Propositions and principles of diuinitie propounded and disputed in the vniuersitie of Geneua, by certaine students of diuinitie there, vnder M. Theod. Beza, and M. Anthonie Faius ... Wherein is contained a methodicall summarie, or epitome of the common places of diuinitie. Translated out of Latine into English, to the end that the causes, both of the present dangers of that Church, and also of the troubles of those that are hardlie dealt vvith els-vvhere, may appeare in the English tongue.

PRINCIPLES CONCERNING ETERNALL LYFE. LXXXI. (Book 81)

1 THe Article concerning the Resurrection of the flesh, being handled at large in the former prin∣ciples; we are now at the length come to the exposition of that which is touching Aeternall life.

2 This Article is therefore set last in the belief, because it is the end and shutting vp of all those things, which are there propounded vnto vs to be beleeued.

3 We make life in this place, to be that power and fa∣cultie, whereby the soule doth not onelie moue it self, but doth also giue motion & sense vnto the body: and this lat∣ter effect thereof in this life, doth PAVL cal 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is, naturall, as being applied vnto the vse of this present life: of which sort also, was the life of ADAM before his fall, al∣though it was neither subject vnto mortalitie, neither vnto those things which tend vnto death, as he was after his fal. But the soule being againe ioyned to the bodie, shall both moue it self by a farre more excellent power, and shall also quicken the bodie in a far diuers sort from that naturall life, which shall be done away, namelie, by a spirituall life and aequall vnto the Angels: as also the verie bodie shall rise again, endued with far more excellent qualities, wher∣vpon it was called of PAVLE a spirituall bodie, not in re∣gard of the substance, but of the qualities thereof.

4 To liue therfore the etetnall life, is to be in that state wherein the elect, being after the blessed resurrection, most fully joyned with Christ their head, shal know God in hea∣uen, together with the Angels, after a manner altogether vnknowne vnto vs at this day, enjoy his prescence, and glorifie him eternally.

We do therfore justlie condemne the error of the CHI∣LIASTES.

5 By the worde ETERNAL in this place, we vnderstand that which hath a beginning, but neuer shall haue an end.

6 Touching curious and difficult questions, as concer∣ning the sight of God, which we are to haue in the life to come, and such like, wee thinke meete to omitte them, be∣cause it is sufficient for vs to knowe, that God hath prepa∣red for vs, those thinges which neither eie hath seene, eare hath heard, nor enterd into the hart of man.

7 The Author of that life is God, who freely bestoweth the same vpon those, whome of his meere mercie he hath chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, from whome as from the head, this blessed immortallitie dooth flowe in a most full sorte into his members that are joy∣ned vnto him.

8 For the foundation both of our resurrection vnto life, and also of that eternall life is that resurrection and glory of Christ our head, because hee is the first fruites of the rising from the deade of those for whome hee prayed, that they should be there where he is.

9 That life therfore is not without respect generally be∣stowed vpon all men, but only vpō the elect, as being those who onelie are found in Christ according vnto that saying of PAVL, ROM. 11. The elect haue obtained it, the rest are hardened, and according vnto that voice of Christ: Come yea blessed of my Father.

10 This blessed immortallitie shal be common in deed vnto all the elect, but not in the same measure as it may be probablie gathered by the consideration of the contrarie punishment of the wicked.

11 The especiall ende for the which eternall life is be∣stowed vpon vs is this, namly that acknowledging the im∣measurable and infinit mercy of God, wee may attribute vnto him eternall praises as it is meete.

12 We shall at the time when God hath appointed, be put in full posession of that life, at which time the number of those that are to bee saued being fulfilled, Iesus Christ shall be seene of vs, who looke for him to our saluation, to come as a redemer from Heauen.

13 Seeing the Lord hath put this day in his own pow∣er, to be inquisitiue when the same shalbe, is a point of ex∣treame

madnes.

We do therefore condemne those both olde and new writers, who breaking into the secrets of God, do think that they can set downe, when that day shall be, whereas the knowledge heereof is not giuen, no not to the An∣gels themselues.

14 It is our dutie therefore rather to be watchful, least being drowned with the delightes of the worlde, and the flesh; and as it were overwhelmed in a dead sleepe, that last day do come vpon vs (being vnprepared) at vnawares.

15 Now although the full perfection of that life, which wee hope for, be referred vnto the very last day, yet not∣withstanding, it taketh certaine beginnings in our mindes even while we are heere, when as the holy Ghost dooth by the preaching of the worde, dispell the darcknes of our minde, and indue the same with the true knowledge of God, whence afterwarde doth proceed a willing minde to obey his commandements, and that hope which cannot deceaue them that beleeue.

16 Vnto this eternall life, which shall bring vnspeaka∣ble felicitie vnto the elect, death eternall is oposed, which shall bring vnto the wicked that destruction, which neuer shall haue an end.

17 Even as that most happie felicitie, cannot nowe be comprehended of vs: so also that miserie of the damned is altogether incomprehensible.

18 This most horrible state is called the second death, not because that, either the soul is thereby seperated from the bodie, or that the soule or the body of the damned do suffer death, but because, that as by the first death, the bo∣dy and the soul of the wicked is dissolued, the one of them hastning vnto putrefaction, the other going to haue a tast of the eternall paines; even so by this second punishment both the soule and the body are not only wholie excluded for euer from Gods fauor, but also adjudged vnto his most fearefull and neuer ending curse.

19 For the like cause is this death called eternall fier, because that fier is a most sharp & vehement punishment:

but wee are not here curiouslie, to dispute touching the paines of Hell, lest that wee thereby run into poeticall fa∣bles.

20 Yet do these verie fables teach vs, that the doctrine concerning the eternall punishment, which the wicked are to vnder goe euen after this life, did alwaies sound in the worlde.

The Epicures therefore, and such as deny the immor∣tallitie of the soule, are confuted not onely by the word of God, but also by common sense.

21 That these punishments are eternall, whereunto e∣ternall life is oposed, it is manifest by the expresse•• ••ord of God, and also by the infinit nature of Gods majestie who is offended.

The Church therfore justly condemned the Origenists, whoe dreamed that the wicked and the Diuells them∣selues, hauing fulfilled those punishments, should at the length be deliuered.

22 Yet dooth our Sauiour Christ manifestlie witnes, MAT. 10.13. that the state of the damned in respect of the measure of their punishments shall not be alike.

Defended by IAMES TREMVLAEVS of Geneua.