The Institution of Christian Religion

To the same purpose serveth it that Paul calleth God for witness to his own soul, because it could not be called in judgement before God unless it were subject to punishment.¹ And this is also more plainly expressed in the words of Christ, when he biddeth us to fear him which after that he hath killed the body, can throw the soul into hell fire. Now where the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews doth distinguish the Fathers of our flesh from God, which is the only Father of Spirits, he would not otherwise more plainly affirm the essence of souls. Moreover, if the souls remained not alive being delivered from the prisons of their bodies, Christ should very fondly have brought in the soul of Lazarus joying in the bosom of Abraham,² and again the soul of the rich man subject to horrible torments. The same thing doth Paul confirm when he teacheth that we wander abroad from God, so long as we dwell in the flesh, and that we enjoy his presence being out of the flesh. But, because I will not be long in a matter that is not obscure, I will add only this out of Luke, that it is reckoned among the errors of the Sadducees that they did not believe that there were any Spirits and Angels.

To the same purpose serueth it that Paule calleth God for witnesse to hys own soule, because it could not be called in iudgemente before God vnlesse it were subiect to punishment.¹ And this is also more plainly expressed in the words of Christ, when he biddeth vs to feare him which after that he hath killed the body, can throw ye soule into hel fier. Now where the author of the Epistle to the Hebrues doth distinguishe the Fathers of our flesh from God, which is the only Father of Spirites, he woulde not otherwise more plainly affirme the essence of soules. Moreouer, if ye soules remained not aliue being deliuered from the prisons of their bodies, Christ should very fondly haue broughte in the soule of Lazarus ioying in the bosome of Abraham,² and againe the soule of the richman subiect to horrible tormentes. The same thing doth Paul confirme whē he teacheth that we wander abrod from God, so long as we dwel in the flesh, and that we enioy his presence being out of the flesh. But, because I wil not be long in a matter that is not obscure, I wil adde only thys out of Luke, that it is reckened amōg the errors of the Sadduces that they did not beleue that there were any Spirites and Angels.