The second cause why

some do fear death.

Heb. xii. 1-11.

Thus I trust every Christian man perceiveth by the infallible (or undeceivable) word of God, that bodily death cannot harm nor hinder them that truly believe in Christ, but contrary shall profit and promote the Christian souls which, being truly penitent for their offences, depart hence in perfect charity, and in sure trust that God is merciful to them, forgiving their sins for the merits of Jesus Christ his only natural Son.

The second cause why some do fear death is sore sickness and grievous pains, which partly come before death, and partly accompanieth (or cometh with) death, whensoever it cometh. This fear is the fear of the frail flesh, and a natural passion belonging unto the nature of a mortal man. But true faith in God's promises, and regard of the pains and pangs which Christ upon the cross suffered for us miserable sinners, with consideration of the joy and everlasting life to come in heaven, will mitigate and assuage less those pains, and moderate (or bring into a mean) this fear, that it shall never be able to overthrow the hearty desire and gladness that the Christian soul hath to be separated from this corrupt body, that it may come to the gracious presence of our Saviour Jesus Christ. If we believe steadfastly the word of God, we shall perceive that such bodily sickness, pangs of death, or whatsoever dolorous pains we suffer either before or with death, be nothing else in Christian men but the rod of our heavenly and loving Father; wherewith he mercifully correcteth us, either to try and declare the faith of his patient children, that they may be found laudable, glorious, and honourable in his sight, when Jesus Christ shall be openly shewed to be the Judge of all the world, or else to chasten and amend in them whatsoever offendeth his fatherly and gracious goodness, lest they should perish everlastingly. And this his correcting rod is common to all them that be truly his.

Therefore let us cast away the burden of sin that

lieth so heary in our necks, and return unto God
by true penance and amendment of our lives. Let
us with patience run this course that is appointed;
suffering, for his sake that died for our salvation,
all sorrows and pangs of death, and death itself
joyfully, when God sendeth it to us; having our
eyes fixed and set fast ever upon the Head and
Captain of our faith, Jesus Christ; who, considering
the joy that he should come unto, cared neither for the
shame nor pain of death, but willingly conforming
and framing his will to his Father's will, most pa-
tiently suffered the most shameful and painful death

of the

cross, being innocent and harmless; and now Phil. i. g. therefore he is exalted in heaven, and everlastingly sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God the Father. Let us call to our remembrance therefore the life and joys of heaven, that are kept for all them that patiently do suffer here with Christ; and consider that Christ suffered all his painful passion by sinners, and for sinners; and then we shall with patience, and the more easily, suffer such sorrows and pains when they come. Let us not set at light the chastising of the Lord; nor grudge at him, nor fall from him, when of him we be corrected: for the Lord loveth them whom he doth correct, and beateth every one whom he taketh to be his child. What child is that, saith St. Paul, whom the father loveth, and doth not chastise? If ye be without God's correction, which all his well beloved and true children have, then be you but bastards, smally regarded of God, and not his true children. Therefore, seeing that, when we have in earth our carnal fathers to be our correctors, we do fear them and reverently take their correction, shall we not much more be in subjection to God our spiritual Father, by whom we shall have everlasting life? And our carnal fathers sometime correct us, even as pleaseth them, without cause: but this Father justly correcteth us, either for our sin, to the intent we should amend, or for our commodity and wealth, to make us thereby partakers of his holiness. Furthermore, all correction which God sendeth us in this

present time seemeth to have no joy and comfort, but sorrow and pain; yet it bringeth with it a taste of God's mercy and goodness towards them that be so corrected, and a sure hope of God's everlasting consolation in heaven.

If then these sorrows, diseases, and sicknesses, and also death itself, be nothing else but our heavenly Father's rod, whereby he certifieth us of his love and gracious favour, whereby he trieth and purifieth us, whereby he giveth unto us holiness, and certifieth us that we be his children, and he our merciful Father; shall not we then with all 1 Pet. i. 14. humility, as obedient and loving children, joyfully kiss our heavenly Father's rod, and ever say in our Matt.xxvi.42. heart with our Saviour Jesus Christ, Father, if this anguish and sorrow which I feel, and death, which I see approach, may not pass, but that thy will is that I must suffer them, thy will be done?"

The third

feared.

THE THIRD PART OF THE SERMON OF THE
FEAR OF DEATH.

In this Sermon against the Fear of Death two
causes were declared, which commonly move worldly
men to be in much fear to die; and yet the same
do nothing trouble the faithful and good livers when
death cometh, but rather giveth them occasion
greatly to rejoice, considering that they shall be
delivered from the sorrow and misery of this world,
and be brought to the great joy and felicity of the

life to come.

Now the third and special cause why death incause why be deed is to 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 bodily death, to assuage such trembling and ungodly fear, and to encourage us with comfort and hope of a blessed state after this life. St. Paul wisheth unto the Ephesians that God the Father of Ephes. 1. glory would give unto them the spirit of wisdom and 17,18. 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. And St. Paul himself declareth the desire of his heart, which was to be dissolved Phil. i. 23-26. 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 St. Martin said, "Good Lord, if I be necessary for thy people, to do good unto them, I will refuse no labour: but else, for mine own self, I beseech thee to take my soul."

Now the holy fathers of the old Law, and all faithful and righteous men which departed before our Saviour Christ's ascension into heaven, did by death depart from troubles unto rest, from the hands of their enemies into the hands of God, from sorrows and sicknesses unto joyful refreshing, into Abraham's bosom, a place of all comfort and consolation; as Scriptures do plainly by manifest words testify. The Book of Wisdom saith that Wisd. iii. 1-3. the righteous men's souls be in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed to the eyes of foolish men to die; and their death was counted miserable, and their departing out of this world wretched: but they be in rest. And another place saith that the righteous shall live for ever, and Ibid. v.15,16.

their reward is with the Lord, and their minds be with God, who is above all: therefore they shall receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown at the Lord's hand. And in another place the same Wisd. iv. 7. Book saith, The righteous, though he be prevented with sudden death, nevertheless he shall be there where he shall be refreshed. Of Abraham's bosom Christ's words be so plain that a Christian man needeth no more proof of it.

Luke xvi. 22-25.

John xiv. 2, 3: xvii. 24;

xii. 26.

Acts vii. 55-59.

Now then, if this were the state of the holy fathers and righteous men before the coming of our Saviour, and before he was glorified, how much more then ought all we to have a steadfast faith and a sure hope of this blessed state and condition after our death; seeing that our Saviour now hath performed the whole work of our redemption, and is gloriously ascended into heaven, to prepare our dwellingplaces with him, and said unto his Father, Father, I will that where I am my servants shall be with me. And we know that, whatsoever Christ will, his Father will the same: wherefore it cannot be but, if we be his faithful servants, our souls shall be with him after our departing out of this present life.

St. Stephen, when he was stoned to death, even in the midst of his torments, what was his mind most upon? When he was full of the Holy Ghost, saith holy Scripture, having his eyes lifted up into heaven, he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. The which truth after he had confessed boldly before the enemies of Christ, they drew him out of the city, and there they stoned him; who cried unto God, saying, Lord Jesu Christ, take my spirit. And doth not our Saviour say John v. 24. plainly in St. John's Gospel, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and cometh not into judgment, but shall pass from death to life? Shall we not then think that death to be precious, by the which we pass unto life? Therefore it is a Ps. cxvi. 15. true saying of the Prophet, The death of the holy