¶ A funerall oratyon made the xiiii day of January by John Hoper the yere of our saluation 1549. vpon the texte wrytyne in the Reuelatyone of Sayncte Johne Ca. 14. ✚ ¶ 1. Thessalo 4. Murne not as other do which haue no hope ¶ I hearde a voice from heauen saying vnto me Writ Blessed are the deade that dye in the Lorde streyght waye so sayth the sprete that they maye reste from there laboures but there workes folowe thē ¶ A Preface to the texte THe death of a mans fredis paynefull for 2. cōsyderatiōs The one because he that lyuethe is forsaken and destytute of the famylyarytye and frendshipe of him that is dead The othere that the lyuynge dowteth where the soul of his frende departed is bycome Whether it be in heauen or in hel Both thys Iles maye be redressed with one gode that is to wyt If he that lyueth be assured by the worde of God that his frende departed is by mortal death entered in Christ in to eternall lyfe But nowe in thys standeth all the dowte How the lyuynge maye know in what state the soules departed stond This dowte can not the Gentyle dissolue the wyse menne of the worlde nor the commone sorte of soche as beareth the name of christianite ¶ Namely for this that they ymagyn there frendes soules to be broiled rosted in the fyre of Purgatory Wherfore euen as they feare they wotte not what so seke they there remedy they know not how Wyth Masse Dirige and such other This paynes by the lyuynge presupposed of the deade who can iustlye reprehende the misbelyuynge lyuyng for the state of the dead that more thē nede is panyth thē selues and more then profyt is redemeth the prayers of other But what may the truethe conclude Is there any certayenty that puttyth al out of dowte oure frendes soules to departe from the earthe strayght vnto eternall lyfe Truly after the iugement of the fleshe there is no suche knoweledge For the fleshe in this case eyther wyll planelye dispayre for the horrour and gretnes of synne or els dowte of the meanes howe it maye be remedyd Onelye therefore the certayntye is knowen by the scrypture of God Gyue therefore hede what in thys case what the worde of god certifieth vs of the deade ¶ I hearde a voyce from heauen sayinge vnto me Write Blessed are the dead that dye in the lord straight waye IN a matter of dowt here beholde the dyuersyte betweyne the learnynge of God and the lerninge of man The lernynge of man wythout iudgement knoweledge and grace wyll compell and force them what lyue to beleue there frendes soules departed to be broyled in Purgatory Desyre thē to giue you a reason why Aunswere haue they none but that ye muste so beleue or els be accompted for an Heretike So that rather they wil force menne wyth dowte to abyde in sorowe then with iugement of Goddes worde happylye to conforte them wyth ioye Blessed therfore be the God of mercy that hathe in thys case put vnto vs an infallyble truethe and doctrine to warraunte the troubled mynd of the liuing for the state of the deade And amonge other places of most certayne trueth here in this place he playnelye sheweth thē to be blessed that die in the lord that is to say Optaine the end that man was created vnto eternal felicite and ioy euerlasting For a proue of the same against reasonne and mānes doctrine Saynt Jhon sayth I harde a voice from heauen As though he had sayde It is so true it can be no waye false for it is from heauen And because it shoulde instructe the afflycted of oure tyme and assertaine vs of the state and condicionne of the deade aswell as it did saint Johne and them of hys tyme and for euer tyll the worldles ende the Aungell byd Sainct Johne wryte the same saying Wryte Blessed are the deade in the Lorde Although al men indifferently wyshe and couete to be blessed aftre there deathe yet all menne come not to the thynge they moste wyshe for Because they lyue contrarye vnto the wyl of God that solie geuethe the blysse eternall as Sayncte Paul sayth Ephe. 5.1 Cor. 6. No fornicatoure couetous man shall haue any heretayge in the kyngedome of Christ and God And as Paul excludeth from heauen the doars of the fruytes of infidelite so doth S. John exclude for infidelite it selfe Joan. 3. He that beleueth not the sonne of God shall se no lyfe but the Ire of God tarieth vpon him True it is then that al men obtaine not thys blyssinge of GOD after death And euen as the places before shewe who shall misse of thys Joyfull felicite so S. Johan in this place sheweth who shall come vnto it saying Blessed are they y t dye in the Lord. They onely therfore be blessed y t dye in the Lorde And seyng a death in the Lord is the gate to eternall life We wyll more at large declare what it is to dye in the Lord. To dye in the Lorde is to dye in the sayeth of Christe whom he sente into y e worlde for the redemptiō therof Joan. 3. which is done when foure thinges is obserued ¶ Fyrst yf the seykeman in hys sekenes call vnto hys remembrance what he hath done all his lyfe tyme against the first seconde table of the Lordes cōmaundementes The seconde if vpon his examination he find his brothere and neyghboure hurt by him in goodes or fame he studye vnfaynedlye to satisfye him as nere as he can again in both The thirde that the seyke man aknowlege vnto the Lorde asmuche as he hath offended agaynst the commaundementes of the fyrste table wyth a detestation of them all The fourth that he aske of god for the death of Christe remission of them all But he that wyl assuredlye truste to optayne this forgeuenes had nede to haue redye and prompte many places of the scripture that sheweth in Christe the father of heauē to remit the syke mannes offences Gene. 3. Esa. 53. Matthew 1.11 Joh. 1.3.4.5 Romano 3.4 1. Johan 1.2 The assurance of faith by grace optayned it is the sekemannes parte and as many as be wyth hym religiouslye to praye for the perseueraunce of the same sayeth And also to hys poure to help the nedefull wyth hys almes that they also may pray to the Lorde for hym Then thus commended hym selfe vnto God Let him commende all his lykewise wyth some exhortation that they diligentlye lyue in the feare of God as the scripture teacheth Gene. 49. Deuter. 31. Josua 23. 3. Re. 2. He that thus dyeth dyeth in the Lorde and therfore blessed as this texte teacheth And as it is taught in y e. 5. of S. John Uerely verely I say vnto you He that heareth my word and beleue in him that sent me hath euerlastinge life and shall not come into iudgemente but passe from death to life He can not dye a wycked death that is blessed sanctifyed in the bloud
denye not but they be blessed but it is in hope to come not wyth present Joye and felicytie for they muste suffre the paynes of purgatorye and so entre the place appoynted To the whyche obiectione S. Johne in thys place ansureth denyeth anye deferrynge of tyme betywyxe the deathe of a Christyane and hys acceptatione into the fruycione of God and sayth by and by not to go fyrste into purgatorye then aftre into heauen And so saythe Chryste hymselfe John 5. The same teacheth vs the parable of Lazarus soule streyghwaye vpō his death that was takē into Abrahams bossome Luc. 16. Where as ye maye learne the state of the soules departed And here S. John sheweth the cause why the soules that dye be not drawen through purgatorye nor passeth through no suche paynes to come to heauen Because sayth he they maye reste from there laboures that is to saye from the paynes dew for synne and from all other myseries of right annexed and layde vpon men for synne If the Christyane soules go into purgatorye they be not quyt from there labours but put vnto more laboures From a hote feuere into a hote fyre frome paynes tollerable to y e paynes y t be as there doctryne saythe as greuouse as the paynes of hell So the deathe of manne were not the ende of hys myseryes but the begynnynge Nether were not deathe as S. Paull saythe 1. Corin. 15. The laste enemye of manne but purgatorye were Nether were it trewe that he sayth Ebre 9. chapt That manne receyueth hys iudgemēt after hys death but after he is fyrste dead and then sufficyently purged in Purgatorye Wherof ye haue no Exāple in the newe Testamente nor in the olde ye haue neyther anye commaundemente to praye for the dead nor yet promyse that God wyll heare youre prayer when ye praye Who taughte you to bryng any religion into the churche of God withoute Goddes commaūdemente and the decrees of the vniuersall churche whyche is the churche of the Patriarches Prophetes and the Apostles whose fayth lyfe deathe and doctryne is oughte to be the grounde and foundacyon of Christiane relygyon as Saynct Paule wryteth Ephe .2 Neyther in the worde of God is there anye more mencyon then of two places y e ryght hād for the good in Christe the lefte hande for the ile Abrahās bosom for the one a place of ioye hel for the other a place of payne Let the aduersaryes of the truethe shewe by the scrypture whyche we esteme ful sufficient to make a perfecte man in all thynges a thyrde place and then we wil as we be bounde geue place vnto thē but sure we be the scripture Canonical which is suffycyent hathe no suche thynge but of this shalbe more spoken here after For in this texte I mene to teach not to dispute Lerne therfore here of S. Jhō to know y t al miseyries endythe wyth the christianes at there death seing the word of god putyth thē in ioy let not vs put them in payne Nor those that y e scryptures saueth let not vs condemne yf the scrypture say they be straight ways blessed y t dye in the lord let vs not putte thē vnder the curse of the painfull fyre of purgatory It is not the part of a good scoler to find fault at his maysters doctrine vntyl such time as he be better learned then hys mayster neyther before he hath or can lerne y e elemētes principles of gods law to ad vnto his masters ruls Nor to better y e thing y t is perfectly good of it self w t any wit of his which is perfectly naught Nor to say his masters doctrin is not sufficiēt whē al y e worlde knoweth the contrary For the best lerned men hath come out of his masters scole yet neuer added neyther diminyshed one iote to y t there masters taught thē Behold y e auncyent stole of the Patriarches Prophetes and the Apostelles whyche lyuyd vertuously and dyed holyly yet neuer added to the soules anye thirde place or paines of fyre but were cōtented with the two places that God had appointed one for the good the other for the Ile Wherefore it is my belyfe that the doctryne that sufficyd them sufficyth vs and the fayth that saued them in Christ sauethe vs. Excepte God be chāged and hath made newe wayes to heauen sence their deathe Eyther they arred and knewe not what was suffycyente to lede to eternall life or these dreamers of Purgatory arre For the one goeth as cōtrary in this article to the other as black is contrarye vnto whyte and the catholycke churche of Christ to the smerm and multytude of Antichriste and asfer from the priuatyue church of the Apostles as goddes worde is from the supersticion of man and the doctryne and life of S. Peter that was but a recorde of Christ and his doctryne Actu 1 from the life and doctryne of Boniface the eyghte whyche is wryten post sextum decretaliū better therfore it is to belyue with Saint Johne and the catholycke churche that the deade be at reste then with the scole of the gentles and multytude of men to iudge them in payne But let vs heare what more the holye ghost sayth vnto S. John Their worckes folow thē By thys texte we learne two thynges Fyrste howe these that dye in the Lord be not nor canne not be hurte by the obloquye and slaunderous reporte of ile spekers Seing the world for the most part accompted the verye christianes of God to be heretikes sedicious persones therfore saith y e holy ghost they depart hence with their owne workes which sayinge shoulde cause vs to beare stronglye the peruerse iudgement of y e world for the iudgemēt of God is iust and iudgeth not after the face but according to the truth Let al vs therfore lament bewail our sinnes past presently begin a better life and here after beware in Christ of the like falle thē let y e world say what it wyl The seconde doctrine here of Saynt Johne repugneth and ouerthrowethe the opynyon of manye ignoraunte and supersticious persones that whyles they yet lyue here them selues passeth lytle what faythe religyon or workes commaundyd by god they do but in the tyme of death they thinke to redeme all their synnes by other mennes workes after deathe with masse pylgrymayge perdones and othere Folyshe be they that sell this abhomynacyon but more foules be the byers seynge Christe ones caste suche sellers oute of the temple But those hathe the Pope and hys receyued in agayne wyth both handes And as Chryste beate them oute wyth scurges So the Pope and his adherences wyth whyppe and fyre betyth as manye as call the people frō thys merchaūdise and no meruel for he is Christes aduersarye Because therefore this erroure hathe so muche auayled in manye mennes conscyens that it is verye diffycyle to remoue it partlye because they that selie waxe ryche by the meanes partlye because the
marchaundyse semeth good to the bier that trustethe to apese the ire of God wyth monye I wyl reherse testymonies of the scripture to proue that no man is the better for an other mannes worckes when he is dead Christe Matthei 25. asketh of the same he gaue hys talentes vnto accompte of the same mā agayne for the vse of hys talentes and there vnto constraynythe eche of his credeatours In the same chapiter sittynge in the last iudgemēt as it were requyrythe accompt of souche workes as were done by them that shalbe iudged whiles they were yet alyue I was an hungred and ye gaue me mete a thyrst and ye gaue me drinke so forth rede the place In the olde testament and in the newe is wryten manye tymes that the iuste God wyll yeue vnto euerye man after hys owne workes So sayth S. Paule Gal. 6. and to the Corinth as he soweth so shall he repe and that saithe he also 2. Corint 5. Euery man shall receaue as he hathe done in hys bodye be it good or Ile And be myndfull of the fyue folyshe virgynes that teache vs how dangerous a thynge it is to truste vnto boughten merites When they were waked out of the slepe to go mete the bridegrome had not oyle sufficient in there lampes they went vnto there marchauntes to bye But in the meane tyme whyles they were agreynge vpon the pryce the gate was shut the miserable virgyns excludyd kept out from the eternall Joys After the same sort men beyng ignoraunt of the truythe of Godes word vsith in the tyme of there sicknes with the vnlerned prystes Whyles the miserable and afflictyd sicke man is crucifyed and tormentyd wyth the fier of hell in hys agony and passion of deathe askyng counsel of his curate when hys curate shuld perswade the sicke man to the restitution of hys neyghbours goodes and fame yf ony suche wronges were commyttyd then perswade him of all myghtye godes mercye in Christe in who is bloud he foryeuethe all offences Gene. 3. Esa. 53. Ephe. 2. and makyth the synner more whitter then the snowe Esa. 1. then the vngodlye Curate settythe forthe hys marchaundes to sale Messes Ryngyng lightes peregrinations wyth other lyke The wreachyd syke man thoughe hys conscience barith hym record these thynges satisfye not nor remouyth the greatnys of hys temptaciō yet seinge he knowyth no better and hath lernyd no farther then the opynyon of man hathe taughte he begynnythe to intreat with the priste vpon the pryce of hys marchaundes and manye tymes before they be fully at apoynt y e byer seller the poore sicke byer dieth and the gate of saluation is shut in and thus for the loste of fayuyd purgatorye that the scripture of God ferith noman with all he fyndyth vnfaynyd hell eternall damnation from whense nether the lyuynge nether the deed cā relese him And thus I wil yet adde incase there were ony Purgatorye yet could not y e soules be delyueryd by these remedys that supersticiō hath prescribyd seinge there remedies for the moste part be blasphemye agaynst God as the Masse a prophanation of the Lordes supper holye water with other souche like other of there remedies be folyshe to be mockyd at as the Ryngynge of belles to ease y e payne of y e deed with other I beseche you all brether in the dere blud of Christe to leaue byinge of Godes grace and the merites of men that cannot meritte inough for themselues Youre owne goodes thus be stowyd shall worke your own damnation Remembre thys sayng of Saynct John There workes folowe them Lyue here after verteuslye that ye maye dye godlye He fyghtithe not manfullye that is brought vp all wayes delicatelye In y e houre of deathe is lyke to be our hardyst assault greatest danger The bocke of oure consciens shalbe openyd The deuyll wyl agrauat yeue al the strenghe he can to our synne and will if god suffre him other extenuat and diminishe the mercye of God or clene cause vs to despere hell then will gape open his mouth vpō vs. Make redy therfore whyl ye haue time for your selfes in y e bloud of Christ and study amendement of lief Besydes y e scripture here what S. August saieth Tract 49. super Jo. Vnusquisque cum causa sua dormit cum causa sua resurget That is Euerye man slepeth wyth hys owne cause and shall ryse wyth hys owne cause In oure sykenes let vs therfore do these 2. thinges reconcile ourselfes to our neyghbours The second lette vs crye vnto the Lorde in Christ saying I beleue remissyon of synne ¶ The conclusyon ¶ If we will not lamente the death of our frends let vs hear rede the scripture diligently that sayeth they be blessed y t dye in the Lord. And we if we purpose to dye wel whyl we be in helth let vs lerne to knowe to feare and to put all our trust in the Lord solye onelye thorough Christe and then in the trance and dangerous agonye of deathe we shall ouercome manfullye and saye rather for our frendes that dye blessed thanked the Lorde who hath vouch saued to take vnto hym hys seruaunte in the bloude of Christ from the miseris of thys worlde and the Iles therof rather then to saye as the moste part of mē doth God haue mercy vpon his soule whych word includeth a verye doute of the state of the deade and more spoken of custome then of knowelege Let vs therfore with the holy ghost say blessed be the dead that dyeth in the Lorde So be it ✚ FINIS ¶ Imprented at London by Edwarde Whitechurch at the signe of the Sonne in flet strete 1549. Cum Priuilegio ad Imprimendum solum