A03519:134
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.
Now the third and special cause,1 why death in deed is too be feared, is the miserable state of the worldly and ungodly people, after their death: But this is no cause at all, why the godly and faithful people should fear death, but rather contrariwise, their godly conversation in this life, and belief in Christ, cleaving continually to his merits, should make them to long sore after that life, that remaineth for them undoubtedly after this bodily death. Of this immortal state, after this transitory life, where we shall live evermore, in the presence of god, in joy and rest, after victory over all sickness, sorrows, sin, and death: there be many, both plain places of holy scripture, which confirm the weak conscience against the fear of all such dolours, sicknesses, sin and death corporal, to assuage such trembling and ungodly fear, and to encourage us with comfort and hope, of a blessed state after this life. Saint Paul wisheth unto the Ephesians,2 that God the father of glory, would give unto them, the spirit of wisdom and revelation, that the eyes of their hearts might have light to know him, and to perceive, how great things he had called them unto, and how rich inheritance, he hath prepared after this life, for them that pertain unto him.3 And saint Paul himself, declareth the desire of his hart, which was to be dissolved and loosed from his body, and to be with Christ, which (as he said) was much better for him, although to them, it was more necessary, that he should live, which he refused not, for their sakes. Even like as saint Martin said: good Lord, if I be necessary for thy people to do good unto them ⟨image 61⟩I will refuse no labour, but else for mine own self, I beseech the to take my soul.
Now the thirde and speciall cause,1 why death in deede is too be feared, is the miserable state of the worldly and vngodly people, after their death: But this is no cause at all, why the godly and faytheful people should feare death, but rather contrariwise, their godly conuersacion in thys lyfe, and beliefe in Christ, cleauing continually to hys merites, should make them to longe sore after that lyfe, that remayneth for them vndoubtedly after this bodely death. Of this immortall state, after thys transitory lyfe, where we shal liue euermore, in the presence of god, in ioye and reste, after victory ouer all sickenes, sorowes, sinne, and death: there be many, bothe playn places of holy scripture, which confirme the weake conscience agaynst the feare of al suche dolours, sickenesses, synne and death corporal, to asswage such trembling and vngodly feare, and to encourage vs with comforte and hope, of a blessed state after thys life. Sainct Paule wissheth vnto the Ephesians,