Nowe did not the fish cast vp to the dry land ani other for Ionas but euen the same Ionas himselfe whome he had swalowed Therefore the verye same true bodi of the Lord also that was buried arose againe Which thing the holye Apostle Paule minding perfectly to expres said first of all I deliuered vnto you or taughte you that which I receiued how that Christ died for our sinnes agreing to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third dai according to the scriptures Lo what can be spoken more euident and plain He that died for our sinnes and was buryed euen he himselfe the very same rose also againe Of this now it foloweth that the very true substancial body of our lord did rise againe for euen the same died was buried But to the entent that it mighte the soner be beleeued Paul the holy teacher declareth furthermore that he speaketh this according to the contentes of scripture and that the same was taughte in the scriptures afore meaning vndoutedly the lawe the Prophets Neuerthelesse we will nowe bring forth the true and euident testimonies of the Angels who in Marke Luke and Mathew speake vnto the wemen that came to the sepulchre Ye seke Iesus of Nazareth him that was crucified Why seeke ye the liuing among the dead He is risen he is not heere Beholde the place wher they had laid him Remēber howe he spake vnto you while he was yet in Galile saying that the son of man must be deliuered into the hāds of sinfull mē and be crucified the thirde day rise againe Therefore goe quickly and tel this to his disciples that he is risen from the deade And beholde he shall goe before you into Galilee ther shal ye se him as he himselfe tolde you These are the wordes of the Angels which if al circumstāces be thorowly well cōsidered do plainly declare that the very true body of the Lord did verely arise from the dead The wemē come seeke the body of the lord desiring to annoynt it therefore the question is touching the body of Christe The Angels also speake of the true body of Christ make answer saying Ye seke Iesus of Nazareth Whervnto they adde distinctly him that was crucified Now are we sure that his very true body was crucified and died He say they namely that died euen Iesus of Nazareth the same is become aliue againe Why seke ye the liuing among the dead The lord died of a truthe but deathe must not haue dominion ouer him nether muste his body putrify or corrupt as other mens bodies doe according as holy Dauid sayde before Afore hand I sawe God alwayes before me for he is on my right hand that I shuld not be moued Therfore did mi hart reioyse and my tong was glad Moreouer also my flesh shal rest in hope because thou wilte not leaue my soule in Hell neither wilte thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Thou hast shewed me the wayes of life thou shalt make me ful of ioy with thy coūtenance and at thy right hād ther is pleasure for euermore These words extend wholely vnto Christ according as the .ii. excellent Apostles namely Peter in the second and Paul in the 13. of the Acts do declare Out of the Angels wordes also is it com into the articles of the crede as we all cōfesse with these words he rose again from the dead This word from the dead doth truly expresse the death and resurrection after this sense He died as other men also doe according to the law of nature And euen in the same fleshe which he therefore toke vpō him that he might die receiued the immortalitye and toke it vnto him againe Therefore say the Angels he is rise◠again But that thing riseth no vp which fel not afore therfore euen the same bodye of Christe that fell in death is from death risen vp againe Moreouer they name also the place where he was laide to expresse perfectly that the very true body was risen saying beholde the place wher they layed him The mortall body of the Lorde hath his certaine place yea his owne place that the Logicians cal Vbi that is to say where in the which he was laide And as he now is become immortal he hath his own place againe For if the bodye that was raised vp were euery where then had not the Angels sayde Beholde the place wher they laid him Yea they had not bene able to shewe any one place wher he was not if the immortall body must be euery where But now they shew a place in the which the immortall body was not and that with plaine expresse wordes saying he is not heere Of this nowe it foloweth that the body of Christe which is but in one place did verely rise again In the gospel o◠s. Iohn also the sepulchre cloths wherin the Lord was wrapt as the hed cloth that which was about his body are mencioned as strong testimonies of the bodi risen vp which clothes Pete◠and Iohn did perfectly see Furthermore the Angels proue his very true resurrection out of th◠word of god and say remembe◠what he saide vnto you while h◠was yet in Galilee the sonne o◠man muste be deliuered into th◠handes of sinfull men c. Wit◠these wordes will they instructe vs that the sonne of man a very true body is truly risen againe They say moreouer go quickly tel the disciples that he is risen from death Now was the body dead and as all mens bodies that die laid in the graue And euen the same body was made immortall rose again from the dead He shall go before you into Galilee yea before you shal he goe with a true bodi that moueth from one place to another there as in a certaine place shall ye se him Ye shal se him I say for with a visible palpable body is he risen as ye are told by the Lorde himself who can neither lie nor deceiue CHAP. 3. Appearings of the body raised vp HEreunto extende the manifold appearings or opē shewings of Christ mencioned by the Euangelists In Mark it is wrytten thus whan Iesus was risen early the first day after the Sabbothe he appeared firste to Mary Magdalen To whom in the gospel of Iohn he sayth goe to my brethren and tel them I go vp to my father and your father to my God and your god Now whan she came to the disciples she tolde thē that she had sene the Lord that he had spoken suche things vnto her In Mathew he meteth the wemen and sayeth All haile Fear not goe and tell my brethren that they go into Galilee there shall they see me In holy S. Luke is mēcion made of two appearings The first when he shewed himselfe to the two that went to Emaus opened vnto them the true resurrection of hys bodye The second whā they were
bodye which nowe is deuided parted in his members and ioyntes remaineth that is he shall haue true flesh blud bones synewes ioynts members c. CHAP. 15. The maner hovve the bodies shall rise againe and the kinde that they shall be of BVt to the inteÌ„t that this â—ay yet be more plainly vnderstand I wil nowe tel howe oure bodies shall rise what nature and kinde they shall be of in the resurrection At the ende of the world shall the Lord come with great maiesty vnto iudgement and shall declare and shewe him selfe in and with a righte true essenciall body Hether also to shal he be brought shal stand in the clouds of heauen that al flesh may se him Yea al men that are vpon earth shal beholde him and know him by his glory In the mean season also shall he send his Archangel to blow the trompe Then shall all the dead heare and perceiue the voice and power of the sonne of god And so al men that died from the first Adam shal immediatly arise out of the earth And al they that liue vntil the last day shall in the twinkling of an eye be changed And thus all men euery one in hys owne flesh shal stand before the iudgement seâ—te of oure Lorde Iesus Christ and shall wait for the last sentence and iudgement of the Lord which sentence being geuen quicklye and withoute delay shall call one part into heauen and thrust out the other into hell This fashion and maner of the resurrection haue not I imagined of my selfe but written it al out of the Euangelists scriptures of the holy Apostles For thus we reade The powers of heauen shal moue in the last time and then shall appeare the signe of the sonne of man in heauen then shall all the kinreds of the earth mourn they shall see the sonne of maÌ„ come in the cloudes of heauen with power greate glory And he shall send his Angels with the great voyce of a troÌ„pet they shal gather together his chosen froÌ„ the foure winds from the one end of the world to the other c. Herevnto adde that he spake in Mathewe Iohn And Paul in the first to the Thessalonians saithe This say we vnto you in the word of the lord that we which liue are remaining in the comming of the lord shall not come before theÌ„ which slepe For the Lord himself shall descend from heauen with a shout the voice of the Archangell â— trompe of god And the dead iâ— Christ shal arise first Then shaâ— we that liue remaine be caught vp with them also in the clouds tâ— mete the lord in the ayre And sâ— shal we euer be with the Lorde Furthermore to the Corinthianâ— saith Paul behold I shew you mystery We shal not all sleepe but we shall all be changed anâ— that in a moment in the twinâ—ling of an eye at the time of thâ— last trompe For the trompe shaâ— blowe and the dead shall rise incorruptible and we shal be changed For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortall must put on immortality This is nowe the maner of the resurrection of oure bodies in what nature and kind they shall rise againe But in the resurrection they shall thorow the power of God be made immortall incorruptible For the Apostle saith expresly the dead shall rise againe After that he saithe this corruptible mortall must put on incorruption and immortality In the which words the terme this poynteth directly as wyth a finger to oure liuing and humaine body And so Iob saide euen I my selfe shall see him none other Wherfore our bodies after thei be risen againe from death shall remain euen in their own right state substance as afore Yea euen the very same men shal kepe still theyr nature kind as they did afore sauing that they which afore time wer subiect to frailti shall from thence forth be pure clean perfect immortal of a sincere and purified nature subiect and obedient vnto the spirite Such bodies raised froÌ„ death did the olde wryters call glorified purified or glorious bodies that according to the doctrine of the holy Apostles Albeit ther wer some which abused that word and therfore made the veritye of the bodies void of none effect beginning to dispute of glorified bodies as of the pure substaÌ„ce estate of a spirite Whereof we shall speake shortly if God will. CHAP. 16. That Paule spake rightly of a glorified body and vvhat a glorified body is and vvhat a naturall BVt nowe wil I declare that Paule did rightly wel vse this worde glorious or glorified body euen as it is truli in it self For to the PhilippiaÌ„s he sayth Our dwelling is in heauen froÌ„ whence we loke for the sauiour eueÌ„ Iesus Christ the lord which shall change our vile earthy body that it may be fashioned like vnto his own glorious body according to the working wherby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe In thys sentence thou haste that terme glorified body thou hast also of what nature and kinde the glorified body shal be namely whole and as the body of Christ that rose againe from death And thus shal it not be a body vtterly made voide or brought to nothiÌ„g or altogether turned into a sprite therefore hauing no roume place incoÌ„prehensible and inuisible but it shal be an vprighte very true humaine body as it is sufficiently declared afore where I spake of the true resurrectioÌ„ of the lord In the which place we vnderstande that whan the Lordes disciples thought they had sene a spirit whan they saw the Lorde he said vnto them a spirit hath not flesh bones as ye see me haue Handle me and see for it is euen I my selfe The Lord also after his resurrection set before them some fashion or euidence of hys glorification namely whan he was transfigured before them And at that time remained the right essenciall substance of the bodye but in forme and fashion it was altered in that it became glorious So staÌ„deth it plainly he was transfigured and not that he was made voyde or broughte to nothing or altered into another substance Thus saith Paule also he shall change our body c. Wherfore euen the righte true substance of the glorified bodye shall remaine still As for the change or alteration it shal be in the infirmities that happen vnto vs So that whan the body taketh vpon it the glorification and immortality they shal be wholly remoued and fall away Howbeit this shal be more euident and plain to vnderstand if it be thorow and with diligeÌ„ce considered and declared what this worde glory or glorification meaneth For transfiguration glory glorification is one thing So saith holy Augustin in his boke against the Arrians To bring to glory to make glorious and to glorify are .iij. vvordes yet is it but
gon againe from Hierusalem they came to the Disciples minding to shew them and to geue them to vnderstād what they had sene and hard Then preuented they them and said the Lord is truly risen in deede and hath apeared vnto Simon Nowe while they were talking of suche things among them selues Iesus stode in the middes of them and said peace be vnto you But whan they sawe him they were sore afraid thinking that they had sene a spirit or some other vision Thē said the lord vnto them why are ye troubled And why doe thoughtes arise in your hartes Behold my hands and my fete CHAP. 4. The body of Christ rose again not a spirite but a true body NOwe that no man should thinke it to be another body which he had not afore his resurrection he addeth thereto immediatly It is euē I my self Handle me see a spirite hath not fleshe bones as ye see me haue And wyth that shewed he them his hands and his fete With this euident testimony of the Lord was S. Augustine moued boldly to saye that they ought not to be heard which deny the body of the Lord to haue risen againe as it was layed in the sepulchre For if it were not so he wold not haue saide to his disciples after the resurrection Handle me and see for a spirite hath not flesh bones as ye see me haue Now is it as much as to rob God of his honor if anye man wold thinke that the lord who is the truth it self had in any thing that he spake not sayd the truthe c. Thomas was not there when the Lord shewed him selfe aliue vnto his disciples but whan he came againe they told him with greate ioy what they had sene heard Neuerthelesse he thoughte it had not bene as they spake and he sayd except I see in his hands the print of the nailes put my finger into the holes of them and my hand into his side I will not beleeue it Therfore after .viii. days whan the disciples were assembled together againe Thomas with them Iesus commeth in while the dores wer shut and standeth in the middes among them and saith peace be vnto you Afterwarde sayde he vnto Thomas reache hither thy finger and beholde my handes put thy hande here also and lay it in my side be not faithlesse but beleuing Thomas answered and said vnto him my Lorde and my god For S. Paule also in the firste chapter of the Epistle to the Romaines doth out of the resurrection of the Lord proue the god-head thus which was borne of the seede of Dauid after the flesh and euidently declared to be the sonne of god after the spirit that sanctifieth and by that he rose again from the dead namely Iesus Christ our lord What cā be spoken more plaine more euidēt or more certain For freely did the Lorde sette before their eies his body which was hāged vpon the crosse that they might see it handle it For the body was pearsed with nails and marked with the printes therof Oute of this now it foloweth that the lord with his true bodye did verelye rise again and not a spirit And further the Lorde also sheweth himselfe vnto the seuen whych then were in Galile fishing at the sea of Tiberias The Euāgelist addeth likewise thervnto that it was not expedient for any of the Disciples to aske him who hee was for they knewe that it was the lord In the .28 chapter of Mathewe the eleuen Apostles saw the Lorde and worshipped hī as it is declared afore Some think that the same was the excellent appearing that Paul speaketh of saying Afterward was he sene of moe then fiue hundred brethren at once of whom many are aliue this day but some are a slepe or dead And in the same place dothe the Apostle make mention yet of two moe appearings saying after this was he sene of Iames then to al the Apostles And laste of all he was seene of me as of one that was borne out of due time Luke the Euangelist in the beginning of the Actes of the Apostles hath in maner collected all the probations together The Lorde sayeth he shewed himselfe aliue vnto his apostles after his Passyon and that by manye tokens appearing vnto them forty dayes and speaking of the kingdom of god S. Peter also instructing Cornelius in the Faithe of Christ said we are witnesses of all thyngs which he did in the lande of the Iewes and at Hierusalem whō they slue hanged on tree Him God raised vp the third day and shewed him opēly not to all the people but vnto vs witnesses chosen before of god for that intent which did eat and drinke with him after he rose frō death With these plain probations testimonies as I suppose it it is euidētly declared and sufficiently shewed that our Lord Iesus Christ with his owne very true body which hāged on the cros did vereli rise from the dead As touching the glorificatiō I shal speake therof when I come to the resurrection of the bodies and there will I shew more that the glorification dothe nothing minishe the veritye or truthe of the body read the sixt chapter CHAP. 5. The frute of the Resurrection of Christe NOw I wil declare the occasion whye I haue with suche diligence and so earnestly preased vnto this that Iesus christ with his true body did truly rise againe That is how profitable necessary it is so to beleue and what frute the true resurrection of Christ doth bring engender vnto vs And albeit that hereof as of a plentiful treasure muche might be spoken yet wil I comprehend it all in a short summe Thoughe we be cōplete made perfecte thorowe the deathe of Christ while the iust iudgemēt of god is satisfied the curse takē away the penalty recompenced and paid Yet saith Peter we are borne again thorow the resurrectiō of Iesus Christ vnto a liuīg hope For like a christ with his resurrection ouercame death so standeth also the triumph victory of our faith in the resurrection of Christ Therfore thorowe his death is sinne taken away by his resurrectiō is rightuousnesse brought againe For how could he with his death haue deliuered vs frō death if he himself had of death ben ouercome Or how could he haue obteined the victory for vs if he had bene destroyed in the battell himself Therfore thorow death is death discomfited and with the resurrection is life to vs restored Hereof commeth it that Paul sayth if Christ be not risen then is your faith in vaine and ye ar◠yet still in youre sinnes and so they that be a sleepe in Christe are lost And to the Romaines Christ sayth he was deliuered vp for our sinnes rose again◠for our iustification Heerevnto serueth it also that h◠wryteth in the. 10. Chapter I◠thou confesse the lorde Iesus with thy mouth and beleeue
hell For he ascending vp on high led captiuity captiue and whaâ— he had spoiled the ennemies hâ— gaue gifts vnto his people anâ— endueth them yet daily with spiritual riches Therefore sitteth hâ— now on highe to the intent thaâ— with his owne strengthe whicâ— he daily bestoweth vpon vs hâ— may regenerate vs into a spirâ—tual life quicken vs with his holy sprite garnishing his church that is to say the faithfull wyth manifold gifts of thanks defending them against all euill suppressing the terror of hys ennemies but preseruing and sauing vs as those that truely do honor and worship him For he as hauing the victorious triumph is the king sauioure and heade of all faithfull beleuers Finally also with his resurrection he hathe prepared vs a place made the way opened it into heauen Thus in heauen hath he placed the true maÌ„ that we mighte haue an assured true testimoni that our flesh also shal rise againe and that the whole perfect man with body and soule shal be caried into heauen For meÌ„bers shal be like vnto the heat Therfore as the cloud toke vp the very true body of the Lord yeâ— euen the whole perfecte manne Christ so shal all godly persons be taken vp into the air to mete the Lorde that they may liue with Christ their Lorde head for euermore For Paul saith the dead in Christ shall arise first Theâ— we which liue remain shalbâ— caught vp with them also in thâ— cloudes to meete the Lorde iâ— the ayre and so shall we euer bâ— with the Lord. Item to the Hebrues by thâ— meanes of the bloud of Iesu wâ— haue free entrance into the holâ— place by the new liuing way which he hathe prepared for vs thorowe the vaile that is to say by his flesh Vnto this meaning agreeth very wel the godly and excellent sentence of the old ancient wryter Tertullian who in the booke of the resurrection of the flesh saith thus Christ which is called the arbiter and mediator betwene God and men hath of the same that is set and committed vnto him of both reserued al so vnto himself the adding to of the fleshe for an earnest peny of the whole summe For like as he hath left vs the pledge of the sprite euen so contrariwise hath he receiued of vs the earnest peny of the flesh and caried it vp with him into heauen a true euidence or pledge that he will bring thether also the whole summe bodye soule c. For this great and highe benefite declared vnto vs by hys diuine mercy without oure deseruing be laude and praise honor and thankes vnto oure King our victorious Triumpher head and Redemer euen our Lord Iesu Christ from hence forth now and for euermore Amen ¶ The second part ENTREATING OF our bodies CHAP. 13. Of the true Resurrection of oure Fleshe NOwe commeth it to the poynt that we must also speake of the true raising vp of our bodies or resurrection of this our flesh for the same foloweth out of the resurrection and ascension of oure Lorde Iesus Christ This worde to rise vp as Tertullian De Resurrectione carnis declareth extendeth to nothing more theÌ„ vnto that which was falne For nothing caÌ„ arise saue onely it that fell For when a thing was falne and standeth vp againe we say it is risen for asmuch as this terme to rise vp hath a relacion S. Paule vseth the word Anistemi which signifieth to erecte to rise vp to set vp againe and to stand Egeromai ex hypnou I rise vp and awake froÌ„ slepe The Hebrues vse the worde kum which signifieth not onli to rise vp but also to endure to continue and to remaine vpright For in the booke of Iosua we read the childreÌ„ of Israel coulde not stande before their enemies that is they might not endure continue before them Furthermore in the boke of Genesis euery thing was destroyed that remained that is whatsoeuer there was and stode vprighte or erected it selfe vpon the face of the earthe Heereof it commeth that to stande vp and to rayse vp is called the immortality or the euerlasting and perpetuall continuance of the soule As whan the Lord saith in the gospel of Iohn I will raise him vp at the last daye For if by the last day the houre of euery mans death be vnderstand then dothe the Lord raise vp that is he preserueth the soule in the state that it dieth not neither perisheth in death nowe if by the last day be vnderstand domes day then raiseth he vp the body from the earth at the laste daye in the generall iudgement Therfore the words to stand vp raise vp signify eyther the conseruation of a thing which is that it be not destroyed and pearishe or else the restoring of a thing that was fallen to hys right case and estate againe CHAP. 14. Our flesh or body it self shal rise againe though it be hard to beleue and vvhat the flesh or body is NOwe will we speake also of these termes fleshe body or corps We beleeue the resurrection of the body or flesh The scripture commoÌ„ly calleth it the resurrection of the dead to declare euidentli that the resurrection must not be referred to the soule nor to the spirite but directly vnto the body and to the fleshe Cyprianus or Ruffinus sayth that the church towardes the West did expresse knowledge the article in the holy Apostolical Crede after this maner I beleue the resurrection of the flesh And so they added ther vnto manifestly this term the to the intent that no man should vnderstand any other flesh saue only the same natural and essenciall flesh which we cary about So saithe Augustine also in the boke of the Articles of the Crede that same visible which properly is called fleshe shall without all dout assuredly rise vp againe Me thinketh that Paule the Apostle minded to poynte vnto the fleshe as with a finger and therefore sayde this corruptible must put on incorruption With the terme this poynteth he as with a finger vnto our fleshe Holy Hierome forceth and coÌ„pelleth Iohn the bishop of Hierusalem to confesse and knowledge the resurrection not onely of the body but also of the flesh and sayeth the flesh and the body are two things Euery flesh is a body but euery body is not fleshe namely a wal is a body but flesh it is not For fleshe is properly called a substaunce of blonde synowes bones and vaines set together As for a body though the name thereof also be vsed for flesh and most part for a substance that may be sene or handled yet it betokeneth sometime a subtile state that can neither be handled nor sene As namely the aire But at all times it hath bene a hard thing for man to beleue that the bodies which are buried resolued to corruption shuld wholely without imperfection or blemishe be brought againe and restored Therfore
of the worde the right foundation and grounde of godlinesse As if he woulde say forasmuche as the true head article of saluation is found in me For like as the rote geueth al vertue sap vnto the tre euen so is the matter of the resurrection of the dead thorow Christe the cheefest greatest and true principal poynt of the worde and affaires of god Repent therfore sayth Iob for wrath handleth or dothe nothing righte but rather prouoketh god vnto vengeance The prophet Esay in his twenty sixe chapter doth testifie the Resurrection 〈◊〉 this maner Thy dead shall â—â—e euen with my body shall they arise Stand vp be glad ye that rest or dwel in the duste for the dewe of the herbes is thy dew the ground of tyrants shalt thou cast down Thy dead O god sayth the prophet shal liue nameli the soules of those that for thy sake are slaine and that haue worshipped thee Neuertheles their bodies shall not preuent my body in the Resurrection but at the last iudgement or vpon domes daye shall they rise againe with my body Likewise saith also S. Peter that the soules of suche as died afore time do liue with god but with the fleshe they shal be iudged as other men Therfore did the holy Prophet Esay beleue confesse the general resurrection of all bodies at the last day In the which Resurrection he openly knowledgeth that his own bodi also shal rise againe Afterward bringeth he in an Archangell blowing the troÌ„pet and saying stand vp be glad ye that rest in the dust To rest in dust is nothing els but a description of mans body For the soules and sprites do not rest or lie in dust but the bodies are buried therin become dust Therfore meÌ„ according to the substance state therof wherin they rise againe are called inhabyters and Iâ—â— dwellers of dust or suche as rest in duste The declareth he with a similitude how our bodies that putrify and corrupt shal thorowe the power of God from deathe and corruption be easely raised vp againe The power of god that chargeth commaundeth vs to rise vp from death doth he compare to the dew which whaÌ„ it falleth downe quickeneth and reuiueth the dead herbes Likewise also dothe the power of God to oure dead bodies which it quickneth and raiseth vp again Contrary to this he setteth another sentence saying the earth of tyraÌ„ts that is the bodies of tyrantes â—halt thou raise vp O God but â—hou shalt cast them downe that â—s thou shalt ouerthrowe them â—nto hell and eternall paine Moreouer touching the true â—esurrection of oure bodyes the â—ision of the Prophet Ezechiel â—s so euident and plaine that it â—s not nedefull to speake oughte â—herof And of this haue we many teâ—timonies and witnesses in the Prophets whych mighte heere â—ell haue serued but seing it is not necessary I haue because of shortnesse omitted them now will I come to the sentences of the new Testament The Lord saith Verely verely I say vnto you the houre shal come and now it is that the deade shal heare the voice of the son of God and they that heare it shal liue And immediatly after he saith the houre shal come in the which all they that are in the graues shall heare his voyce and shall come forth Now is it manifest that neither the soules nor sprites but the bodies are in the graues And if other bodies shoulde rise vp for oures what needed he alwaye to make mencion of the graues But to the inteÌ„t that he immediatly in the gospell mighte declare the euident plain vnâ—oubted resurrection of oure boâ—ies he forthwith by his mighâ—y and wonderfull power raised â—p Lazarus froÌ„ death who now â—id stinke and had line .4 dayes â—n the graue This maruellous â—ct had the lord himself declared â—nto Martha with these words by brother shal rise again TheÌ„â—nswered she I know that he shall â—se in the resurrectioÌ„ at the last â—ny Lo how commen manifest â—nd knowne vnto euery maÌ„ was â—e general resurrection of oure â—odies The Lorde saithe more â—nto Martha I am the resurrection the life he that beleueth on me though he were dead yet shall he liue And euery one that liueth and beleueth on me shall neuer die But what nedeth me to collect so many testimonies of the resurrection of the deade considering that the Apostles were vpon no article more feruent and earnest then vpon this He that will alledge all the sentences witnesses must wryte out almoste the whole new testameÌ„t Luke saith in the Actes of the Apostles with greate power did the Apostles beare witnesse of the resurrection of the Lorde Iesus Christe And in the same boke saith Paul or the hope and resurrection of the dead am I iudged And yet againe for the hope sake of Israel am I bound with this chain In many places hath the holy Apostle Paule brought forth euident ensamples and testimonies of oure resurrection concerning the whych we shall speake in due time He saith moreouer we which liue are alwayes deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake that the life of Iesu mighte appeare in oure mortall bodies What coulde he haue spoken more euident plaine For immediatly vpon the same he saith thus we haue beleeued therfore haue we spoken and know that he which raised vp the Lorde Iesus shall thorow Iesus raise vs vp also Wherefore oure true bodies which now are mortall shall verely rise againe howbeit after the resurrection they shall no more be mortal but iÌ„mortal To these witnesses out of gods word and therfore inuincible I will nowe also adde the testimony of Ihon Damascene The Resurrection sayeth he shall be nothing else but a true coniunction of soule and body and another laudable restitution of it that vvas fallen avvay and brought to naughte Therefore the same body that perisheth is dissolued and falleth a sonder and the very same riseth vp againe vndissoluble For he that in the beginning created man out of the dust of the earth then brought him againe to earthe and duste that he vvas taken of The same I say is mighty and of povver according to his vvorde to raise vp the selfe same man againe from death Thus much Damascenus And truely euery man nowe may wel thinke that God principally for this cause did not create the first man of naughte as he did other things but out of the dust of the earth that as concerning the resurrection of our bodies though they turne to duste and earth againe we shuld haue no doubt Now as I suppose I haue sufficiently and plainly declared that the true flesh of al men yea euen our own body and els none for it yea euen the humain true body shall rise againe from death namely formed and fashioned with his own right proportion measure and property as a true body so that the measure and property of the true
Moreouer wher the scripture declareth the place of damnation to be after what sort damnation shall torment the vnbeleuers Finally I wil declare whether the punishment of the vngodly be euerlasting or whether it shall cease at lengthe Holy scripture dothe oft and many times make mention of the deathe of the soule which yet cōcerneth not the substance but the state thereof For holy Augustine in his boke de fide symbolo speaketh therof very wel and Christianly Like as the soule sayth he by reason of vices and vvicked maners is fraile so may it also be called mortall For the deathe of the soule is to fall from God and not to keepe it selfe vnto God vvhich is also the first sinne committed in paradise as it is cōteined in holy scripture Moreouer the soule dieth vvhan it is verely spoiled of eternall life and caste into euerlasting sorovve trouble and miserye And therfore saythe Augustine farther The soule also hathe her deathe Namely vvhan it lacketh and is destitute of the eternall and godly life vvhich truly and iustly is called the life of the soule But vndeadly or immortall is it called because it neuer ceaseth to liue hovve miserable so euer the life of it be What bodely death is euery man knoweth well but eternall death whan a man dieth the second time is this when the flesh riseth again and so is placed in euerlasting torment For after the laste sentence or iudgement of God the whole man and not the halfe shall be either saued or damned The eternall death also hath S. Iohn in his Reuelation called the second death This is appoynted because of sinne and is not a resting or ceassing but a cōtinuall paine This death is called also damnation that is a iudgement bicause the vngodly is adiudged vnto paine and for that there is appoynted him a tormēt sorow and trouble that neuer ceaseth and that as touching the greatnesse therof can neuer be expressed with tonge CHAP. 25. That ther is an eternal death and damnation and that the soule is passible NOw that there is an eternal damnation the truthe and righteousnesse of God testifieth For howe coulde God be rightuous if he had no punishment wherwith to torment and plage the vicious and wicked Therfore out of dout an eternal deathe and damnation there is though the vngodly do mocke laughe it to scorne and passe not vpon it The godly sacred Bible which is an assured witnesse of the truthe sayeth euidently death is the stipend or rewarde of sinne And by one man came sinne into the worlde and by sin death Item thorow the sinne of one man is the euil fallen by inheritance come vpon all men vnto damnation For in that boke of Genesis God sayth In what day so euer thou eatest of thys tree thou shalt die the deathe Now did he eate therof therfore he also died and was euen condemned appoynted and adiudged vnto eternall death The Lord sayth also in the gospel if ye beleue not that it is I ye shal die in your sinnes Item he that beleeueth not is condemned alredy Such like testimonies are found in holy scriprure innumerable out of the which we finally conclude that death damnation is enioyned appoynted and adiudged of God vnto all vnbeleuers and vngodly But forasmuche as there be some whiche thinke that seing the soule is a sprite it cā not neither may suffer yea that it is not subdued to any passion at all Therfore against such curious teachers I wil set now the soule of the gorgious riche man in the gospell which expresly plainly sayeth O sende Lazarus that he maye dipe the tip of his finger in water and cole my tunge for I am tormented in this flame lo the rich mannes soule is tormented in the fire Hereout now it foloweth that the soules are passible and subiect to suffer And thoughe this be shewed vnto vs of the Lorde as a parable yet is it done for this intēt euen to describe and declare vnto vs the state and case of the soules that are seperated from the bodies And how pain and punishment is appoynted vnto the soules it is foūd expressed not only in the similitudes but also in the holye gospell of Mathewe the truthe it selfe saythe feare ye hym rather which may destroy soule body into hell What the mouth of god speaketh must nedes be true Yea a shamefull strange thing were it for any man from henceforth to doubte in this that with so euident testimonies is witnessed We ought rather to beware that wyth oure vicious life we deserue not to learne and fele by experience the righteous iudgement of God concerning the which we nowe doubte and demaunde so folishlye as thoughe there shal be nothing of it Now what I haue spoken of the soules that are already departed from the body must be vnderstand also of the bodies whych come againe to the soules in the resurrection CHAP. 26. The bodies of the vnbeleuers being raised are passible FOr that the bodyes whych come againe to the soules are raised vp are passible it mai well be vnderstād and perceiued by that which is treated of alredy S. Augustine Lib. 21. de ciuitate Dei. Cap. 4. sheweth by many naturall examples and euidences that liuing bodies may wel remaine continue in the fire But touching the place of the punishment or where the soules with their bodies shal be tormented the scripture saithe simply plainly that the vnbeleuers goe downe into hell Hereof is it easy to perceiue that hell is vnder vs in the earth notwithstāding to go about to describe to shewe and to compasse precisely the place and the rowme where it lieth and to poynt it out becommeth not vs verelye but is a folishe presumption The testimonies of the scripture are simple plaine For the Prophet Dauid saythe let death fall sodenly vpon them let them go downe quicke into hell for wickednesse is in their houses and priuye chambers Item with all theyr substance went they down quick into hell and the earthe couered them and they perished frō oute of the congregation Heerevnto serueth also righte well the destruction of Sodome and that whiche the Prophet Ezechiell declareth namely that all cruel people are gone downe and descēded into hel as the Elamites which are the Persians Edomites and others And therfore concludeth he farther that euen Pharao the king of Egipte seing that he also is a tyrant must be thrust downe into hell and be gathered vnto other vncircumcised that is to say vnbeleuers Item in Luke is the hell placed beneath downewards For thus is it wrytten in the Euangelist betweene vs and you there is a greate space sette so that they which woulde goe downe from hence to you can not The holy Apostle Peter speaking of the angels that fel saith euidently that they are caste downe into hel kept and bounde
are we of all people the most wretched And with many wordes to the Hebrues treateth he of the euerlasting rest But in the .11 chapter he speaketh of the hope of the faithfull They desire a better countrey that is to say an heauenly Item Hebrues .13 we haue heere no remaining citye but we seeke one for to come For holy scripture calleth eternal life the kingdom of God the kingdome of the father the natiue countrye of heauen the ioy of the Lord the blessed rest and euerlasting life S. Peter speaketh very euidently and plaine praised be God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his aboundant mercy hath begotten vs againe vnto a liuely hope by the resurrection of Iesus Christe from deathe to an inheritance immortall and vndefiled that perisheth not reserued in heaueÌ„ for you which are kepte by the power of God thorow faith vnto saluation c. CHAP. 30. VVhere the place of the faithfull is YEt are there sâ—me that aske where the region or place of the blessed and faithful beleuers is Of this haue all rightuous godly men had euer one opinioÌ„ namely that the dwelling of the liuing shall be with God according to that whiche the Lorde sayth in the gospell blessed are they which be of a pure hart for they shall see god And though God be euery where yet will he not be sene in this time but principally in the time to come and in heauen according as Moses hath wrytten no maÌ„ shal be able to see God liue Therefore is it necessary for vs to depart oute of this time and to be broughte elsewhere namely to the place that is aboue vs where God dwelleth in a lighte that no man can atteine vnto as Paul saith For there wil he be perfectly sene of his In S. Luke it is red that Abrahams lappe or bosome is aboue in the heigth but the harborow or dwelling of the damned beneth in the depth It is found also that Helias was in a firie charet taken heÌ„ce and caried vpwards into heaueÌ„ And in Iohn doth oure Lorde Iesus Christe pray saying father those whom thou hast geuen me I will that where I am they also be there with me that they mai see mine honor and glory But in this that I haue treated of afore it is manifestly declared that the heaueÌ„ is the same rowme and place of Iesus Christ into the which he is bodely taken vp in his glory Wherof then it foloweth of necessity that the heauen into the which Christ ascended wyth his true body is eueÌ„ the same place and rest that faithfull beleuers are taken vp into And into the same heauen desired Steuen to be receiued whaÌ„ he lifte vp his eyes into heauen and saw at the right hand of the father Iesus standing to whom he committed his soul and said O Lord Iesu receiue my spirit CHAP. 31. Hovve the saluation shall be BVt what the same life and of what sorte fashion and maner the saluation of the faithfull shal be or what the elect doe or occupy in heauen can of mortal men not perfectly be spoken For s Augustine also in his .22 boke de ciuitate Dei. cap. 29. saith If I vvill say the truth I can not tell after vvhat manner the operation rest and quietnesse of the blessed in heauen shall be For the peace of God excelleth and passeth all mannes vnderstanding And likewise speaketh also s. Paule out of the Prophet concerning the quality fashion and manner of eternall life the eye hath not sene and the eare hath not heard neither haue entered into the hart of man the things which God hathe prepared for them that loue him Wherefore touching the excellency of eternall life though all were spoken that the tongs of men wer able yet should it be hard for them to attain and by words to expresse the leaste and smallest portion thereof For albeit we heare that the kingdom of Christ be filled with glory ioy and saluation yet the things that are named coÌ„tinue still farre from oure vnderstanding yea they remaine wrapte as it were in a dark speche and in a miste vntill the daye come wherein he will open and geue vnto vs his glorye Therefore whan the holy Prophets coulde with no wordes expresse the spirituall saluation as it is in it selfe yet as much as was possible they described set it forthe by outward and bodely things Therefore we maye also I suppose by outward and corporall things gette vp as it were by steppes to things inuisible and purchase vnto our selues an vnderstanding of spirituall euerlasting goud things For S. Paule to the Romanes speaking of the knowledge of the true onely and eternall God saythe the Gods inuisible things namely his eternall power and god-heade are vnderstande if hys workes be pondred and considered And oute of that good things that here vpon earthe are geuen vnto men hathe the Poet Marcellus very goodly and wel concluded and compted that the good things which for the blessed are prepared in the life to come shal be suche as now can not be considered and expressed And thus he saythe O Heauen that art the throne most hie A beautifull crovvn faire vvorthy Hovve vvonderfull pure and excellent Art thou beset in firmament VVith starres vvith sun and mone doutles Replete vvith ioy and much gladnes VVhich God for vs hath prepared And cattell to geue hath not spared VVaters and vvoode vvith many a hill vineyardes medovves faire fields to till Pleasant on earth and commodious Thy dvvelling O Lord hovve precious Is it All full of honor and glory For thy celestiall host vvith thee Moreouer holy scripture speaketh very simply and plainely that eternall life consisteth here in that we shall see God and haue the fruition of him in whome is the fulnesse of al good and wythout whom nothing can be desired or found that is good beautifull or pleasant For eternall life or eternal saluation is nothing else but mannes euerlasting and alway continuing state which by meanes of the best things of all is fully perfect This state is geuen vs thorow the beholding or sighte thorowe the fruition and thorowe the coÌ„munion or felowship whych we shall haue wyth the blessed God in the world to come Hereof is it that S. Aug. saith Lib. 22. De ciuitate Dei cap. 29. If I be demaunded vvhat the blessed shal do in this spirituall body I shall not say that I novve see but that vvhich I beleue Therfore I say that euen in this bodye they shall see God. Thus also did holy Iob holde therof and sayd I shall see him to my selfe and mine owne eyes shall see him yea I and none other Euen of this occasioÌ„ spake S. Augustine in the last chapter of this .22 boke that the corporall eyes of the body raised vp shall execute their office that is they shall see What he farther treated
the vniforme and vniuersal opinion of all faithful which also witnesseth that in the life to come the blessed shall knowe one another For whan we talke of deathe and of the state and case of the life to come we say though we nowe must departe a sonder yet shall we see one another againe in the eternall country Socrates also the righte famous and most excellent among all the wise men of the heathen marked such a like thing sawe it as in a dreame whan as Cicero witnesseth of him he was vnto death condemned of the iudges or counsel and nowe should drinke the poyson For he sayd O howe muche better and more blessed is it to goe vnto them that well and vprightlye liued here in time then to remaine here in this life vpon earthe O howe deare and worthy a thing is it that I may talke wyth Orpheus Museus Homerus Hesiodus with those excellent mē Verely I woulde not onely die once but manye sondry times also if it were possible to obtain the same c. After this sort like as in a dreame did the good Philosopher imagine in himself ioyes vaine and of none effecte But we promes vnto our selues true assured ioy in that we hope and knowe that in the eternall and euer during countrye after the oesurrection of the dead we shall see Adam our firste father Noe the dearly beloued frende of God Abraham to whom god made speciall greate promises Moses the most gentle hearted man and one that had greatest experience of all the mysteries of god Samuel the frendly and louing prophet Dauid the king and Prophet who was Gods elect according to his owne wil and desire Iosias the most godly and best among all the kings of Iuda likewise Iohn the Baptiste holyer then whome there was none borne of woman and with all these the holy Virgine Mary the mother of God and highly replenished wyth grace among all wemen Item Peter Iohn Iames chefest of the Apostles with the other disciples of Christ Paul the famous teacher of the Heathen and all the holy congregatiō of the Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martirs and faithfull beleuers As for our glorified and pure vnderstanding memory nowe endued wyth immortalitye the multitude and infinite number of the blessed in our said natiue country shall nether greeue nor entangle the same From the beginning of the creation there was in Adam a wonderfull and excellent efficacie of vnderstāding and remembraunce forasmuche as vnto all things and to euery one in especiall what so euer was wythin the whole compasse of the world created yea in paradise also he gaue theyr names and knew euery one A muche more excellent more pure and more cleare vnderstāding shall God geue to the raised vp and glorified bodies so that they shall not lacke nor be destitute of any thing at all And where as the blessed shal reioyce and haue ioye together one wyth another yet shall all their delight be in the only god who shall be all in all Of these euerlasting heauenly things more farther to wryte I haue not at this present How be it there shal be graciously geuen vs things far greater muche more glorious more ioyfull and more diuine then we can comprehend namely saluation as it is in it selfe in that daye whan we after the ouercōming and treading downe of deathe thorow our Lord Iesus Christ shall be caried vp and taken to heauen into eternal ioy and saluation Touching the whych I haue hetherto wryttē not according to the Maiesty and worthinesse thereof but after my small ability in most humble wise God the father of all mercye thorowe hys deare sonne oure Lord redemer Iesus Christe vouchsafe graciously to take vs pore sinners vp to his glorye after the ioyfull resurrection of oure body that we long for to geue shew vs the vnoutspeakable ioy which he hathe prepared for all faithfull beleuers that we euer liuing and hauing ioy in him maye prayse him for euer euer that is from eternity to eternity So be it With Christ euen in death is life FINIS Math. 12. 1. Cor. 15. Math. 28. Marke 16. Luke 24. Psalme 16. Actes 2.13 Mark. 16. Iohn 20. Math. 28. Luke 24. Luke 24. De agone Christiano cap. 24. Iohn 20. Rom. 1. Iohn 21. Math. 28. 1. Cor. 15. Actes 1. Actes 10. 1. Cor. 15. Rom. 4. Rom. 10. Philip. 3. Iohn 11. 1. Cor. 15. Rom. 6 Collos 3. Marke 16. Ruffinus Luke 24. Actes 1. Math. 26. Zach. 12. Iohn 19. Psal. 8.19 Psal. 146. Psal. 103. Math. 5. 3. Reg. 8. 2. Cor. 5. Actes 1. Phillip 3. 1. thess. 4. Collos 8. Fulgentius Vigilius Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. August de agone Christiano cap. 26. Ephe. 2. De fide symbolo cap. 7. Num 32. Mich. 4. Rufinus Actes 2.3 De fide symbolo cap. 6. Iohn 17. Iohn 12. Ephe. 4. Phillip 2. 1. Cor. 2. Ephe. 4 Phillip 2 Iohn 12. Phillip 3. Iohn 14. Iohn 14. The Seleucians error Phil. 2. The name of Christ is aboue all names Arriani Iohn 5. Iohn 17. Actes 2. 1. Cor. 2. Exod. 15. Psal. 18 Psal. 118. 3. Reg. 1. Psal. 110. 1. Cor. 15. Zach. 6 1. Peter 3. Heb. 9. 1. Iohn 1.2 Rom. 8. Iohn 12. Mark. 14. 1. Cor. 5. 1. Cor. 7. Colos 3. Phillip 3. Ephe. 4. 1. Thes 4. Heb. 10. Tertullian Iosua 7. Gene. 7 Iohn 6 1. Cor. 15. VVhat the bodye or corpes is called of the Latinistes It is harde to beleue the resurrection The true resurrection of the flesh proued Antagonistai Iob. Ruth 4. Num. 35. Gene. 3. Phillip 3. Esay 26. 1. Peter 4. To rest in the dust Eze. 37. Iohn 5. Iohn 11. Actes 4. Actes 23. Actes 28. 2. Cor. 4. Iohannes Demascenus de orthodoxa fide Cap. 28. Math. 24. Math. 25. Iohn 5. 1. Thes 4. 1. Cor. 15. Iob. 19. VVhat a glorified body is Phillip 3. Luke 24. Phillip 3. Contra Arria cap. 31. 2. Cor. 3. Daniel 12. Math. 13. Math. 17. 2. Cor. 5. Rom. 8. 1. Iohn 3. 1. Cor. 15. A naturall and spirituall body 1. Cor. 15. Animale spirituale corpus 1. Cor. 15. Math. 22. Augustinus de fide symbolo Cap. 6. Erroures touching the resurrection of the flesh Philosop 2. Timo. 2. Origen Definici Eccle. ca. 6 Hieron ad Pammachium The confutation of Origens error De ciuitate dei Lib. 13. ca. 22. 23. And the same is againe Retractat Li. 1. cap. 13 Our bodies at the resurrection shal not be feeble nor vveake Esay 66. Daniel 12. Iohn 5. Actes 24. De fide ad Petrum cap. 3. Iohn 5. The death of the soul De fide symbolo cap. 10. Apo. 2.20 Rom. 6. Rom. 7. Gene. 3. Iohn 8. Iohn 3. Luke 16. Psal. 55. Nume 16. Gene. 19. Ezech. 32. Luke 16. 1. Peter 2. Esay 30. Virgilius Eze 32. Mat. 22.24 Esay 30. Esay 66. Marke 9. Rom. 2 Math. 25.
THE HOPE OF the Faithfull Declaring Breefely and clearly the Resurrection of OVR LORD IESVS CHRIST past and of oure true essentiall bodies to come and plainly confuting the cheefe Errors that hath sprong therof out the Scripture and Doctors VVith an euident probation that there is an eternall life of the Faithfull and an euerlalasting damnation of the Vnfaithfull Nevvly Imprinted and Corrected 1574. To the Christian READER GRACE and peace EVERYE MAN must needes confesse that this is novve a lamentable time In the vvhich the vvorld is not onli vnquieted vvith vvars dearthe sicknesse and such like but also standeth euer more and more in greater pearill thorovve vices euery vvhere bearing the svving So that it is to be feared if vve banishe them not the sooner vve and our posteritye shall yet come into farre greater sorovv then vve are already vvrapped in For if one should barely and vvythout all rhetorical amplifications but reherse only the great pompe vainglory riot fornication open idolatry periury c. of mighti men and rulers vvhich vvast the vvorld miserably the space euen of many dayes vvold scase be any thing sufficient thervnto And vvhat heapes of vvickednesse priuate persons do adde vnto the same all vvise men caÌ„ ponder by themselues For if vve goe into our ovvne bosomes vve finde that vve altogether vvill vvholy fashion and frame oure liues after the vvorld seeking vaine pompe and priuate commodity for our ovvne luste vvith sure shame and publike discommodity to others losse VVhich all are vndoubted tokens that the lavve and loue of God is litle estemed among vs VVhich vvith greeuous threates forbiddeth the foresaid and other vices by straight commaundement forsing and sure revvardes alluring vs to the contrary dealing Neither may vve thinke but that suche vices daily vvill encrease till the time they ouervvhelme vs excepte the contempte of Gods la ve set apart being the only sufficient vvelspring of all vvickednes for vvhich the vvrath of God is inkindled and his bitter curses fall vppon vs the same vvorde be had in greateâ— price and reuereÌ„ce For vvhy vvhat godlineâ—â—e can be hoped for of them vvhich hold nothing of God the only fountaine of goodnesse and laugh his vvorde to scorne of vvhom vve can knovve nothing but that is there shevved vs saue that small knovvledge that is of beholding of the creatures â–ª vvhich neuerthelesse declareth rather that there is a God then vvhat he is hovv he vvill be pleased And though al the scripture serue vs to enioy Gods blessings yet as in a compound medicine all the simples being holsom some one may lesse be spard theÌ„ the other so the article of resurrection clear and ofte inculcated in Sc ipture is moste auaileable so that it vnknovvne all vices svvarm and roste in vs For vve not considering our end vvherein saluation life standeth or paines prepared for the accursed vvill but staine our selues in voluptuousnes For vvho knovveth but the fleshe in this life vvhy shold he not thinke as good take it as leaue it and best to make the moste of that vvhich at last ceasseth In this case the Ethnikes being saide liue merely vvhile ye be in the vvorld and eat vve and drink vve lustely to morovve vve shall die vvhich all the Epicures protest openly and the Italian atheoi in life practise and no vvorse man then a Pope in oure dayes hathe geuen the like definitiue sentence among his Courte deuines of the soules immortality the story is knovven Contrarivvise the learned in Goddes vvorde knovving that this life is a death from sinne and a vvaye to the life to come vvhich Christ vvith his crosse hath opened vnto them for desire thereof runne forth in the race of godlinesse assured of the revvard sith Christ therfore bidding deathe battaile that vve mought liue hath broken her bondes and risen againe For goodes are not the possessors as the Philosopher saithe and Christe alludeth in the parable of the tvvo strong men but the more valiant maÌ„s VVherfore gentle reader I hauing this litle but absolute vvorke of Christes and our resurrection and that there is an eternall life and damnation vvherin the deuill hath sore assaulted the churche by men this only excepted of greate authoritye and learning thought it my duety to put it in Printe not keping that priuate vvhich might doe suche good common The matter is plain in scripture yet learne vve better things called in question and forced to vs by reson VVherfore not to stirre vp Gods grace in vs by imbrasing suche treatises vvere to tempt God and extincte the spirite For the scholer learneth of his schole fellovv that he perceiued not by his more lerned master and vnderstandeth him euer after the better and so men forder one an other in scripture VVhich as I meane in printing if thou desire in reading the Lorde no nay shall graunt our request vvhich geueth blessings plentuously to all suche as aske it constantly To vvhom geue honor thankâ— from heart for the good that thou repest in his creatures FARE VVEL ¶ The firste parte of THIS BOKE INTITLED THE HOPE OF THE FAITHFVL vvhich entreateth of the Resurrection and Ascension of Christe vvith the frute and commoditye therof THE FIRT CHAPTER ¶ The Contents of this boke and the Authors purpose COnsidering that by the Euangelists and by all the Apostles ther is nothing written more diligently then touching the resurrection of our lord Iesus Christ my purpose is some what more largely to talk of the same and of the glorious ascension of his body into heauen Item of the resurrection and asceÌ„sion of oure owne bodies of the damnation of vnbeleuers of the hope and eternall life of the blessed And this I mind to do only vnto the honor laude praise of our Lord Iesus Christ that the mistery of the holy gospell may be set forth opened to the commoditye edifying of the faithful and that of euery man it mai be plainly vnderstanded howe greate things are prepared and geuen vs of Christ This mater also doth specially belong to the declaration of the holy Gospell forasmuch as the best frute of the gospel is conteined and taughte therin Therfore if I wryte ought heerein more largely I doe nothing that concerneth not my purpose Yet I intende also to kepe a measure not to open eueri thing that hereof might be wrytten but only that which is cheefest most necessary of all CHAP. 2. That the Lord verely arose vvith his body THat our lorde Iesus Christ with his owne very true body did verely arise from the dead it shal be expedieÌ„t afore al thiÌ„gs to testify proue Therefore let the first witnes euen our Lorde Iesus Christ hiÌ„selfe come forth now and beare vs recorde out of the Prophets concerning hys true resurrectioÌ„ Like as Ionas sayth he was three dayes and three nights in the whales belly so shal the son of man be three dayes three nights in the hart of the earth