¶ A funeral oration made the xiiii. day of January by John Hoper, the year of our salvation, 1549. upon the text wrytyne in the Revelatyone of saint Johne. Ca 14.  
. ✚.  ¶ 1. Thessalo. 4. 
mourn not as other do which have no hope.   
¶ I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me. Writ, Blessed are the dead, that die in the Lord, straight way, so saith the spirit: that they may rest from there labours, but there works follow them. 
¶ A Preface to the text.  
THe death of a man's fredis painful for 2. considerations. The one, because he that liveth is forsaken and destitute of the familiarity and friendship of him that is dead. The other, that the living doubteth, where the soul of his friend departed is become. Whether it be in heaven or in hell. Both this Isles, may be redressed with one good, that is to wit: If he that liveth be assured, by the word of God that his friend departed, is by mortal death entered in Christ in to eternal life. But now in this standeth all the dowte. How the living may know in what state the souls departed stand. This doubt can not the gentle dissolve, the wise men of the world, nor the commone sort of such as beareth the name of Christianity.  
¶ Namely for this: that they imagine there friends souls, to be broiled & roasted in the fire of Purgatory. Wherefore even as they fear they wot not what: so seek they there remedy they know not how. With Mass, Dirige and such other. This pains (by the living) presupposed of the dead: who can justly reprehend the misbelyving living for the state of the dead, that more than need is panyth themselves, and more than profit is: redeemeth the prayers of other. But what may the truth conclude. Is there any certayenty that putteth all out of doubt, our friends souls to depart from the earth, straight unto eternal life. Truly after the judgement of the flesh, there is no such knowledge. For the flesh in this case, either will planelye despair for the horror and greatness of sin: or else doubt of the means how it may be remedied. Only therefore the certainty is known by the scripture of God. give therefore heed what in this case what the word of god certifieth us of the dead.   


¶ I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me: Writ. Blessed are the dead that die in the lord strait way.  
IN a matter of doubt, here behold the diversity betweyne the learning of God, and the learning of man. The learning of man without judgement, knowledge, and grace: will compel and force them what live to believe there friends souls departed to be broiled in Purgatory. Desire them to give you a reason why? Answer have they none, but that ye must so believe, or else be accounted for an Heretic. So that rather they will force men with doubt to abide in sorrow: then with judgement of God's word happylye to comfort them with joy. Blessed therefore, be the God of mercy that hath in this case, put unto us an infallible truth and doctrine to warrant the troubled mind of the living for the state of the dead. And among other places of most certain truth, here in this place he plainly showeth them to be blessed that die in the lord: that is to say: obtain the end that man was created unto eternal felicity and joy everlasting. For a prove of the same against reason and man's doctrine. Saint John saith: I hard a voice from heaven. As though he had said. It is so true: it can be no way false, for it is from heaven. And because it should instruct the afflicted of our time and ascertain us of the state and condicionne of the dead, aswell as it did saint Johne, and them of his time, and for ever till the worldles end: the Angel bid Saint Johne write the same, saying: Write. Blessed are the dead in the Lord. Although all men indifferently wish and covet to be blessed after there death yet all men come not to the thing they most wish for. Because they live contrary unto the will of God that solely giveth the bliss eternal, as saint Paul saith Ephe. 5.1. Cor. 6. No fornicatoure, covetous man shall have any heretayge in the kingdom of Christ, and God. And as Paul excludeth from heaven the doars of the fruits of infidelity, so doth S. John exclude for infidelity itself. Joan. 3. He that believeth not the son of God, shall see no life, but the Ire of God tarrieth upon him. True it is then, that all men obtain not this blyssinge of GOD after death. And even as the places before show who shall miss of this Joyful felicity: so S. Johan, in this place showeth who shall come unto it, saying: Blessed are they that die in the Lord. They only therefore be blessed that die in the Lord. And seeing a death in the Lord is the gate to eternal life: We will more at large declare what it is to die in the Lord. To die in the Lord is to die in the sayeth of Christ, whom he sent into the world for the redemption thereof. Joan. 3. which is done when four things is observed.  
¶ first if the seykeman in his sickness call unto his remembrance what he hath done all his life time against the first & second table of the lords commandments. The second if upon his examination he find his brother and neighbour hurt by him in goods, or fame, he study unfeignedly to satisfy him as near as he can again in both. The third, that the seyke man acknowledge unto the Lord, asmuch as he hath offended against the commandments of the first table: with a detestation of them all. The fourth, that he ask of god for the death of Christ remission of them all. But he that will assuredly trust to obtain this forgiveness, had need to have ready and prompt, many places of the scripture, that showeth in Christ, the father of heaven to remit the sick man's 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 obtained: it is the sekemannes' part, and as many as be with him, religiously to pray, for the perseverance of the same sayeth. And also to his power, to help the needful with his alms, that they also may pray to the Lord for him. Then thus commended himself unto God, Let him commend all his likewise with some exhortation that they diligently live in the fear of God as the scripture teacheth. Gene. 49. Deuter. 31. Josua. 23. 3. Re. 2. He that thus dieth, dieth in the Lord, and therefore blessed as this text teacheth. And as it is taught in the .5. of S. John. verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believe in him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but pass from death to life. He can not die a wicked death that is blessed & sanctified in the blood of Christ. As he must needs be, that in his seykenes seeketh health by this medicine prescribed by S. John. That by four words helpeth the greatest and damigerouse desperation, If credit and faith be given unto them. The first word is: I hard a voice. The second: from heaven. The third: Write, The fourth: Blessed be the dead that dieth in the Lord. If ye learn it well, it shall not only make you blessed at the hour of death: But also moderate the sorrows & mournings (which otherwise) ye shall suffer while yelyve here, for your friends that die. Likewise it shall assuyre you of the state and condition of your friends departed that they have the favour and presence of God. And better at ease in heaven with God, than ye be in the earth with men. Learn to die well therefore, by this lesson, ye mortal men. And leave not the medicine prescribed and taught by God the father, made and tempered with the blood of Christ, ministered in to the soul of man by the holy ghost, brought from heaven by an Angel, written upon and to the people of the earth by holy saint John. For the medicines appointed by man, as Mass, Dirige, Peregrinations, Pardons, other men's merits when ye be gone, Tryntalles, anniversaries, Invocation, & prayers of and to saints departed, Auriculare confession, and such other men's inventions which cannot ease nor quiet the conscience of the poor sekemanne.  
But the more of this trysles is promised unto the conscience of the afflicted man, the more wretched creature he desireth. As your conscience shall know at the time and hour of your sickness and danger. And then shall ye feel when all other things be to little, that the precious blood of Christ is enough and where as without doubt your own conscience shall bare you record (do you and all other men for you whatsoever may be done) ye are culpable and worthy death everlasting.  
So shall Christ's spirit if he be in you by faith bayre record with your spirit, that year for Christ's sake only, the heirs of eternal life. This is the only way to quiet every trouble and afflicted conscience in the day of death. As Saint John sayeth, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. But saying the devil can not bare this doctrine, A man to be saved in Christ, for the promise of God's sake: He goeth about to persuade this word of God to be false that sayeth: He that dieth in the Lord is blessed. And so with the most part of men he subverteth this Godly consolation. Ether he maketh the sick to despair of his salvation for the greatness of his sin: Ether causeth him to seek unsufficient and unlawful means to remove his sins. And that you and I be subject unto this temptation: Read Mathewe. .27. Luke. 23. And see what the devil adventured to persuade unto Christ himself. And would have borne him in hand he was not the son of God: nether that God caryde for him seeing he suffered his enemies thus to prevail against him. And the same temptationne he burdened the holy prophet David with all, Psal. 3. If he could object and bourdeyn the son of God with arguments that he could not be blessed that died in the lord: How much more doth he, ye or may he: not only suade & attempt, but also persuade & overcome our miserable and weak conditions: I'll prepared God knoweth of a thousand sorttes of temptationne to sustain of them the lest. Wherefore learn by time, or time deceive you, how to live without time, of none ye may learn so well as by the life and death and also the doctrine of the Patryarkis, Prophets, Christ, & the Apostles. Whose example if ye follow not here: in case hereaftre ye never come where they be, thank yourselves. And that ye take upon you to use another remedies (yea and as many men sayeth better) to warrant & stand at the time of death against the tyranny of sign, hell, the devil and the world. If after your departure from hens it be worse with you than it is with them: blame none but yourselves. And the better blame worthy be ye, so many times admonyshede, yet not a deal the better. Juge other men as they list, thus I believe. He that dieth as an Apostle, shall hereaftre live like an apostle. And he that believeth as an Apostle, shallbe saved like an Apostle. understand what I say. It is of their doctrine & sufficient learning that I speak of, which is fully & sufficiently able to lead a man in to all truth. 2. Tymo. 3. Augu. lib. confess. 6. Cap. 5. If any Counsale general, or provincial: If any learning of man could show you, how better to live, & more godly to die, than the writings of the Prophets, and the Apostles in whose writings ye have aplate both of there life, & also of there death. I would comede it unto you. But you know, there is none. saying ye be this persuaded of them, & allow so much there holiness & name: dyseable not there doctrine lest peradventure those that ye now account to be your friends: here after shallbe testes and records of your Just damnation, because ye commend there name and persecute there blood in such as offeryth you there doctrine. The ignorancy of this true doctrine to teach men to live and die well, hath brought in that false & untrue opinion of feigned purgatory. The which induced four great Iles. The first, it causeth the death of a man's friend to be more painful. The second it abolisheth one of the chief artykles of our e belief. Which is, I believe the remission of sin. The third is that it brought the works and deservings of men into greater estymatione than the merits of Christ.  
The fourth: it causeth men to live in a greater security, & liberty of life: Because there opynione is, that there friends doings for them after death: shall help to there salvation.  
Beware therefore of this doctrine of purgatory as of a most pestilent I'll, and seeing all our salvation resteth in this that we die in the Lord: whiles we be in health, let us learn this doctrine well, and exercise the same. It is not a Christians part to sleep in sin as an I'll soldier till the trump blow. Nether yet to provide for weapon till his enemy be upon him. But to have it ready that it serve as time and necessity requireth. And so we be admonished to do by the horrible example of the five foolish virgins, in the .25. chap. of S. Matthew. that neglecting there own bound duty to know and live well, and trusting to the help of others were shut out of the joy eternal. For whiles they were a buying other men's merits they lost there own salvation.  
The adversaries of the truth doth use to object against this doctrine of God, that such as die in the Lord should straightway be blessed with him in heaven, & say we deny not but they be blessed: but it is in hope to come & not with present joy and felicity for they must suffer the pains of purgatory and so entre the place appointed. To the which obiectione S. Johne, in this place ansureth, & denieth any deferring of time betywyxe the death of a Christyane and his acceptatione into the fruycione of God, and saith by and by not to go first into purgatory & then after into heaven. And so saith christ himself. John. 5. The same teacheth us the parable of Lazarus soul streyghwaye upon his death that was taken into Abraham's bosom. Luc. 16. Where as ye may learn the state of the souls departed. And here S. John, showeth the cause why the souls that die be not drawn through purgatory nor passeth through no such pains to come to heaven.  
Because saith he they may rest from there labours, that is to say from the pains dew for sin, and from all other miseries of right annexed and laid upon men for sin. If the Christyane souls go into purgatory they be not quit from there labours but put unto more labours. From a hot fever into a hot fire, from pains tolerable, to the pains that be (as there doctrine saith) as grievous as the pains of hell. So the death of man were not the end of his miseries, but the beginning. Nether were not death as S. Paul saith. 1. Corin. 15. The last enemy of man, but purgatory were. Nether were it true that he saith: Ebre. 9 chapped. That man receiveth his judgement after his death: but after he is first dead, and then sufficiently purged in purgatory.  
Whereof ye have no Example in the new Testament nor in the old: ye have neither any commandment to pray for the dead, nor yet promise that God will hear your prayer, when ye pray. Who taught you to bring any religion into the church of God without God's commandment, and the decrees of the universal church, which is the church of the patriarchs, Prophets and the Apostles, whose faith, life, death and doctrine is & ought to be, the ground and foundation of Christian religion, as saint Paul writeth Ephe. 2. Neither in the word of God is there any more mention then of two places, the right hand for the good in Christ: the left hand for the i'll. Abraham's bosom for the one a place of joy, hell for the other a place of pain. Let the adversaries of the truth show by the scripture (which we esteem full sufficient to make a perfect man in all things) a third place, and then we will as we be bound give place unto them, but sure we be, the scripture Canonical which is sufficient hath no such thing: but of this shallbe more spoken here after. For in this text I mean to teach & not to dispute. Learn therefore here of S. Jhon to know that all miseyries endythe with the Christians, at there death, & seeing the word of god putyth them in joy, let not us put them in pain. Nor those that the scriptures saveth, let not us condemn: if the scripture say they be strait ways blessed that die in the lord; let us not put them under the curse of the painful fire of purgatory. It is not the part of a good scholar to find fault at his masters doctrine, until such time as he be better learned then his master, neither before he hath or can, learn the elements & principles of gods law: to add unto his master's rules Nor to better the thing that is perfectly good of itself with any wit of his, which is perfectly nought Nor to say his master's doctrine is not sufficient: when all the world knoweth the contrary. For the best learned men hath come out of his master's school: & yet never added neither diminished one jot to that there masters taught them. Behold the ancient stole of the patriarchs, Prophets, and the apostles which lived virtuously, and died holily: yet never added to the souls any third place, or pains of fire, but were contented with the two places that God had appointed, one for the good, the other for the I. Wherefore it is my belief that the doctrine that sufficed them, sufficyth us and the faith that saved them in Christ saveth us. Except God be changed, and hath made new ways to heaven sense their death. Either they arred, and knew not what was sufficient to lead to eternal life: or these dreamers of Purgatory are. For the one goeth as contrary in this article, to the other, as black is contrary unto white: and the catholic church of Christ, to the smerm and multitude of Antichrist, and asfer from the privative church of the Apostles, as god's word is, from the superstition of man, and the doctrine and life of S. Peter (that was but a record of Christ, and his doctrine. Actu. 1) from the life and doctrine of Boniface the eight, which is written post sextum decretalium: better therefore it is to believe with Saint Johne, and the catholic church, that the dead be at rest: then with the school of the gentles and multitude of men to judge them in pain. But let us hear what more the holy ghost saith unto S. John.   

Their works follow them.  
By this text we learn two things. first, how these that die in the Lord be not, nor can not be hurt by the obloquy and slanderous report of isle speakers. Seeing the world for the most part accounted the very Christians of God to be heretics, & seditious persons therefore saith the holy ghost, they depart hence with their own works: which saying should cause us to bear strongly the perverse judgement of the world for the judgement of God is just, and judgeth not after the face, but according to the truth. Let all us therefore lament & bewail our sins past, presently begin a better life, and here after beware in Christ of the like fall, them let the world say what it will.  
The second doctrine here, of Saint Johne repugneth and overthroweth the opinion of many ignorant and superstitious persons that whiles they yet live here themselves, passeth little, what faith, religion, or works commanded by god they do, but in the time of death they think to redeem all their sins by other men's works after death: with mass, pylgrymayge, pardons and other. foolish be they that sell this abomination, but more fowls be the buyers saying Christ once cast such sellers out of the temple. But those hath the Pope and his received in again with both hands. And as christ beat them out with scourges: So the Pope and his adherences with whip and fire beateth as many as call the people from this merchandise, and no marvel, for he is Christ's adversary. Because therefore this error hath so much availed in many men's conscience, that it is very diffycyle to remove it (partly because they that silly, wax rich by the means, partly because the merchandise seemeth good to the bier, that trusteth to appease the ire of God with money) I will rehearse testimonies of the scripture to prove that no man is the better for an other man's works, when he is dead. Christ Matthei. 25. asketh of the same he gave his talentes unto, account of the same man again, for the use of his talentes and there unto constraynythe each of his credeatours. In the same chapter sitting in the last judgement as it were, requyrythe account of such works as were done by them that shallbe judged whiles they were yet alive. I was an hungered and ye gave me meet, a thirst and ye gave me drink: & so forth, read the place. In the old testament and in the new is written many times that the just God will give unto every man after his own works. So saith S. Paul Gal. 6. and to the Corinth. as he soweth so shall he reap, and that saith he also. 2. Corint. 5. Every man shall receive as he hath done in his body be it good, or Ille. And be mindful of the five foolish virgins that teach us how dangerous a thing it is to trust unto boughten merits. When they were waked out of the sleep to go meet the bridegroom, & had not oil sufficient in there lamps, they went unto there merchants to buy. But in the mean time whiles they were agreeing upon the price the gate was shut, & the miserable virgins excluded, & kept out from the eternal Joys. After the same sort men being ignorant of the truth of Gods word useth in the time of there sickness with the unlearned priests. Whiles the miserable and afflicted sick man is crucified and tormented with the fire of hell in his agony and passion of death asking counsel of his curate, when his curate should persuade the sick man to the restitution of his neighbours goods and fame, if any such wrongs were committed, & then persuade him of all mighty gods mercy in Christ, in who is blood he foryevethe all offences Gene. 3. Esa. 53. Ephe. 2. and maketh the sinner more whitter than the snow. Esa. 1. then the ungodly Curate settythe forth his marchaundes to sale: Messes, ringing, lights, peregrinations, with other like. The wretched sick man though his conscience beareth him record these things satisfy not, nor removyth the greatness of his temptation yet seeing he knoweth no better, and hath learned no farther than the opinion of man hath taught: he begynnythe to entreat with the priest upon the price of his marchaundes and many times before they be fully at appoint the bier & seller: the poor sick bier dieth, and the gate of salvation is shut in, and thus for the lost of fayvyd purgatory that the scripture of God ferith noman with all, he fyndyth unfeigned hell (eternal damnation) from whence nether the living, nether the deed can release him. And thus I will yet add in case there were any purgatory, yet could not the souls be delivered by these remedies that superstition hath prescribed seeing there remedies for the most part be blasphemy against God: as the Mass a profanation of the lords supper, holy water with other such like: & other of there remedies be foolish, & to be mocked at, as the ringing of bells to ease the pain of the deed with other. I beseech you all brother in the dear blood of Christ to leave buying of Gods grace, and the merits of men that cannot merit enough for themselves. your own goods thus be stowyd, shall work your own damnation. Remember this saying of saint John. There works follow them. Live here after verteuslye that ye may die godly. He fyghtithe not manfully, that is brought up all ways delicately. In the hour of death is like to be our hardyst assault & greatest danger. The bocke of our consciens shallbe opened. The devil will agravat & give all the strength he can to our sin and will (if god suffer him) other extenuat and diminish the mercy of God, or clean cause us to despere: hell then will gape & open his mouth upon us. Make ready therefore while ye have time for yourselves in the blood of Christ and study amendment of lief. Besides the scripture here what S. August. saith. Tract. 49. super Jo. unusquisque cum causa sua dormit, & cum causa sua resurget. That is. Every man sleepeth with his own cause, and shall rise with his own cause. In our sickness let us therefore do these. 2. things, reconcile ourselves to our neighbours. The second, let us cry unto the Lord in Christ saying: I believe remission of sin.   

¶ The conclusion.  
¶ If we will not lament the death of our friends, let us hear & read the scripture diligently that sayeth: they be blessed that die in the Lord. And we, if we purpose to die well: while we be in health let us learn to know, to fear, and to put all our trust in the Lord solely & only through Christ, and then in the trance and dangerous agony of death we shall overcome manfully, and say rather for our friends that die, blessed & thanked the Lord who hath vouch saved to take unto him his servant in the blood of Christ from the miseris of this world and the Isles thereof: rather then to say (as the most part of men doth) God have mercy upon his soul, which word includeth a very doubt of the state of the dead, and more spoken of custom, then of knowledge. Let us therefore with the holy ghost say, blessed be the dead, that dieth in the Lord. So be it.  
✚   
FINIS.   

¶ imprinted at London by Edward Whitechurch at the sign of the Son in flet street 1549.  
Cum Privilegio ad Imprimendum solum.