1But of the fathers there are some which affirm far otherwise. Origene in his books [Greek or Hebrew] (as Jerome hath noted in his Epistle ad Pammachium, de erroribus Joannis Herosolymitani) saith that those spiritual minds, as often as they do offend, slide and are thrust into bodies, but yet not straightway into the vilest bodies, but first into starry bodies, then into fiery and airy, afterward into watery, and lastly into humane and earthly. And if then also they behave not themselves well, they are at the last made devils. But if they will at least ways then repent, they may by the self same degrees come to their old estate. And this we ought to understand (saith he) by that ladder, whereon Jacob saw an gels ascending & descending.2 And Jerome also to make the thing more plain, addeth a similitude. A Tribune (saith he) if he govern not well, is dejected from his degree, and is made the princes chief Secretary, afterward a Senator, a captain over 200. men, a ruler over fewer, a watchman, a horseman, and afterward a soldier of the first degree. And although a Tribune were once a common soldier, yet is he not made of a tribune a young Soldier, but the Princes chief Secretary. But these things are absurd, and very worthy to be laughed at. And undoubtedly Origene in those things speaketh more like a Platonian, then a Christian.3 That which he first taketh that souls are thrust into bodies, as into punishments, is manifestly false, for as much as god hath adjoined the body unto the soul for a help, and not for a punishment. Neither doth he well to give hope of salvation to come unto the devil, when as Christ hath contrariwise taught, saying: Go ye cursed into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his Angels. Neither can we interpret it that this word eternum is there set for this word diuturnū, that is everlasting, for a long season. For Christ most apertly expoundeth his sentence, when he saith: Their worm shall not dye, and their fire shall not be quenched. Neither doth he truly affirm that the souls first offend before they come into bodies, when as Paul writeth of Jacob and Esau, before they were borne, and had done neither good nor evil, it was said, Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated: The greater shall serve the lesser.
1But of the fathers there are some which affirme farre otherwise. Origene in his bokes 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 (as Ierome hath noted in his Epistle ad Pammachium, de erroribus Ioānis Herosolymitani) saithe that those spirituall mindes, as often as they do offend, slide and are thrust into bodies, but yet not straightway into the vilest bodies, but fyrst into starry bodies, then into firy and ayry, afterward into watrye, and lastlye into humayne and earthlye. And if then also they behaue not themselues well, they are at the laste made deuils. But if they will at least wayes then repent, they may by the selfe same degrees come to theyr olde estate. And this we ought to vnderstand (saith he) by that ladder, wheron Iacob saw aū gels ascending & descending.2 And Ierome also to make the thinge more plain, addeth a similitude. A Tribune (sayth hee) if hee gouerne not well, is deiected from his degree, and is made the princes chief Secretary, afterward a Senatour, a captayne ouer 200. men, a ruler ouer fewer, a watcheman, a horseman, and afterward a souldier of the first degree. And although a Tribune were once a commō souldier, yet is he not made of a tribune a younge Souldier, but the Princes chief Secretary. But these thynges are absurde, and very worthye to be laughed at. And vndoubtedly Origene in those thinges speaketh more like a Platonian, then a Christian.3 That which he first taketh that soules are thruste into bodies, as into punishmentes, is manifestly false, for as much as god hath adioyned the bodye vnto the soule for a helpe, and not for a punishmente. Neither doth he well to geue hope of saluation to come vnto the deuil, when as Christ hath contrarywise taught, saynge: Go ye cursed into euerlasting fyre, which is prepared for the deuill and his Aungels. Neyther can we interpreate it that this word eternum is ther set for this word diuturnū, that is euerlasting, for a long seasō. For Christ most apertly expoundeth his sentence, when he sayth: Their worme shall not dye, and theyr fire shall not be quenched. Neither doth he truly affirme that the soules fyrst offend before they come into bodies, when as Paule writeth of Iacob and Esau, before they were borne, and had done neither good nor euil, it was said, Iacob haue I loued, and Esau haue I hated: The greater shall serue the lesser.
- 1The fathers Origene.
- 2Jerome.Ierome.
- 3Against the translation of souls into bodies after Origins feigning.Against the translation of soules into bodies after Origines faining.
