A17219:190
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the sameQuestions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the same: and answered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into English by John Cox. 1572Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same: and aunswered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into Englishe by Iohn Coxe. 1572
London: printed by Henry Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572London: printed by Henrie Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Answer.
The Answere.
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,