A17219:237
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.
I Suppose that Mary,1 Martha, Peter & Paul prayed unto God, but yet not as our adversaries teach us to pray for the dead: that is, that God would be merciful to their souls, and deliver them from the fire of purgatory, and receive them into eternal life: but they prayed, that unto the glory of god they might be restored to this life. And do they think that Lazarus,2 Eutiches and Tabitha were in the fire of purgatory, and after their death suffered prayers? I suppose they dare not affirm it. And therefore they bring us such examples as serve not their purpose, but are only to blear the eyes of the simple. But if they say, they were in Purgatory, then I pray you, how prove they the same. But some of them ⟨p. 82⟩affirm & say. If Lazarus were in hell, then could he not be delivered, for in hell there is no redemption: but if he were in heaven, then had he wrong to be brought again to this earth of misery. And here therefore they conclude, that there must needs be a third or middle place. To these I answer: first that hereby they have not proved this middle place to be purgatory, but that it may be as well some other place only known unto God. Secondly I say that their whole argument is false & vain. Lazarus (as the scripture there techeth) was Christs friend, and therefore his solo was received into the bosom of Abraham after his death, like as we may see in the other Lazarus, of whom Luke speaketh. ca. •6. Neither had he any injury offered him, when his soul (to the setting forth of Gods glory) was again coupled to his body: for all creatures do of right and duty serve their creator. The Lord said unto the these hanging on the cross, This day shalt thou be with me in paradise, & yet the. 3. day he rose again, & did not thereby suffer any wrong. &c.