The Institution of Christian Religion

But this is monstrous, that in stead of that desire of death, many §5that boast them selves to be Christians, are so afraid of it, that they tremble at every mention of it, as of a thing betokening unluckily and unhappy. Truly it is no marvel, if natural sease in us do quake for fear when we hear of the dissolving of us. But this is in no wise tolerable, that there be not in a Christian mans breast the light of godliness, that should with greater comfort overcome and suppress that fear, how great soever it be. For if we consider that this unsteadfast, faulty, corruptible, frail, withering, and rotten tabernacle of our body, is therefore dissolved, that it may afterward be restored again into a steadfast, perfect, uncorruptible and heavenly glory: shall not faith compel us fervently to desire that which nature feareth? If we consider that by death we are called home out of banishment, to inhabit our country, yea a heavenly country, shall we obtain no comfort there by? But there is nothing that desireth not to abide continually. I grant, & therefore I affirm, that we ought to look unto the immortality to come, where we may attain a steadfast state that no where appeareth in earth.¹ For Paul doth very well teach, that the faithful ought to go cheerfully to death: not because they would be unclothed, but because they desire to be newly clothed. Shall brute beasts, yea and lifeless creatures, even stocks and stones,² knowing their present vanity, be earnestly bent to looking for the last day of the resurrection, that they may with the children of God be delivered from vanity, and shall we that are endued with the light of wit, and above wit enlightened with the spirit of God, when it standeth upon our being, not lift up our minds beyond this rottenness of earth? But it pertaineth not to my present purpose, nor to this place, to speak against this perverseness. And in the beginning I have already professed, that I would not here take upon me the large handling of common places. I would counsel such fearful minds, to read Cyprian's book of Mortality, unless they were mete to be sent to the Philosophers, that they may begin to be ashamed when they see the contempt of death that those do show.

But this is monstruous, that in stede of that desire of death, manye