Certayne sermons, or homelies appoynted by the kynges Maiestie, to be declared and redde, by all persones, vicars, or curates, euery Sondaye in their churches, where they haue cure. Anno 1547.

¶ An exhortation agaynst the feare of Death.

IT is not to be marueyled, that world∣ly men do feare to dye: For death de∣priueth them of all worldly honors, ri∣ches, and possessions: in the fruition whereof, the worldely man compteth hymself happie, so long as he maye enioye theim at hys awne pleasure: and other wyse, if he be dispos∣sessed of thesame, without hope of recouery, then he can none other thinke of himself, but that he is vn∣happie, because he hath loste hys worldely ioye and pleasure. Alas thinketh this carnall man, shall I now depart for euer, frō all my honors, all my trea∣sures, from my countrey, frendes, riches, possessiōs, and worldly pleasures, whiche are my ioy and har∣tes delight? Alas that euer that daie shal come, whē all these I muste bid farewell at once, and neuer to enioye any of thē after. Wherfore, it is not without greate cause spoken of the wiseman:* 1.1 O death, how bitter and sower is the remembraunce of thee, to a man that liueth in peace, and prosperitie in his sub∣staunce, to a man liuyng at ease, leading his life af∣ter his awne mind, without trouble, & is therwithal well pampered and fed? There be other men, whom this world doth not so greatly laugh vpon, but ra∣ther vexe and oppresse with pouertye, sickenesse, or some other aduersitie: Yet thei do fear death, partly because the fleashe abhorreth naturally his awne so¦rowful dissolucion, whiche death doth threaten vn∣to theim, and partely, by reason of sickenesses, and

paynfull diseases, whiche be moste strong pangues and agonies in the fleshe, and vse commōly to come to sicke men, before death, or at the leaste, accompa∣ny death, whensoeuer it commeth.

Although these twoo causes s••me great & weigh∣tie to a worldly man, wherupō he is moued to feare death, yet there is another cause much greater then any of these afore rehersed, for whiche in dede, he hath iuste cause to feare death: and that is, the state and cōdicion, wherunto at the last ende, death bryn∣geth all them that haue their hartes fixed vpō this world, without repentaunce and amendemēt. This state & condicion, is called the second death, whiche, vnto all suche, shall insue after this bodily deathe. And this is that death, whiche in deede ought to be dread & feared: for it is an euerlasting losse without remedy, of the grace & fauor of God, and of euerla∣styng ioy, pleasure, and felicitie. And it is not onely the losse for euer of all these eternall pleasures, but also it is the condempnacion, both of body & soule, (without either appellaciō, or hope of redempcion) vnto euerlastynge paynes in hell. Unto this state death sent the vnmercyfull and vngodly richeman,* 1.2 (that Luke speaketh of, in his Gospell) who liuyng in all wealthe and pleasure in this worlde, and che∣rishyng himself daily with daintie fare, and gorge∣ous apparel, despiced poore Lazarus, that lay piti∣fully at his gate, miserably plagued, and full of so∣res, and also greuously pined with hunger.

Bothe these twoo, were arrested of deathe, whi∣che sent Lazarus the poore miserable man by aun∣gels anone vnto Abrahams bosome: a place of rest,

pleasure and consolacion. But the vnmerciful rich∣man, descended doune into hel, and beyng in tormē∣tes, he cried for comforte, complainyng of the intol∣lerable payn that he suffered in that flamme of fire, but it was to late. So vnto this place, bodily death sendeth all them, that in this world, haue their ioye and felicite: all them, that in this world, be vnfaith∣full vnto God, and vncharitable vnto their neigh∣bors, so diyng without repentaūce, & hope of Gods mercie. Wherfore it is no maruaile, that the world∣ly man feareth death, for he hath muche more cause so to do, then he himself doeth considre.

* 1.3Thus we se thre causes, why worldly men feare death. One, because thei shal lose therby, their worl∣dely honors, riches, possessions, and all their hartes desires:* 1.4 Another, because of the painfull diseases, & bitter pangues, which commonly men suffre, either before, or at the tyme of death: but the chiefe cause, aboue al other,* 1.5 is the dread of the miserable state, of eternall dampnacion bothe of body and soule, whi∣che they feare, shal folow, after their departyng out of the worldly pleasures of this present life.

For these causes, be all mortall men, (whiche be geuē to the loue of this world) both in feare, & state of death,* 1.6 through syn (as y^e holy apostle saith) so lōg as thei liue here in this world. But (euerlasting thā¦kes be to almighty God for euer) there is neuer one of al these causes, no, nor yet thei altogether, that cā make a true Christian man afraied to dye, (whiche is the very membre of Christe,* 1.7 the temple of the ho∣ly Ghoste, the sonne of God▪ and the very inheritor of the euerlastyng kyngdom of heauen) but plainly

contrary, he conceiueth great and many causes, vn∣doubtedly grounded vpon the infallyble and euer∣lastynge truth of the woorde of God, whiche moue hym, not onely to put away the feare of bodiely de∣ath, but also for the manifolde benefites and singu∣ler commodities, whiche ensue vnto euery faithfull person, by reason of thesame, to wish, desire, & longe hartely for it. For death shall be to hym no death at all, but a very deliueraunce from death, frō all pay∣nes, cares, and sorowes, miseries, and wretchednes of this world, and the very entry into rest, and a be∣ginnyng of euerlastyng ioye, a tastyng of heauenly pleasures, so great, that neither toungue is able to expresse, neither eye to se, nor eare to heare them, no, nor for anye earthly mans hart to conceyue them. So excedinge greate benefites thei be, whiche God our heauenly father by his mere mercye, and for the loue of his sonne Iesus Christe, hathe layed vp in store, and prepared for theim, that humbly submitte themselfes to Gods wil, and euermore vnfainedly, loue him, from the botome of their hartes. And we oughte to beleue, that death beyng slayne by Chri∣ste, cannot kepe any man, that stedfastly trusteth in Christ, vnder his perpetuall tirāny and subiection, but that he shall ryse from death agayne vnto glo∣ry, at the last daye, appoynted by almighty God, ly∣ke as Christ oure head, did ryse agayne, accordinge to Gods appoyntement, the thyrde daye. For sainct Augustine saieth: The head goynge before, the mē∣bres trust to folowe, & come after. And sainct Paule saieth: if Christe be rysen from the dead, we shall ry∣se also from thesame. And to comforte all Christen

persons herein, holye scripture calleth this bodiely death a slepe, wherin mās senses be (as it were) takē, from hym, for a ceason, and yet when he awaketh, he is more freash, then he was when he went to bed. So, althoughe we haue our soules seperated from our bodyes for a ceason, yet at the general resurrec∣cion, we shalbe more freash, beautifull and perfite, then we be now. For now we be mortall, then we shal be immortall, now infect with diuers infirmities, then clerely voyde of all mortall infirmities: now we be subiect to all carnall desyres, then we shalbe al spirituall, desiryng nothynge but Gods glory, & thinges eternal. Thus is this bodiely death, a doo∣re, or entrynge vnto lyfe, and therfore not so muche dreadfull, (if it be rightly considered) as it is com∣fortable, not a mischief, but a remedy of all mischief, no enemy, but a frende, not a cruel tyraūt, but a gēt∣le guide, leadyng vs, not to mortalitie, but to im∣mortalitie, not to sorow and payne, but to ioye and pleasure, and that to endure for euer, if it be than∣kefully taken and accepted, as Gods messenger, and paciently borne of vs, for Christes loue, that suffe∣red most paynfull death, for oure loue, to redeme vs from death eternall.* 1.8 Accordynge hereunto, saincte Paule saieth: our lyfe is hidde with Christ in God, but when our lyfe shall appere, then shall we also appere with hym in glorye. Why then shall we fea∣re to dye? consideryng the manifolde, and comforta∣ble promises of the Gospell, and of holy scriptures? God the father hath geuen vs euerlastynge lyfe, (saieth S. Ihon) & thys lyfe in is hys sonne:* 1.9 he that hath the sonne, hath lyfe, & he that hath not y^e sonne,

hath not lyfe.* 1.10 And this I wrote (saieth S. Ihon) to you, that beleue in y^e name of the sonne of God, that you maye knowe, that you haue euerlastynge lyfe, and that you do beleue vpō the name of the sonne of God. And our sauior Christ sayeth:* 1.11 he that beleueth in me, hath lyfe euerlastynge, and I wyll rayse him frō death to lyfe, at the last day.* 1.12 Sainct Paule also sayeth: that Christe is ordeyned and made of God, oure righteousnes, our holynes and redemption, to the entent that he, which wyll glory, should glory in the Lorde. Sainct Paule did contemne, and set lit∣le by all other thynges, estemynge them as dunge, whiche before he had in very greate pryce, that he might be found in Christ, to haue euerlasting lyfe, true holynes, righteousnes and redēpcion. Finally,* 1.13 S. Paule maketh a playne argument in this wise: If our heauenly father woulde not spare his awne naturall sonne, but dyd geue hym to death for vs, how can it be, that with him he shoulde not geue vs all thynges? Therfore, if we haue Christ, then haue we with him, and by him, all good thinges, whatso∣euer we can in our hartes wish or desire: as victorie ouer death, sinne and hel: we haue the fauor of God, peace wyth hym, holynes, wysedome, iustice, power, lyfe, and redempcion: we haue by hym, perpetuall health, wealth, ioye, and blysse euerlastynge.

All those therefore, haue great cause to be full of ioye, that be ioyned to Christ with true faythe, sted∣fast hope, and perfyt charitie, and not to feare death nor euerlastynge dampnacion. For deathe cānot de∣priue them of Iesu Christ, nor any sinne can cōdem∣pne them, y^t are graffed surely in him, which is their

onely ioy, treasure, and lyfe. Let vs repent our syn∣nes, amend our lyfes, trust in hys mercy and satis∣faction, and death can neyther take hym from vs, nor vs from hym. For then, (as s. Paul saieth) whe∣ther we lyue or dye,* 1.14 we be the Lordes awne. And agayne he sayeth: Christ did dye, and rose agayne, because he should be Lord, both of the dead & quic∣ke. Then if we be the Lordes awne, when we be de∣ad, it must nedes folowe, that suche temporall dea∣the, not onely cānot harme vs, but also, that it shall muche be to our profit, and ioyne vs vnto God, mo∣re perfectly: And thereof the christian hart may su∣rely be certified by the infallible truth of holye scri∣pture. It is God (sayeth sainct Paule) which hath prepared vs vnto immortalitie, and thesame is he, which hath geuen vs an earnest of the spirite. Ther∣fore let vs be alwaies of good comforte, for we kno∣we, that so longe as we be in the body, we be (as it were) farre from God in a straunge countrey, sub∣iect to many perils, walkyng without perfite sigh∣te, and knowledge of almighty God, onely seynge hym by faythe, in holy scriptures. But we haue a courage & desire, rather to be at home with God and oure sauior Christe, farre from the body, where we maye behold hys Godhead, as he is, face to face, to oure euerlastyng comfort. These be saincte Paules wordes in effecte, wherby we may perceyue, that the lyfe in this world, is resembled to a pilgrimage, in a straunge countrie far frome God:* 1.15 and that death, deliuerynge vs from our bodyes, doth sende vs straight home, into our awne countrey, and maketh vs to dwell presently with God for euer, in perpe∣tuall

rest and quietnesse. So that to dye is no losse, but profite and winnynge to all true christē people.

What lost the thefe, that hanged on the crosse with Christ by hys bodiely death? Yea, how much dyd he gayne by it?* 1.16 Did not our sauiour say vnto hym, thys daye thou shalt be with me in Paradyse? And Lazarus, that pitifull person,* 1.17 that lay before y^e richemans gate, payned with sores, and pined with hungre, did not death highlye profite and promote hym? Which by the ministery of Aungels, sent hym vnto Abrahās bosome, a place of rest, ioye and hea∣uenly consolacion? Let vs thinke none other, (good christen people) but Christ hath prepared thesame ioye, and felicitie for vs, that he prepared for Laza∣rus & the thefe. Wherfore, let vs sticke vnto his sal¦uacion, and gracious redempcion: and beleue hys worde, serue hym frō our hartes, loue & obeye hym, and whatsoeuer we haue done heretofore contrarye to hys moste holy wyll, now let vs repent in tyme, and hereafter study to correct our lyfe, & doubt not, but we shall finde hym as mercifull vnto vs, as he was either to Lazarus, or to y^e thefe: whose exāples are written in holy scripture, for the comfort of thē, that be sinners, and subiecte to sorowes, miseries, & calamities in this worlde, that thei shoulde not de∣spayre in Gods mercy, but euer truste, therby to ha∣ue forgiuenesse of their synnes, & lyfe euerlastinge, as Lazarus and the thefe had. Thus I trust euery christen man, perceyueth by the infallible woorde of God, that bodiely death cannot harme nor hinder theim, that truly beleue in Christ, but contrary shal profit & promote the christen soules, whiche beynge

truly penitēt for their offences, departe hēce in per∣fect charitie, and in sure truste, that God is merci∣full to thē, forgiuinge theyr synnes, for the merites of Iesus Christe, hys onely naturall sonne.

* 1.18The seconde cause, why some do feare death, is sore sickenesse, and greuous paynes, whiche partly, come before death, and partely, accompayneth de∣athe, whensoeuer it cometh. This feare, is the fea∣re of the frayle fleashe, and a naturall passion, be∣longinge vnto the nature of a mortall man. But true fayth, in Gods promyses, and regarde of the paynes and pangues, whiche Christe vpon the crosse suffered for vs miserable synners, with con∣sideracion of the ioye, and euerlastyng lyfe to come in heauen, wil mitigate those paynes, and modera∣te thys feare, y^t it shall neuer be able to ouerthrowe the hartie desire, and gladnesse, that the christian soule hath to be seperated from thys corrupt body, that it maye come to the gracious presence, of our sauiour Iesus Christ. If we beleue stedfastly the woorde of god, we shal perceyue, that suche bodiely sickenesse, pangues of death, or whatsoeuer dolo∣rous paynes we suffre, either before or with death, be nothynge els in Christē mē, but the rodde of our heauenly and louynge father, wherwith he merci∣fully correcteth vs, either to trie and declare the faythe of hys pacient chyldren, that they maye be founde laudable, glorious, and honorable in hys sight, when Iesus Christ shalbe openly shewed, to be the Iudge of al the worlde: or els to chastise, and amende in them, whatsoeuer offendeth hys father∣ly and gracious goodnesse, lest they shoulde pery∣she

euerlastingly. And this hys correctynge rodde, is common to all them, that be truly hys. Therfo∣re let vs caste away the burden of synne, that lyeth so heuye in our neckes, and returne vnto God, by true penaunce, and amendemente of our lyfes. Let vs with paciēce runne thys course that is appoyn∣ted, sufferyng (for hys sake that dyed for our salua∣cion) al sorowes and pangues of death, and death it selfe ioyfully, when God sendeth it to vs, hauynge our eyes fixed euer vpon the heade, and capitayn of our fayth, Iesus Christe: Who (considerynge the ioye, that he shoulde come vnto) cared neyther for the shame, nor payne of deathe, but willingly, con∣formyng hys wyll to hys fathers wyll, moste paci∣ently suffered the moste shamefull and paynefull deathe of the crosse, beyng innocent.* 1.19 And now ther∣fore, he is exalted in heauen, and euerlastingly sit∣teth on the rigtht hande of the throne of God the fa¦ther. Let vs call to our remembraunce therfore, the lyfe and ioyes of heauen, that are kepte for al them, that paciently doo suffre here with Christe: and cō∣sider, that Christe suffered all hys paynfull passion, by synners, and for synners, and then we shall with pacience, and the more easyly, suffre suche soro∣wes and paynes, when they come. Let vs not set at light, the chastisinge of the Lorde, nor grudge at hym, nor fall from hym, when of hym we be correc∣ted: for the Lorde loueth them, whom he doth cor∣recte, and beateth euery one, whom he taketh to be hys chylde. What chylde is that, (saieth saincte Paule) whome the father loueth,* 1.20 and doth not cha∣stice? If ye be without Gods correctiō (which al hys

welbeloued and true children haue) then be you but bastardes, finally regarded of God, & not hys true chyldren.

Therfore, seynge that whē we haue in earth our carnall fathers to be our correctors, we do feare them, and reuerently take their correction, shall we not much more be in subieccion to God our spiri∣tuall father, by whome we shall haue eternal lyfe? And our carnall fathers some tyme correct vs, euen as pleaseth thē, without cause: but this father, iuste∣ly correcteth vs, either for our synne, to the intēt we should amende, or for our commoditie & wealthe, to make vs therby partakers of his holynesse. Fur∣thermore, all correction, whiche God sendeth vs in thys present tyme, semeth to haue no ioye and com∣forte, but sorowe and payne: Yet it bringeth with it a taste of Gods mercye and goodnes towardes thē, that be so corrected, & a sure hope of Godes euerla∣styng consolacion in heauē. If then these sorowes, diseases, and sickenesses, and also death it selfe, be nothyng els, but our heauenly fathers rod, wherby he certifieth vs of hys loue & gracious fauor, wher∣by he trieth and purifieth vs, wherby he geueth vn∣to vs holynesse, & certifieth vs, that we be hys chil∣dren, and he our mercifull father: shall not we then, with all humilitie, as obedyent & louyng chyldren, ioyfully kysse our heauenly fathers rod, and euer saye in oure harte, with oure sauior Iesus Christe: Father, if this āguishe and sorowe wich I fele, and death,* 1.21 which I se approche, maye not passe, but that thy wyll is, that I muste suffre them, thy wyll be done.

Now the thirde and speciall cause,* 1.22 why death in deede is too be feared, is the miserable state of the worldly and vngodly people, after their death: But this is no cause at all, why the godly and faytheful people should feare death, but rather contrariwise, their godly conuersacion in thys lyfe, and beliefe in Christ, cleauing continually to hys merites, should make them to longe sore after that lyfe, that remay∣neth for them vndoubtedly after this bodely death. Of this immortall state, after thys transitory lyfe, where we shal liue euermore, in the presence of god, in ioye and reste, after victory ouer all sickenes, so∣rowes, sinne, and death: there be many, bothe playn places of holy scripture, which confirme the weake conscience agaynst the feare of al suche dolours, sic∣kenesses, synne and death corporal, to asswage such trembling and vngodly feare, and to encourage vs with comforte and hope, of a blessed state after thys life. Sainct Paule wissheth vnto the Ephesians,* 1.23 y^t God the father of glory, woulde geue vnto theim, y^e spirite of wisedome and reuelacion, that the eyes of their hartes might haue light to knowe him, and to perceyue, how great thinges he had called thē vnto, and how riche inheritaunce, he hath prepared after this life, for thē that perteyne vnto hym.* 1.24 And sainct Paul himself, declareth the desire of his hart, which was to be dissolued and losed frō hys body, and to be with Christ, which (as he sayde) was much better for him, althoughe to them, it was more necessary, y^t he should liue, which he refused not, for their sakes. Euen like as sainct Martyn sayde: good Lorde, if I be necessary for thy people to do good vnto them

I will refuse no labor, but els for myne awne selfe, I beseche the to take my soule.

Now, the holy fathers of the olde lawe, and all faythful and righteous men, which departed before our sauior Christes ascencion into heauen, dyd by death, departe from troubles vnto rest, frō the han∣des of theyr enemies into y^e hādes of God, frō soro∣wes & sickenesses vnto ioyful refreashing into Abra¦hās bosome, a place of al cōfort & cōsolaciō, as scri∣ptures do plainly by manifest wordes testifie. The boke of Wisedō saith:* 1.25 y^t the righteous mens soules be in the hand of God, & no torment shal touche thē. They semed to the eyes of folishe men to dye, and their death was cōpted miserable, and theyr depar∣ting out of this worlde, wretched, but thei be in rest. And another place saieth: that the righteous shall liue for euer, and their rewarde is with the Lorde, & their myndes be with God, who is aboue al. Ther∣fore they shall receyue a glorious kyngdome, and a beautifull croune, at the Lordes hand. And in ano∣ther place,* 1.26 thesame boke saieth: y^e righteous, though he be preuented with sodain death, neuerthelesse he shalbe there, where he shalbe refreshed. Of Abrahās bosome, Christes wordes be so playne, that a christē man nedeth no more profe of it. Now then, if thys were y^e state of y^e holy fathers & righteous mē, before the cōminge of our sauior, and before he was glori∣fied, how much more then, oughte all wee to haue a stedfast faith, & a sure hope of this blessed state & cō∣dicion, after our death? Seynge that oure sauior, now hath perfourmed the whole worke of oure re∣dempcion, and is gloriously ascended into heauen,

to prepare oure dwellinge places with hym, & saied vnto hys father: Father, I will that where I am,* 1.27 my seruauntes shalbe with me. And we knowe, that whatsoeuer Christe wyll, hys father will the same: wherfore it cannot be, but if we be his faythfull ser∣uauntes, our soules shalbe with hym, after oure de∣partynge out of this present life. Sainct Stephin,* 1.28 when he was stoned to death, euen in the middest of hys tormentes, what was hys mynde moste vpon? When he was full of the holy Ghoste, (sayeth holye scripture) hauynge hys eyes lifted vp into heauen, he sawe the glory of God, and Iesus standinge on the righte hande of God. The which truth, after he had confessed boldely before the enemies of Christ, they drewe hym oute of the citie, and there they sto∣ned hym, who cried vnto God saiynge: Lorde Iesu Christe, take my spirite. And doeth not oure sauior saye playnely in saincte Ihons Gospel? Uerely,* 1.29 ve∣rely, I saye vnto you, he that heareth my woorde & beleueth on hym y^t sente me, hath euerlastynge lyfe, and commeth not into iudgemēt, but shall passe frō death to lyfe. Shall we not then thinke that death to be precious, by the whiche we passe vnto lyfe? Therfore it is a true saiynge of the Prophete:* 1.30 the death of the holy and righteous mē, is precious in the Lordes sighte. Holy Simeon, after that he had hys hartes desire, in seynge oure sauior that he euer longed for all hys lyfe, he embraced hym in his ar∣mes, and sayde: Now Lord, let me departe in peace,* 1.31 for myne eyes haue beholdē that sauior, which thou haste prepared for all nacions.

It is truthe therefore, that the death of the righ∣teous,

is called peace, and the benefite of the Lord, as the Church saieth in y^e name of the righteousnes departed out of this world:* 1.32 My soule turne the to thy rest, for the Lorde hath bene good to the, and re∣warded the. And we se by holy scripture, and other auncient Histories of Martyrs, that the holy faith∣full, and righteous, euer syns Christes ascencion, in their death did not doubte, but that they went to be with Christe in spirite, whiche is oure lyfe, healthe, wealth and saluacion.* 1.33 Ihon in his holy Reuelaciō, saw a .C.xl. and .iiij.M. virgins and innocentes, of whome he saide: These folow the Lābe Iesu Christ wheresoeuer he goeth. And shortly after, in thesame place he saieth: I heard a voyce frō heauen, saiyng vnto me: Write, happye and blessed are the dead, whiche dye in the Lorde: from hencefurthe (surelye saieth the syirite) they shall reste from theyr paynes and labours, for their woorkes do folow them. So that then they shall reape with ioye and comforte that, whiche they sowed with labors and paynes. They that sowe in the spirit, of the spirit shall reape euerlastynge lyfe. Let vs therefore neuer be wery of well doynge, for when the tyme of reapynge, or re∣ward commeth, we shal reape without any werines, euerlastynge ioye. Therfore, whyle we haue time (as saincte Paule exhorteth vs) let vs doo good to all men,* 1.34 & not lay vp our treasurers in earth, where ruste and mothes corrupt it, whiche ruste (as sainct Iames saieth) shall beare witnes against vs,* 1.35 at the great daye, condempne vs, and shal (like most bren∣nynge fyre) tormente oure fleashe. Let vs beware therefore, (as we tendre oure awne wealthe) that we

be not in the numbre of those miserable coueteous men, whiche, sainct Iames biddeth mourne and la∣ment, for their gredy gatherynge, and vngodly ke∣pynge of goodes. Let vs be wise in time, and learne to folowe the wise example of the wicked Stuarde. Let vs so prudently dispose oure goodes and pos∣sessions, committed vnto vs here by God for a cea∣son, that we maye truely heare and obeye this com∣maundement of oure sauior Christes: I saye vnto you, (sayeth he) make you frendes of the wicked Mammon, that they maye receiue you, into euerla∣stynge tabernacles. Ryches, he calleth wicked,* 1.36 be∣cause the worlde abuseth them vnto all wickednes, which are otherwise the good gifte of God, and the instrumentes, whereby Gods seruauntes do truely serue hym, in vsynge of thesame. He commaunded them not, to make them ryche frendes, to get hyghe dignities, and worldly possessiōs, to geue great gif∣tes to ryche men, that haue no neede thereof, but to make theim frendes of poore and miserable men: vnto whome, whatsoeuer they geue, Christe accep∣teth it, as geuen to hymselfe. And to these frendes, Christe in the Gospell geueth so greate honor and preeminence, that he sayeth: they shall receyue theyr benefactors, into euerlastynge houses: Not that men shalbe oure rewarders, for our well doyng, but that Christ will rewarde vs, and take it to be done vnto hymselfe, whatsoeuer is doone to suche fren∣des.

Thus makynge poore wretches oure frendes, we make oure sauioure Christe oure frende, whose membres they are, whose miserie, as he taketh for

hys awne misery, so theyr reliefe, succour and helpe, he taketh for hys succoure, reliefe, and helpe, and will asmuche thanke vs and rewarde vs for oure goodnes shewed to them, as if he him selfe had re∣ceyued lyke benefite at oure handes, as he witnes∣seth in the Gospell, saiynge: Whatsoeuer ye haue done to any of these symple persones,* 1.37 whiche do be∣leue in me, that haue ye doen to my selfe. Therfo∣re let vs diligently forese, that our fayth and hope, whiche we haue conceyued in almightie God, and in oure sauioure Christe, waxe not faynte, nor that the loue whiche we pretende to beare to hym, waxe not coulde: but let vs studye dayly and diligently to shewe oure selfes to be the true honorers and lo∣uers of God, by kepynge of his commaundemētes, by doyng of good dedes vnto our nedy neighbors, releuynge by all meanes that we can, their pouertye with our abundaunce, their ignoraunce with oure wisedome and learnynge, and comforte their wea∣kenesse, with oure strength and aucthoritie: calling all men backe from euill doynge, by Godly coun∣sayll and good example, perseuerynge styll in well doynge so longe as we lyue. So shall we not nede to feare death, for any of those three causes afore mencioned, nor yet for any other cause that can be imagined. But contrary, consideryng the manifold sickenesses, troubles & sorowes of this present lyfe, the daungers of this perilous pilgrimage, and the greate encombraunce, whiche oure spirite hath by thys synful fleshe and frayle body subiect to death: considerynge also the manifolde sorowes and daū∣gerous deceiptes of this world on euery side, the in∣tollerable

pride, coueteousnes, and lechery in tyme of prosperitie, the impacient murmurynge of them that be worldly in tyme of aduersitie, whiche cease not to withdrawe and plucke vs from God oure sa∣uioure Christe, from oure life, wealth, or eternal ioy and saluacion: considerynge also the innumerable assaultes, of oure Ghostly enemy the deuill, with al his fiery dartes of ambicion, pryde, lechery, vain∣glory, enuie, malice, detractiō, with other hys innu∣merable deceiptes, engines and snares, whereby he goeth busely aboute to catche al men vnder his do∣minion, euer lyke a roreynge Lyon,* 1.38 by all meanes searchynge whome he maye deuoure: the faythfull Christian man, which considereth al these miseries, perilles and incommodities, (whereunto he is sub∣iecte, so longe as he here liueth vpon earthe) and on the other part, considereth that blessed and comfor∣table state of the heauēly lyfe to come, and the swete condicion of them, that departe in the Lorde, howe they are deliuered from the continuall encombraū∣ces of their mortall and synfull bodye, from all the malice, craftes and deceiptes of this world, from al the assaultes of their ghostly enemy the deuil, to liue in peace, reste and perpetuall quietnes, to liue in the felowship of innumerable Aungelles, and with the congregacion of perfecte iuste mē, as Patriarches, Prophetes, Martyrs and Confessors: and finally, vnto the presence of almighty God, and oure sauior Iesus Christe. He that doeth consider all these thin∣ges, and beleueth theim assuredly, as they are to be beleued, euen from the botome of his harte, beynge established in God, in thys true faythe, hauynge a

quiete conscience in Christe, a firme hope, and assu∣red trust in Gods mercy, through the merites of Ie¦su Christe, to obteyne thys quietnes, reste and eter∣nall ioye: shal not onely be without feare of bodiely deathe, when it commeth, but certainlye (as saincte Paule did) so shall he gladly (accordynge to Gods will,* 1.39 and when it pleaseth God to call hym oute of thys lyfe) greately desyre in hys harte, that he maye be rid from al these occasions of euil, and liue euer to Gods pleasure, in perfecte obedi∣ence of hys will, with our sauior Ie∣sus Christe: to whose gracious presence, the Lorde of hys infinitie mercye and grace, brynge vs to reigne with hym, in lyfe euerlastynge. To whome, with oure heauenly father, and the holy Ghoste, be glorye in worl∣des without ende. AMEN.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eccle▪ xli.
• * 1.2

  Luke. xvi,
• * 1.3

  The firste.
• * 1.4

  The seconde
• * 1.5

  The thirde
• * 1.6

  Hebre. ii.
• * 1.7

  i. Corin. iii.
• * 1.8

  Roma. viii.
• * 1.9

  Ihon. v••.
• * 1.10

  Ihon. vi.
• * 1.11

  Ihon. vi▪
• * 1.12

  i. Corin. ••.
• * 1.13

  Collos. iii.
• * 1.14

  Roma. xiiii.
• * 1.15

  Hebre. xiii.
• * 1.16

  Luke. xxiii.
• * 1.17

  Luke. xvi.
• * 1.18

  The seconde cause, why some do fea∣re death.
• * 1.19

  Philip. ii▪
• * 1.20

  Hebre. xii.
• * 1.21

  Mat. xxvi.
• * 1.22

  The thyrde cause why death is to be feared.
• * 1.23

  Ephe. i.
• * 1.24

  Phil. i.
• * 1.25

  Sapien. iii.
• * 1.26

  Sapien. iiii.
• * 1.27

  Ihon. xvii.
• * 1.28

  Actes. vii.
• * 1.29

  Ihon▪ v▪
• * 1.30

  Psalm. ••xvi.
• * 1.31

  Luke. ii.
• * 1.32

  Psalm. cxiiii.
• * 1.33

  Apoc. xiiii.
• * 1.34

  Galat vi. Matth. vi.
• * 1.35

  Iames. v.
• * 1.36

  Luke. xvi.
• * 1.37

  Matth. xxv.
• * 1.38

  i. Pet. v.
• * 1.39

  Phil. i.