A03519:144
Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)
Certain sermons, or homilies appointed by the kings Majesty, to be declared and read, by all persons, vicars, or curates, every Sunday in their churches, where they have cure. Anno 1547.Certayne sermons, or homelies appoynted by the kynges Maiestie, to be declared and redde, by all persones, vicars, or curates, euery Sondaye in their churches, where they haue cure. Anno 1547.
London: printed by Richard Grafton printer to his most royal Majesty, 1547London: printed by Rychard Grafton printer to his moste royall Maiestie, 1547
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Here let us mark well, & remember, that the high power & authority of kings, with their making of laws, judgements, & officers, are the ordinances, not of man, but of God: & therefore is this word (through me) so many times repeated. Here is also well to be considered and remembered, that this good order is appointed of Gods wisdom, favour, & love, specially for them that love god, & therefore he saith: I love them, that love me. Also,1 in the book of wisdom we may evidently learn, that a kings power, authority, & strength, is a great benefit of God, given of his great mercy, to the comfort of our great misery. For thus we read there spoken to kings.2 Hear o ye kings & understand: learn ye that be judges of the ends of the earth: give ear ye, that rule the multitudes: for the power is given you of the lord, and the strength from the highest. Let us learn also here by the infallible word of God, that kings and other supreme & higher officers, are ordained of god who is most highest, & therefore they are here diligently taught, to apply themselves, to knowledge & wisdom, necessary for the ordering of Gods people, to their governance committed. And they be here also taught by almighty God, that they should reknowledge themselves, to have all their power & strength, not from Rome, but immediately of god most highest.
Here let vs marke wel, & remembre, that the high power & aucthoritie of kynges, with theyr makyng of lawes, iudgemētes, & officers, are the ordinaunces, not of man, but of God: & therfore is this word (through me) so many tymes repeted. Here is also well to be cōsidered and remembred, that this good ordre is appoynted of Gods wisedom, fauor, & loue, specially for them that loue god, & therfore he saith: I loue them, yt loue me. Also,1 in the boke of wisedom we may euidently learne, that a kynges power, aucthoritie, & strength, is a greate benefite of God, geuen of his great mercy, to the comfort of our greate misery. For thus wee rede there spoken to kynges.2 Heare o ye kynges & vnderstand: learne ye yt be iudges of thendes of the yearth: geue eare ye, that rule the multitudes: for ye power is geuen you of ye lord, and the strength frō the highest. Let vs learne also here by the infallible word of God, that kinges and other supreme & higher officers, are ordeined of god who is most highest, & therfore they are here diligē tely taught, to apply thēselfes, to knowledge & wisedom, necessary for the orderynge of Gods people, to their gouernaūce committed. And they be here also taught by almighty God, that thei should reknowledge themselfes, to haue al their power & strength, not frō Rome, but immediatly of god most highest.