IT appeareth by this question,1 that they go about to defame us, that we think no better of the Saints in Heaven, than we do of sinful men living here on the earth: and as though we affirmed them to be subject to infirmity and misery. But herein they do us great wrong. For we include not the Saints in heaven as subject to any corruption or infirmity: but rather their doctrine is to be suspected hereof. For we teach and believe that the Saints which are in heaven are far better than they which live here in this world: because they are free from all infirmity, and are perfect and pure, subject to no sorrow, but without all care and trouble live with God, rejoicing in everlasting joys, and therefore are they ignorant of our miseries, which else would vex, trouble, & make them sorrowful. And that they be free from all cares and all things that might trouble them in ⟨image 75⟩any thing, we may read in the. 7. and2 21. Chapters of the Revelation. And as touching the miseries of this world, they are only known to God, and to his son our Lord Jesus Christ, and yet without all manner of grief and sorrow unto them. But the Saints know not all things which are done every where through the world, nor are not omnipotent to help, neither are they present in all places, nor know the harts of men, for the secret thoughts are secrete, and hid from them: and where as they say that the Saints do behold and see all things in God as in a most bright and clear mirror: this is more foolish than needeth confutation. And as touching these things aforesaid, they are only proper to the majesty and wisdom of God. And as touching the Saints, they enjoy all glory most perfectly of the heavenly life. And whereas the Saints in this life have commanded us to pray one for an other, and have also here prayed for others, and required others to pray for them, yet hereby it followeth not, ⟨p. 69⟩that they which are in heaven pray for us, or that we ought to desire them to make intercession for us, that they might now pray for us in heaven, because they prayed for us when they were here on the earth. And yet notwithstanding we ought to pray one for an other so long as we live here. And there is also (as we have said) an other state of the saints in heaven: for they do not all that there, which they did here on earth.
IT appeareth by thys question,1 that they goe aboute to defame vs, that we think no better of the Sainctes in Heauen, than wée doo of sinnefull men lyuing héere on the earthe: and as thoughe wée affirmed them to bée subiecte to infirmitie and myserie. But héerein they doo vs great wrong. For wée include not the Sainctes in heauen as subiecte to any corruption or infirmitie: but rather their doctrine is to bée suspected hereof. For we teach and beléeue that the Sainctes whiche are in heauen are far better than they which lyue héere in this worlde: bycause they are frée from all infirmitie, and are perfecte and pure, subiecte to no sorrow, but without all care and trouble liue with God, reioycing in euerlasting ioyes, and therfore are they ignorant of our miseries, which else would vexe, trouble, & make them sorowfull. And that they be frée from al cares and all things that might trouble them in ⟨image 75⟩any thing, we may read in the. 7. and2 21. Chapters of the Reuelation. And as touching the miseries of this worlde, they are onely knowen to God, and to his sonne our Lorde Jesus Chryst, and yet without all manner of gréefe and sorrowe vnto them. But the Sainctes knowe not all things which are done euery where through the worlde, nor are not omnipotent to help, neither are they presente in all places, nor knowe the harts of men, for the secret thoughts are secrete, and hydde from them: and where as they say that the Saincts doo beholde and sée all things in God as in a moste brighte and cleare mirror: this is more foolishe than néedeth confutation. And as touching these thinges aforesayde, they are onely proper to the maiestie and wisedome of God. And as touching the Sainctes, they enioy all glory moste perfectly of the heauenly lyfe. And whereas the Saincts in this lyfe haue commaunded vs to pray one for an other, and haue also here prayed for others, and required others to pray for them, yet héereby it followeth not, ⟨p. 69⟩that they which are in heauen pray for vs, or that wée ought to desire them to make intercessiō for vs, that they might nowe pray for vs in heauen, bycause they prayed for vs when they were here on the earth. And yet notwithstanding we ought to pray one for an other so long as we liue héere. And there is also (as we haue sayde) an other state of the saynctes in heauen: for they doo not all that there, which they did héere on earth.
- 1Whether the saints because they prayed here on earth do the same for us now in heaven.Whether the sainctes bycause they prayed here on earth doe the same for vs nowe in heauen.
- 2The glory of the saints which are in heaven.The glorie of the saincts which are in heauen.
