſay, heauenly. Therefore the houſe of the ſoule is heauenly or heauen it ſelfe, a place, I ſaye, appointed for bleſſed ſpirites. For verilie the faithfull ſoule ſhall dwell in heauen, euen vntounto that day, wherein the Lord ſhall iudge the The ſoule returneth to the body, but not before iudgment.world with that his Generall iudgement: then at the lengthe the ſoule ſhall returne to the bodie againe, béeing raiſes vpp, that after Iudgement the whole man, both ſoule and bodie, may liue for euer with God.

For thus wittneſſeth the Apoſtle Sainct Paule, The Lord himſelfe ſhal deſcend from heauen in a ſhout, 1. Theſſ. 41 Thess 4and in the voice of the Archangel, and in the trumpet of GOD, and the dead in Chriſte ſhall riſe firſt: then wee which liue which remaine ſhalbee caught vpp together with them in the cloudes, to meete the Lord in the ayre, and ſo ſhall wee euer bee with the Lord, namely, in the heauens whiche are aboue vsus, where the cloudes are ſéene.

Therefore, omitting vaine ſpeculations, and curious diſputations, let vsus beléeue that there is a houſe prepared by y^e Lord in heauen for ſoules béeing ſeparated from their bodies, into the which the faithfull may be receiued: p. 769and againe that ther… is … are prepared, … all the ſoules of all in…dels or … may be caſt.

Wee hauehave taught that heauen is Howe Soules ſhould be tranſlated to their appointed place.the ſeaſe or habitation prepared of God to receiue ſoules béeing ſeparated from their bodies. It remayneth behind that we ſhew after what maner & what time they ſhould be tranſlated thether after death. Touching the manner I can ſaye nothing elſe, but that it is fully knowen vntounto God, and that ſo farre foorth as ſéemeth ſufficient for vsus, it is ſhadowed out in the Scriptures, namely that it is brought to paſſe by Angels carrying vpp oure ſoules with a moſt ſwift flight or mouing. For the Lord ſaith in y^e Goſpell that the ſoule of Lazarus was carried by angels into Abrahams b…ſome. Of whiche thinge wée ſpake and before when wée preached of Good Angels. But what manner of mouing this is, whether naturall or ſupernaturall, I meane not to make ſearch: I beléeue that what God promiſeth the ſame he performeth and accompliſheth. And hee promiſing ſayeth, Hee is paſſed from death to life. Againe he ſaid to Iohn. 5.John 5the théefe, To day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe, comprehending that Iuke. 23.his paſſage, as it were in a moment. Herevnto we alſo neceſſarily ad this, that it muſt bée attributed to the merites of Chriſt, that we are taken vpp into heauen. For hée is the …oore & the way. But at what time ſoules ſhould be caried vp into heauen, or caſt down At what time ſouls be carried vp into heauen.into hell, ſéemeth to be a queſtion at this preſent not onelyonly profitable, but by all meanes neceſſarie to bee diſcuſſed. For in this our age there are euill diſpoſed perſons, who hauehave corrupted the pure ſimplicitie of this matter. For you ſhall finde ſome wil ſay, that the … departing from the … not by and by the right … ways to heauen, but that … it were taken with a … tha… gie, they ſléepe vntill the laſt days …f Iudgement. You ſhalfind otherſome contending that ſoules cannot come into heauen, vnleſſe they be perfectly purified with clenſing fire, which they call Purgatorie, as though they were intercepted by pirates and robbers in the middeſt of their iourney, and caſt into torments, vntill either they themſelues make ſatiſfaction, or other fo… them hauehave payed as it were the debt whiche they had elſe-where borrowed. But both of theſe thinges doe I denie and vtterly denie: and I affirme that ſoules doe not ſléepe, neither are they purged by any tormēts after the death of the bodie, but are waking and aliue, and are forthwith after the death of the bodie, and euen in a moment either carried into heauen, being fréed from all kinde of torments, or otherwiſe caſt downe into hell. Theſe ſleepi… heads hauehave nothing to alledge for this their lethargie or imagination Soules ſeparated from their bodies do… not ſleepe.of the ſléepe of the ſoule, but that the ſcripture oftentimes deſcribing the death of the Saincts, maketh mention of ſléeping & laying to ſléep…, as, Hee fell a ſleepe and was gathered vntounto (or layed by) his fathers. And Paul ſaith, ſpeaking of thoſe that die: I would not hauehave you ignorant concerning them which are a ſleepe. But euen as ſoules when they were ioyned to theſe frail… bodies, neuer ſlept, neither could ſléepe: ſo being deliuered from the burden of the bodie, they are muche leſſe to bee thought to ſléepe. To the bodie therefore is ſléepe to bee referred. For whoſoeuer dieth in a true faith, hee ſléepeth in the Lord. And as they that ſléepe when p. 770their … the body is not altogether e…tinguiſhed by deathe, that it ſhould not liue againe any more, but nowe verily … into reſt, and at the day of iudgemēt it riſeth againe & liueth: and for this cauſe holy mē are ſayd in y^e ſcriptures, to ſléepe, not to die, that therby the myſterie of y^e reſurrection of our fleſh may be ſignified. Which thing theſe groſſe headed men vnderſtand not: wherevpon they attribute that to the ſoule which is proper to the body. Other arguments which they bring to confirme their madneſſe, are vnworthy to be rehearſed. For eyther they violently wreſt the ſcripture from the natural ſenſe: or elſe by their corrupt reaſoning, they gather falſhoode out of thoſe things that are falſe. But they doe erre, and are no leſſe de…eiued than Soules … from the bodies are not caried into Purgatorie.theſe ſléeping doctours, which thinke that ſoules departing from their bodies, go not by & by the right & ready way into heauen, but are …a…ght in the middeſt of their iourney, and carried into that purgatorie fir… wherin they maye be purged from the filthy ſpots of ſinnes, whiche they hauehave gotten in the fleſh, and that after they be purged, they are carried by Angels into the preſence of the moſt holy god. For eyther the ſouls are purged with that purgatorie fire from the filthe of their ſinnes, or elſe they are waſhed and cleanſed through the paine and griefe of torments whiche there they do ſuffer. If ſinnes be purged by vertue of that fire, then it followeth, that ſinners are not ſanctified by the only bloude of the ſonne of God. But by what ſcriptures hauehave they proued vn to vsus that this power of purging is giuen to the fire? Hath God altered … and purpoſe, and ſ…t … fire inſtead of Chriſte to work… our ſanctifi…ation? … for ſhame! But if for oure ſufferings and tormentes ſake ſinnes are forgiuen, then it followeth that we are not purged by the croſſe and paſſion of Chriſt only. Let them teache vsus out of the ſcripture, that ſuche worthineſſe is attributed by God to our ſufferings. But by the onelyonly bloud and paſſion of Chriſt all thoſe are ſanctified that be ſanctified, whoſoeuer they be: therefore purgatori… is a wicked deuiſe of the diuell, whiche darkeneth, yea, and maketh voyd the croſſe and merites of Chriſt. For what other thing do they account purgatorie, but a ſatiſfaction for ſinnes made by the ſoules ſeparated frō their bodies? In the Goſpell of Iohn there is a queſtion moued by the diſciples of Iohn the Baptiſt, touching Soules are purged by the onlie bloud of Chriſt. Iohn. 3.John 3the purifying of ſoules. And Iohn Baptiſt declareth that the faythfull are through Chriſte purified by fayth, which thing he is beléeued to hauehave teſtified alſo by holy baptiſme. Moreouer, the moſt excellent apoſtles do expreſly witnoſſe, that all the faithfull are cleanſed by the onelyonly bloude of Chriſte, and by his onelyonly paſſion, and moſt ſufficient merites. For Peter, who ſayeth in the Actes: Neyther is there ſaluation in any other: for among Actes. 4.Acts 4men there is giuen no other name vnderunder heauen wherby we muſt be ſaued, He I ſay hath written in his firſte canonicall Epiſtle, Ye knowe 1 Pet. 1.1 Pet 1that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as with ſiluer and golde, but with the precious bloude of the immaculate lambe. Iohn the Apoſtle alſo ſayeth, The bloude of Chriſt Ieſus the ſonne of God cleanſeth 1. Ioh. 1.1 John 1vsus from all ſinne. And he againe, Chriſt loued vsus, and waſhed vsus from p. 771Apoc. 10.Rev 10our …innes by his owne bloud. And Paule …ath to the Epheſians … to Titus ſheweth that we are purified Ephe. 5. Tit. 3.Eph 5Titus 3by the only bloud of the ſonne of god. VntoUnto the He brues he ſayth. By him ſelfe hath hee purged our ſinnes, and Heb. 5.Heb 5ſ…tt…h on the right hande of God in the higheſt places. It was not w^tout ſignification that he ſaid, By him ſelf, y^t he might thereby exclude all other meanes. For elſwhere he ſayth thus, If righteouſneſſe come by the lawe, Gal. 2.Gal 2then Chriſte dyed in vaine. For after the ſame manner we alſo doe reaſon. If we be cleanſed by purgatorie fire, then in vaine did Chriſte ſhed his bloude to purg… vsus. For what néeded he to hauehave ſuffered moſt grieuous puniſhment, if we could hauehave ben cleanſed by Purgatorie fire? Moreouer, the whole ſcripture teacheth vsus, that Chriſte is our onelyonly ſatiſfaction and propitiation. Which thing we hauehave at large ſhewed in other places. And therefore ſoules make no ſatiſfaction in purgatorie, vnleſſe we wil confeſſe that men hauehave no néede of Chriſte.

Theſe men doe further feine that the power to purge is giuen to the fire of purgatorie by grace, or by the bloude and merites of Chriſte & that this fire purgeth not by his own vertue, but by the power of the ſonne of God. But they hauehave alſo forged this moſt wickedly. For the ſcripture in euerie place, (as we alſo ſaid euen nowe) ſendeth vsus back to the ſonne of God, and the price of his bloude and cleanſing, wherof it teacheth that we are made partakers while we liue in this world by faith and y^e holy ghoſt: but of Purgatorie it ſpeaketh not a word in any place: neyther ſaith it in any place that we by the grace of god are purged in an other worlde. Therefore they ſteale away the glorie … proper vntounto the … God and giuegive it to a fire which is altogether forged and … Furthermore, then appoint an other time of grace out of this world, which is altogether ſtraunge vntounto the ſcriptures. For our Lorde cryeth in the Goſpel, I muſt worke the workes of him that ſent me, while it is day, the night commeth, when no man can worke. And Saint Paule ſayth, Let Gal. 6.Gal 6vsus doe good, that is to …ay, let vsus …e bountifull and liberall towarde the poore, while we hauehave time. Whiche ſaying he ſéemeth to hauehave taken out of Solomons booke of the Preacher, ſaying: When the cloudes are full, Eccleſ. 11.Eccl 11they poure out raine vponupon the earth: and when the tree falleth, whether it be towarde the South or North, in what place ſo euer it fall, there it remaineth. He vſeth two Allegories or darke ſpeaches, by the which he teacheth the rich to be liberal. The firſt is taken from the cloudes. The cloudes from the earth do gather vp vapours, which being thickned, are immediatly as out of a ſponge preſſed out and p…ed vppon the earth to water it. Let rich men do the like, diſtributing againe among men ſuche riches as they hauehave gotten among men. The ſeconde is taken of trées, which being feld lye in the ſame places in the whithey fall. The wiſe man therefore warneth vsus to doe that in due ſeaſon, whiche we oughte to doe, for when we are departed from hence, there is no place of repentaunce. And in the Goſpell, a trée is oftentimes put for a man, where alſo the right hand is put for heauen or the place of bleſſedneſſe, as the left hande for hell or the place of damnation. Therefore this is his meaning, When thou art deade, thou ſhalt remaine for euer either p. 772… agreeable to the heauēly. For S. Cypri… againſt Demetrian…s, ſayth: When we ſhall bee departed hence, there is then no place of repetance, … value. Here life is eyther loſt or gotten. Here is prouiſion made for eternall ſaluation, by the ſeruing of god, and the fruite of fayth. They obiect againe, That ſouls when they depart That ſoules a… fully purged by the bloud of Chriſt.from the body, are purged in déede by the bloud of the ſonne of God, but not fully, for there remaines ſome filth to be waſhed away in Purgatori…. For they depart out of this worlde not hauing a full and perfect ſayth, & therefore they be not altogether good: and again, ſince they hauehave ſome fayth they be not altogether euill: & bicauſe they are not perfectly good they cannot enter into heauen: againe ſince they are not altogether euil, they cānot be dā ned, and therefore there remayneth a middle place, wherein they may be fully tryed, and at the length being purified, may be preſented …to the ſight of God. But theſe m…n after their manner … what they …. But we hauehave ſhewed by the holie ſcriptures, that the ſouls of the faithfull are purged by the onelyonly bloud … the ſonne of God through …, and not by purgatorie. Nowe will I alſo ſhewe in that whiche followeth, that the ſinnes of all men are puri…edfully, that is to ſay, moſte abſolutely, by the onelyonly ſacrifice of Chriſte, and further, that by the grace of God in the bloude of Chriſte is forgiuen in the verie inſtant of death whatſoeuer infirmitie & remnants of ſinne are behinde in the ſoules of the faithfull departing from the body. For the Lorde ſaith in the goſpel, He that is waſhed, Iohn. 13.John 13needeth not ſaue to waſhe his feete, … eueryevery wh…. Beholde he … that … waſhed by the grace of Chriſt, ſo that the … of the féete, that is to ſay, the infirmit…e and imperfection whiche remaineth after regeneration, cā not bring him againe into the number of thoſe that are vncleane. For the Lord ſayth againe in the Goſpell, And for their ſakes ſanctifie I my ſelf Iohn. 17.John 17that they alſo might bee ſanctified through the truth. The Lorde gaue vp himſelfe to be a ſacrifice for oure ſinnes, to the ende that we might be ſanctified, that is, purged from oure ſinnes truly, that is to ſay, fully and … perfectly. For Paule ſayth, For with one offering hath he made perf…ſt Heb. 10.Heb 10for euer them that are ſanctified▪ Mark (I pray you) y^• apoſtles words. Chriſt with one oblatiō (Lo he ſaith, with one) hath perfectly ſanctified, al that are ſanctified, & are made heires of eternall life. Herevpon we gather: If by the one ſacrifice of Chriſt, once offered for vsus, al ſoules are purified, and that in déede perfectly purified, ſo that there is nothing wāting to their pu…fying, what I praye you findeth Purgatorie to purifie? Therefore it is a ſhameleſſe forgerie and horrible blaſphe…ie againſt the merite of the purifying of IESVS CHRIST the ſome of GOD. If there ſéeme any thing to be diminiſhed or wanting vntounto the ſoule nowe departing, Chriſte by his grace performeth and maketh it vp whileſt it is yet in the worlde. It is a wicked ſpeach and vnworthy to be heard among chriſtian people, that by oure ſufferings in Purgatorie, that is fulfilled whiche was not as yet fully ſatiſfied with the bloud and paſſion of Chriſt. As if our ſuffrings were better & more effectual than the paſſion of y^t ſonne of God.

p. 773Th…ſe men obie…te vntounto vsus the weakneſſe of faith in them that dye: and we …n the other ſide obiect vntounto them the merciemercy of God fully pardoning his faithfull people. The father of the Lunatique mentioned in the Goſpell, requiring helpe of the Lord, heareth: If thou cāſt beleeue, (to wit, that I am able to heale thy ſonne:) al Marke. 9.Mark 9things are poſsible to him that beleeueth. And albeit he felt his fayth not altogether perfect, but that therein remayned much weakeneſſe, yet the helpe of God was not hindered by the weakneſſe thereof. For bycauſe he humbly ſubmitted him ſelfe wholy vntounto the mercy of the Lorde, beſéeching and ſaying: Lord I beleeue, help my vnbeliefe: the Lorde by and by ſuccoured him, and without delaye healed his ſonne. So there is no dout that the moſt mercifull Lorde will fayle his faithfull people, to whom he hath promiſed moſt full forgiueneſſe, acknowledging their weakeneſſe in the houre of death, and therefore alſo calling for the mercy of God: but that vppon the inſtant of the going out of the ſoule, he forth with perfectly …anctifieth it with his ſpirtie for Chriſtes ſake, and beautifieth it with all kynd of graces, that being truely purged from all filthe of ſinnes, it maye flée vp, and deſerue to appeare in the preſence of God. And this ſhoulde be beaten into the heades of them that are a dying. For there are extant moſt large promiſes of god, there are extant examples of many holy men dying and calling vponupon God. Furthermore, it is certeine by thoſe thinges which we hauehave already alledged, that the death of Chriſt hath made ful ſatiſfaction for ſinnes: ſo that nowe there remayneth nothing further to …e … w…th the fire of purgatorie. Souls after the death of the …dy, … the right … heauen, taking nothing … them which … it d…th purging. Therefore that fire of purgatorie is nothing elſe in verie dée…e, than a tra…que or merchandize of moſt couet…s mē, whereby craftily and cunningly they purge the purſſes, not the ſoules, both of rich and poore.

Theſe men by and by vnderprop Of praiers for the dead.their purgatorie building, which is a falling, with two poſtes. The firſt is this, They of olde (ſay they) prayed for the ſaluation of ſoules ſeparated from the body, therfore there is a purgatorie. For ſince in heauen they hauehave no néed of prayers, ſurely in hel prayers do no good, ſince in hell is no redemption: truely there is a middle place left wherein ſoules are kepte, vntounto whom the prayers of the liuing doe good, that place is Purgatorie. Thus in déede they reaſon, howbeit imagining all thinges of their owne heades, without the authoritie of the ſcriptures. But this is that they hauehave to ſay, That they of old prayed for the deade. I knowe what Auguſtine that famous doctour of the Churche, what Chryſoſtome that golden-mouthed man, and other auncient and notable men hauehave l…t written touching this matter. But I aſke y^e queſtion, Whether that whiche they did, were well done? For not all thinges which the holy fathers ſayd and did, (who oftentimes hauehave ſuffered ſomthing of mās inuention) are abſolutely to be alowed or followed. Thoſe things are not to be allowed and folowed, which are ſet down by them againſt the decrées of the ſcripture, (which thing they thē ſelues vnfeinedly confeſſe:) but thoſe things onelyonly whiche are vttered and confirmed by the authoritie of holie p. 774ſcriptures, which … of godlyneſſe. But thou … nothing in them of prayer for the …eade. For that whichſome albedge out of …he ſecond booke of Mach…bei…, proueth thing. For that booke is not canonicall. Which thing it behooued them to hauehave learned long ſince euen out of Hierome. They adde, that prayer for the deade is an vnwritten tradition of the Apoſtles: I heare them. But I knowe well enough, that the vnwritten traditions of the apoſtles are not contrarie to their writt…n doctrines. I knowe well enoughe that the written doctrines of the apoſtls no where commaunde prayers for the deade, and in no place allowe them. When Paule the Apoſtle exhorted the Theſſalonians to moderation in lame… ting 1. Theſſ. 4.1 Thess 4for the dead, the time being then verie fitte and moſt … to giuegive commaundement concerning offering of prayers for the ſoules of the deade, if he had thought them any whit profitable and neceſſarie, yet notwithſtanding he maketh no manner mention of them, yea rather he ſimply teacheth what they ought to beléeue touching the fou…es of the faithfull, being ſeparated from their bodies, namely that they liue in euerlaſting bleſſedneſſe with Chriſt, wayting and looking for the re…urrection of their bodies. But who can not ſée that this certeintie and plainneſſe of the Apoſtles doctrine, is intangled and perilouſly ſhaken with this feigned Apoſtolique tradition? For if we beléeue in Chriſt, let vsus beléeue his wordes and promiſes. He him ſelfe ſaide, that he is the reſurrection and life of the faithfull, and that the ſoules of the beléeuing, euen immediately … death of the body, … eſcape and … into li…. …f (I ſay) we … of the Lord, why then doe we a… yet being … for the ſaluation of the … of the deade, prays and make ſupplicatiō for them, as though they had not yet obteyned ſaluation▪ By theſe our prayers truely we giuegive a manifeſt proofe that we dout of our faith, & hope not after that, as concerning the ſaluation of our fouls, which wedge …th profeſſe with t…ung, and which alſo the wordes of Chriſte and the Apoſtles commaunde vsus to hope after.

The ſtedfaſt faith truely and aſſured hope of thoſe that beléeue and ſtay them ſelues vppon the promiſes of Chriſte, d… forbid vsus here to take and weare blacke mourning garments in offerings for the dead, whoſe ſouls we beléeue to hauehave already put on white garmentes: they forbid vsus to giuegive occaſion eyther to vnbeléeuers, or to weaklinges in fayth, of reprehe…ing vsus worthily, bycauſe we … and lament for them (who … ſay do liue with God) as if they were …aſt into hell fire, and buſily ſet our ſelues a worke with making humble prayers vntounto God to deliuer the miſerable ſouls out of torments, that is to ſay, bycauſe the faith which we profeſſe with tong and voyce, we condemne by the teſtimonie of …ure heart and mynd, yea and of our outwarde workes. If we goe on after this ſorte, truely we are double dealers in our hope and in our faith. The things whiche we ſpeake ſéeme to be diſſembled, falſe, and feigned. For it auayleth nothing in words to …nt of vertue, and with déedes to deſtroye trueth.

Therfore let him that wil, receiue p. 775this … (as they ca… it) of the Apo…les, touching the offering of prayers for the faithfull departe…, as for me, I meane to receiue nothing repugnant to true …ayth and … from the apo…les doctri…e, … doe I perſuade any man to rece… ſuch …anitie. This alſo I can not chooſe but tel you, that that which they call the tradition of the apoſtles, S. Auguſtine calleth the tradition of the fathers re…iued of the Churche. For in his … … apoſt…li 32. he ſayth. This which the fathers deliuered, the whole Church obſerueth, to wit, that prayers ſhoulde be made for them in the communion of of the body and bloud of Chriſt whē they in their own place are rehe…ed at the verie ſacrifice, and the ſame is mentioned to be offered for them alſo. And againe, … gerend…, Cap. 4. he ſaith, Supplications or prayers for the ſoules of the dead are not to bee neglected, whiche the church hath receiued to be made for all that be departed in the Chriſtian brotherhod, not rehearſing them by name, but in a general remembrance of them altogether. Thus ſa…e he▪ Who though in ſome place he … the traditiōs of the apoſtles very ſay, yet by theſe words this ſéemethmore expreſly to be his meaning, y^• this … or order of praying for the dead was deliuered to the churche by y^e fathers, and doubtleſſe many yeares after the Apoſtles time was receiued of the church. The ſame Auguſt defendeth in more places than one, that the receiuing of the Euchariſt or ſacramēt of the Lordes ſupper, is as neceſſarie for infants being newe come forth of their mothers wombe, to y^• attaining of ſaluation, as the ſacrament of baptiſme. The chiefe and notable places wherein …e hand …th … in his firſt booke againſt … his. …, againſt y^• Pelagians. Nether doth he … that opinion with leſſe … than the tradition▪ bicauſe that … and very vſual in the church in y^• age. But who at this day receiueth y^• ceremonie, as Apoſtolical? Who ſéeth not that thoſe good fathers otherwiſe moſt faithfull paſtours in that thing ſuffered ſome inuention of man? The written doctrine of S. Paule deſerueth at this day more to be eſtéemed, than that auncient tradition of the church Paul writeth, Let eueryevery man 1. Cor. 11.1 Cor 11… himſelfe, and ſo let him eat… of this …eade and drinke of this cap. Wh…reby al men vnderſtand, that y^• Euchariſt or ſacrament of the Lords ſupper, is for them to receiue that are of perfect age & not … For y^• cau… it … for our elder & to forſake y^• tradition, and to draw more neare to the ſcripture. Let thē therefore in this m…tter giuegive vsus … alſo to depart frō the vncertein tradition of the fathers, & to cleane to the moſte … faith & doctrine of y^e apoſtles. But … (ſay they) was condēned for this cauſe, for y^t he beléeued prayers Aeriani cō demned.were vnprofitable for the dead. I … in … y^• Aerius was cōdēned, neither do I take vponupon me to defend him, whom …hylaſtrius, Epiphanius, & Auguſtine, do make mention to hauehave … Arian, & a man polluted with other …oule errors. But touching prayers for the dead, whether they be profitable or vnprofitable, there is no doubt y^t they are catholiques & notheretiques, who beléeue y^t which is deliuered & …et downe in y^e apoſtles créed. For according to y^e tradition of this créede we beléeue the forgiueneſſe of p. 776ſinnes, … life euerlaſting. They which beleèue theſe things …tein vndoutedly what ſo…er they beléeue. For the Lord ſaid to the Cont…ion, Go thy way, and as tho… …, ſo be it done vntounto Matth. 8.Matt 8th…. Therefore who ſo euer beléeueth forgiuenes of ſin…, & life euerlaſting, hath obteyned forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, & ſurly he ſhal liue in euerlaſting life. Which thing, if y^• be true, as it cānot be falſe, whith is deliuered vntounto vsus in the apoſtles créede, what place I pray you ſhall prayers hauehave for the deade? for y^e dead hauehave their ſinnes forgiuen them, therefore al lets & delayes vntounto life are taken away, & ſo they liue w^t God. But they which hauehave not beleeued, hauehave reteined & kept their ſinnes ſtil, & being eaſt down into y^e bottomleſſe lake, ſticke faſt in y^e my…e of hell. Which thinges ſince they are … cert…ntie, truly the… is a … of praying for y^• dead, … before go… nor among the faithful. Herevnto are annexed ſo many examples of y^e …aintes in both the Teſtaments, which are to be preferred both before vsus … condēnations of men. Which I pray you of y^e holy fathers euer prayed … their dead? Did Adam pray for his Abel? did y^e ſonnes pray for their father Adam? What prayers did Abraham offer to God for the ſoule of his father Thare, or for y^e ſoul of his moſt deare wife Sara? What prayers poured Eſau and Iacob forth for their father Iſaac when he died: the …. ſonnes of Iſrael for Iacob? Solomon for Dauid? In y^e new Teſtament Iohn baptiſt is beheaded of Herode, Stephan ſtoned of the Iewes, Iames his head is cut off by y^e ſhoulders at y^e cōmandemēt of Agrippa, their diſciples burie their bodies, & do all things religiouſly belonging to their burials, but in ſomany … made of pray…r for the ſoules of y^e dea…. For they beléeued they forthwith after death were carried into euerlaſting life. Who thē after ſo many notable examples, & after ſo cleare profeſſion of the catholique and ſinnere fayth, … ye vsus to the neceſſitie of praying for the ſoules of the dead? Who can ſay hereafter, that we are here…iques, who fulfill that in worke, whiche we profeſſe in profeſſion of fayth, or confeſſion of the mouth, yea, which do no other thing, thā the moſt excellent worſhippers of God of both Teſtaments hauehave done before vsus. Appearing of Spirits.The laſt p…ſt wherewith they vnderprop their purgatorie, leaſt it ſhould fall, is the appearing of ſpirites. For Rabanus a byſhop ſheweth out of the teſtimonies of Pope Gregorie, and reuer…nd Beda, that the ſoules of dead men hauehave very often appeared, and taught that oblations and praiers do profite them verie much. But I wonder that men of learning wold groūd their worke vponupon ſo rotten & ruinous foundations. For the Lorde in the Deut. 18.Deut 18lawe forbiddeth to aſke the truthe of the ſpirites or ſoules of the deade. In the Prophetes we are ſent from Iſa. 8.Isa 8ſuch … to the law & the teſtimonie. In Luke the rich glutton cryeth in torments, & ſaith, I pray the father Luke. 16.Luke 16Abraham that thou wouldeſt ſende Lazarus to my fathers houſe, for I hauehave fiue brethren, that he may witneſſe vntounto them, leaſt they alſo come into this place of torment. But he heareth: They hauehave Moſes and the Prophetes, let them heare them. But when the riche glutton hadde anſwered, No father Abraham, but if one come vntounto thē from the dead, they will beleeue and repent: He heareth againe, If they heare not p. 777Moſes and the Prophetes, neyther will they beleeue if one riſe from death. Therefore it is moſt certeine and confirmed by the authoritie of the goſpel, that bleſſed ſoules are not ſent of God vntounto vsus to teache vsus any thing. Who I pray your woulde giuegive eare to wicked and condemned ſoules? The Goſpell of Chriſte ſendeth vsus all to the canonicall ſcripture.

Wherevpon it followeth that the teſtimonies which are fetched from Oracles or appearings of the ſpirites of the dead are of no weight, but moſt deceiuable and full of lying.

Mans teſtimonies are agreeable with Gods, which alſo teache vsus, that That ſouls ſeparated from their bodies do not wāde… in theſe regions.ſouls being ſeparated from their bodies, can not wander or ſtray in theſe regions. The wordes are too long to rehearſe which Tertullian learnedly diſputeth of this matter in the ende almoſte of his booke De Anima, yet they are all leuelled to this …, to ſhew that ſouls ſeparated from their bodies, and appointed to their places, do not returne again into this world. To the obiection of ſome that boaſt of arte Magicke, and alſo that by the power of God many hauehave returned frō the deade into this life, he anſwereth: But although the power of God hath called backe againe ſome ſoules into their bodies, to giuegive vsus inſtruction of his might and right, yet therfore that ſhall not be communicated with the credite and boldneſſe of Magicians, and the deceitfulneſſe of dreams, and licentiouſneſſe of Poets: but in the examples of the reſurrection, when Gods power eyther by Prophetes, or by Chriſte, or by Apoſtles, bringeth ſoules into bodies, it is manifeſtly declared by ſound, euident and ful truth that it is the ſhape of a true body: that thou mighteſt iudge all appearings of … men …. Therefore … in his 29. Homelie vponupon M…demaū ding: What then ſhall wee anſwere to thoſe ſpeaches? I am ſuch a ſoule. Hee anſwereth. It is not the ſoule of that dead body which ſpeaketh theſe things, but the diuell, who deuiſeth theſe things to deceiue thē that heare him. And anon he ſayth, Wherefore theſe are to be counted the wordes of olde wiues and of dotards, and childrens toyes and phantaſies. And againe, A ſoule ſeparated from the body can not wander in theſe regions. For the ſoules of the righteous are in the hands of God, and the ſoules of infants likewiſe: for they hauehave not ſinned. And the ſouls of the wicked after this life are by and by carried away. Which is made apparant by … and the rich glutton. But in an … place the Lorde alſo ſayeth, Th… … they ſhall require thy Luke. 12.Luke 12ſoule againe from thee. Therfore the ſoule when it departeth from the body can not wander here with vsus: and that not without cauſe. For if they which go a iournie chauncing into vnknown countries, know not whether they are like to goe, except they hauehave a guide: howe much more ſhal the ſoule bee ignoraunt whether it ſhall goe, after it hath left the body, and entereth altogether into a newe life and ſtraunge way, vnleſſe it hauehave a guide. Out of many places of the ſcripture it may bee proued, that the ſouls of iuſt & righteous men do not go aſtray after death. For Stephan Actes. 7.Acts 7ſayth, Lorde Ieſu receiue my ſpirite. And Paul deſired to be loſed & to be Phil. 1.Phil 1with Chriſte. Of the Patriarch the Gen. 25.Gen 25ſcripture alſo ſayth, He dyed in a quied (or good) age, and was gathered vntounto (or layd by) his fathers. And that p. 778Luke. 16.Luke 16the ſoules of the wicked can not t…rrie or hauehave their abiding heere, giuegive eare what the rich glutton ſayth, and conſider what he craueth and obteyneth not. For if the ſouls of mē might be conuerſant here, he had come him ſelfe, as hee deſired, and had certified his brethrē of the tormēts of hel. Out of whiche place of ſcripture, this alſo plainely appeareth, that foules after their going out of the body, are carried into ſom certein appointed place, frō whēce they cā not return of their owne accord when they wil returne, but waite and looke for that terrible day of iudgement. Thus much hitherto out of Chryſoſtome.

Againſt theſe thinges they oppoſe the appering of Samuel fetched … Samuel … his …ath ap…eared not … S…ule.the holie Scriptures, … goe about to proue that … againe after death, and inſtru…t men touching thinges which they ſhall demaund. We anſwere in few woods, that that diſguiſed maſker which ſéemed to be Samuel was called Samuel by a trope or figure, but in very déede he was not Samuel. For of a certeintie it was a ſpirite, a iugling Sam. 28.and deluſion of ſathan. For ſorcerie is ſtreightly forbidden in the law of the Lorde: therefore bleſſed ſpirites obey not forbidden ways and vnlawfull practiſes, which when they were as yet ioyned with their fleſhy bodies by all meanes abhorred and reſiſted them in their aſſaultes: as for damned ſpirites they exerciſe them ſelues therein. But who would beléeue their oracles? Samuel (ſay they) foretolde what happened the morrowe after. And what of that? That was no hard matter for the diuell, ſince that the true and liuing Samuel foretolde many things a litle while before: but this craftie foxe might foreknowe the iudgement of GOD whiche was to come, euen by things preſent, and by the … and quaking of the hoaſtes. … in his booke De Anima, ſaith: God forbid we ſhould beleue, that the ſoule of any Saint, much leſſe the ſoule of a Prophete can be fetcht vp by the diuell, ſince wee hauehave learned that ſathan is tranſfourmed into an Angel of light, much more into a man of light, yea, that hee will pretend that he is God, and will ſhewe wonderfull ſignes, to ouerthrowe, if it …, euen the elect, &c. S. Auguſtine is of the ſame iudgeme… …oncerning that appearing, … Simplicianum 2. quaeſt. 3. And … quaeſt. &c.

… teſtimonies it is aboundantle … & truſt, that ſoules of …: from bodies, doe not wander or appeare after death in theſe regions. For they remaine vntill iudgement in the places appointed for them by the determination and prouiden…e of God. Wherefore they are neither ſent by God, neyther can they enter in vntounto men to inſtructe and warne them, eyther of things preſent, or of things to come. Wherevpon it foloweth, that appearings of ſoules, that reuelations and oracles, are méere deluſions of Sathan, ordeyned contrarie to the ſinceritie and pureneſſe of true religion. And bicauſe they which do what they can to proue vntounto vsus that there is purgatorie, vſe the defence and ſafegard of theſe vanities, it is vndoubtedly true that they proue a falſhood by deceite, and an vncerteine thing, by a thing of muche more vncerteintie. Furthermore it remaineth vndoubtedly true, that purgatorie, wherein ſoules hauing put off their bodies, ſhuld be purged vntounto life euerlaſting, p. 777duplicate page p. 778duplicate page p. 779can not be ſhewed out of the Scriptures.

And bycauſe we hauehave remoued and put by the lets whiche were caſt Soules, certainlie and immediately after the death of the bodie are bleſſedin the way to hinder the moſt ſpéedie iournie, we returne to oure purpoſe, wherein we intended to declare, that the ſoules of the faithfull ſeparated by death from the body, doe immediately after the death of the body paſſe the right and ready way into heauen, & ſo moſt certeinly and vponupon the ſouden be ſaued. Likewiſe we vnderſtand that the ſoules of the vnfaithful are thruſt downe the right and ready way into hell, and that by and by after the death of the body they periſhe with moſt certeine and ſouden damnation. For the Lorde expreſly ſayth in the Goſpell, Hee that beleeueth in Iohn. 3.John 3the ſonne of God is not condemned, (or iudged) but he that beleueth not, is condemned (or iudged) already, bicauſe hee hath not beleeued in the name of the onelyonly begotten ſonne of God. Againe, He that beleeueth in the ſonne of God, hath eternall life, but he that beleeueth not the ſonne, ſhal not ſee life, but the wrath of god abideth in him. And yet againe, This is the will of him that ſent mee, that eueryevery one which ſeeth the ſonne and beleeueth on him, hath euerlaſting life, and I will raiſe him vp at the laſt day. Nowe the laſt day of man, is the point of death: in it Chriſte ſaueth The laſte day of man.vsus by his power, leaſte our ſoule ſhoulde eyther periſhe, or féele any torments, but that it might liue, and inioy euerlaſting bleſſedneſſe. Moreouer the laſt days is that laſt daye of iudgement, wherein Chriſt ſhal raiſe againe, and iudge al fleſh, glorifying the bodies of his faithful people vntounto life euerlaſting.

Againe the Lord ſayth in the Goſpell, Verily verily I ſay vntounto you, he that heareth my worde and beleueth Iohn. 5.John 5on him that ſent me, hath euerlaſting life, and ſhal not come into iudgmēt, (or damnation:) but is eſcaped from death vntounto life. Theſe only wordes of our Lorde are able enough (without any gaineſaying) to ſet foorth, declare, proue, and confirme ſufficiently, our opinion concerning the moſte certeine and ſouden ſaluation of ſoules. For firſt of all leſt any man ſhuld doubt of the moſt aſſured trueth, touching the matter whiche he was ſetting foorth immediately vponupon the beginning moſt holily he ſweareth that is to ſay, he confirmeth the trueth by giuing witneſſe therevnto with an othe. Afterwardes he annexeth the whole maner of our ſaluation, which conſiſteth in hearing the word of god, and in true faith which receiueth the truth of Gods worde. For it is not enough to hauehave hearde the word of the goſpel, vnleſſe we …lea…e vntounto y^• ſame by true faith. But nowe marke with what aſſurance Chriſt promiſeth life and ſaluation to them that beléeue in him, Hee hath life euerlaſting, ſaithe he, he ſaid, He hath, not, He ſhal hauehave. Therefore he lefte no ſpace either to doubting, or to ſpace of time. Yea, yet more plainely, by interpretation expounding when and how the faithful hauehave or obteine life, he ſaith, He ſhall not come into iudgement (or damnation) but is eſcaped from death vntounto life. They come into iudgemēt, which hauehave their cauſe to be examined and diſcuſſed before the iudg. They come alſo into iudgemēt, which by the ſentence of the iudge are puniſhed for their euil cauſe. But the faithful hauehave no cauſe to be tryed and diſenſſed before the iudge. For their ſinnes are fully forgiuen them. It is God which p. 780iuſtifieth and forgiueth, Who is he that condemneth? Therefore they are not ſubiecte to any puniſhments, for Chriſt bare y^e puniſhmēt of y^e croſſe, y^e his faithful people might be deliuered & ſaued harmeles, from all torments. But rather leaſt anye man ſhould thincke there were a ſtay or ſpace of time betwéene y^e death of the bodie, & the life of the world to come, hee ſayeth, But is eſcaped from death vntounto life. Loe he ſayth, Hee is eſcaped, not, Hee ſhal eſcape, that by the Verbe of the Pretertence he might ſignifie the certeintie of the time paſt, and might ſhewe that the ſoules of them that beléeue, are by and by after the death of the bodie caught vpp into life euerlaſting. And I know well enough that the aduerſaries héere hauehave no ſo…nd argument, to ſett againſt ſo manifeſt and inuincible a truth. In déede with their wrangling words and their Sophiſt…ie they maye wreſtle with the trueth, but to ouerthrowe the trueth they are neuer able. For the ſoules of the faithfull euen out of the verie mouth (as is commonly ſaid: Von mund vſſ zu himmel faren) vppon a ſodeine enter into their bleſſed ſeats, and by faith enioy euerlaſting felicitie. Againe, we read in the Reuelation of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte made to Iohn the Apoſtle, that it was ſaid: And I heard a voice from heauē ſaying Apoc. 14.Rev 14vntounto mee, write, Bleſſed are the dead which hereafter die in the Lord, euen ſo ſaith the ſpirit, that they may reſt from their labours, & their workes followe them. In theſe words an heauenly and vndoubted oracle touching the bleſſednes of all ſuch as die in faith is knitt vpp: and S. Iohn is commanded to write the oracle from heauen, that it may remaine to all times, and be read of all people. The ſumme of the oracle is this, Bleſſed are the dead, whiche heerafter die in the Lord. But they die in the Lord, whoſoeuer depart out of this life in the faith of Ieſus Chriſt. For ſo the Apoſtle vſeth this kind of ſpeach in the 1. Cor. 15. and 1. Theſſ. 4. Furthermore they whiche depart out of this life in the faith of Ieſus Chriſte, are ſimplie and truly pronounced bleſſed, to witt, happie and free from all miſerie. Yea, a note of the time when they ſhal obteine this bleſſednes is added, namely, Hereafter (foreign) that is to ſay, preſently, at an inſtāt, by and by, out of hand, to witt, as the Lord ſaith in the Goſpel, forthwith after y^e death of the bodie.

There is added alſo another teſtimonie whereby againe the certainetie of felicitie is expreſſed, and perfection too not delayed till the morrow, Euen ſo ſaith the ſpirit, that they may reſt from their labours. The ſpirite, I meane of trueth, whiche cannot lie, ſayth, foreign, that is to ſay, Amen, ſo it is: truely the faithfull are bleſſed in déed, and euen at an inſtāt they are bleſſed, and ſo bleſſed, that They reſt from their labours. The labours of the faith full are miſeries, calamities, afflictions, ſorrowe, feare or dread, and other euils of this ſort, wherewith in this world they are vexed, yea rather exerciſed in faith. From theſe thinges the ſoules of the faithfull departing from their bodies, are deliuered, therefore they are not purged by torments and vexations, they are not ſcortched in y^t middeſt of their iourney, but beeing happie and bleſſed, are forthwith deliuered from all anguiſh and trouble. And if ſo bee that they ſuffered any thinge whiles they were yet liuing in the bodie, if they did any good workes in faith, they do follow them. Let no p. 781man thincke that thoſe woorkes, beecauſe they nowe ceaſſe, were and are vaine. For they receiue their reward in that bleſſed life. For that it is, that Their works do folow them. And let vsus marke that he ſayth not, The workes of other followe them, to deliuer them forſooth out of purgatorie, but, Their owne works follow them. For in the Goſpell alſo, the wiſe virgins which had oyle readie in their lamps, went in with the bridegrome to the mariage: the foliſh virgins which had prepared themſelues no oyle, but did hope to hauehave from elſewhere to ſerue their turne, are excluded and ſhut out from ioy.

To the omnipotent God therefore, our moſt mercifull father, and continuall-running founteine of all good Graces and whiche is neuer drawne drie, who faſhioned our bodie in our mothers wombe, and breathed or powred into it a reaſonable ſoule, whiche might whiles it is ioyned to y^e bodie quicken and direct vsus, and when it is ſeparated from the bodie, might forthwith after the death of the bodie be tranſlated into heauen, there to liue in ioy and happines, vntill it returne againe vntounto the bodie beeing raiſed from the dead in the laſt iudgement, with the which it maye reioyce and be glad for euer, and without end, to that God, I ſaye, thoroughe Ieſus Chriſt, for whoſe ſake we are made partakers of ſo great a benefite, be glorie, praiſe, and thankes giuing for euermore. Amen.

¶ The ende of the ſecond Tome.

THE FIFT AND LAST DECADE OF Sermons, WRITTEN BY HENrie Bullinger.

The thirde Tome.

IESVS.

This is my beloued Sonne in whome I am well pleaſed: Heare him.

Matth. 17.

p. 812THE FIFTE DECADE OF Sermons, written by Henrie Bullinger.