Though these be negative arguments, yet are they not lightly to be rejected: for they plainly show that prayer for the dead, is a new-found doctrine, an article invented since the Prophets and Apostles times, without⟨p. 378⟩ warrant of the Word now the spirit warneth thatd none teach other doctrine, avouching that if any do,e he is proud and mad, and therefore biddethf avoid such, yeag he denounceth a fearful curse against them which preach hotherwise then the Apostles had done. Besides, this being without warrant of the Word,6 how can it be performed in faith? i if not in faith, how can it be acceptable to God? To say the least against Prayers for the dead, they must needs be vain and fruitless: for Gods determinate judgement passeth on every one so soon as they die:k If they die in the Lord, blessed are they: if they die in their sins, they are irrecoverably cursed, as is implied in the parable of Dives being in hell,8 to whom Abraham being in heaven, thus saith,l They which would go from hence to you, cannot; neither can they come from thence to us. Herein is the proverb verified, Where the tree falleth, there it lieth: for as life leaveth us, so judgement findeth us. Prayer therefore for the souls of the deceased, is as physic for the bodies of the dead.
Though these be negatiue arguments, yet are they not lightly to be reiected: for they plainly shew that prayer for the dead, is a new-found doctrine, an article inuented since the Prophets and Apostles times, without⟨p. 378⟩ warrant of the Word now the spirit warneth thatd none teach other doctrine, auouching that if any do,e he is proud and mad, and therefore biddethf auoid such, yeag he denounceth a fearefull curse against them which preach hotherwise then the Apostles had done. Besides, this being without warrant of the Word,6 how can it be performed in faith? i if not in faith, how can it be acceptable to God? To say the least against Prayers for the dead, they must needs be vaine and fruitlesse: for Gods determinate iudgement passeth on euery one so soone as they die:k If they die in the Lord, blessed are they: if they die in their sinnes, they are irrecouerably cursed, as is implyed in the parable of Diues being in hell,8 to whom Abraham being in heauen, thus saith,l They which would go frō hence to you, cannot; neither can they come from thence to vs. Herein is the prouerbe verified, Where the tree falleth, there it lyeth: for as life leaueth vs, so iudgement findeth vs. Prayer therefore for the soules of the deceased, is as physicke for the bodies of the dead.
- d1 Tim. 1. 3. [Greek or Hebrew].1 Tim. 1. 3. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- e& 6. 4.
- fRom. 16. 17.
- gGal. 1. 8. [Greek or Hebrew].Gal. 1. 8. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- hHeb. 11. 6.
- 6Qualis exieris de hac vita, talis redderis illi vita. Aug. in Psal. 36.
- kReu. 14. 13.
- 8Quousque nobis tempus conceditur recte vivamus, &c. medici post quā aegrotus obijt ne quicquam prodesse potest. Chrys. hom. 75. in Mat.Quousque nobis tempus conceditur recte viuamus, &c. medici post quā aegrotus obijt ne quicquam prodesse potest. Chrys. hom. 75. in Mat.
- lLuk. 16. 26.
