Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

Some time men go from God, by the neglecting of his commandments, concerning their neighbours, which commandeth them to express hearty love towards every man,¹ as Zechariah said unto the people in gods behalf: Give true judgement, show mercy and compassion every one to his brother: Imagine to deceit towards widows, or children fatherless & motherless, towards stranger or the poor: let no man forge evil in his heart, against his brother. But these things they passed not of, they turned their backs, and went their way, they stopped their ears, that they might not hear, they hardened their hearts, as an Adamant stone, that they might not listen, to the law and the words, that the Lord had sent through his holy spirit, by his ancient Prophets. Wherefore the Lord showed his great indignation upon them: It came to pass (sayeth the Prophet) even as I told them:² as they would not hear, so when they cried, they were not heard, but were dispersed into all kingdoms, which they never knew: & their land was made desolate. And to be short, all they, that may not abide the word of God, but following the persuasions, and stubbornness of their own hats, go backward, & not forward (as it is said in Jeremiah) they go & turn away from God.³ In so much that Origene sayeth: He that with mind, with study, with deeds, with thought & care, applieth himself to Gods word, and thinketh ⟨image 49⟩upon his laws, day & night, giveth himself wholly to God, and in his precepts and commandments is exercised: this is he, that is turned to God. And on the other part (he saith): Whosoever is occupied with fables & tales, when the word of god is rehearsed: he is turned from God. Whosoever in time of reading Gods word, is careful in his mind, of worldly business, of money, or of lucre: he is turned from God. Whosoever is entangled with the cares of possessions, filled with covetousness of riches: whosoever studieth, for the glory & honour of this world, he is turned from God. So that after his mind, whosoever hath not a special mind to that thing that is commanded, or taught of God: he that doth not listen unto it, embrace & print it in his hart, to the intent, that he may duly fashion his life thereafter, he is plainly turned from god, although he do other thin ges of his own devotion and mind, which to him seem better, & more to gods honour.