A01278:163
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.
¶A comfort for them that lament the dead.
¶A comforte for them that lamente the deade.
COMMON honesty and charity of our neighbour requireth, that we adorn and worship the burials of our friends, which sleep in the lord, with convenient mourning. But we must not lament and mourn of ungodliness and superstition, as the unfaithful heathen do, which believe not the resurrection of the dead, which know not, that god liveth, and careth for us, although our friends dye. For of them Paul saith:1 We will not brethren that ye should be ignorant of them that ⟨image 99⟩sleep, that ye sorrow not, as other do, which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again: even so them also, which sleep by Jesus, shall god bring with him. Here humanity and the works of mercy are not condemned.2 For Joseph mourned his father, Abraham lamented his wife Sarah: David bewailed Saul. and also certain religious persons buried Steven,3 and made great lamentation upon him. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, are praised, because they buried Christ. Therefore Paul condemneth not moderate mourning and sorrow, which springeth of faithful charity: but he condemn neth the immoderate heathenish sorrow and mourning, as ungodly and superstitious. For the hope ⟨image 100⟩of Christen men is perfectly assured, that the dead perish not, but sleep: