☞ If any man will that this thing be declared unto him by similitude, the time in which we dwell in this mortal body, is like unto the time of war, when we be unclothed of our flesh, the battle ceaseth and taketh end, and we have the victory. But the day of triumph shall be when Jesus Christ shall appear in his majesty, that we may reign eternally with him. But because such similitudes are only to make the thing plain, and be not of authority: ⟨image 69⟩we will take one out of the scripture, which shall not only serve to teach, but also to prove our doctrine true. We know how saint Paul doeth allegorically treat the issue of the people of Israel out of Egypt, and their passing through the read sea. Following this, let us understand that in baptism our pharaoh is plunged in the sea: that is to say, our old man is mortified, and we are buried with Christ, by that means made free from the bondage of sin. But from thence we go in to the desert, in which we have our conversation during this mortal life, For we are poor and indigent, but for that the Lord giveth unto us daily his graces, as he did cause manna to reign from heaven unto the people of Israel, when death cometh we do enter in to the land of promyssion which thing is not done without great difficulty. For it is then that we most suffer, the greatest and perilous assaults. Now after that the children of Israel were entered into the land of promyssion, it was a great while after ere Jerusalem were builded, and that the Kingdom of the house of Dauyd was ordained: after this manner the faithful souls, have immediately after death a certain rejoicing, of the heritage which is promised unto them: but because the glory of Jesus Christ their king, doeth not yet appear, and that the heavenly city of God is not yet established in her estate, they abide unto the day in which the same shall be. ⟨image 70⟩☞ All these things are evident in holy scripture, unto all such as will not be rebels unto God, and this doctrine hath not only good approbation of the scripture, but also of the ancient doctors: amongest whom Tertullian faith, aswell the reward of the good, as the punishment of the evil, be in suspense unto the resurrection. Nevertheless in divers places he affirmeth, that the souls of the faithful do there whilst, live in God.
☞ If anye man wyll that thys thynge be declared vnto hym by similitude, the time in whyche we dwell in thys mortall bodye, is lyke vnto the tyme of warre, whan we be vnclothed of oure fleshe, the battell seaceth and taketh ende, and we haue the victorye. But the daye of triumphe shallbe whan Iesus Christe shall apere in hys maiestye, that we maye raygne eternallye wyth hym. But bycause suche similitudes are onelye to make the thynge playne, and be not of authoritye: ⟨image 69⟩we wyll take one out of the scripture, which shall not onelye serue to teache, but also to proue oure doctrine true. We knowe howe saynte Paulle doeth allegoricallye treate the issue of the people of Israell out of Egypte, and their passyng thorowe the read sea. Folowyng thys, let vs vnderstand that in baptyme oure pharao is plunged in the sea: that is to saye, oure olde man is mortified, and we are buried wyth Christe, by that meanes made fre from the bondage of syn. But from thens we go in to the deserte, in whyche we haue oure conuersation durynge thys mortall lyfe, For we are poore and indigente, but for that the Lorde geueth vnto vs dayelye hys graces, as he dyd cause manna to raygne from heauen vnto the people of Israell, whan death commyth we do enter in to the lande of promyssion whyche thynge is not done wythout greate difficultye. For it is then that we moste suffer, the greateste and perilous assautes. Nowe after that the chyldren of Israell were entered into the lande of promyssion, it was a greate whyle after er Hierusalem were buyldyd, and that the Kyngedome of the howse of Dauyd was ordayned: after thys maner the fayethfull soules, haue immediatelye after deth a certayne reioysyng, of the heritage whyche is promysed vnto them: but because the glory of Iesus Christ their kynge, doeth not yet apere, and that the heauenly citye of God is not yet establyshed in her estate, they abide vnto the day in which the same shalbe. ⟨image 70⟩☞ All these thynges are euidente in holye scripture, vnto al suche as wyl not be rebelles vnto God, and thys doctrine hath not onely good approbation of the scripture, but also of the aunciente doctours: amongeste whom Tertulian fayth, aswel the reward of the good, as the ponishmēt of ye euyl, be in suspence vnto the resurrection. Neuertheles in diuers places he affirmeth, that the soules of the fayethfull do there whilles, lyue in God.
