A17654:196
An excellent treatise of the immortality of the soul By which is proved, that…An excellent treatise of the immortalytie of the soule By which is proued, that…
An excellent treatise of the immortality of the soul By which is proved, that the souls, after their departure out of the bodies, are awake and do live, contrary to that erroneous opinion of certain ignorant persons, who think them to lye asleep until the day of judgement. Set fourth by M. John Calvin, and englished from the French by T. Stocker.An excellent treatise of the immortalytie of the soule By which is proued, that the soules, after their departure out of the bodies, are avvake and doe lyue, contrary to that erronious opinion of certen ignorant persons, who thinke them to lye asleape vntill the day of iudgement. Set fourth by M. Iohn Caluin, and englished from the French by T. Stocker.
London: printed by John Daye, 1581London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1581
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.
Now I say and defend it, that these words death and hell which they have laid before us in the verses of the psalms, aforesaid, and in the song of Hezekiah, can no otherwise be taken. And I further say and affirm, that this may very well be proved by certain and sure Arguments. For be it that Jesus Christ the son of God, who is the head of all the faithful, and be it that the Church, which is the body of Jesus Christ speaketh in these verses, wilt thou show miracles unto the dead. &c. And likewise, what profit is in my blood. &c.
Now I say and defend it, that these wordes death and hell which they haue layd before vs in the verses of the psalmes, aforesayd, and in the song of Ezechiah, can no otherwise be taken. And I further say and affirme, that this may very well be proued by certaine and sure Argumentes. For be it that Iesus Christ the sonne of God, who is the head of all the faythfull, and be it that the Church, which is ye body of Iesus Christ speaketh in these verses, wilt thou shewe miracles vnto the dead. &c. And lykewise, what profite is in my bloud. &c.
That death is to be abhorred, as a detestable & fearful thing: & she fleeth it as much as is possible, and prayeth that it might not be laid upon her. Which thing also Hezekiah desireth in his song. Wherefore then fear they to hear only the name of ⟨image 94⟩death, if they are thus certain, that God is merciful and favourable unto them? Is it because they should be no more any thing But they would escape out of this world that is full of troubles, full of grievous temptations, and of all disquietness, to come unto a sovereign and blessed rest. And because they should be no more any thing, they should feel no more any evil, which is neither prolonged by their death, nor yet set forward by their life. Let us now turn our selves and look upon the examples of the rest of the Saints, and see if the like matter hath fallen so out unto them. First, when Noah dyed, he bewailed not his estate.1 Nei- did Abraham once make any sorrow. Jacob also rejoiced amidst his last scythes, in that he looked for the saving health of the Lord. Job, wept not. Moses hearing his last hour to be at hand, was no whit troubled. And for any thing that may be seen, they all embraced death very courageously, and willingly. we also very often hear these answers