THE HOPE OF the Faithfull Declaring Breefely and clearly the Resurrection of OVR LORD IESVS CHRIST past and of oure true essentiall bodies to come and plainly confuting the cheefe Errors that hath sprong therof out the Scripture and Doctors VVith an euident probation that there is an eternall life of the Faithfull and an euerlalasting damnation of the Vnfaithfull Nevvly Imprinted and Corrected 1574. To the Christian READER GRACE and peace EVERYE MAN must needes confesse that this is novve a lamentable time In the vvhich the vvorld is not onli vnquieted vvith vvars dearthe sicknesse and such like but also standeth euer more and more in greater pearill thorovve vices euery vvhere bearing the svving So that it is to be feared if vve banishe them not the sooner vve and our posteritye shall yet come into farre greater sorovv then vve are already vvrapped in For if one should barely and vvythout all rhetorical amplifications but reherse only the great pompe vainglory riot fornication open idolatry periury c. of mighti men and rulers vvhich vvast the vvorld miserably the space euen of many dayes vvold scase be any thing sufficient thervnto And vvhat heapes of vvickednesse priuate persons do adde vnto the same all vvise men caÌ„ ponder by themselues For if vve goe into our ovvne bosomes vve finde that vve altogether vvill vvholy fashion and frame oure liues after the vvorld seeking vaine pompe and priuate commodity for our ovvne luste vvith sure shame and publike discommodity to others losse VVhich all are vndoubted tokens that the lavve and loue of God is litle estemed among vs VVhich vvith greeuous threates forbiddeth the foresaid and other vices by straight commaundement forsing and sure revvardes alluring vs to the contrary dealing Neither may vve thinke but that suche vices daily vvill encrease till the time they ouervvhelme vs excepte the contempte of Gods la ve set apart being the only sufficient vvelspring of all vvickednes for vvhich the vvrath of God is inkindled and his bitter curses fall vppon vs the same vvorde be had in greateâ— price and reuereÌ„ce For vvhy vvhat godlineâ—â—e can be hoped for of them vvhich hold nothing of God the only fountaine of goodnesse and laugh his vvorde to scorne of vvhom vve can knovve nothing but that is there shevved vs saue that small knovvledge that is of beholding of the creatures â–ª vvhich neuerthelesse declareth rather that there is a God then vvhat he is hovv he vvill be pleased And though al the scripture serue vs to enioy Gods blessings yet as in a compound medicine all the simples being holsom some one may lesse be spard theÌ„ the other so the article of resurrection clear and ofte inculcated in Sc ipture is moste auaileable so that it vnknovvne all vices svvarm and roste in vs For vve not considering our end vvherein saluation life standeth or paines prepared for the accursed vvill but staine our selues in voluptuousnes For vvho knovveth but the fleshe in this life vvhy shold he not thinke as good take it as leaue it and best to make the moste of that vvhich at last ceasseth In this case the Ethnikes being saide liue merely vvhile ye be in the vvorld and eat vve and drink vve lustely to morovve vve shall die vvhich all the Epicures protest openly and the Italian atheoi in life practise and no vvorse man then a Pope in oure dayes hathe geuen the like definitiue sentence among his Courte deuines of the soules immortality the story is knovven Contrarivvise the learned in Goddes vvorde knovving that this life is a death from sinne and a vvaye to the life to come vvhich Christ vvith his crosse hath opened vnto them for desire thereof runne forth in the race of godlinesse assured of the revvard sith Christ therfore bidding deathe battaile that vve mought liue hath broken her bondes and risen againe For goodes are not the possessors as the Philosopher saithe and Christe alludeth in the parable of the tvvo strong men but the more valiant maÌ„s VVherfore gentle reader I hauing this litle but absolute vvorke of Christes and our resurrection and that there is an eternall life and damnation vvherin the deuill hath sore assaulted the churche by men this only excepted of greate authoritye and learning thought it my duety to put it in Printe not keping that priuate vvhich might doe suche good common The matter is plain in scripture yet learne vve better things called in question and forced to vs by reson VVherfore not to stirre vp Gods grace in vs by imbrasing suche treatises vvere to tempt God and extincte the spirite For the scholer learneth of his schole fellovv that he perceiued not by his more lerned master and vnderstandeth him euer after the better and so men forder one an other in scripture VVhich as I meane in printing if thou desire in reading the Lorde no nay shall graunt our request vvhich geueth blessings plentuously to all suche as aske it constantly To vvhom geue honor thankâ— from heart for the good that thou repest in his creatures FARE VVEL ¶ The firste parte of THIS BOKE INTITLED THE HOPE OF THE FAITHFVL vvhich entreateth of the Resurrection and Ascension of Christe vvith the frute and commoditye therof THE FIRT CHAPTER ¶ The Contents of this boke and the Authors purpose COnsidering that by the Euangelists and by all the Apostles ther is nothing written more diligently then touching the resurrection of our lord Iesus Christ my purpose is some what more largely to talk of the same and of the glorious ascension of his body into heauen Item of the resurrection and asceÌ„sion of oure owne bodies of the damnation of vnbeleuers of the hope and eternall life of the blessed And this I mind to do only vnto the honor laude praise of our Lord Iesus Christ that the mistery of the holy gospell may be set forth opened to the commoditye edifying of the faithful and that of euery man it mai be plainly vnderstanded howe greate things are prepared and geuen vs of Christ This mater also doth specially belong to the declaration of the holy Gospell forasmuch as the best frute of the gospel is conteined and taughte therin Therfore if I wryte ought heerein more largely I doe nothing that concerneth not my purpose Yet I intende also to kepe a measure not to open eueri thing that hereof might be wrytten but only that which is cheefest most necessary of all CHAP. 2. That the Lord verely arose vvith his body THat our lorde Iesus Christ with his owne very true body did verely arise from the dead it shal be expedieÌ„t afore al thiÌ„gs to testify proue Therefore let the first witnes euen our Lorde Iesus Christ hiÌ„selfe come forth now and beare vs recorde out of the Prophets concerning hys true resurrectioÌ„ Like as Ionas sayth he was three dayes and three nights in the whales belly so shal the son of man be three dayes three nights in the hart of the earth
Nowe did not the fish cast vp to the dry land ani other for Ionas but euen the same Ionas himselfe whome he had swalowed Therefore the verye same true bodi of the Lord also that was buried arose againe Which thing the holye Apostle Paule minding perfectly to expres said first of all I deliuered vnto you or taughte you that which I receiued how that Christ died for our sinnes agreing to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third dai according to the scriptures Lo what can be spoken more euident and plain He that died for our sinnes and was buryed euen he himselfe the very same rose also againe Of this now it foloweth that the very true substancial body of our lord did rise againe for euen the same died was buried But to the entent that it mighte the soner be beleeued Paul the holy teacher declareth furthermore that he speaketh this according to the contentes of scripture and that the same was taughte in the scriptures afore meaning vndoutedly the lawe the Prophets Neuerthelesse we will nowe bring forth the true and euident testimonies of the Angels who in Marke Luke and Mathew speake vnto the wemen that came to the sepulchre Ye seke Iesus of Nazareth him that was crucified Why seeke ye the liuing among the dead He is risen he is not heere Beholde the place wher they had laid him Remēber howe he spake vnto you while he was yet in Galile saying that the son of man must be deliuered into the hāds of sinfull mē and be crucified the thirde day rise againe Therefore goe quickly and tel this to his disciples that he is risen from the deade And beholde he shall goe before you into Galilee ther shal ye se him as he himselfe tolde you These are the wordes of the Angels which if al circumstāces be thorowly well cōsidered do plainly declare that the very true body of the Lord did verely arise from the dead The wemē come seeke the body of the lord desiring to annoynt it therefore the question is touching the body of Christe The Angels also speake of the true body of Christ make answer saying Ye seke Iesus of Nazareth Whervnto they adde distinctly him that was crucified Now are we sure that his very true body was crucified and died He say they namely that died euen Iesus of Nazareth the same is become aliue againe Why seke ye the liuing among the dead The lord died of a truthe but deathe must not haue dominion ouer him nether muste his body putrify or corrupt as other mens bodies doe according as holy Dauid sayde before Afore hand I sawe God alwayes before me for he is on my right hand that I shuld not be moued Therfore did mi hart reioyse and my tong was glad Moreouer also my flesh shal rest in hope because thou wilte not leaue my soule in Hell neither wilte thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Thou hast shewed me the wayes of life thou shalt make me ful of ioy with thy coūtenance and at thy right hād ther is pleasure for euermore These words extend wholely vnto Christ according as the .ii. excellent Apostles namely Peter in the second and Paul in the 13. of the Acts do declare Out of the Angels wordes also is it com into the articles of the crede as we all cōfesse with these words he rose again from the dead This word from the dead doth truly expresse the death and resurrection after this sense He died as other men also doe according to the law of nature And euen in the same fleshe which he therefore toke vpō him that he might die receiued the immortalitye and toke it vnto him againe Therefore say the Angels he is rise◠again But that thing riseth no vp which fel not afore therfore euen the same bodye of Christe that fell in death is from death risen vp againe Moreouer they name also the place where he was laide to expresse perfectly that the very true body was risen saying beholde the place wher they layed him The mortall body of the Lorde hath his certaine place yea his owne place that the Logicians cal Vbi that is to say where in the which he was laide And as he now is become immortal he hath his own place againe For if the bodye that was raised vp were euery where then had not the Angels sayde Beholde the place wher they laid him Yea they had not bene able to shewe any one place wher he was not if the immortall body must be euery where But now they shew a place in the which the immortall body was not and that with plaine expresse wordes saying he is not heere Of this nowe it foloweth that the body of Christe which is but in one place did verely rise again In the gospel o◠s. Iohn also the sepulchre cloths wherin the Lord was wrapt as the hed cloth that which was about his body are mencioned as strong testimonies of the bodi risen vp which clothes Pete◠and Iohn did perfectly see Furthermore the Angels proue his very true resurrection out of th◠word of god and say remembe◠what he saide vnto you while h◠was yet in Galilee the sonne o◠man muste be deliuered into th◠handes of sinfull men c. Wit◠these wordes will they instructe vs that the sonne of man a very true body is truly risen againe They say moreouer go quickly tel the disciples that he is risen from death Now was the body dead and as all mens bodies that die laid in the graue And euen the same body was made immortall rose again from the dead He shall go before you into Galilee yea before you shal he goe with a true bodi that moueth from one place to another there as in a certaine place shall ye se him Ye shal se him I say for with a visible palpable body is he risen as ye are told by the Lorde himself who can neither lie nor deceiue CHAP. 3. Appearings of the body raised vp HEreunto extende the manifold appearings or opē shewings of Christ mencioned by the Euangelists In Mark it is wrytten thus whan Iesus was risen early the first day after the Sabbothe he appeared firste to Mary Magdalen To whom in the gospel of Iohn he sayth goe to my brethren and tel them I go vp to my father and your father to my God and your god Now whan she came to the disciples she tolde thē that she had sene the Lord that he had spoken suche things vnto her In Mathew he meteth the wemen and sayeth All haile Fear not goe and tell my brethren that they go into Galilee there shall they see me In holy S. Luke is mēcion made of two appearings The first when he shewed himselfe to the two that went to Emaus opened vnto them the true resurrection of hys bodye The second whā they were
gon againe from Hierusalem they came to the Disciples minding to shew them and to geue them to vnderstād what they had sene and hard Then preuented they them and said the Lord is truly risen in deede and hath apeared vnto Simon Nowe while they were talking of suche things among them selues Iesus stode in the middes of them and said peace be vnto you But whan they sawe him they were sore afraid thinking that they had sene a spirit or some other vision Thē said the lord vnto them why are ye troubled And why doe thoughtes arise in your hartes Behold my hands and my fete CHAP. 4. The body of Christ rose again not a spirite but a true body NOwe that no man should thinke it to be another body which he had not afore his resurrection he addeth thereto immediatly It is euē I my self Handle me see a spirite hath not fleshe bones as ye see me haue And wyth that shewed he them his hands and his fete With this euident testimony of the Lord was S. Augustine moued boldly to saye that they ought not to be heard which deny the body of the Lord to haue risen againe as it was layed in the sepulchre For if it were not so he wold not haue saide to his disciples after the resurrection Handle me and see for a spirite hath not flesh bones as ye see me haue Now is it as much as to rob God of his honor if anye man wold thinke that the lord who is the truth it self had in any thing that he spake not sayd the truthe c. Thomas was not there when the Lord shewed him selfe aliue vnto his disciples but whan he came againe they told him with greate ioy what they had sene heard Neuerthelesse he thoughte it had not bene as they spake and he sayd except I see in his hands the print of the nailes put my finger into the holes of them and my hand into his side I will not beleeue it Therfore after .viii. days whan the disciples were assembled together againe Thomas with them Iesus commeth in while the dores wer shut and standeth in the middes among them and saith peace be vnto you Afterwarde sayde he vnto Thomas reache hither thy finger and beholde my handes put thy hande here also and lay it in my side be not faithlesse but beleuing Thomas answered and said vnto him my Lorde and my god For S. Paule also in the firste chapter of the Epistle to the Romaines doth out of the resurrection of the Lord proue the god-head thus which was borne of the seede of Dauid after the flesh and euidently declared to be the sonne of god after the spirit that sanctifieth and by that he rose again from the dead namely Iesus Christ our lord What cā be spoken more plaine more euidēt or more certain For freely did the Lorde sette before their eies his body which was hāged vpon the crosse that they might see it handle it For the body was pearsed with nails and marked with the printes therof Oute of this now it foloweth that the lord with his true bodye did verelye rise again and not a spirit And further the Lorde also sheweth himselfe vnto the seuen whych then were in Galile fishing at the sea of Tiberias The Euāgelist addeth likewise thervnto that it was not expedient for any of the Disciples to aske him who hee was for they knewe that it was the lord In the .28 chapter of Mathewe the eleuen Apostles saw the Lorde and worshipped hī as it is declared afore Some think that the same was the excellent appearing that Paul speaketh of saying Afterward was he sene of moe then fiue hundred brethren at once of whom many are aliue this day but some are a slepe or dead And in the same place dothe the Apostle make mention yet of two moe appearings saying after this was he sene of Iames then to al the Apostles And laste of all he was seene of me as of one that was borne out of due time Luke the Euangelist in the beginning of the Actes of the Apostles hath in maner collected all the probations together The Lorde sayeth he shewed himselfe aliue vnto his apostles after his Passyon and that by manye tokens appearing vnto them forty dayes and speaking of the kingdom of god S. Peter also instructing Cornelius in the Faithe of Christ said we are witnesses of all thyngs which he did in the lande of the Iewes and at Hierusalem whō they slue hanged on tree Him God raised vp the third day and shewed him opēly not to all the people but vnto vs witnesses chosen before of god for that intent which did eat and drinke with him after he rose frō death With these plain probations testimonies as I suppose it it is euidētly declared and sufficiently shewed that our Lord Iesus Christ with his owne very true body which hāged on the cros did vereli rise from the dead As touching the glorificatiō I shal speake therof when I come to the resurrection of the bodies and there will I shew more that the glorification dothe nothing minishe the veritye or truthe of the body read the sixt chapter CHAP. 5. The frute of the Resurrection of Christe NOw I wil declare the occasion whye I haue with suche diligence and so earnestly preased vnto this that Iesus christ with his true body did truly rise againe That is how profitable necessary it is so to beleue and what frute the true resurrection of Christ doth bring engender vnto vs And albeit that hereof as of a plentiful treasure muche might be spoken yet wil I comprehend it all in a short summe Thoughe we be cōplete made perfecte thorowe the deathe of Christ while the iust iudgemēt of god is satisfied the curse takē away the penalty recompenced and paid Yet saith Peter we are borne again thorow the resurrectiō of Iesus Christ vnto a liuīg hope For like a christ with his resurrection ouercame death so standeth also the triumph victory of our faith in the resurrection of Christ Therfore thorowe his death is sinne taken away by his resurrectiō is rightuousnesse brought againe For how could he with his death haue deliuered vs frō death if he himself had of death ben ouercome Or how could he haue obteined the victory for vs if he had bene destroyed in the battell himself Therfore thorow death is death discomfited and with the resurrection is life to vs restored Hereof commeth it that Paul sayth if Christ be not risen then is your faith in vaine and ye ar◠yet still in youre sinnes and so they that be a sleepe in Christe are lost And to the Romaines Christ sayth he was deliuered vp for our sinnes rose again◠for our iustification Heerevnto serueth it also that h◠wryteth in the. 10. Chapter I◠thou confesse the lorde Iesus with thy mouth and beleeue
in thinâ— hart that God raised him vp from the dead thou shalt be saued Tâ— the Philippians he sayth more ouer I count al things but lossâ— for the excellent knowledge sake of Iesus Christe Out of all this is there yet another thing concluded namely that not onli life is restored vnto vs but also that in the resurrection of the Lord the immortalitye of the soule is grounded faste and sure For so sayth the lord himself in the gospell I am the resurrection and the life he that beleueth on me thoughe he were deade he shall liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleueth on me shall neuer die Yet another frute also receiue we out of the resurrection of the lord namely that we are assured out of doute euen as if we had receiued wryting seale therof that our owne bodies likewise shal rise from death forasmuch as in the true resurrection of the body of Christ oure resurrection hath a fast and vmnoueable grounde For Paule sayeth Christe rosâ— from the deade is become thâ— first frutes of them that sleepe Foâ— by one maÌ„ came death by onâ— man came the resurrection of â— dead For as by Adam all die by Christ shal all be made aliue but euery one in his own order â–ª The first is Christe then they are Christes c. Now he that iâ— the first can not be alone the heaâ— also shal not forsake the meÌ„ber â–ª Seing then that Christ the head â— risen it must needes folow thaâ— we also as members muste riâ— again For euen in the same placâ— doth Paule conclude if the deaâ— rise not again theÌ„ is not Chriâ—â— risen againe And finally oute of the wordes of the holye Apostle Paul we learn that thorow the ensaÌ„ple of Christe that was raised vp we are not onli prouoked to take vpon vs a new life but that we also thorowe the power of Christ are renued that we mighte leade an innocent and holye life And thus haue I breefely compreheÌ„ded and declared the principall frutes of the resurrection of the Lorde CHAP. 6. Of the true Ascension of the Lordes body that arose a bodye and no Spirite and of his place vvhether hee vvent to be in MOreouer it shall be exdient to know to what place the true body of the Lorde was caried or came whether it was laid in the earthe againe or vanished away or turned into the nature of the Godhead or otherwise chaunged into a sprite In this poynt we affirm thus The right old Christian faith the vpright holy scripture the auncient Doctrine of the Christian church doth teach hold and coÌ„fes that Iesus Christ very goâ— and maÌ„ hath not laid away noâ— mixt together nor yet put of hiâ— natures the godhead the maâ—hode but that he kepeth stil bothe natures in theyr properties vâ—blemished that he ascended vâ— to heauen very true God maâ— For so we knowledge and confes in the Crede he ascended vp to heauen We finde also in the gospell of Marke so then when the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receiued into heauen sitteth on the right hand of god Item Ruffinus an olde wryter who hath declared the articles of the faith saith he asceÌ„ded into the heauens not thether where the worde that is God was not afore for he was euer stil in heauen and continued in his father â—ut thether wher the word that became man sate not afore Yet â—il we declare this more plainâ—y out of the gospel of Luke wher â—t is written thus and he led theÌ„ out into Bethanie lifte vp hiâ— handes and blessed them And â— came to pas as he blessed them he departed from them and waâ— caried vp into heauen Nowe if thou ponder euery thing heere thorowly thou muâ—â— needes acknowledge and beinâ— ouercome wyth the truthe thoâ— must nedes confesse that the very true body of the lord was nâ— layd away neyther turned intâ— the nature of the godhead but hâ— a very true maÌ„ who at one tiâ—â— is but in one place ascended aâ— was taken vp into heauen as â— to one place He led them outâ— saith he Who I prai the. Eueâ— the Lorde Iesus whiche vnto than by the space of forty daies had in very deede truely shewed himselfe vnto his disciples that he was risen from the dead with a very true essencial body Euen he the very same that had taken vnto him a true bodi led his disciples out vnto Bethanye froÌ„ thence brought he them farther to Mount Oliuet And in the same place lifting vp his handes no doubt bodely humain hands yea with the prints tokens of the woundes he blessed them â—amely his disciples that is he saluted them as the maner is of â—hose that take their leaue of vs And so departed he from them â— set his body corporally in heauen as in one place For afterward it foloweth yet more plaiÌ„ he departed from them that is he was caried into heauen For to be caryed may heare be spoken only of the body and in suche sorte departed he from them that his body was froÌ„ the earth taken vp into heauen And though all this be euidenâ— and plain in it self yet by the Euangelist Luke in the Actes oâ— the Apostles it is set forthe anâ— opened more manifestly For afore all things he testifieth that thâ— Lord arose with his owne true bâ—dy and that by the space of 4â— daies with many tokens euideâ—ces he plainli proued declarâ— his resurrection vnto the Disciples And immediatly he addeth therevnto that euen the very same body was taken vp into heauen For whan he had spoken these things saith he while they beheld him he was takeÌ„ vp on hie and a cloud receiued him vp out of their sight Lo the Lord was taken vp yea euen in their eye sight was he taken vp on hie so that a cloud receiued his very true body away froÌ„ the sight of their eyes I beseche you what can be more aptly or more conuenientli spoken of an essencial body It foloweth farther in the Euangelist Luke and while they loked stedfastly vp towards heauen as he went mark that wel beholde two men stode by them in white Apparell which also sayd ye menne of Galilee why stand ye gasing vp into heauen This same Iesus who is taken vp from you into heauen shal so come euen as ye haue seene him go into heauen Wherfore oure Lord Iesus is departed vp into heauen with his own true essentiall body yea euen with the same which he raised vp from the dead For euen with the same very true humaine bodye shall he come again vnto iudgement according as the Lord himselfe sayd the Prophet Zachary whose words s Ihon aledgeth They shal loke on him whoÌ„ they haue pearsed Thus I truste it is sufficiently proued and declared that the Lord Iesus with his own very true bodye which he raised from deathe is gone vp into
then that it cā receiue or suffer suche vile vncleane lusts and tentations yea such a stained and defiled fleshe For afore the bodies of mē come in heauen they must be wholely perfectly altered that is clensed and purified from all filthinesse and frailty This did our sauioure teache also whan he answered to the question of the Saducees who denied the Resurrection of the dead Of the which I haue written much vpon the gospell of Mathew Holy Augustin saith also This doth sore hinder the Ethnikes and heretikes that vve beleeue that the earthye bodye is taken vp into Heauen for they thinke that into heauen there can come no earthy thing But they knovv not our scripture neither vnderstand hovve it is spoken of Paule it is sovven a naturall bodye and shall rise a spirituall bodye For this is not spoken to the intent as thoughe the bodye should become a sprite or be changed into a sprite For euē novv also our body vvhich is called naturall or soulishe and is naturall in deede is not changed into the soule and become the soule But therefore is the body called a spirituall body that it may so be prepared to dvvell in heauen VVhich thing commeth to passe vvhan al feblenesse and earthy blemish is changed into an heauenly purenesse and stedfastnesse All these are the vvords of Augustine CHAP. 18. The diuers errors that sprong about the article of the bodies resurrection HEtherto haue I told what the Scripture of the Prophets and Apostles doth hold testify concerning the resurrection of the dead and of our ood◠that is to sai our own true flesh◠namely that our true fleshe and body shall rise from deathe and be glorified in the resurrection and that the glorification dothe not therfore take away the verity of the bodi or make it nothing but dothe translate and bring it it into a more vprighte and better state so that neuerthelesse the true essencial substāce of the the body remaineth still Vpon this nowe to the commodity of the reader for a more euident declaration and vnderstanding of the aforesaid wordes I will shew what errors spring-vp cōcerning the resurrection of the dead that any good faithfull Christian may the better auoide the same That there haue ben many which denyed the resurrection of oure bodies and had it vtterly in derision all Stories declare In the which register the Philosophers for the most parte are reckened and estemed them Hymeneus and Philetus of whom Paul maketh mention In like maner are ther many recited of Ireneus Tertullian Eusebius Epiphanius Philastrius Augustine namely these the Simonians Valentinians Marcionites Cerdonians Carpocratians Caijnes Archontici Seuerians Hierarchits Seleucians Appellites and Manichees Among the Grekes also Latinistes there wer excellent mē that turned thēselues to the golden and yet earthy Hierusalem promising muche I wotte not what of a kingdom of the worlde to come after the resurrection ascribing vnto vs suche bodies as being partakers of the kingdom should also beholden wyth these earthye desires To these there is foūd yet the third part which as touching the substāce and state of the glorified bodies so saide and taught that they vtterly take away and ouerthrew the bodely nature and gaue vnto it no more nor other thing then a sprite Against the second sort speaketh holy Hierom that forasmuch as they were carnal they haue also loued onely the fleshe Against the third speaketh the saide Hierome that they being vnthankfull for the benefites of God would not haue and beare the flesh wherin Christ yet was borne and rose againe Wherevpon he geueth very godly coūsell that we tary in the meane way Namely that we esteme and make the glorified bodies no more spirituall then the perfectnesse property and truthe of the bodies maye permitte and suffer Contrarywise that we make them not altogether so carnall and vngostly that it myghte he thought howe that naturall and fraile bodies shall be in the glory Olde wryters say also that Origen did not perfectly confesse the resurrection of the fleshe but that in the resurrection he fantasied and imagined suche a body as hathe little difference from a sprite And therefore in Definicionibus Eclesiasticis there is a Chapter againste the saide Origen in maner folowing If that vvhich falleth doe stande vp againe then shall our flesh truely rise againe for the same falleth in very deede and shall not come to nothing as Origenes opinion vvas that there shoulde be made a shifting and change of the bodies namely that there shuld be geuen vs a nevv body for the flesh but euen the same fraile flesh that falleth of the iust and vniust shall vvithout feblenesse rise againe that because of sinne it may suffer paine or els according to his desertes continue in eternall honor and glory CHAP. 19. The errors of Origen concerning the resurrection confuted by Hierome BVt forasmuche as I haue once recited Origens opinion touching the resurrection of the body and somewhat recited the errors of some that deuided the resurrection declaring the scornful opinion of those whom they cal Chiliastes I wil shew nowe more largely what holye Hierome held of the resurrection of the dead and howe he confessed the true vprighte beleefe He speaketh to Pammachius concerning the errors of Ihon bishop of Hierusalem and in the same wryting he comprehēdeth the doctrine and opinion of Origen concerning the resurrection in maner folowing Origen sayth that in the church there be sprong vp tvvo errors the one from vs the other from the heretikes Namely that vve as the simple and louers of the flesh say that euen these bones this bloud and this flesh that is that oure face members and all the proportion of the body and the vvhole body it selfe shall rise againe at the last day so that vve shal also go vvith the feete vvorke vvith the hands see vvith the eyes and hear vvith the eares This saith he vve speake as simple homely grosse and ignorant people But the heretikes as Marcion Appelles Valentinus and madde Manes deny vvholely and vtterly the resurrection of the fleshe or body geuing saluation only vnto the soule and saying that oure vvordes are nothing vvhan vve affirm that according to the ensample and paterne of our Lord Iesus Christ vve shall rise againe saying that the Lorde himselfe rose in a fantasy or sprite and that not onely his resurrection but also his birth came to passe more in imagination than in very truthe that is that he vvas not borne in very dede but supposed to be borne Novve for the opinion and mind of both these parties Origen saythe it pleased him not namely that he abhorieth the flesh on oure side and the fantasye on the heretikes part for eche of them doth too muche And namely they of our side for that they vvold be again the same they vvere afore and the other for that they vtterly denye the resurrection of the bodies
the Athenians whaÌ„ they heard of the holy Apostle the resurrection of the dead thei mocked and laughed his doctrin to scorne For who wold lightly credite that the bodies which nowe are corrupt returned to earthe oâ— otherwise torne and deuoured oâ— wild beastes foules yea sonnâ— time breÌ„t and brought to ashes or drowned with water should perfectly be brought again anâ— wholy restored But God willing to make that easy lighte which is harde vnto vs hathe iâ— the resurrection of our Lord Iesus Christ set before our eies an open plain and sure trial declaration or euideÌ„ce of the true vndouted resurrection whervnto as to an ensample sure streÌ„gth of the resurrection we ought to haue respect asmuch and as oft as we thinke vpon it and wonder howe our bodies should rise againe Therfore with so many testimonies and arguments haue I declared afore that Christe our Lorde with his owne body rose truly againe from death He caried vp Helias also liuing body and soule into heauen and mani â—ne raised he vp from the deade that we concerning the resurrection of the dead should haue vtterly no doubt at all Finally with plain euident testimonies of the scripture hath he opened and shewed as I now wil declare which testimonies and arguments truly do teache that the flesh of men shal rise again from the dead that is that oure bodies shal at the last day be truly raised vp vnto iudgement Holy Iob saith thus in the .19 Chapter O that my words now were wrytten O that they wer put in a boke wold God they wer grauen with an iron peÌ„ in Lede or in stone to continue For I am sure that my redemer liueth that he shall stande ouer the dust or earth in the later dai that I shal be clothed againe wyth this skin see God in my flesh Yea I my selfe or for my selfe shall beholde him not with other but with these same eies Mi reines are consumed within me Iobs aduersaries complained of him as though he knewe not God as though he set nothiÌ„g by him Vpon this great slander blasphemy he answereth and declareth his faith desiring that hys belefe were wrytten in Lede in hard stone that is he wisheth his faithe to be knowne to those that come after which he also declareth with few words after this maner I am of you coÌ„plained vpon accused as though I knew not God now do I know right well in my heart yea I beleue am certified assuredly that my redemer or auenger liueth Here Iob vseth an Hebrue worde called Goel which some expounde a redemer it signifieth a rescuer an auenger such one as is a more frend of oures such as were they to whome in the law of the Iewes it apperteined to redeme the goods and to rescue them as we may learn farther out of Ruthe and of the fourth boke of Moses and with the aforesaide name Goel dothe Iob set forth and specify the Messias our Lord Iesus Christ that he liueth namely that he is the true liuing God the life resurrection of men and that he is also the rescuer and aueÌ„ger doutlesse euen the same that is oure very nere frend namely a very true maÌ„ such one as hath taken our own flesh bloud vpon him suffered death with his death hath made vs liuing Moreouer he saith at the last shall he stand ouer the dust For our Lorde Iesus with his very true body shall come at the last day to iudge and then shall he stand ouer the dust This saying declareth euidently that he will vndertake and doe somewhat namely that he shall put to his mighty hand so order and bring to passe that the dust shall come to life againe The dust calleth he here our flesh and that according to the scripture And wyth this doth he wonderfull well expresse the truth of our flesh namely that our very owne true flesh shall rise againe For he will certify vs that euen the very same bodi which at the first was made of dust and now into dust is sowne thorow the corruption is becom dust agaiÌ„ yea euen that same very body none other shal be raised vp But to the intent that no man shuld draw or referre the dust to any other thing theÌ„ to the body of maÌ„ It foloweth moreouer in holy Iob that after they namely the father the son the holy gost haue with my skin not with a straunge but with mine owne skin clothed the body eueÌ„ mine owne body which I nowe haue called dust therby vnderstandeth he the fleshe the sinowes the bones then shall I see God in my flesh that is fully and perfectly shall I be restored made whole again For to see God is nothing els but to be partaker of eternall ioy saluation And to se god in or froÌ„ out of that flesh is to be taken vp corporally into euerlasting ioy Besides this he dothe yet more euidently expresse the perfectnesse of the resurrection of the flesh and faith Whom I for my selfe shal see that is to my commodity and saluation mine eies shal see him eueÌ„ I my selfe shal se him and none other for me In the which words it is principalli to be noted that he sayth I shal se him yea eueÌ„ I my selfe Then mine eyes shall see him Finally I and els none other As he wold say euen I the now haue true flesh and bone loke nowe vpon you wyth mine eyes shall with the very same eyes beholde God also Therefore in the resurrection of the deade we shal with the essenciall substance nature be euen the same that we were before deathe namely we shal haue our members as hed eyes bones belly armes legs hands fete c. Now wher this distinction is there must be also circumscription there must the same haue compace and limits It followeth yet farther in Iob my reines namely my desire lust are wasted away and coÌ„sumed within me that is wyth in me namely in my hart are ceased all other desires lustes and pleasures in comparison of this my hope towards the resurrection yea in comparison thereof thei al are nothing neither worthy to be estemed For in the only Resurrection resteth all my hope and delite So sayde Paule also I haue counted all things but losse and do iudge them but dunge that I mighte winne Christ to knowe him and the vertue of his resurrection And therfore the olde translator of the boke of Iob hath euill interpreted these wordes after the sense this hope is layed vp in my hart After all this dothe holy Ioâ—â— adde herevnto that maketh the vnderstanding perfect and concludeth his saying thus Seing I this knowledge coÌ„fes why holde ye me for vngodly Why do ye persecute me and vexe me thus with spiteful wordes of reproche and slaunder Yet is the roote of the worde found in me And he calleth the roote
Moreouer wher the scripture declareth the place of damnation to be after what sort damnation shall torment the vnbeleuers Finally I wil declare whether the punishment of the vngodly be euerlasting or whether it shall cease at lengthe Holy scripture dothe oft and many times make mention of the deathe of the soule which yet cōcerneth not the substance but the state thereof For holy Augustine in his boke de fide symbolo speaketh therof very wel and Christianly Like as the soule sayth he by reason of vices and vvicked maners is fraile so may it also be called mortall For the deathe of the soule is to fall from God and not to keepe it selfe vnto God vvhich is also the first sinne committed in paradise as it is cōteined in holy scripture Moreouer the soule dieth vvhan it is verely spoiled of eternall life and caste into euerlasting sorovve trouble and miserye And therfore saythe Augustine farther The soule also hathe her deathe Namely vvhan it lacketh and is destitute of the eternall and godly life vvhich truly and iustly is called the life of the soule But vndeadly or immortall is it called because it neuer ceaseth to liue hovve miserable so euer the life of it be What bodely death is euery man knoweth well but eternall death whan a man dieth the second time is this when the flesh riseth again and so is placed in euerlasting torment For after the laste sentence or iudgement of God the whole man and not the halfe shall be either saued or damned The eternall death also hath S. Iohn in his Reuelation called the second death This is appoynted because of sinne and is not a resting or ceassing but a cōtinuall paine This death is called also damnation that is a iudgement bicause the vngodly is adiudged vnto paine and for that there is appoynted him a tormēt sorow and trouble that neuer ceaseth and that as touching the greatnesse therof can neuer be expressed with tonge CHAP. 25. That ther is an eternal death and damnation and that the soule is passible NOw that there is an eternal damnation the truthe and righteousnesse of God testifieth For howe coulde God be rightuous if he had no punishment wherwith to torment and plage the vicious and wicked Therfore out of dout an eternal deathe and damnation there is though the vngodly do mocke laughe it to scorne and passe not vpon it The godly sacred Bible which is an assured witnesse of the truthe sayeth euidently death is the stipend or rewarde of sinne And by one man came sinne into the worlde and by sin death Item thorow the sinne of one man is the euil fallen by inheritance come vpon all men vnto damnation For in that boke of Genesis God sayth In what day so euer thou eatest of thys tree thou shalt die the deathe Now did he eate therof therfore he also died and was euen condemned appoynted and adiudged vnto eternall death The Lord sayth also in the gospel if ye beleue not that it is I ye shal die in your sinnes Item he that beleeueth not is condemned alredy Such like testimonies are found in holy scriprure innumerable out of the which we finally conclude that death damnation is enioyned appoynted and adiudged of God vnto all vnbeleuers and vngodly But forasmuche as there be some whiche thinke that seing the soule is a sprite it cā not neither may suffer yea that it is not subdued to any passion at all Therfore against such curious teachers I wil set now the soule of the gorgious riche man in the gospell which expresly plainly sayeth O sende Lazarus that he maye dipe the tip of his finger in water and cole my tunge for I am tormented in this flame lo the rich mannes soule is tormented in the fire Hereout now it foloweth that the soules are passible and subiect to suffer And thoughe this be shewed vnto vs of the Lorde as a parable yet is it done for this intēt euen to describe and declare vnto vs the state and case of the soules that are seperated from the bodies And how pain and punishment is appoynted vnto the soules it is foūd expressed not only in the similitudes but also in the holye gospell of Mathewe the truthe it selfe saythe feare ye hym rather which may destroy soule body into hell What the mouth of god speaketh must nedes be true Yea a shamefull strange thing were it for any man from henceforth to doubte in this that with so euident testimonies is witnessed We ought rather to beware that wyth oure vicious life we deserue not to learne and fele by experience the righteous iudgement of God concerning the which we nowe doubte and demaunde so folishlye as thoughe there shal be nothing of it Now what I haue spoken of the soules that are already departed from the body must be vnderstand also of the bodies whych come againe to the soules in the resurrection CHAP. 26. The bodies of the vnbeleuers being raised are passible FOr that the bodyes whych come againe to the soules are raised vp are passible it mai well be vnderstād and perceiued by that which is treated of alredy S. Augustine Lib. 21. de ciuitate Dei. Cap. 4. sheweth by many naturall examples and euidences that liuing bodies may wel remaine continue in the fire But touching the place of the punishment or where the soules with their bodies shal be tormented the scripture saithe simply plainly that the vnbeleuers goe downe into hell Hereof is it easy to perceiue that hell is vnder vs in the earth notwithstāding to go about to describe to shewe and to compasse precisely the place and the rowme where it lieth and to poynt it out becommeth not vs verelye but is a folishe presumption The testimonies of the scripture are simple plaine For the Prophet Dauid saythe let death fall sodenly vpon them let them go downe quicke into hell for wickednesse is in their houses and priuye chambers Item with all theyr substance went they down quick into hell and the earthe couered them and they perished frō oute of the congregation Heerevnto serueth also righte well the destruction of Sodome and that whiche the Prophet Ezechiell declareth namely that all cruel people are gone downe and descēded into hel as the Elamites which are the Persians Edomites and others And therfore concludeth he farther that euen Pharao the king of Egipte seing that he also is a tyrant must be thrust downe into hell and be gathered vnto other vncircumcised that is to say vnbeleuers Item in Luke is the hell placed beneath downewards For thus is it wrytten in the Euangelist betweene vs and you there is a greate space sette so that they which woulde goe downe from hence to you can not The holy Apostle Peter speaking of the angels that fel saith euidently that they are caste downe into hel kept and bounde
more vnfrendly or more terrible God forbid that vvhan my hearte dothe any thing presse and vnquiet me she should not comfort me her sonne vvhome shee yet so entierly loued that shee could neuer suffer or see me heauye Vndoubtedly it muste needes be true that the holy Psalmist sayth my father and my mother haue forsakē me but the Lord hathe taken the cure to keepe me If our fathers novve and mothers haue forsaken vs hovve can they be then in oure cares and doings And if father and mother do nothing at all in our businesse hovv can vve then thinke that the other dead medle ought vvith vs or knovve vvhat vve doe or suffer The Prophet Esay sayth thou O God art our father for Abraham vvotteth not of vs and Israel knovveth vs not Seing then that such honorable Patriarks vvist not vvhat vvas don concerning their people vvhich came of them selues to vvhō yet as to Gods faithfull beleeuers the same people vvas promised oute of their ovvne stocke hovve can then the dead open themselues the dore to knovve and further the doings and not doings of them that are aliue And hovve shall vve be able to saye that they vvhich are dead vver helped and eased afore the euill came that folovved vp on their death vvhan they after death fele all the calamity and miserye of mannes life that here happeneth vnto vs Or be vve in erroure that speake such things and compt them to be in rest Or doth he erre that maketh the vnquiet vvay of the liuing so carefull and full of combrance I praye thee vvhat great benefite is it then that our lord God promised the vertuous king Iosias namely that he should die because he shuld not see the great misery vvhich god threatned vnto all the land and people of Israell The vvoordes of the Lorde vnto Iosias are these Thus saithe the Lord God of Israell seeing that by reason of my vvordes vvhich thou haste heard thy heart hath melted and thou hast humbled thy selfe before the lord vvhan thou hardest vvhat I had threatned vnto this place and to the inhabiters thereof namely hovve they shal be destroyed destitute and accursed and thou there vpon hast rent thy garment and vvept before my sight Beholde I haue heard thee saythe the Lorde God of hostes The plage shall not touche thee Beholde I vvil gather thee vnto thy fathers into thy graue shalt thou be laid in peace and thine eyes shall not so all the plages that I vvill bring vpon thys land and vpon those that dvvel therein Lo this king stāding in avve at the threatning of God did vvepe and rent his clothes and thorovve death that came afore hand vvas he in safety from all misery to come For he muste afore departe in peace and take rest leaste he shoulde see that greate calamitye Therfore the soules of those that are departed muste needes be in suche a place vvhere they see not all that is done and happeneth in the life of men All this haue we taken and wrytten out of the .13 Chapter of Augustines booke de cura pro mortuis agenda If the soules nowe in euerlasting saluation haue a perfecte rest yea suche a rest as their body which they haue put of hath not yet receiued againe and seeing that they are yet aliue whō they specially loued while they were with them in body howe much more perfect ioy shal they then first haue and possesse whā theyr bodies shall come againe and whan they shal see that all their brethren whome they in this life had loued so intirely afore are together in honor and glory whan now the time of frailty hath ceased and whan in the eternall time there can nowe no cause of heauinesse and grefe be thoughte vpon nor founde anye more at all Therefore the glory and ioy which the mercy of god shall after the laste iudgemente geue vnto menne that are made whole againe of body and soule shal be wythout sorow and in all poyntes perfect And like as the vngodly and vnbeleuers shal be gathered together with the deuill and all his companions so shall also the rightuous electe haue the ioyfull fruition of the company and felowship of their head Iesus Christe and of hys members that is of all faithfull beleuers CHAP. 33. The faithfull shall knovv one an other in heauen THen also shall the blessed knowe one another again hauing ioy together and reioysing in the obtained health For if there shuld be no knowledge to what ende then should the bodies rise againe Or what frute and profit should the resurrection haue Or how might the sentence of Daniel the Prophet be verified whan he saith they that haue instructed taughte other vnto godlinesse shall shine and be as light as the starres in the firmament Whan the Lord was risen again from death and hath taken vpon him his glorified body the Apostles knew him yea so perfectly and thorowly well knewe they him that as S. Iohn witnesseth none durst say who art thou For they all knew that it was the lord I passe ouer that the Lorde spake in the gospell saying whan the sonne of man shall sit vpon the seat of his maiestie then shall ye also sit vpon 12. seats iudge the .12 tribes of Israel For if they that rise againe shall not know one another how shall then the Apostles iudge geue sentence vppon those to whome they preached heere in theyr life time Note that the Apostles shall iudge in the roume and place of their lord to whom only is geuē all power to iudge but this vnderstanding it hathe that the apostles do then iudge whan they are there at the Iudiciall court as witnesses of the rightuous iudgement of God wyth the which he condemneth the vnbeleuers For where as the vnbeleuers woulde not geue credence to the Apostles that is to saye theyr preachers but cried oute vpon thē as vpon vngodly heretikes whan they nowe shall see those present with the iudge of all men they shall immediatly be ouercome by the Apostles and haue witnes in themselues that they shal be and are iustly cōdemned And for this matter read the .4 and .5 Chapter of the Booke of Wisedome which serueth very well to this purpose And seeing it is manifest that in the life to come euē the wicked shal know the good howe much more then shal one good person know another and one faithfull another In the Transfiguration of the Lord vpon the mount appeared Moses and Helias and were knowen of the three disciples of the Lorde yea they knewe the Lord himselfe thoughe he was nowe transfigured Herevnto serueth it also that Paule saith ye are come to the city of the liuing God the celestial Ierusalem and to an innumerable multitude of Angels and to the congregation of the firste borne sonnes whiche are wrytten in heauen and to the sprites of the perfecte rightuous c. Besides thys we haue for vs