A01278:134
Of the preparation to the cross, and to death and of the comfort under…Of the preparation to the crosse, and to deathe and of the comforte vnder…
Of the preparation to the cross, and to death and of the comfort under the cross and death, two books very fruitful for devout people to read, translated from latin to english, by Richard Tracy.Of the preparation to the crosse, and to deathe and of the comforte vnder the crosse and death, two bokes very fruictefull for deuoute people to rede, translated from latyn to englysshe, by Rycharde Tracy.
Londini : In ædibus Thomæ Bertheleti typis impress. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum, Anno. M.D.XL. 1540Londini : In ædibus Thomæ Bertheleti typis impress. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum, Anno. M.D.XL. 1540
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶The death of the godly, is a sleep. Ca. v.
¶The deathe of the godly, is a slepe. Ca. v.
CHRIST calleth the death of the godly, a sleep. Lazarus our friend sleepeth.1 For by the benefit and goodness of Christ, death is made a sleep, which by his death, hath changed death into a sleep. So Paul doth call the faithful,2 ⟨image 77⟩which be dead, sleepers, saying. I will not you to be ignorant of them, that sleep. So Steven slept.3 And so the godly to the outward sight, and perseverance, dieth. But without doubt that death is but a sleep. For how many so ever dye in Christ, all sleep in him, and he shall raise them in the last day. I have slept, and do slumber,4 and I have risen. Here sleep betokeneth death of the body, as in Genesis, Abram slept with his father.5 I will sleep and rest in peace to god with other. Also, My flesh shall rest in hope. Therefore in death not so much the death it self, as sure life and resurrection, is to be considered to them, which be in Christ, according to Christs saying. He that shall keep my word,6 shall not see death everlasting. ⟨image 78⟩Howe shall he not see death? shall he not feel it? Shall he not dye? no verily, but he shall see only a sleep, and beholding steadfastly with the eyes of faith in the resurrection, by death he shall so pass away, that surely he shall not see death? And death verily to him shall not be death.