Some will say, it is a testimony of our good 1will. To such we must reply saying, so it is a testimony of your ignorance: and then after a little conference they will grant, that indeed it doth not profit them. Then we must reply and say, God hath made all things to profit us, & hath commanded that nothing be used unprofitably, no not so much as a vain word speaking, saying, that for every idle word we must give account at the day of judgement. Then they reply again saying, 2if it do them no good it doth them no harm. But we must reply and say, it were good to beware least it do thy self harm. Another sort will reply and say, I pray God I never do worse. But to such we must answer, I pray God you may do better: & you should first know whether you do not harm ⟨image 12⟩before you do it. For in deed it must proceed of harm being spoken, in doubting without faith, for if you believed that they were laid up in peace whom you pray for, what need you pray for them at all? But it shows an unbelieving heart, and we know that whatsoever is not of faith is sin, and the Lord will say of them, who hath required those things at your hand? you have wrought vanities. Now therefore you will not leave it, because you used it: then will you say also, we will not leave our lying nor our swearing, nor our cursing, because we have used it. It will grieve me if I hear you use these speeches hereafter, having no reason nor proof of Scripture to maintain it by, or to be your warrant in it. Therefore I charge you in the name of God, that you use them not, but rather when you hear this, or any other sin condemned, to lay hands upon it, & see that you put it to death without delay, according to the law of God.
Some wil say, it is a testimonie of our good 1will. To such we must replie saying, so it is a testimonie of your ignorance: and then after a litle conference they will graunt, that indeed it doth not profit thē. Then we must replie and say, God hath made all things to profit vs, & hath commanded that nothing be vsed vnprofitably, no not so much as a vaine word speaking, saying, that for euerie idle word we must giue account at the day of iudgement. Then they replie againe saying, 2if it do them no good it doth them no harme. But we must reply and say, it were good to beware least it do thy selfe harme. Another sort wil replie and say, I pray God I neuer do worse. But to such we must answer, I pray God you may do better: & you should first know whether you do not harm ⟨image 12⟩before you do it. For in deed it must proceed of harme being spoken, in doubting without faith, for if you beleeued that they were layde vp in peace whome you praye for, what need you pray for them at all? But it shewes an vnbeleeuing heart, and we know that whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne, and the Lord will say of them, who hath required those things at your hand? you haue wrought vanities. Now therefore you will not leaue it, because you vsed it: then will you say also, we will not leaue our lying nor our swearing, nor our cursing, because we haue vsed it. It will grieue me if I heare you vse these speeches hereafter, hauing no reason nor proofe of Scripture to maintaine it by, or to be your warrant in it. Therefore I charge you in the name of God, that you vse them not, but rather when you heare this, or ani• other sinne condemned, to lay hands vpon it, & see that you put it to death without delay, according to the law of God.
- 1Three bucklers wherewith some do use to maintain prayer for the dead.Three bucklers wherewith some do vse to maintaine prayer for the dead.
- 2Mat. 12.
