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, as we have sufficiently proved the true doctrine, touching the immortality of the souls, so on the other side is it necessary to answer to those places, which the Anabaptists do bring forth to ground their errors on.

Nowe, as we haue suffitiently proued the true doctrine, touchynge the immortalitie of the soules, so on the other syde is it necessary to answere to those places, whych the Anabaptistes do brynge forthe to grounde theyr errours on.

First they allege that the description which the scripture maketh of mans soul, agreeth with the same of Beasts, as where it is said, that God hath created the great whales, and every living soul. Also that the beasts entered by couples into the Ark, all that had spirit of life. And to confirm this, they help them selves with that which saint ⟨image 72⟩Paul sayeth, that in this life man is corruptible, mortal, and animal: But he shall rise again incorruptible, immortal, and spiritual, as it is written, that the first man was made in a living soul. I grant that this title of living soul, is oftentimes attribute to beasts, because they also do live in their kind. But there is great diversity between them and men. For in man, the soul by which he knoweth, Judgeth, and hath discretion, is called living. The Soul of beasts hath none other faculty, but to give moving unto their bodies.

Fyrst they aledge that the description whiche the scripture maketh of mās soule, agreeth wyth the same of Beastes, as where it is sayd, that God hath created the greate whales, and euery lyuing soule. Also that the beastes entered by couples into the Arke, al that had spirit of lyfe. And to confyrme this, they helpe them selues wyth that whyche saynte ⟨image 72⟩Paule sayeth, that in thys lyfe man is corruptible, mortall, and animall: But he shal ryse agayne incorruptible, immortall, and spiritual, as it is wrytten, that the fyrste man was made in a lyuynge soule. I graunt that thys tytle of lyuynge soule, is oftentimes attribute to beastes, bycause they also do lyue in theyr kynde. But there is greate diuersitie betwene them and mē. For in man, the soule by whyche he knoweth, Iudgeth, and hathe discretion, is called lyuynge. The Soule of beastes hath none other facultie, but to gyue mouynge vnto theyr bodyes.