More reasons for the Christian religion and no reason against it, or, A second…

Caes. Baronius Annal. ad An. 411.

But because we are discoursing of such matters, Reader I entreat thee to suffer me, like the good householder in the Gospel, who bringeth out of his Treasury things new and old, to add some things new (or later) to these of elder date: For what I shall briefly say will much delight thee. For I will not report unproved things, but what I know to be confirmed by the assertion of very many learned men, Yea, and by all Religious men out told the people in their Sermons: And for my part I will bring forth the Author of whom I received it, and that is, Michael Mercatus Miniatensis Ppronotory of the S. R. ⟨p. 170⟩Church, a man of most entire fidelity and of eminent knowledge and honesty of life: He told me of his Grandfather of the same name with himself, Michael Mercatus senior, between whom and Marsilius Ficinus a man of a most noble wit, there was an intimate friendship, contracted and increased by Philosophical studies, in which they both were followers of Plato. It happened on a time that as they used, they were gathering from Plato (but not without doubting) how much or what of man remained after death; which Platonic documents where they failed, were to be under-propped by the Sacraments of the Christian Faith: (for of that argument, there is extant a learned Epistle of Marsilius to this Michael Mercatus, of the Immortality of the Soul & God.) And in their discourse when they had long disputed, they thus concluded it; and giving each other their right hands, they Covenanted, that which ever of them first died, if he could do it, he should certify the other of the state of the other life. And having thus covenanted and sworn to each other, they departed: And after a considerable ⟨p. 171⟩space of time, it fell out, that Michael senior, being early in the morning at his Philosophical studies, unexpectedly he heard the noise of a horse swiftly running, and stopping at his door, and withal the voice of Marsilius crying out [O Michael, O Michael, those things are true.] Michael marvelling at the voice of his friend, rose up and opening the window, he saw him whom he heard, with his back toward him, in white, riding away on a white horse, and called after him, Marsilius, Marsilius, and looked after him, but he vanished from his sight.