Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

Although these two causes s•me great & weighty to a worldly man, whereupon he is moved to fear death, yet there is another cause much greater then any of these afore rehearsed, for which in deed, he hath just cause to fear death: and that is, the state and condition, whereunto at the last end, death bringeth all them that have their hearts fixed upon this world, without repentance and amendment. This state & condition, is called the second death, which, unto all such, shall ensue after this bodily death. And this is that death, which in deed ought to be dread & feared: for it is an everlasting loss without remedy, of the grace & favour of God, and of everlasting joy, pleasure, and felicity. And it is not only the loss for ever of all these eternal pleasures, but also it is the condemnation, both of body & soul, (without either appellation, or hope of redemption) unto everlasting pains in hell. Unto this state death sent the unmerciful and ungodly rich man,¹ (that Luke speaketh of, in his Gospel) who living in all wealth and pleasure in this world, and cherishing himself daily with dainty fare, and gorgeous apparel, despised poor Lazarus, that lay pitifully at his gate, miserably plagued, and full of sores, and also grievously pined with hunger.

Although these twoo causes s•me great & weightie 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 bryngeth 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 euerlastyng 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 (that Luke speaketh of, in his Gospell) who liuyng in all wealthe and pleasure in this worlde, and cherishyng himself daily with daintie fare, and gorgeous apparel, despiced poore Lazarus, that lay pitifully at his gate, miserably plagued, and full of sores, and also greuously pined with hunger.