Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

By what arguments doe we proue that there is a life eternall?

1 From the nature of God, for seeing there is a god, and the same is liuing and eternall; it followeth necessarily that there is a life eternall, whereby god liueth and is eternall.

2 From the condition of the soule: for seeing that it is immor∣tall, it followeth that there doth remaine an other life after this, wherein the soule liueth by it selfe, though seperated from the bo∣dy, and in which life she acknowledgeth and praiseth god highly.

3 From the resurrection of bodies: for there would be no neede of the rising againe of the bodies of the faithful, if there were not a life whereunto they should rise. Moreouer the articles concerning GOD, of Christ, of the Prouidence and of the Iustice of GOD, of the soules Immort••••••••e,

of the resurection of bodies, of the last iudgement, could not stand vnlesse this article of life eternall bee annexed vnto them.

4 From the handwriting of God written in the soule of euery one, for the soule it selfe often teacheth vs, there remaineth a iudg∣ment, with the feare whereof they are vexed, who liue wickedly, and they are renued in hope, who loue godlines.

5 From an Argument tending to absurditie, because if only in this life, that is, if we hope in Christ for this life sake onely, so that our faith hath respect to nothing else beyond this life, we were the most miserable of all men. 1. Cor. 15.19.

6 From the testimonies of Scripture, Dan. 12.2. some shall awake vnto euerlasting life. Math. 25.46. The iust shall goe vnto life eternall. Iohn. 10.28. I giue vnto my sheepe eternall life. Hebr. 13.14. Here we haue no continuing Citie, but we seeke one to come. 1. Iohn. 25. This is the peomise that he hath promised vs, euen eternall life.

7 From examples, for Enoch, beeing translated heere into, and afterward Elias were as an earnest penie thereofa 1.1: So was Christ also ascending into the heauen, whose pleasure is that where he himselfe is, we should be with him likewise. Iohn. 14.3. and 17.24.

8 This an article of our fath, I beleeue that life euerlasting.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Gen. 7, 24. Heb, 11, 8 2 Kings, 2, 11