A03519:137
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.
It is truth therefore, that the death of the righteous, ⟨image 62⟩is called peace, and the benefit of the Lord, as the Church sayeth in the name of the righteousness departed out of this world:1 My soul turn the to thy rest, for the Lord hath been good to thee, and rewarded thee. And we see by holy scripture, and other ancient Histories of Martyrs, that the holy faithful, and righteous, ever since Christs ascension, in their death did not doubt, but that they went to be with Christ in spirit, which is our life, health, wealth and salvation.2 John in his holy Revelation, saw a .C.xl. and .iiij.M. virgins and innocents, of whom he said: These follow the Lamb Jesus Christ wheresoever he goeth. And shortly after, in the same place he sayeth: I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me: Write, happy and blessed are the dead, which dye in the Lord: from henceforth (surely sayeth the spirit) they shall rest from their pains and labours, for their works do follow them. So that then they shall reap with joy and comfort that, which they sowed with labours and pains. They that sow in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap everlasting life. Let us therefore never be weary of well doing, for when the time of reaping, or reward cometh, we shall reap without any weariness, everlasting joy. Therefore, while we have time (as saint Paul exhorteth us) let us do good to all men,3 & not lay up our treasurers in earth, where rust and moths corrupt it, which rust (as saint James sayeth) shall bear witness against us,4 at the great day, condemn us, and shall (like most burning fire) torment our flesh. Let us beware therefore, (as we tender our own wealth) that we ⟨image 62⟩be not in the number of those miserable covetous men, which, saint James biddeth mourn and lament, for their greedy gathering, and ungodly keeping of goods. Let us be wise in time, and learn to follow the wise example of the wicked Steward. Let us so prudently dispose our goods and possessions, committed unto us here by God for a season, that we may truly hear and obey this commandment of our saviour Christs: I say unto you, (sayeth he) make you friends of the wicked Mammon, that they may receive you, into everlasting tabernacles.