Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

Both these two, were arrested of death, which sent Lazarus the poor miserable man by angels anon unto Abraham's bosom: a place of rest, ⟨image 56⟩pleasure and consolation. But the unmerciful rich man, descended down into hell, and being in torments, he cried for comfort, complaining of the intolerable pain that he suffered in that flame of fire, but it was to late. So unto this place, bodily death sendeth all them, that in this world, have their joy and felicity: all them, that in this world, be unfaithful unto God, and uncharitable unto their neighbours, so dying without repentance, & hope of Gods mercy. Wherefore it is no marvel, that the worldly man feareth death, for he hath much more cause so to do, then he himself doeth consider.

Bothe these twoo, were arrested of deathe, whiche sent Lazarus the poore miserable man by aungels anone vnto Abrahams bosome: a place of rest, ⟨image 56⟩pleasure and consolacion. But the vnmerciful richman, descended doune into hel, and beyng in tormē tes, he cried for comforte, complainyng of the intollerable 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 vnfaithfull vnto God, and vncharitable vnto their neighbors, so diyng without repentaūce, & hope of Gods mercie. Wherfore it is no maruaile, that the worldly man feareth death, for he hath muche more cause so to do, then he himself doeth considre.

¹Thus we see three causes, why worldly men fear death. One, because they shall lose thereby, their worldly honours, riches, possessions, and all their hearts desires:² Another, because of the painful diseases, & bitter pangs, which commonly men suffer, either before, or at the time of death: but the chief cause, above all other,