Theophilus. I desire gladly, that they and all the Christians, would acquit them in such sort that one may say that which the Scripture witnesseth of Ruth 1and of Boaz, and to give unto them such praise. For it witnesseth, that they have showed mercy on the dead.2
But how? was it in bestowing their goods to bury them pompously and making a great many of Ceremonies about their burial? They have not learned to do so by 3the word of God. For as Saint Augustine saith, also it is written in the decrees themselves, and in the Master of the sentences. That all these things, to wit, the travail and labour that they bestow upon the funerals, the beautifying of their burial, the pomp of the exequies and burials, are more to comfort those that be alive, then for ⟨p. 98⟩to aid the dead. If the precious and costly burial profiteth 4any thing the wicked, the vile and contemptible burial shall hurt the good, or if he do remain unburied. That rich man of whom Jesus Christ speaketh off, had 5a great number of servants, and courtesans clothed in purple, and sumptuous apparel, who made for him most excellent funerals, and buried him very costly to all mens sight: But the Ministering of the Angels made a great 6deal more noble before the face of the Lord that of the poor beggar, whom they carried not to be buried: But carried it into Abraham's bosom. Behold the words of S. Augustine, who declareth unto us that we must not despise the dead bodies, and deny unto them their burial, for to testify and witness the hope that we have of the resurrection, and that we should esteem them no less then a ring or a badge which they have left unto us, the which we would gladly hide and keep for the love of them. Also we ought not to think, that the faithful can be in nothing of less strength, and to receive any hurt before God, when they abide unburied, as it oftentimes chanced, as it is written: The dead bodies of thy servants 7have they given unto the souls of the Air to be devoured: and the flesh of thy Saints unto the beasts of the land. Their blood have they shed like water on every side of Jerusalem, and there was no man to bury them.
Theophilus. I desire gladlye, that they and all the Christians, woulde acquite them in suche sorte that one may say that whiche the Scripture witnesseth of Ruth 1and of Booz, and to gyue vnto them such prayse. For it wytnesseth, that they haue shewed mercy on the dead.2
But how? was it in bestowing their goodes to bury them pompeously and making a greate many of Ceremonyes about their buryall? They haue not learned to doe so by 3the worde of God. For as Sainct Augustine sayth, also it is written in the decrées themselues, and in the Maister of the sentences. That all these things, to wit, the trauaile and labour that they bestowe vpon the funerals, the beautifying of their buryall, the pompe of the exequics and buryals, are more to comfort those that be aliue, then for ⟨p. 98⟩to ayde the dead. If the precious and costly buryall profiteth 4any thing the wicked, the vile and contemptible buryall shall hurt the good, or if he doe remayne vnburyed. That rich man of whom Iesus Christ speaketh off, had 5a great number of seruants, and courtisans clothed in purple, and sumptuous apparaile, who made for him moste excellent funerals, and buryed hym very costly to al mens sight: But the Ministering of the Angells made a greate 6deale more noble before the face of the Lorde that of the poore begger, whome they carried not to bée buryed: But carryed it into Abrahams bosome. Beholde the wordes of S. Augustine, who declareth vnto vs that we must not dispise the dead bodyes, and denie vnto them their buryall, for to testifie and witnesse the hope that wée haue of the resurrection, and that we should estéeme them no lesse then a ring or a badge which they haue left vnto vs, the which we would gladly hide and kepe for the loue of them. Also we ought not to thincke, that the faythfull can be in nothing of lesse strength, and to receiue any hurte before God, when they abide vnburyed, as it oftentimes chauused, as it is written: The dead bodyes of thy seruaunts 7haue they giuen vnto ye soules of the Aire to be deuoured: and the flesh of thy Saincts vnto the beastes of the land. Their bloude haue they shed lyke water on euerye side of Hierusalem, and there was no man to bury them.
- 1Ruth and Boaz Ruth. 2. d. 20Ruth and Booz Ruth. 2. d. 20
- 2Works of mercy towards the dead.Works of mercy towardes the dead.
- 3August. de civi dei li. 1. ca. 12. 13. que. 2. c any ma. 4. sent. dist. 45 c. de pompit. The profit of the burial.August. de ciui dei li. 1. ca. 12. 13. que. 2. c ani ma. 4. sent. dist. 45 c. de pompit. The profite of the buriall.
- 4Virgil. Facilis jactura sepulera.Virgil. Facilis iactura sepulera.
- 5Comparison of the rich and of Lazarus. Luc. 16. c. 19
- 6Luca. li. 9. phras. aternus animā colligit in orbes. Non illue auro positi nec thure sepults perueniunt.Luca. li. 9. phras. aternus animā colligit in orbes. Non illue auro positi nec thure sepults perueniunt.
- 7Psa. 79. a. 2 Luca. li. 6 phars. Nihil agis hac tra, tales ne cadavera saluat. An rogus haud resert. Placido natura receptat. Cuncta sunny & post capit omnia tellus. […] Quae genuit coelo igitur qui non habet vināPsa. 79. a. 2 Luca. li. 6 phars. Nihil agis hac tra, tales ne cadauera saluat. An rogus haud resert. Placido natura receptat. Cuncta suni & post capit omnia tellus. 〈…〉 Quae genuit coelo igitur qui non habet vinā
