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 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⟩he was like unto the dead sleeping in then Sepulchres. And Esayas speaking to Nebuchadnezzar sayeth. All other kings have slept in their glory, and were put into their places: but thou art caste out of thy Sepulchre.

Nowe when it is sayed that a man is put vnto hys fathers, it is playne that it is ment of hys Sepulchre I woulde haue no manne beleue thys, excepte I can proue my sayinge by good wytnes of the scripturs. Whē Iob sayed: Beholde, I slepe in duste, he ment not that hys soule should slepe ther. So when he sayth in an other place, that al men shal slepe in the duste togyther, and that the wormes shall couer them: it maye not be vnderstande out of the bodyes. A lyke meanynge is in these wordes of Dauid, wher he sayeth, that ⟨image 74⟩he was lyke vnto the dead sleapinge in then Sepulchres. And Esayas speakyng to Nabuchodonosor sayeth. All other kynges haue slepte in theyr glorye, and were putte into theyr places: but thou arte caste oute of thy Sepulchre.

☞ Therefore in a some, we see that this word sleep, is by similitude applied unto the bodies, which are without moving when the souls are separate from them. And this is a manner of speaking, which the Paynims always used. And thereout cometh also, that we call the place of burial, a Cemetery, which doeth signify a place of sleeping, not that our elders, did think, that the souls were there a sleep, but because the bodies be there laid to rest in their Sepulchres, as in beds. A like understanding must we have, of a certain place in Job, where with they mightily defend them selves, where he sayeth, that after man is once fallen a sleep, that he shall not walk, nor rise up till the Heaven be changed.