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…

There is a like reason in this, which is spoken in an other Psalm. As a father hath pity of his children, even so hath the Lord had pity of his servants. For he knoweth whereof we are made. He doeth remember that we be dust, that our days be as grass whereof the flowers doth quickly wither away. That the spirit passeth in us, and tarrieth not, and knoweth no more his place. In all these sentences, let us note that man is admonished of his frailty, chiefly when God withdraweth his hand, and his virtue from him: that he should know that he is nothing, and less then nothing, if that God do not keep and preserve him by his grace. And in deed when we say that the souls are immortal. We intend not by that saying to derogate any thing from ⟨image 79⟩God's title, & the which as Saint Paul sayeth, is only immortal. But we rather think it a blasphemy so to attribute immortality unto the soul, as if she by her proper virtue did subsist. But in the mean while we must consider what property and nature God hath given to the souls: and that is by his hand to subsist, for to be in beatitude immortal, or in malediction.

There is a lyke reason in thys, whyche is spokē in an other Psalme. As a father hath pitye of hys chyldren, euen so hath the Lorde had pitye of hys seruauntes. For he knoweeth whereof we are made. He doeth remembre that wee be duste, that oure dayes be as grasse wherof the floures doth quykcly wyther awaye. That the spirite passeth in vs, and tarieth not, and knoweth no more hys place. In all these sentences, let vs note that man is admonished of hys frayltye, chyeflye when God wythdraweth hys hande, and hys vertue from hym: that he should knowe that he is nothynge, and lesse then nothyng, if that God do not kepe and preserue him bi hys grace. And in dede when we saye that the soules are immortal. We intende not by that sayinge to derogate anye thynge frome ⟨image 79⟩Goddes title, & the whyche as Saynt Paule sayeth, is onelye immortall. But we rather thynke it a blasphemy so to attribute immortalitie vnto the soule, as if she by hyr propre vertue dyd subsyst. But in the meane whyle we muste consider what propertye and nature God hathe geuen to the soules: and that is by hys hande to subsiste, for to be in beatitude immortall, or in malediction.