A short instruction for to arm all good Christian people against the pestiferous errors…A short instruction for to arme all good Christian people agaynst the pestiferous errours…

☞ Now are there many places in holy scripture, which are much more evident as where Saint Peter sayeth, that the reward of our faith, is the salvation of our souls. Also where he sayeth that the faithful do purify their souls. Again that the desires of the flesh do fight against the soul. Also, where he calleth Christ the Bishop ⟨image 58⟩of our souls. For these sentences can not consist, except there be souls which be saved, and which be assaulted by evil concupiscences, & which be purified from their spots, and governed by Jesus Christ their bishop. According to this, it is said in the history of Job, that men do dwell in earthen houses, which manner of speaking. S. Peter useth, where he sayeth, that he will admonish the faithful, as long as he shall dwell in his earthly tabernacle. If it were not that the principal part of man did dwell in the body, as in a tabernacle, this should be spoken without reason.

☞ Nowe are there manye places in holye scripture, whyche are muche more euidente as where Sainte Peter sayeth, that the rewarde of oure fayth, is the saluation of our soules. Also where he sayeth that the fayethfull do purifie theyr soules. Agayne that the desyres of the fleshe do fyghte agaynste the soule. Also, where he calleth Christe the Byshop ⟨image 58⟩of oure soules. For these sentences can not consiste, excepte there be soules whyche be saued, and whych be assaulted by euil cō cupiscences, & whyche be purified from their spottes, and gouerned by Iesus Christ their byshop. Accordynge to thys, it is sayed in the hystorye of Iob, that men do dwel in earthē housses, whych maner of speakyng. S. Peter vseth, where he sayeth, that he wyll admonyshe the fayethfull, as longe as he shall dwell in hys earthlye tabernacle. If it were not that the pryncipall parte of manne dyd dwell in the bodye, as in a tabernacle, thys shoulde be spoken wythout reason.

The Apostle also, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, declareth, as much, or more expressly the same thing, where he sayeth, that our fathers which begat us in this world, are fathers of our flesh: but God only is father of our spirits. I pray you, how shall we understand these words, if the soul be not an essential thing? and a little after, speaking of the citizens of heaven, he sayeth, that they be the Angels, and spirits of Just men. Would we have a more clear proste then this? Also I see not how we shall expound the exhortation which. S. Paul maketh unto us, that we should purge us, from all filthiness of the flesh and the spirit, except we take this word spirit for an essential soul. For as the body is a subject, which receiveth pollution, so must it needs be, that the soul on her behalf, be a creature which may be polluted, & sanctified.