Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

First the displeasure of God towards us, is commonly expressed in the scripture, by these two things: by showing his fearful countenance upon us, and by turning his face, or hiding it from us. By showing his dreadful countenance, is signified his great wrath, but by turning his face or hiding thereof, is many times more signified, that is to say: that he clearly forsaketh us, & giveth us over. The which significations be taken of the properties of mens manners: For men towards them, whom they favour, commonly bear, a good, a cheerful, and a loving countenance: so that by the face or countenance of a man, it doth commonly appear, what will or mind he beareth towards other. So, when God doeth show his dreadful countenance towards us; that is to say, doeth send dreadful plagues, of sword, famine, or pestilence upon us, it appeareth; that he is greatly wroth with us. But when he withdraweth from us his word, the right doctrine of Christ, his gracious assistance and aid, (which is ever joined to his word) and leaveth us to our own wit, our own will and strength: he declareth then, that he beginneth to forsake us. For where as God hath showed to all them, that truly believe his Gospel, his face of mercy in Jesus christ, which doeth so lighten their hearts, that they (if they behold it, as they ought to do) be transformed to his Image, be made partakers of the heavenly light, and of his holy spirit, and be fashioned to him, in all goodness, requisite to the children of God: so, if they after do neglect the same, if they be unthankful unto him, if they order not their lives, ⟨image 51⟩according to his example and doctrine, and to the setting forth of his glory, he will take away from them his kingdom, his holy word, whereby he should reign in them, because they bring not forth the fruit thereof, that he looketh for. Nevertheless, he is so merciful, & of so long sufferance, that he doth not show upon us, that great wrath suddenly. But when we begin to shrink from his word, not believing it, or not expressing it in our livings:

Fyrste the displeasure of God towardes vs, is commonly expressed in the scripture, by these twoo thinges: by shewynge hys fearefull countenaunce vpon vs, and by turnyng his face, or hiding it from vs. By shewyng his dreadful countenaunce, is signifyed his great wrath, but by turnynge hys face or hidinge therof, is many tymes more signified, that is to saye: that he clerely forsaketh vs, & geueth vs ouer. The whiche significacions be taken of ye properties of mens maners: For men towardes them, whome they fauour, commōly beare, a good, a chearefull, and a louing countenaūce: so that by the face or countenaūce of a man, it doth commonly appere, what wyl or minde he beareth towardes other. So, when God doeth shew hys dreadfull countenaunce towardes vs; that is to say, doeth send dreadful plagues, of sword, famyne, or pestilence vpon vs, it appereth; that he is greatly wroth with vs. But when he withdraweth from vs hys woorde, the righte doctryne of Christe, hys gracious assistence and ayde, (which is euer ioyned to hys worde) and leaueth vs to our awne wit, our awne wyll and strength: he declareth then, that he beginneth to forsake vs. For where as God hath shewed to all them, that truely beleue his Gospel, his face of mercy in Iesus christ, whiche doeth so lighten theyr hartes, that they (if they beholde it, as they ought to do) be transformed to hys Image, bee made partakers of the heauenly light, and of hys holy spirite, and bee fashioned to him, in all goodnes, requisite to the childrē of God: so, if they after do neglecte thesame, if they bee vnthankefull vnto hym, if they ordre not their lyfes,