Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

For these causes, be all mortal men, (which be given to the love of this world) both in fear, & state of death,¹ through sin (as the holy apostle saith) so long as they live here in this world. But (everlasting than kes be to almighty God for ever) there is never one of all these causes, no, nor yet they altogether, that can make a true Christian man afraid to dye, (which is the very member of Christ,² the temple of the holy Ghost, the son of God▪ and the very inheritor of the everlasting kingdom of heaven) but plainly ⟨image 56⟩contrary, he conceiveth great and many causes, undoubtedly grounded upon the infallible and everlasting truth of the word of God, which move him, not only to put away the fear of bodily death, but also for the manifold benefits and singular commodities, which ensue unto every faithful person, by reason of the same, to wish, desire, & long heartily for it. For death shall be to him no death at all, but a very deliverance from death, from all pains, cares, and sorrows, miseries, and wretchedness of this world, and the very entry into rest, and a beginning of everlasting joy, a tasting of heavenly pleasures, so great, that neither tongue is able to express, neither eye to see, nor ear to hear them, no, nor for any earthly mans hart to conceive them. So exceeding great benefits they be, which God our heavenly father by his mere mercy, and for the love of his son Jesus Christ, hath laid up in store, and prepared for them, that humbly submit themselves to Gods will, and evermore unfeignedly, love him, from the bottom of their hearts. And we ought to believe, that death being slain by Christ, cannot keep any man, that steadfastly trusteth in Christ, under his perpetual tyranny and subjection, but that he shall rise from death again unto glory, at the last day, appointed by almighty God, like as Christ our head, did rise again, according to Gods appointment, the third day. For saint Augustine sayeth: The head going before, the men bres trust to follow, & come after. And saint Paul sayeth: if Christ be risen from the dead, we shall rise also from the same. And to comfort all Christen ⟨image 57⟩persons herein, holy scripture calleth this bodily death a sleep, wherein mans senses be (as it were) taken, from him, for a season, and yet when he awaketh, he is more fresh, then he was when he went to bed.