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From the Homilies.

BOOK I.

HOMILY 2. Of the Misery of all Mankind. HOMILY 3. Of the Salvation of all Mankind. HOMILY 9. An Exhortation against the Fear of Death.

BOOK II.

HOMILY 14. Of the Resurrection, for Easter

Day.

CRANMER'S CATECHISM.

Thirdly, we must believe the resurrection of the flesh; wherefore after the article of the remission of sin followeth next this article: "I believe the rising again of the flesh." For among other punishments for original sin, laid upon Adam and his posterity, we daily see this horrible pain, that the goodly beautiful body of man, created to immortality, must needs once be dissolved by death, and brought to a filthy and stinking corpse and grave, that the tyranny of sin (which so long as we live rageth in our flesh) by our death may cease and have an end, as St.

Paul saith unto the Romans: for by death of the body, cease all the desires, concupiscences, and rages of the mind, which be against the will and commandments of God. There cease also all sins against our neighbour, as ire, envy, lechery, covetousness, pride, and all ill affections and at the last day God shall raise us again from death, so that such infirmities and sins shall no more be found in us, but we shall be pure, spiritual, and immortal, and like to the bright and clear body of Christ. And that we may the more assuredly believe this, both Christ himself rose from death, and many saints also with him.

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KING EDWARD THE SIXTH'S CATECHISM.

Master. The end of the world, holy Scripture calleth the fulfilling and performance of the kingdom and mystery of Christ, and the renewing of all things. For, says the Apostle Peter, (2 Pet. iii.) "We look for a new heaven and a new earth, according to the promise of God: wherein dwelleth righteousness." And it seemeth reason that corruption, unstedfast change, and sin, whereunto the whole world is subject, should at length have an end. Now, by what way, and what fashion of circumstances, these things shall come to pass, I would fain hear thee tell?

Scholar. I will tell you, as well as I can, ac

"The heavens shall pass away like a storm: the elements shall melt away: the earth and all the works therein shall be consumed with fire:" as though he should say, as gold is wont to be fined; so shall the whole world be purified with fire, and be brought to his full perfection. The lesser world, which is man, following the same, shall likewise be delivered from corruption and change. And so for man this greater world (which for his sake was first created) shall at length be renewed: and be clad with another hue, much more pleasant and beautiful.

Mast. What then remaineth?

Scho. The last and general doom. For Christ shall come at whose voice all the dead shall rise again, perfect and sound, both in body and soul. The whole world shall behold him sitting in the royal throne of his majesty and after the examination of every man's conscience, the last sentence shall be pronounced. Then the children of God shall be in perfect possession of that kingdom of freedom from death, and of everlasting life which was prepared for them, before the foundations of the world were laid. And they shall reign with Christ for ever. But the ungodly, that believed not, shall be thrown from thence into everlasting fire, appointed for the devil and his angels.

Mast.

NOWELL'S CATECHISM.

Now rehearse the rest of the Creed. Scho. I believe the resurrection of the flesh and life everlasting.

Mast. Because thou hast touched somewhat of this before in speaking of the last judgment, I will ask thee but a few questions. Whereto or why do we believe these things?

Scho. Although we believe that the souls of men are immortal and everlasting, yet if we should think, that our bodies should by death be utterly destroyed for ever, then must we needs be wholly discouraged; for that, wanting the one part of ourselves, we should never entirely possess perfect joy and immortality. We do therefore certainly believe not only that our souls, when we do depart out of this life, being delivered from the company of our bodies, do by and by fly up pure and whole into heaven by Christ, but also that our bodies shall at length be restored to a better state of life, and joined again to their souls, and so we shall wholly be made perfectly and fully blessed; that is to say, we doubt not that both in our bodies and souls we shall enjoy eternity, immortality, and most blessed life, that shall never in everlasting continuance of time be changed. This hope comforteth us in miseries. Endued with this hope, we not only patiently suffer and bear

the incommodities and cumbrances that light upon us in this life, but also very departure from life and the sorrows of death. For we are thoroughly persuaded that death is not a destruction that endeth and consumeth all things, but a guide for us to heaven, that setteth us in a way of a quiet, easy, blessed, and everlasting life. And therefore gladly and cheerfully we run, yea, we fly out, from the bonds of our bodies, as from a prison, to heaven, as to the common town and city of God and men.

Mast. Doth the believing of these things avail us to any other end?

Scho. We are put in mind that we cumber not nor entangle ourselves with uncertain, transitory, and frail things: that we bend not our eye to earthly glory and felicity; but inhabit this world as strangers, and ever minding our removing : that we long upward for heaven and heavenly things, where we shall in bliss enjoy eternal life.

REFORMATIO LEGUM, &c.

Of Heresies.

Of Masses, and Purgatory. Chap. 10. Strange is the perverseness of some men, who, indeed, expect pardon of their sins, but do not

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