A16577:20
A fruitful treatise and full of heavenly consolation against the fear of death Whereunto…A frutefull treatise and ful of heauenly consolation against the feare of death Wherunto…
A fruitful treatise and full of heavenly consolation against the fear of death Whereunto are annexed certain sweet meditations of the kingdom of Christ, of life everlasting, and of the blessed state & felicity of the same. Gathered by that holy martyr of God, John Bradford.A frutefull treatise and ful of heauenly consolation against the feare of death Wherunto are annexed certeine sweet meditations of the kingdom of Christ, of life euerlasting, and of the blessed state & felicitie of the same. Gathered by that holy marter of God, Iohn Bradford.
London : Perused corrected & augmented according to the original, & imprinted in Fletestrete near to saint Dunstons Churche by William Powell, ca. 1564London : Perused corrected & augmented according to the originall, & imprinted in Fletestrete neere to saint Dunstons Churche by William Powell, ca. 1564
¶ A treatise against the fear of death.¶ A treatise 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.
But if this were not also, but that the pleasures of this life were without discommodity, permanent, and without peril (whereof ⟨image 12⟩they be full) yet are they nothing at all to be compared to the commodities of the life to come. What is this earth, heaven, and 1shape of the world, wherein beasts have place, and wicked men God's enemies have abiding and liberty, in comparison of the new heaven and earth, wherein righteousness shall dwell? in comparison of that place where Angels and archangels, and all gods people, yea God him self hath his abiding and dwelling? What is the company of wife, children, &c. in comparison to the company of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, tste Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins and all the saints of God? what is the company of any in this world, in comparison to the ⟨image 12⟩company of the Angels, Archangels, Cherubins, Zeraphins, powers, thrones, dominations: yea of god the father, god the Son, and god the Holy Ghost? What are the riches and pleasures of this life, in comparison of the felicity of everlasting life, which is without all discommodities, perpetual without all peril and jeopardy, without all grief and molestation? Oh the mirth and melody: Oh the honour, and glory: 2Oh the riches and beauty: Oh the power and majesty: Oh the sweetness and dignity of the life to come. The eye hath not seen, the care hath not heard, nor the 3heart of man is not able to conceive in any thing, any part of the eternal felicity, and happy state of heaven. Therefore the ⟨image 13⟩Saints of God have desired so earnestly & so heartily to be there. Oh how amiable are thy tabernacles saith David? My soul 4hath a desire to enter into yt courts of the Lord: my hart and my 5