Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 10.

Obj. IS not Buriall a Ministeriall duty?

Ans. The Law of Moses forbad the Ministers thereof,* 1.1 to defile themselves with the dead; and we read not that the Priests did bury any: therefore to make this punctually their, office is against the Scriptures.

Obj. Ought not the dead to be buried in the Church, or Church∣yard?

Ans. Jacob carried not the body of Rachel whom he dearely* 1.2 loved (dying in the way to Mam••••, Gen. 35. 19) to Mamre, where Abraham and Sarah were bur••••••) but buried her in the very way. We see then that it mattereth not (in respect of the dead) where their bodies are laid; so that the superstition of the Papists, and their adherents are hereby reproved, for their trans∣porting of dead bodies from place to place, and coviting to be bu∣ried in one place more then another; for wheresoever the body is laid, we know that Christ wil finde it out in the Resurrection, for then even the Sea shall give up their dead, Rev. 20. 13.

Again, we read that it was the use of the Hebrewes to bury* 1.3 their dead without their Cities, as we may see, Luk. 7. 12. where our Saviour is said to meet the people at the Gate of the City of Naim, carrying a young man to be buried; as also in that Joseph had prepared a Sepulchre for himselfe in his Garden, in which he laid the Body of our Saviour, albeit they had Sinagogues, which had places to bury in, as our Steeple-houses have, and this custome of the Jewes was for a long time used amongst the Hea∣thens;* 1.4 the Papists were the first that buried their dead in Chur∣ches, and Church-yards, (as they call them) and that out of a superstitious conceit to be helped by the prayers of the living, which is without any ground of Scripture; for if they dye in the Lord, they rest from their labour, and their workes follow them; if otherwise, they are in place of torment, from whence there is no returne, where our prayers can doe them no good; but in regard the body being dead, it must be buried by some, and also have a place of buriall; it may as wel be buried by the Priest as the Sexton, who may also make the Grave in the Church-yard, as well as in the Field, or Garden.

And as to the expression used by their Priests (in the act of Buriall) is only a fransick custome of a brain-sick people, as may appeare to the most stupid of men, viz. that they commit the body of the deceased to the ground, &c. In sure and certaine hope of Resurrection unto eternall life through Jesus Christ, who shall change that vile body, and make it like unto his most glorious Body, according to the working by which he is able to subdue all things unto himselfe. Which words doe fully discover their redi∣culous solly, for can it be imagined that the most notorious wretch which ever breathed, (being so buried by them) shall have his resurrection unto eternall life, through our Lord Jesus Christ•• or that his body shall be changed, and made like unto Christs glorious Body, sappeale to any rationall man. What more Bedlam-like madnesse can be expressed, who if they were to have buried Judas, would use the same expressions. I shall for∣beare to aggravate their folly any further in this particular, see∣ing it is so notoriously palpable, as is also the rest of their Litur∣gy, as hath been proved.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of buriall of the dead.
• * 1.2

  It mattereth not in respect of the dead, where the bo∣dies are laid.
• * 1.3

  The Jewes practice in burying their dead.
• * 1.4

  Papists the first who bu∣ried their dead in Churches, &c. and their reasons for it.