The hundred and ten considerations of Signior Iohn Valdesso treating of those things which are most profitable, most necessary, and most perfect in our Christian profession. Written in Spanish, brought out of Italy by Vergerius, and first set forth in Italian at Basil by Cœlius Secundus Curio, anno 1550. Afterward translated into French, and printed at Lions 1563. and again at Paris 1565. And now translated out of the Italian copy into English, with notes. Whereunto is added an epistle of the authors, or a preface to his divine commentary upon the Romans.

CGNSID. XLV. Whence the feare of death proceeds in pious persons, and that it is a signe of Predestination for a man to content himselfe, that there should be another life.

VVIlling to understand whence it proceeds, that many estranged from piety have voluntarily offered themselves unto Death and have willed, and de∣sired it, and have themselves killed themselves; And ma∣ny pious are grieved, and much resent the remembrance of Death, not being able to reduce themselves to be con∣tent to die, which according to humane reason ought to

be cleane contrary; In as much, as they who are estran∣ged from piety either doe not believe the other life, or are doubtfull of it, or doe not thinke to bee happy in it; And in as much as they who are pious, believe the other life, and are very certaine of it, and are assured that they shall be happy in it; I come to thinke after this manner, that amongst them who are estranged from piety, some doe not feare death for some opinions whereof they are perswaded; and others because they hold it for a point of valour not to feare it; And others love death, believing that they shall get fame by dying; and others, because it is troublesome, and painefull unto them to live in neces∣sity, or in dishonour, wherein they doe, as the sick-patient, that puts himselfe into hazard of running into a greater infirmity through desire of comming out of that lesse which he feeles. In all these I consider their owne pro∣per rashnesse, their owne proper folly, and their owne proper impatiency. Moreover I thinke, that amongst the pious, that feare death, some feare it because they are not throughly confirmed in piety, nor throughly assured of that Iustice, by which eternall life is obtained; others feare it through naturall instinct, it being Gods doing that men should feare Death, and love life, to the intent they may preserve themselves in life; and others feare it, in as much as it is given to men in punishment of their sinne, it being Gods doing, that a man should feel as a punishment that which is given him as a punishment by generall sen∣tence, which belongs to every man, as indeede the evill of originall sinne belongs to every man.

In every of these I know pietie, Iustice, and holinesse, albeit, in the first I know weaknesse, and infirmity, as I also know in those pious persons, who without feeling the inward Inspiration, that God would have them to die, doe desire, and love Death. For this desire is not free from some branch of impatiency, like unto that of them, who are strangers from piety.

Whence I take this resolution, that for as much as in them, who are strangers from pietie, the not fearing of death, and the loving it, proceeds from rashnesse, folly, and impatiency; and the fearing of death in the pious pro∣ceeds from pietie, Iustice, and holinesse; that neither the stranger from piety hath cause to exalt himselfe, when he feares not Death; nor the pious hath cause to be sorrow∣full, when hee findes himselfe fearefull of Death: know∣that the feare comes to him through weaknesse and in∣firmity, for his small assurance, and firmenes•…•…e in his con∣fidence; or it comes to him by naturall inclination, or it comes to him through sence of the punishment of sinne, which is effectuall in all them that appertaine to the peo∣ple of God, yea even when themselves thinke it not so. Whereupon if a man shall say, that Christ having satis∣fyed for originall sinne, they who are his members, ought not to feele the punishment, or chastisement of death, I shall say unto him, that Christ did not revoke that sentence given against us, whereby we are all obli∣ged to Death, but that he remedyed it by his resurrection, in such sort as wee die by Adam, and shall rise againe by Christ.

I also take another resolution, that is, that a pious per∣son doth then content himselfe of Death, as pious, when by his death the glory of God is illustrated; as the Chri∣stian Martyrs did content themselves; and when it is Gods will, that he should die. For then, as I understand, God gives him content, in such sort, as when a pious per∣son feeles in himselfe a strong feare of Death, not being able to bring himselfe to be content to die, hee may hold for certaine, that God will not at that time take him from this life: And he ought to thinke that as long as he feares, the naturall inclination, and the chastizement of sinne worke their effects in him, and so hee will not be grie∣ved, nor accompt himselfe Iesse in pietie for this matter. They that are strangers from piety, when they least feare

Death, and when they have most brought themselves to be contented with it, if they wouid speake truth, will confesse, that if it were in their power, they would not that their should be any other life; for they are not cer∣taine to be happy therein. And they who are pious, when they most feare Death, speaking the truth will confesse, that they would not be contented, that there were no o∣ther life, feeling within themselves that God hath not created them for this, but for another. And for a man to be thus not contented of this life only, as I understand it, is a great countersigne for a man to bee assured of his pie∣ty, and of his Predestination. For I hold for certaine, that to them, to whom God meanes to give eternall life, hee doth also put a great love, and great affection of it, in such sort, that hee who shall finde in his minde a desire that there were no other life, let him hold himselfe impious, although hee would choose to die, and let him not de∣spaire. For albeit he be out of piety, hee ought to thinke, that God is able to draw him out of it, as he hath drawn, and doth draw all them that have beene, and are in it. And hee who shall finde in his minde a love of eternall life, not contenting himselfe with •…•…his present, may hold himselfe for pious, and for predestinated unto life everla∣sting, although he feare death, considering all this, which hath beene said, and above all, that even the only Be∣gotten Sonne of God feared Death, Iesus Christ our Lord.