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.

The fortieth common place. Of eternall Death.

From whence is death deriued?

MAny take it in a good sense to be deriued from the Greeke word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as it were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, taken vpward vnto God: and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to consider dili∣gently, those things which are aboue, be∣cause it brings vs back againe to God. It is also called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as it were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an en∣trance into eternall life. In Latine Death seemeth to bee deriued from tarrying, because death tarrieth or stayeth for vs, and it commeth stealing on vs with a still foote, or because it esteemeth the condition of none.

How manifold is death?

Fourefolde.

1. A corporall death which is also called temporarie, and it is ei∣ther naturall, or accidentall, and it is either violent, or a volunta∣rie separation of the soule from the bodie, common both to the good and bad, inflicted on all through the malice of Sathan by the iust iudgement of God for the sinne of Adam:a 1.1 and it is called by Iohn, the first death in respect of the wicked, Reu. 20, 14. And surely the godly doe not escape it likewise, albeit their sinnes be forgiuen them.

1. That thereby they might learne to hate sinne.

2. That they might acknowledge the seueritie of Gods anger for sinne.

3. That they might lay away the remnants of sinne,

togither with the miseries that cleaue vnto them by reason of sinne.

4. That they might try the power of God in raising the deade, and so their death and infirmitie might serue for their owne good and for Gods glorie. And for that respect should it be desired of them, after the example of Paule, I desire to be dissolued. Phil. 1.23. Not for that they are wearie of life, or for their ownselues (because this desire is contrarie to naturall reason) but for another end, namely, because it is a deliuerance from sinne wholy, as also from the miseries of this life, and a passage vnto the bright presence of God, a returning and remoouing from banishment, not vnto a ruinous, but vnto a new and most delectable dwellinga 1.2. Because it is an aduantageb 1.3, a passage to the fatherc 1.4, and therefore not to be feared, because Christ hath ouercome itd 1.5, and it is such vnto vs as he hath made ite 1.6 (and the verie hower thereof is appointed vn∣to euery one by God) but it should bee desired by the desire of faith: yet so, that we continue in this earthly house, as long as it shall seeme good to the Lord: for the godly do rather wish to liue vnto the glorie of Christ, then for their own benefite.

2 A spirituall death, and it is either of beleeuers or vnbeleeuers and that of the beleeuers is threefolde.

1. Of sinne, as concerning the strength, that is, the force or life of sinne, which is called mortification, Rom. 6.2.8. Wee are deade vnto sinne (in the datiue case) how shall wee liue yet therein?

2. Of the Law, but in part, as farre as the Law is the power of sinne. 1. Because it accounteth them which are in Christ, guiltie no more. 2. Neither doth it prouoke men to sinne, Rom. 7.4. Yee are deade to the Law, by the bodie of Christ. And Gal. 2 16 19. I am dead to the law, that I may liue vnto God: for Christ maketh vs dead to the Lawe, because by iustifying vs, hee taketh away those terrours of conscience, which the Lawe doth cast into vs: and by sanctifying vs, hee maketh that our concupiscence is mortified and that it taketh not occasion to sinne by the for∣bidding of the Lawe, as before it was wontf 1.7.

3 Death of the world, by which the world is dead vnto the godly, and that actiuely, not vnto them who enter into cloysters & pro∣fession of a monastical life, but vnto those who for the excellēcy of the knowledge of Christ, despise all things which the world estee∣meth

and is in loue with. 2. And who renounce the workes of the world, as whoaring, dicing, and whatsoeuer is a worke of the flesh. 3. And who are not caried away with the delight of the world: Againe the world is passiuely deade vnto those, who in like for•• are despised of the world, for otherwise the world oftentimes were neuerthelesse dead vnto them, who notwithstanding, are dead vnto the world. Therefore Gal. 6.14. Through Christ, the world is crucified vnto me, and I vnto the world, And Phil. 3.8. I account all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ. But the spirituall death of the vnbeleeuers, or of natural men is that which may be called the death of faith, or the soules death, namely, by which they being without Christ, and his spirit, being also voide of faith, are dead in their sinnes (in the ablatiue case) Ephe. 2.5. and yet they liue in sin; nor do they earnestly desire forgiuenesse, and so liuing, they are dead,g 1.8 and are said to walke in the shadowe deathh 1.9.

3. And eternall death, is a perpetuall infelicitie and misery of the whole man, and it is called the second deatha 1.10: of which is said, The death of sinners is the worst death Psal. 34.22. I desire not the death of a sinner, but that the sinner turne from his waies, and liue. Ezech. 33.9.4. A ciuill death: Among Lawyers it is meant of them whose estate is altered, that is, who haue falne from some degrees of honour and liberty, and haue not kept the reputation of an honest man. But at this time we entreat of the third kinde of death.

What is eternall death?

It is the vnspeakable, most wretched, most fearefull, and end∣lesse condition of the Reprobate, ordained by God: not in that the soule may againe be separated from the bodie, or that the bodie, or soule dyeth, and that they cease either to be, to liue, to haue sense (for they shall bee, and shall liue continually:) but in that they shall bee for euer shut out both in soule and bodie; not onely from all fauour and beholding the presence of God, but also that they shall bee adiudged most iustly to an horrible endlesse and deserued curse, by reason of their sinneb 1.11. For as nei∣ther eye hath seene, nor eare hath heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that loue him. 1. Cor. 2.9. So also neither can the greatnesse of the paines and tor∣ments,

which are prepared for the damned, be plainly vnderstood in this life, much lesse be expressed in wordes.

If the soule and body of the Reprobates shall haue a being, and shall liue for euer. Why is their fu∣ture estate, not called a life, but a death?

Bicause such an estate and condition of life as theirs is, euery way most miserable, deserueth to be called a death & not a life.

What are the Epithites of eternall death?

That the greeueousnesse of the punishment might in some sort be pouretraied, it is called in scripture by termes taken from the punishments of this life, as Confusion, Shame, eternall reproach, The worme that euer gnaweth, the lake of fire and brimstone, Hell, mourning, weeping and gnashing of teeth, A fierie fournace, an eter∣nall deuouring, and vnquenchable fire, extreame darknes, out of the kingdome of light, the worme that dyeth not, eternall torment and the likec 1.12 In which Epithites is shadowed as it were the forme, what and how great the punishments of eternall death shall be.

what be the causes of eternall death?

God the most iust Iudg is the cause a farr ofd 1.13. The nearest cause is Satan the seducer vnto sinne, and a murderer euen from the verie beginning of the worlds creation, for that he slew man thorough sinnea 1.14.

The subministring instrumentall cause, is man himselfe con∣senting vnto Satan: lastly sinne, whereby man departed from the law of God, Gen, 2.17. In the day that thou eatest of the tree of the knowledge of good and euill, thou shalt die the death, either death, as∣well temporarie as eternall: And Rom. 5.12. Through sinne, death entred into the world. And, 6.23. The wages of sinne is death. And. 1. Cor. 15, 21. By man came death.

For whome is eternall death prepared?

For the cursed, or Reprobates, for the workers of iniquitie, for vngodly sinners, horrible murderers, whoremongers, witches, for Idolaters, and all liersb 1.15: and to speake in one worde, for vnbe∣lieuers, that is for those, who haue not knowne God, nor hear∣kened vnto the Gospellc, 1.16 that in bodie and soule they may be pu∣nished

punished, because they haue sinned in body and soule, Math 10.28. Feare him which can destroy the body and soule in hell, name∣ly with eternall torments, and therefore the substance of neither shall perish.

What place is ordained for eternall death?

That which the Hebrewes call Tophet, of noise and confusion and Gehenna of a place nigh to Ierusalem situated in the field of a certaine man called Hinnon, wherein the Israelites offered their sonnes to the Idoll Molochd 1.17 which the Greekes interpret 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a darke place, a house without sun∣light, and Tartarum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 because it frighteth all: which place the Latines expound Inferos of the situation a nethermost place, Hell, as also Abyssum, that is a gulfe of vnmeasurable deapth or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a bottomeles placee 1.18,

What is Hell?

It is a certaine hidden and horrible place appointed by God vnto eternall torment for the damned men, and euill Angelsf 1.19.

Where is Hell?

It is hard to iudge. and it becommeth vs not to be inquisitiue herein, but to endeauour, that we take heed that we one day proue not by experience where it is. Yet is it somewhere, nor a∣ny vpper but a nether (because it is below) and therefore fardest of from the highest heauen which is the seate of the blessed. For the Scripture Luk, 16.26. placeth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a broad and large gulfe (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is to gape or cleaue in sunder) betweene the godly and the wicked, And the rich man when he was tormented in hell, lifted vp his eies, and saw Abraham a farre of, and Lazarus in his bosome. And they which are cast into that place are said to be thrust downe thereinto, as it were into some nethermost place in respect of heauen and of vs here on earth.a 1.20 And Reuel. 17.8. The beast is said to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit into the earth. As also. Num. 16.30.33. Chore, Dathan, and Abiron are said to haue de¦scended quicke into the pitt of hell, not into the graue simplie as the word sometime is wont to be vsurpedb 1.21. Neither doth that make against this, where Satan is said to fall downe from hea∣uen,

when his power was abolished at the voice of the Gos∣pell, Luk. 10.18. And to be busie in this aire, Luk. 8.31.c 1.22 for he is heare busie onely for a time to exercise the faith of the Godly and to execute the iust iudgments of God vpon men; otherwise the Diuells are said to be thrust downe into Hell, and to be kept bound in chaines of Darknes, 2, Pet. 2.4. Iud. 6. but there is an euident description of hell. Isa. 30.33. Hell is prepared for the King of Babilon by God, who hath made it low, that is hath placed it in the lower parts, and hath enlarged it, that is hath made it deepe and large: the burning thereof is fire and much wood: the breath of the Lord, like a riuer of brimstone doth kindle it,

When shall the punishments of hell begin?

Some begin in this life, like preambles, in some wicked ones: so is it hell, to feele the wrath of God, & to be accursed, & as it were reiected of God, which things are euen fealt by some of the god∣ly also sometimes, but it is onely for their tryall in this life.d 1.23 But the chiefe punishments are deferred vntill the last day, yet the soules of the wicked as soone as they die, doe vndergoe pu∣nishment and damnation,e 1.24 and are reserued vnto the day of iudg∣ment, when taking on them their bodies againe they shall be tormented for euer.

Shall the torments of the damned be perpetuall?

Yea bicause so doth the rule of gods Iustice require: for Gods infinite maiestie is offended: and because the happinesse of the E∣lect is eternall, therefore must the miserie of the reprobate be e∣ternall. And so doth the scripture witnesse. Isa. 66, 24. Dan. 12.2. Some shall awake vnto eternall reproach. And Math. 25, 41 Goe ye cursed into euerlasting, and vnquenchable fire, In which the dā∣ned shall abide for euer, to endure those torments; For asmuch as the Salamander also is not consumed in the middest of fire. And Mark. 3.29. The Blasphemie against the holy Ghost shall neuer bee forgiuen.

Shall the condition of the Damned be alike, as touching the very measure of eter∣nall torments?

In no wise: which is gathered by these sayings. Mat. 10.25. It shall be more easie for Sodome then for thee (that is, for the citie that despiseth the Gospell. And 11.22.24. It shall bee easier for Tyre and Sydon in the day of iudgement. And 23, 14. Christ saith to the hypocrites, For this shall yee receiue a greater damnation. And Luk. 12.47. The seruant that knoweth his masters will, and doth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes: but hee that knoweth it not, and doth those things that are worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few.

To what end is Hell?

A second end is, that the wicked may be afflicted with deser∣ued punishmens. But the chiefe end is, that God might appeare the iust God of all the world in punishing them, and that by this meanes he might declare his iustice and wrath toward the repro∣bate and his exceeding goodnes, grace and clemencie toward the vessells of mercie, which he hath chosen of his meere grace, that he might preserue them for euer,

What is the vse of this Doctrine?

It auaileth to stirre vp in vs a continuall desire of true pietie and repentance. Math. 3.8, 10. Bring forth fruite worthy amende∣ment of life. For the axe is put to the roote of the trees, therefore eue∣ry tree which bringeth not forth good fruite, is hewen downe & cast into the fire. Hereupon Chrysostom Homil. 13. Rom. saith, I wish hell were disputed of euery where, for the remembrance of hell will not suffer a man to fall into hell.

Who are they resist this Doctrine?

1 The Epicures. who denie the immortalitie of soules, and so the punishments ordained for the wicked, whome not onely the word of god, but euen common sense it selfe refuteth.

2 The Origenists, sometime, called the pittiefull Doctours who dreamed there would come a day wherein mankind all and singuler, yea euen the wicked, and the deuills themselues be∣ing discharged from those punishmentes should bee relea∣sed.

3 Manie whose opinion is, that there is no particuler place appointed for Hell, but that whatsoeuer seuereth vs

from God, and as Hierome saith, Whatsoeuer maketh diuision among brethren, is Hell.

4. The errour, which Hierome attributeth to Origen, Epist. ad Amitum; That hell is nothing but the horror of conscience.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Gen. 2, 17, Ioh. 8.44, Ro, 5.12.17 & 6.23. 1, Co. 15.21. Heb, 9.27.
• a 1.2

  2. Co. 5.••0
• b 1.3

  Phil. 1.12
• c 1.4

  Ioh. 5.24, & 13, 1.
• d 1.5

  Ose. 13, 14
• e 1.6

  He. 2, 4.3
• f 1.7

  Ro. 7.5, 6, 8, 9.
• g 1.8

  Mat. 8.22 1 Tim 5.6 Rev. 3.1
• h 1.9

  Esa. 9.1.
• a 1.10

  Rev, 2 11 &. 21.8
• b 1.11

  Isa. 66.24 Math. 25.41 46 2 Thess. 1.9
• c 1.12

  Isa. 30.33. & 66.24. Math. 8.12. & 22, 13. & 25, 46. Mark, 9.43.47. Reue. 19.20 & 20.10, 14 15.
• d 1.13

  Math. 25.41. Rom, 2, 8 2 Thess. 1, 5 6, 8, 9,
• a 1.14

  Iohn. 8, 44
• b 1.15

  Re. 21, 8,
• c, 1.16

  2. Thess, 1, 8,
• d 1.17

  Iosua. 15, 8 Isa. 30.33 2. Kings. ••3.13. 2. Chro. 28.3, Ierem. 7.31
• e 1.18

  Luk. 8.31 Reu. 9, 20
• f 1.19

  Num, 16 30.33, Esa, ••0, 33 Math. ••, 12 & 25, 41 2 Thess, 1, 9
• a 1.20

  Reue. 9.11 & 20, 8
• b 1.21

  Gen 42.38, Psal. 16, 10 Act. 2.31,
• c 1.22

  Ephes, 2.•• & 6, 12
• d 1.23

  Psal. 18, ••
• e 1.24

  Luc, 16 22.23.