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 do also abuse them selves with this that oftentimes this word sleep, is token for death: as where it is said of saint Stephan, that he fell a sleep in the Lord.

¶ They do also abuse theim selues wt thys that oftentymes thys worde sleepe, is token for death: as where it is sayed of saynt Stephan, that he fel a slepe in the Lord.

Again, Lazarus our friend sleepeth. Again sorrow you not for them that sleep. And in deed this manner of speech, is more frequent in the Histories of the Bible, then any other. I answer, that this sleep appertaineth nothing unto the Soul, but ought wholly to be understanded of the body. For there are two speeches, which do understand in one self sense, to sleep with his fathers, and to be with his fathers.

Againe, Lazarus our frend slepeth. Againe sorowe you not for them that sleepe. And in dede this manner of speach, is more frequēt in the Hystories of the Byble, then anye other. I answere, that thys slepe appertayneth nothynge vnto the Soule, but oughte wholie to be vnderstanded of the body. For ther are two speaches, whyche do vnderstande in one selfe sence, to sleepe wyth hys fathers, and to be wyth hys fathers.

Now when it is said that a man is put unto his fathers, it is plain that it is meant of his Sepulchre I would have no man believe this, except I can prove my saying by good witness of the scriptures. When Job said: Behold, I sleep in dust, he meant not that his soul should sleep there. So when he saith in an other place, that all men shall sleep in the dust together, and that the worms shall cover them: it may not be understand out of the bodies. A like meaning is in these words of David, where he sayeth, that ⟨image 74⟩