..as part of a wider effort to reform a church led by an often corrupt and ignorant clergy, Cranmer had produced a book of twelve Homilies. Every parish in the land was required to own them, and every parish priest to preach them. The ninth of these homilies is entitled: An Exhortation Against The Fear Of Death. Cranmer outlines three reasons why men fear to die: a fear at losing worldly honours, a fear of the suffering and pain that attends dying, and the \u201d\u02dcchief cause\u2019 of fear, namely, \u201d\u02dcthe dread of the miserable state of damnation\u2019. He then goes on,<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is never a one of all these causes\u201d\u00a6 that can make a true Christian man afraid to die, but plainly contrary, he conceives great and many causes undoubtedly grounded upon the infallible and everlasting truth of the Word of God, which moves him not only to put away the fear of bodily death, but also (for the manifold benefits and singular commodities which ensues to every faithful person by reason of the same) to wish, desire, and long heartily for it. For death shall be to him no death at all, but a very deliverance from death, from all pains, cares and sorrows, miseries, and wretchedness of this world, and the very entry into rest, and a beginning of everlasting joy\u201d\u00a6 And we ought to believe that death being slain by Christ cannot keep any man that steadfastly trust in Christ under his perpetual tyranny and subjection\u201d\u00a6\u201d\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
But there is a large difference between words written in the safety of an archbishop\u2019s study, and words believed in the shadow of a looming stake! …<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n"For alas, pity it is to see, what contention and hatred one Christian man hath to another" (speech before burning, 21st March 1556). pic.twitter.com\/WiONhZdVZe<\/a><\/p>\n
— Archbishop Cranmer (@His_Grace) March 21, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n