Theophilus. Although that the 1dead, inasmuch as they have already ended their course, have no more place of repentance, nor of remedy, of whom, we have certain witness in the word of God, yet nevertheless because of the conjunction & fellowship which they have had with their families, or with their people, there is no doubt, but that their sins, which do redound upon others ⟨p. 254⟩in part, because of them, and for which it must be that others do suffer, and that their sins be unto them aggravated, cannot rightly be called theirs. For notwithstanding y• for their part, they have received already punishment, nevertheless they kindred and families, as it happened unto Ahab, and to all his house. And we must not think that 2punishment little, sith that oftentimes, the fathers and parents do fear more the dishonour and damage unto their children and linage, then their own, as we do see sometime by experience in those which are brought to the gallows, who although they cause them to dye without showing mercy, yet they think it a great grace and favour, if one grant them, that they will not let their bodies to hang on the Gibbet, for fear of dishonour & infamy: the which yet nevertheless redoundeth more unto their parents & friends then unto them. But they forget themselves: or rather they think that they do yet feel & shall feel that dishonour, infamy and public shame, which shall continue to their infants and linage. And although that they be sufficiently tormented with their evil, yet nevertheless they feel a great ease and refreshing if they understand that their children have none evil: & their torment is aggravated and increased, if they understand the contrary. For that cause the Prophets do threaten not only the wicked sort of their own ruin and destruction, but do foreshow unto them that of their children, and the evils which shall happen unto them, as it appeareth in the prophecy of Isaiah against Babylon, and others 3like. But for to stop all those evils, and for to appease the wrath of God kindled upon us, as well for our sins as those of our fathers, there is no better prayers nor offerings then to run with true repentance & amendment of life, to implore his mercy. Behold the good prayers for y• dead, to that end that their sins be not counted wish ours.
Theophilus. Although that the 1dead, in asmuch as they haue alreadie ended their course, haue no more place of repentance, nor of remedy, of whom, we haue certeine witnes in the word of God, yet neuertheles bicause of the coniosiction & felowship which they haue had with their families, or with their people, there is no doubt, but that their sinnes, which do redound vpon others ⟨p. 254⟩in part, bicause of them, and for which it must be that others do suffer, and that their sinnes be vnto them aggrauated, cannot rightly be called theirs. For notwithstāding y• for their part, they haue receiued already punishment, neuertheles they kindred and familyes, as it happened vnto Achab, and to all his house. And we must not thinke that 2punishment little, sith that oftentymes, the fathers and parents do feare more the dishonour and domage vnto their children and lynage, then their owne, as we do sée sometime by experience in those which are brought to the gallowes, who although they cause thē to dye without shewing mercie, yet they thinke it a greate grace and fauour, if one graunt them, that they wil not let their bodyes to hange on the Gibet, for feare of dishonour & infamy: the which yet neuertheles redoundeth more vnto their parēts & friends then vnto them. But they forget themselues: or rather they think that they do yet foele & shal féele that dishonour, infamye and publike shame, which shall continue to their infants and lynage. And although that they bée sufficiently tormented with their euill, yet neuerthelesse they féele a great ease and refreshing if they vnderstande that their children haue none euill: & their torment is aggrauated and increased, if they vnderstande the contrarie. For that cause the Prophetes doe threaten not onely the wicked sort of their owne ruine and distruction, but doe foreshewe vnto them that of their children, and the euilles whiche shall happen vnto them, as it appeareth in the prophecy of Esaie against Babylon, and others 3like. But for to stoppe all those euills, and for to appaise the wrath of God kindled vpon vs, as well for our sinnes as those of our fathers, there is no better prayers nor offrings then to runne with true repentance & amendemēt of life, to implore his mercy. Behold the good prayers for y• deade, to that ende that their sinnes be not counted wish ours.
- 1How those that are dead are punished in their successors.Hovv those that are dead are punished in their successours.
- 24. Reg. 10. a. 1.
- 3Esa. 13. & 14.
