So, although we have our souls separated from our bodies for a season, yet at the general resurrection, we shall be more fresh, beautiful and perfect, then we be now. For now we be mortal, then we shall be immortal, now infect with divers infirmities, then clearly void of all mortal infirmities: now we be subject to all carnal desires, then we shall be all spiritual, desiring nothing but Gods glory, & things eternal. Thus is this bodily death, a door, or entering unto life, and therefore not so much dreadful, (if it be rightly considered) as it is comfortable, not a mischief, but a remedy of all mischief, no enemy, but a friend, not a cruel tyrant, but a gentle guide, leading us, not to mortality, but to immortality, not to sorrow and pain, but to joy and pleasure, and that to endure for ever, if it be thankfully taken and accepted, as Gods messenger, and patiently borne of us, for Christs love, that suffered most painful death, for our love, to redeem us from death eternal.1 According hereunto, saint Paul sayeth: our life is hid with Christ in God, but when our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory. Why then shall we fear to dye? considering the manifold, and comfortable promises of the Gospel, and of holy scriptures? God the father hath given us everlasting life, (sayeth S. John) & this life in is his son:2 he that hath the son, hath life, & he that hath not the son, ⟨image 57⟩hath not life.3 And this I wrote (sayeth S. John) to you, that believe in the name of the son of God, that you may know, that you have everlasting life, and that you do believe upon the name of the son of God. And our saviour Christ sayeth:4 he that believeth in me, hath life everlasting, and I will raise him from death to life, at the last day.5 Saint Paul also sayeth: that Christ is ordained and made of God, our righteousness, our holiness and redemption, to the intent that he, which will glory, should glory in the Lord. Saint Paul did contemn, and set little by all other things, esteeming them as dung, which before he had in very great price, that he might be found in Christ, to have everlasting life, true holiness, righteousness and redemption. Finally,6 S. Paul maketh a plain argument in this wise:
So, althoughe we haue our soules seperated from our bodyes for a ceason, yet at the general resurreccion, 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 doore, or entrynge vnto lyfe, and therfore not so muche dreadfull, (if it be rightly considered) as it is comfortable, not a mischief, but a remedy of all mischief, no enemy, but a frende, not a cruel tyraūt, but a gētle guide, leadyng vs, not to mortalitie, but to immortalitie, not to sorow and payne, but to ioye and pleasure, and that to endure for euer, if it be thankefully taken and accepted, as Gods messenger, and paciently borne of vs, for Christes loue, that suffered most paynfull death, for oure loue, to redeme vs from death eternall.1 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 feare to dye? consideryng the manifolde, and comfortable 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:2 he that hath the sonne, hath lyfe, & he that hath not ye sonne, ⟨image 57⟩hath not lyfe.3 And this I wrote (saieth S. Ihon) to you, that beleue in ye 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:4 he that beleueth in me, hath lyfe euerlastynge, and I wyll rayse him frō death to lyfe, at the last day.5 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 litle 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,6
- 1Roma. viii.
- 2John. v•.Ihon. v•.
- 3John. vi.Ihon. vi.
- 4John. vi▪Ihon. vi▪
- 5i. Corin. •.
- 6Collos. iii.
