¶ The .i. Chapter

HOly scripture makethe mencion of foure maner of deathes and lyues .

1. The firste is called a naturall lyfe , so longe as the soule remayneth with the bodye vpon earth . The naturall death is it that separateth the soule from the body .

2. The seconde is a spirituall vnhappye death here in tyme of lyfe , whan the grace of God , for our wyckednesse sake , is departed from vs : by meanes wherof , we were deed from the Lorde our God , and from all goodnes , allthoughe as yet we haue the lyfe natural . Contrary vnto this , there is a gostly , blessed lyfe , whan we thorowe the grace of the Lorde our God , lyue vnto hym , and to all goodnesse . Ephe. 2. Hereof wryteth Paull , after thys maner : God whych is riche in mercy , thorow hys great loue wherewyth he loued vs , euen whan we were ded in synnes , hath quickened vs together in Christ .

3. The thirde is a gostly , blessed death here in tyme , whan the fleshe , beyng euer the longer the more separated from the spirite , dyeth away from hys own wycked nature . Contrari hereunto , is there a gostli , vnhappy life , whan the fleshe wyth hys wycked disposicion , continuallye breakethe forth and liueth in al wilfulnes . Agaynst thys , doth Paul exhort vs , saying : Collossians : Mortyfye therefore your members whyche are vpon earth : fornicacion , vnclennesse , vnnatural lust , euil concupiscence couetousnes : &c.

4. The fourth , that the scripture maketh mencyon of , is an euerlastyng lyfe & an euerlasting death : Not that the bodi & soule of man , shall after thys tyme lose their substaunce , and be vtterlye nomore . For we beleue vndoubtedly , that our soule is immortal , and that euen thys present body shal arise againe . But forasmuch as we our selues graunt , that life is swete , & death a bitter herbe , thys word ( lyfe ) by a figuratiue speche is vsed for mirth and ioy . Thys worde ( death ) for heuines and sorowe . Therefore eternall lyfe , is called eternall ioye : and eternall death eternall damnacion .

Of these manyfolde deathes , haue we commenlye a peruerse iudgement . We abhorre the death of the body and hast on a pace to the vnhappy gostli death , which yet in it self , is a thousand times more terrible then any death corporall . For whan a man delyteth in hys owne wyckednes , though as yet he lyue vpon the earth , he is neuertheles dead before god , and the soule must continew stil damned for euermore .

In thys boke , my handelynge is of naturall death , which beefore our eyes , semeth to be an vtter destruccion , and that there is no remedy wyth the dead ( euen as whan a dogge or horse dieth ) and that god hath nomor respect vnto them : Yea the world swimmeth ful of such vngodly people as haue none other meanynge . Els doubtles woulde they beehaue themselues otherwyse towardes god . Death vereli is not a destruccion of man , but a delyueraunce of bodi & soule . Where as the soule beeyng of it selfe immortall , dooeth eyther out of the mouth ascende vp into heauen , or els from the mouth descendeth into the pit of hel : The body , losyng hys substaunce tyll domes daye , shall than , by the power of god , bee raysed from death , and ioyned agayne to the soule : that afterwarde the whole man with body and soule , maye eternallye inherite either saluacion , or els damnacyon .

¶ That the time of death is vncertayne . The .2 . Chapter .

THe body of man is a very frayle thyng . Sickenesse maye consume it : wylde beastes may deuoure it : the fyer may burne it : the water maye drowne it : the ayer may infect it : a snare maye choke it : the prickyng of a pynne maye destroye it . Therefore whan hys temporall lyfe shall ende , he can not tell .

The principall cause , why we knowe not the tyme of death , is euen the grace of god : to the intent that we by no occasion , should lynger the amendemente of oure lyues vntill age : but alway feare god , Luke . 12. as though we should dye to morowe .

But assone as the houre commeth , no man shall ouerleape it . Hereof speaketh Iob , Iob. 14. whan he sayeth , that god hath appointed vnto man hys bondes , which he cannot goe beyonde .

¶ That it is God which hath layed the burden of death vpon vs . The .3 . Chapter .

IT becommeth all Christians not only to suffer , but also to commende and praise , the wil of the heauenly Lord & kyng . Now is it hys wyll , that we dye . For if the sparowes , wherof two are bought for a farthing fall not on the grounde without god the father , muche lesse , we men ( whom God hymselfe estemeth to be of more value than many sparowes , yea for whose sakes other thinges were created ) do fal to the ground thorowe death , wythout the wyl of god . Lyke as the souldiour tarieth in the place , wherin he is appointed of the chef captaine to fyght against the enemies , & if he cal him from thence , he willingly obeyeth : Euen so hath the heauenlye captayne set vs vpon earth , Ephesi. 6. where we haue to fyghte , not wyth fleshe and bloude , but wyth wycked spretes . Therefore if he geue vs leue , and call vs from hence , we oughte by reason to obeye hym . Lyke as one shoulde not withdrawe himselfe from payeng what he oweth but gentle to restore the mony : So hath God lent vs thys lyfe , and not promysed that we maye alwaye enioye it . Therfore is death descrybed 〈◊〉 be , the payment of natural debt .

¶ That God sendeth death because of synne . The .4 . Chapter .

ACcordyng hereunto , ponder thou the iuste iudgement of god : For out of the third Chapter of the first boke of Moses , it is euydently perceaued , that death is a penaltye deserued , layed vpon vs al for the punishment of sinne . As the little worme that groweth out of the tree , gnaweth and consumeth the tree , of whom it hath hys begynnyng : So death groweth , waxeth oute of synne , and synne with the body it consumeth And specially that venymous sickenes whiche they cal the pestilence is sente of God as a scourge for the punishment of our naughtynes . Herof speaketh the word of god in the fifth boke of Moises , after thys maner : Deut. 28. If thou wylte not harken vnto the voyce of the Lord thy god , to kepe and to doe all hys commaundementes and ordinaunces , which I commaunde thee thys day : then shal al these curses come vpon thee and ouertake thee : The Lorde shall make the pestilence to cleue vnto thee , vntil he haue consumed thee from the lande , whether thou goest to enioye it . The lord shal smyte the with swelling , with feuers , heat , burning , wetheryng , wyth smyting and blastyng . And they shal folowe thee , tyll thou peryshe .

Yet among the most gracious chasteninges , is the pestilence rekened of the holy Prophete and kyng Dauid ; ● . Reg. 14. c. who ( after that he of a pride , 1. Par. 22. ● . had caused the people to be numbred ) whan the eleccion was geuen him , whether he would rather haue seuen yeares dearth , three monthes ouerthrowe in warre , or three dayes pestylence in the land , made this aunswere , I am in a meruelous strayt . But let me fall I praye thee , into the handes of the lord , for muche is hys mercy : and let me not fall in to the handes of men . 2. reg. 24. 1. Para. 22. Then sent the lord a pestylence into Israel that there died of them .70000 men . Wherefore if god ouertake thee with this horrible disease , be not thou angry with Saturnus and Mars , nor with the corrupt aier and other meanes , appoynted of god : but be displeased with thine own synnefull lyfe . And whan any fearefull ymage of death commeth before thee , remember that thou wyth thy synnes , haste deserued muche more horryble thinges , whych god neuertheles hath not sente vnto thee .

¶ That God turneth death vnto good . The .5 . Chapter .

ALthoughe thou haste deserued an hundreth thousande greater plages , yet shalte thou comforte thy selfe before hande , after thys maner : A father dooth hys children good , and not euil . Now is my beleue in god , as in mi gracious father thorow Iesus christ and sure I am , that Chryste vpon the Crosse , hath made a perfecte payment for all my synnes , and with his death hath taken away the strengthe of my death : Yea for me hath he deserued and broughte to pas , eternall lyfe . Wherefore though death , in the syght of myne eyes , and of naturall reason be bytter and heauy : Yet by meanes of the passyon and death of Iesus Christe , it is not euill , or hurtfull : but a benefyte , a profitable and wholsome thyng : euen an intraunce to euer lastyng ioye .

That death in it selfe is greuous to the bodye and soule . The .6 . Chapter .

WHat grefe and hurte , death doeth bring with it , I wil nowe declare : To the intente that whan we haue considered the same before trouble come , we maye in oure distresse , bee the lesse afrayed , holdyng agaynst it , the greate commodities of death , that Chryste hath obtayned for all faythfull . It greueth a man at hys death to leaue the pleasaunt beholdynge of heauen and earth , hys owne yong bodi and chereful stomack hys wyfe and chyldren , house & lande , feldes and medowes , siluer and golde , honoure and auctoritie , good frendes and olde companions , hys mynstrelsy , pastyme , ioye and pleasure , that he hath had vpon earth .

Afterwarde , whan death knocketh at the dore , then begynneth the greateste trouble to woorke . Whan the diseases be fallen vpon the body of man in greater nomber , they are agaynst al the members in the whole bodi , breaking in bi heapes with notable grefes so that the p●wer of the body is weakened , the mynde combred , the remembraunce astonied , reason blynded , slepe hindred , the senses all to broken . By meanes whereof , the eyes are darkened , the face is pale , the fete are colde the handes blacke , the members out of course , the brow hardened the chynne falleth down , the breth minisheth , the deadlye sweate breaketh out : Yea the whole man is taken in , and disturbed , in suche sort , that he is now past minding of any other thing . Death also is so much the more bytter and terrible , because that the feble discomforted nature , doth print the horrible ymage of death , to depe in it selfe , and feareth it to sore . And hereunto is the deuyl lykewise busi , to set before vs a more terrible euill death , then euer we saw , heard or read of : To the intent that we beyng opprest with such imaginacions or thoughtes should fly and hat● death , and be driuen to the loue and carefulnes of thys lyfe , forgettyng the goodnes of god , and to be founde disobedient at our last ende . Moreouer , whoso of hymselfe is not thorowly assured , & knoweth yet synne by himselfe , he is not astonied for naughte , for asmuche as synne caryeth wyth it the wrathe of god and eternall damnacyon . Now , not only the euill , but also the good , haue greuous and manifolde synnes ( yea moo than they themselues can thinke vpon ) with the which , in daungers of bodye and lyfe , theyr mynd is opprest , as it were wyth a violente water that fearcely rageth and gusheth out : yea euen the same praise worthy and commendable thing which the godly haue practised alreadi , that dooe they yet perceyue , not to be perfect , but myxte wyth vnclennesse . Herof speaketh Esaye in thys wyse : Esa. 64. we offende & haue been euer in synne , and there is not one whole . We are al as an vncleane thyng , & all oure righteousnesses , are as a cloth stayned wyth the flouers of a woman .

Dauyd prayed : Psal. 143. Lorde enter not into iudgemente wyth thy seruaunt , for in thy syght shal no man lyuing be iustified .

Gregory wryteth : wo vnto the commendable life of men , if it be led wythout mercy .

Item the Apostell Peter geueth warnyng : youre aduersarye the deuil goeth about , as aroring lyen , seking whom he may deuour .

If one that is about to shote a gonne , be vnsteady at the letting of it goe , he mysseth all together , and all that he prepared for it afore , is in vayne : Euen so at the ende of thys lyfe , are the deuyls most busy , to turne vs from the ryght marke , that our former trauayle and laboure maye be loste , forasmuche as they knowe that there remayneth but a very small tyme of lyfe . So that if the soule escape them now , they shall afterwarde goe wythoute it for euermore .

Euen as myghtie enemyes do besege and lay assaulte to a citie : So the deuels compace the soule of man wyth violence and subtiltie , to take possession of the pore soule , to apprehende it and bring it to hel . Whan we are yet in prosperitie , the deuils would haue vs to make but a small matter of it , as thoughe we were in no daunger to godwarde , albeit we blaspheme , be dronken and committe whordome , breake wedlocke &c. But in the daunger of death they bryng forth those wycked sinnes in most terrible wyse , putting vs in mynde of the wrath of God , how he in tymes paste here and there dyd punishe and destroye wycked doers : to the intente that our soules might be hindred , snared , shut vp , bounde and kepte in prison , from repentance and faith , and neuer to perceiue any waye how to escape , & to be deliuered : And by reason therof wholye to dispayre , and to beecome the deuils porcion .

Furthermore , good frendes & companyons are loth to departe a sunder , speciallye suche as are new knit and bounde together one to another , as two maryed persons . Now is the bodi and soule nerest of all bounde and coupled one to the other : but in the distresse of death , the payne is so greate , that it breaketh thys vnitie , and parteth the soule from the body : for the whych cause a man at his death doth naturally sygh in him selfe . Good companyons vpon earth , though they departe one from another , haue an hope to come together agayne : But whan the soule ones departeth from the bodi , it hath no power to returne agayne to the body here in thys tyme . Iob. 14. Whereof Iob geueth two similitudes : A tree if it bee cutte down , there is some hope yet , that it will budde and shute forth the braunches agayne . Lykewise the floudes whan they be dryed vp , and the riuers whan thei be emptye , are fylled agayne thorow the flowynge waters of the sea . But whan man slepeth , he risethe not agayne vntill the heauen perysh . Thys vnderstande , that after the commen course , one commeth not agayne in thys presente lyfe : one cannot die twise , and after death cannot a man accomplyshe any more , that he neglected afore tyme .

How goeth it now both wyth the body and soule after death ? Assone as the soule from the body is departed , the body is spoyled of all hys powers , bewtye & senses , and beecome a miserable thynge to loke vpon . Augustyne sayeth : a man that in his life time was exceadyng bewtiful & pleasaunt to embrace , is in death , a terrible thing to beholde . How nobly and preciouslye so euer a man hath lyued vpon earth , hys body yet begynneth to corrupte and stynke , and becommeth wormes meate : by meanes whereof , the worlde is of thys opinion , that the body commeth vtterly to naught for euer . The world also knoweth nothyng concernyng the immortalitie of the soule : & they whiche already beeleue , that the soule is immortall , doubte yet whether it shal be saued . Yea they say plainly : it were good to dy , if one wist what chere he should haue in yonder worlde . To them is death like vnto a misty & darke hole , where one woteth not what wil become vpon hym .

¶ That we al commonly are afrayed of death . The .7 . Chapter .

BY meanes of the occasions aforesayde , certaine heathen men , haue geuen vncomfortable and desperate iudgement , concernyng the passage of death . In the Poet Euripides in oreste , one sayth : It is better to lyue il , then to dye well . Which wordes are very vnchristenli spoken . Yet are there founde ensamples euen of holy men , that they had a natural feare of death . The holy Patriarke Abraham , thinkyng that he stode in daunger of death by reason of his wifes beutie , woulde rather suffer , all that els was exceadyng heuy and bitter . He iudged it a smaler mater , to call hys wyfe hys sister , then to be destroyed hymselfe .

Ezechias an vpright valeaunt kynge , Esay . ● . whan the Prophet tolde hym he shoulde not lyue , was afraide of death , and praied earnestly that his life might bee prolonged . In the newe testament , whan the Lorde Iesus drewe nere to hys passion and death , he swet bloud for very anguishe , and sayd : My soule is heuy euen vnto the death . And thus he prayed : Father , if it be possible , Math. 26. take thys cuppe fro me .

The Lorde sayeth vnto Peter : Verely verely I saye vnto thee : Whan thou wast yonge , Iohn . 21 thou girdedst thy self , and walkedst whither thou wouldst : but whan thou art olde , thou shalt stretche forth thy handes and another shal girde thee , and leade thee whither thou wouldest not . Loe , Peter beeing excellentlye endewed wyth the spirite of God , and stedfaste in fayth , had yet in hys age , a naturall feare of death , for the Lorde said vnto him afore , that another shoulde leade hym whether he woulde not . Therefore wryteth gregory not vnright whan he saith Yf the pilours treble , what shall the bordes doe ? Or if the heauens shake for suche feare , howe wyll that be vnmoued which is vnder That is if famous saynctes dyd feare to dye , it is much lesse to be maruayled at , when we poore Christians are afrayed .

Experience wytnesseth , howe febly we set oure selues againste death . Many an olde ( or otherwise vexed ) man , can neither liue nor dye : for in hys aduersytie , he ofte tymes wysheth death : Note . And whan death approcheth , he would rather suffer what soeuer els vpon earth , if he mighte therebi escape death . Many of vs haue hearde the gospell a long season , and studyed it throughly ( so to say ) : yet are we so afrayed of the death of oure selues and of oure frendes , as though there were none other lyfe more to loke for : euen lyke as thei that be of Sardanapalus sorte , doe imagyn , or els mistrust the promes , comforte and helpe of god ▪ as thoughe he were not able , or would not succour and deliuer vs . Yea some there be , that if death be but spoken of , thei are afrayed at it .

¶ The commoditie of death , whan it delyuereth vs from thys shorte transitorye tyme . The .8 . Chapter .

AL the aforesayd disprofites and grefes , doe iustlye vanyshe , and are nothing estemed , in comparyson of these commodities , whan death deliuereth vs from this ruinous miserable lyfe , from all enormities and vicious people , and conducteth vs to eternall ioye and saluacion : whyche thyng shall hereafter be playnly declared .

Firste , a shorte transitorye and shiftyng lyfe , oughte not to make vs sorye . Though thys lyfe had nothing els but pleasure , what is yet shorter and more in decaye , then the lyfe of man ? Halfe the tyme do we slepe out : Childhode is not perceaued : youth flyeth away so , that a man doth lytle consider it : Age crepeth on vnwares afore it is loked for . We can recken well , that whan children growe , they increase in yeares and daies but properlye to speake , in theyr growyng are theyr dayes mynyshed . For let a man liue thre score or foure score yeares , looke nowe howe muche he hath lyued of the same dayes or yeares , so much is abated of the tyme appoynted .

Is it not now a foli , that a man can consyder whan hys wyne a minisheth in the vessell , A lyuelye similitude . and yet regardeth not howe hys lyfe doth dayly vanyshe awaye ?

Among all thinges , most vndurable and most frayle is mannes lyfe , whyche innumerable waies mai be destroied . Psal. 103. It is compared vnto a candle lyghte , that of the wynde , is soone & easely blowen out . A man in hys tyme is as the grasse , and florysheth as a flouer of the felde . For assone as the wynde goeth ouer it , it is gone .

The heathen Poete Euripides called the lyfe of mortall menne , Dieculam , that is a lytle daye . But the opynyon of Phalerius Demetrius is , that it ought rather to bee called one poynte of thys tyme . Thys similitude soundeth not euyll among Christians , For what is the whole summe of our lyfe , but euen one poynte , in comparyson of the eternitie , that vndoubtedlye foloweth hereafter ? Psal. 90. Dauid hymselfe sayeth that oure yeares passe away sodenli . Man is lyke vnto a thynge of naught : hys tyme goeth awaye as doth a shadowe .

¶ Another commoditie , whan death delyuereth vs from thys miserable tyme . The .9 . Chapter .

OVr desyer is to bee free from all werynes and miserye : Yea the more we consider thys presente wretched lyfe , the lesse feare shal we haue of death which delyuereth vs from all mischaunces and grefes of thys tyme . Heapes of troubles happen vnto vs and vnto other men ( yea to speciall persons and whole nacyons ) in body , soule , estymacyon , goodes , wiues , children , frendes and natiue countryes .

Bodely health is sone lost , but harde to obteyne agayne : And whan it is alreadye gotten , the doubte is , how long it wyll continewe . There bee moe kyndes of diseases , then the beste learned Phisicians dooe knowe : amonge the same , some are so horrible and paynfull , that if one do but heare them named , it maketh hym afraid . As the falling sickenes , the gowte , fransy , the sodayne stroke & such like . Besides sickenes , a man , thorowe out hys whole lyfe , commeth into daunger by a thousande meanes & wayes . Consider wyth how great carefulnes the chylde is caried in the mothers wombe : Mans 〈◊〉 lyfe . how daungerously it is brought forth into the world . The whole chyldehode , what is it els , but a contynual weping and wailyng ? After seuen yeares , the childe hath hys tutours & scholmasters to rule hym , and beat hym wyth roddes : whan he is come to mans stature , all that he suffered in his youth , doth he counte but a smal trauaile , in comparison of it , that he now from henceforth must endure . The old man thynketh , that he caryeth an heauye burthen or mountayne vpon his necke . Therfore weye well the miserable bodye , and the myerie sacke of thy fleshe towardes thy helper : and be not so sore afrayed of death , that easeth thee of thys wretched carcase . Accordynge hereunto is the mynde combered and vexed , thorowe sickenes and grefes of the body , by reason that the body and soule are ioyned together . And how precyous a thyng ( I praye you ) is our naturall reason ? Childhode knoweth nothing concerning it selfe . Younge folkes take vayn and vnprofitable thinges in hand , supposyng all shal bee golde , and consider , neyther age to come , neither yet death : and ( euen as the commen saying is ) thus wyll the world be begiled . Wheras a man , the longer he lyueth , should euer be the more and more wyse , it commeth oft to passe , that the more he groweth in yeares the mor he doteth , and afterwarde becommeth euen a very chylde , yea twyse a chylde .

The disquietnes of mans lyfe . The mynde is tempted , the luste rageth , the hope disceaueth , heuynes vexeth , carefulnes is full of distresse , feare disquieteth : yea the terrour of death is more greuous , then death it selfe . It can not be expressed , howe a man is sometyme plaged wyth worldly fauour : afterward vexeth he himself with care of temporal thinges . Many one marreth himself with vyce and wickednes , getteth him an euil conscience and a gnawing heart .

The vertuous also , haue their blemyshes & temptacions , which vnto them are heuier & more hurtfull , then the blemyshe of the body . Wherfore in the misery of this tyme , thys muste not be estemed the leaste porcion , that we and other folkes doe daylye commytte greuous synnes agaynste God . Whych thyng thorowly to consider , maketh a good hearted parson the more desirous of death , whiche delyuereth vs from thys synfull lyfe . Moreouer , all condicions & estates of men haue their grefes . The grefes of all estates Riches , that wyth great care and trauayle are gathered together & possessed , bee sometyme loste by storme , fyer , water , robberye or theft . He that is in honoure and prosperitie , hath enemyes and euill wyllers . Whoso hath the gouernaunce and rule of mani , must also stande in feare of manye thynges . And what occupacyon or handy crafte can a manne vse , but he hath in it , wherof to complayne ?

Not onely hath a man trouble on hys owne behalfe , but a verye stony stomacke and an yron hart must it be , that is not sory , whan hurte doth happen to hys father and mother , to hys owne wyfe , children , frendes or kynsfolkes .

Furthermore , the vniuersall troubles is manyfolde and pyteous , specially now at this present , wyth noysome diseases , diuisions warres , sedicions , vprours . Like as one water waue foloweth vpon another , and one can scarce auoyde another : Euen so oft times commeth one mischaunce in anothers necke . And in this short life vpon one onely daye to haue no trouble , it is a great aduauntage : therefore ought we to be the lesse sory , whan the time of our deliueraunce approcheth .

Now might one obiect against thys and saye , that thys presente lyfe hath many pleasures and pastymes wythall . Oure troubles moe than ioyes . Neuerthelesse a man must open the other eye also and behold , that in this life there is euer more sorowe then ioye behynd . Worldly ioye is myxte , defiled , spotted and peruerted with sorowe and bitternesse . It maye well begynne in a soroweful matter , to bryng a short fugytiue pleasure , but sodenlye it endeth , to a mans greater heuynesse . Not in vayne doth the wise manne saye : The harte is sorowefull euen in laughter , Prouer. 14. and the ende of myrthe is heuynes .

Philip the kyng of the Macedonians , whan he vpon one daie had receaued thre glad messages ( one , that the victory was hys in the stage playe of Olympus : the seconde , that his captaine parmenio , had wyth one battayle ouer come the Dardanes : the thyrde , that the Quene his wife was delyuered of a sonne : ) he helde vp his handes towardes heauen , and sayed : O ye goddes , I beeseche you , that for so great and manyfolde prosperite , ye wyl poynte me a competent misfortune . The wyse prudent kyng , feared the in constancye of fortune , whych ( as the heathen talke therof ) enuyeth greate prosperite . And therefore hys desyer was , that hys exceadyng well fare myghte be sauced wyth a litle trouble .

Experience it selfe teacheth vs . Where dyd euer one liue the space of a moneth , or one whole day in pleasure and ease so thorowelye , but some what hath offended or hyndred hym ? Therfore earthlye ioye is not so greate , so durable , nor so pure , but that the whole life of man , may wel be called a vale of misery .

Wytnesse / that thys lyfe is miserable . The .10 . Chapter .

TEstimony of the scripture , Iob. 9. man is borne to miseri , as the bird is to fly . Iob. 7. The daies of man are like the daies of an hired seruaunt , euen a breth , & nothing but vain . Loke thorowe the whole booke , called Ecclesiastes , the preacher . Augustyne wryteth : Yf a manne were put to the choysse , that eyther he must die , or els liue again afreshe , and suffer lyke thynges as he had suffered already afore : he would rather dye , specially if he thorowly consider , how many daungers and mischaunces he scarce yet hath escaped .

Whoso now knoweth likewise , that God thorowe death , dooeth make an end of miseri vpon earth : It bryngeth hym greate comfort and ease . Yea he shall rather desier death , then feare it . For euen holi Iob himselfe also , whan he was robbed of hys health , ryches and chyldren , and rebuked of his wife and frendes , wished rather to die then to lyue .

〈◊〉 . 19. Helyas , beeing sure in no place , desyred to dye . Tobias , beeynge stryken wyth blyndenes and misintreated of his wife , praid thus : O lord , deale wyth me according to thy wyll , and commaunde my sprete to be receaued in peace , for more expedient were it for me to dye , then to lyue . If holy men now by reason of their great troubles desyred death : It is no meruayle if we , that are weaker and of more imperfeccion , be werye of this life . Yea an vnspeakeable foly is it , a man to wishe for to continew still in the lyfe of misery , and not to prepare himselfe to another and better lyfe .