Seeing then that such honourable Patriarchs wist not, what was don concerning their people, which came of them selves, to whom yet, as to Gods faithful believers, the same people was promised out of their own stock: how can then the dead open themselves the door, to know and further the doings and not doings of them that are alive? And how shall we be able to say, that they, which are dead, were helped and eased, afore the evil came that followed up on their death: when they after death feel all the calamity and misery of mans life, that here happeneth unto us? Or be we in error, that speak such things, and compt them to be in rest? Or doth he err, that maketh the unquiet way of the living so careful, and full of cumbrance? I pray thee, ⟨p. 228⟩what great benefit is it then, that our lord God promised the virtuous king Josiah: namely that he should die, because he should not see the great misery,1 which god threatened unto all the land and people of Israel? The words of the Lord unto Josiah are these: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: seeing that by reason of my words, which thou haste heard, thy heart hath melted, and thou hast humbled thy self before the lord, when thou hardest what I had threatened unto this place and to the inhabitants thereof, namely how they shall be destroyed, destitute and accursed, and thou there upon hast rent thy garment and wept before my sight: Behold I have heard thee, saith the Lord God of hosts. The plague shall not touch thee. Behold, I vvil gather thee unto thy fathers, & into thy grave shalt thou be laid in peace: and thine eyes shall not so all the plagues, that I vvill bring upon this land, and upon those that dwell therein. Lo, this king, standing in awe at the threatening of God, did weep and rent his clothes: and through death, that came afore hand was he in safety from all misery to come. For he must afore depart in peace, and take rest, least he should see that great calamity. Therefore the souls of those, that are departed, ⟨p. 229⟩must needs be in such a place, where they see not all that is done, and happeneth in the life of men.
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, ⟨p. 228⟩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,1 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 shalbe 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, ⟨p. 229⟩muste needes be in suche a place, vvhere they see not all that is done, and happeneth in the life of men.
- 14. Reg. 22.
