I will not say to thee after thou art dead; but even to thee living,
what is thy praise? But only for a secret and politic consideration,
which we call oikonomian or dispensation. For as for that,
that it is the gift of nature, whatsoever is commended in thee,
what might be objected from thence, let that now that we
are upon another consideration be omitted as unseasonable.
That which is fair and goodly, whatsoever it be, and in what respect
soever it be, that it is fair and goodly, it is so of itself,
and terminates in itself, not admitting praise as a part or member:
that therefore which is praised, is not thereby made either
better or worse. This I understand even of those things,
that are commonly called fair and good, as those which are commended
either for the matter itself, or for curious workmanship.
As for that which is truly good, what can it stand in need
of more than either justice or truth ; or more than either
kindness and modesty? Which of all those, either becomes good
or fair, because commended; or dispraised suffers any damage?
Doth the emerald become worse in itself, or more vile
if it be not commended? Doth gold, or ivory, or purple?
Is there anything that doth though never so common, as a knife,
a flower, or a tree?

XVII. If so be that the souls remain after death (say they that will not
believe it); how is the air from all eternity able to contain them?
How is the earth (say I) ever from that time able to Contain the bodies
of them that are buried? For as here the change and resolution
of dead bodies into another kind of subsistence (whatsoever it be;)
makes place for other dead bodies : so the souls after death transferred
into the air, after they have conversed there a while, are either by way
of transmutation, or transfusion, or conflagration, received again into