A03519:127
Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)
Certain sermons, or homilies appointed by the kings Majesty, to be declared and read, by all persons, vicars, or curates, every Sunday in their churches, where they have cure. Anno 1547.Certayne sermons, or homelies appoynted by the kynges Maiestie, to be declared and redde, by all persones, vicars, or curates, euery Sondaye in their churches, where they haue cure. Anno 1547.
London: printed by Richard Grafton printer to his most royal Majesty, 1547London: printed by Rychard Grafton printer to his moste royall Maiestie, 1547
Title page typeset from the transcription.
¶ An exhortation against the fear of Death.¶ An exhortation agaynst the feare of Death.
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.
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,