But to Christians, beside these good things, two sorts of especial good things shall assuredly come, howbeit by death and sufferings. Now they also rejoice in that common uncertain hope that the present evil shall end, & the contrary good shall be increased, although they do not so much regard that, as they do that their own proper ⟨p. 49⟩good is increased, which is truth in Christ, wherein they go forward from day to day, for which they both live & hope. 1But beside these I have said that two especial good things shall come unto them in death. The first is, that by death the whole tragedy of the evils of this life is ended, as it is written: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints. And again: I will lay me down, and also sleep in peace. Again: Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. Whereas contrariwise to the wicked death is the beginning of evils, as the Psalmist saith: The death of the wicked is very evil. Again, Evils shall come upon the wicked man in destruction: so Lazarus shall be comforted, who hath suffered his evils here, whereas the rich glutton shall be tormented, who hath here enjoyed his pleasures. So it cometh to pass, that a Christian whether he dye or live, hath always the better: so blessed a thing is it to be a Christian, and to believe in Christ, whereupon Paul saith: Christ is to me life, & death is to me advantage. And Rom. 14. he saith: Whether we live, ⟨p. 50⟩we live unto the Lord: or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lords. This safety Christ hath obtained for us, inasmuch as he dyed and rose again that he might be Lord of the living and dead, being able to make us quiet and safe as well in life as in death, as the 22. Psalm saith: Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. If this commodity of death do little move us, it is a sign that the faith of Christ is weak in us, which doth not sufficiently esteem the treasure and commodity of a good death, or doth not yet believe that death is good, the old man which as yet liveth too much, & the wisdom of the flesh hindering us. We must endeavour therefore that we may know and love this benefit of death.
But to Christians, beside these good things, two sortes of especiall good things shal assuredly come, howbeit by death and sufferinges. Now they also reioyce in that common vncertain hope yt the present euill shall ende, & the contrary good shall be encreased, although they doe not so much regard that, as they doe that their owne proper ⟨p. 49⟩good is increased, which is truth in Christ, wherein they goe forwarde from day to day, for which they both liue & hope. 1But beside these I haue sayd that two especiall good thinges shall come vnto them in deathe. The first is, that by deathe the whole tragedie of the euills of this life is ended, as it is written: Precious in the sight of the Lord is ye death of his Saincts. And againe: I will lay me downe, and also sleepe in peace. Againe: Though the righteous be preuēted with death, yet shal he be in rest. Whereas contrariwise to the wicked death is the beginning of euils, as the Psalmist sayth: The death of the wicked is very euill. Againe, Euils shal come vppon the wicked man in destruction: so Lazarus shall be comforted, who hath suffered his euills here, whereas the riche glutton shall be tormented, who hath here enioyed his pleasures. So it commeth to passe, that a Christian whether he dye or liue, hath alwayes the better: so blessed a thinge is it to be a Christian, and to beleue in Christ, whereupon Paule saith: Christ is to me life, & death is to me aduauntage. And Rom. 14. he sayth: Whether we liue, ⟨p. 50⟩we liue vnto the Lord: or whether we die, we die vnto ye Lord: whether we liue therfore or die, we are the Lordes. This safety Christ hath obtained for vs, inasmuch as he dyed and rose agayne that he might be Lord of the liuing and dead, being able to make vs quiet and safe as well in life as in death, as the 22. Psalme sayth: Though I walke through the valley of the shadow of death, I will feare no euill, for thou art with me. If this commoditie of death doe litle moue vs, it is a signe that the faith of Christ is weake in vs, which doth not sufficiently esteeme the treasure and commoditie of a good death, or doth not yet beleue that death is good, the olde man which as yet liueth too much, & the wisedome of the fleshe hindering vs. We must endeuour therefore that we may know and loue this benefit of death.
- 1Christians receive con fort by consideration of two especial good things to come, where of one is, that by death their afflictions of this life being ended, they shall be in rest and peace.Christians receiue cō fort by consideration of two especiall good thinges to come, wher of one is, that by death their afflictions of this life being ended, they shall be in rest and peace.
