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…

They which would be fed with such fables, shall be deceived, if they seek them at me. For I had lever keep my self to the simplicity of the scripture, to show that which is expedient to know, then to wander abroad in the air, to appear subtle. Now the Lord foreseeing that it was not needful for us to have a more ample understanding of this matter, was content to teach us simply, that when our souls be departed from their bodies, they do notwithstanding live in him, abiding the accomplishment of their beatitude and glory, in the day of the judgment, as shall be hereafter showed. Let us abide therefore by this, and whatsoever declaration we shall make, let us not pass this measure as touching this sentence.

They whych woulde be fed with suche fables, shall be deceyued, if they seke theym at me. For I had leuer kepe my selfe to the simplicitie of the scripture, to shewe that which is expediente to knowe, then to wander abrode in the ayre, to appeare subtyle. Nowe the Lorde forseynge that it was not needful for vs to haue a more ample vnderstandyng of this matter, was content to teach vs simplye, that when our soules be departed from theyr bodyes, they do notwythstandyng lyue in hym, abyding the accomplishment of their beatitude and glory, in the daye of the iudgment, as shall be hereafter shewed. Let vs abyde therefore by thys, and whatsoeuer declaration we shal make, let vs not passe this measure as touchynge thys sentence.

But to proceed more plainly, let us begin at the distinction, which is between the souls of the faithful, and the souls of the reproved. When the Apostle said in the epistle unto the Hebrews, that unto them which had cast of Jesus Christ, & had willingly turned from ⟨image 68⟩him, after they had known the trueth, there remaineth nothing but a looking for of terrible Judgement, it is manifest that he speaketh not only for this present life, but had a greater respect unto the life to come. For the wicked do not always in this world, conceive the Judgement of God, to be astonished, and to have horror, but when death cometh, they can not escape but they shall be holden fast with this fear and astonishment, knowing the vengeance which is ordained for them.