A03519:145
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.
1We read in the book of Deuteronomy, that all punishment pertaineth to God, by this sentence: vengeance is mine, and I will reward. But this sentence we must understand, to pertain also unto the magistrates, which do exercise Gods room in judgement & punishing, by good & godly laws, here in earth. And the places of scripture which seem to remove from among all christian men, judgement, punishment, or killing, ought to be understand, that no man (of his own private authority) may be judge over other may punish, or may kill. But we must refer all judgement to god, to kings & rulers, & judges under them, which be gods officers, to execute justice, & by plain words of scripture, have their authority & use of the sword, granted from god, as we are taught by S. Paul the dear & elect Apostle of our saviour Christ, whom we ought diligently to obey, even as we would obey our saviour Christ, if he were present. Thus. S. Paul writeth to the Roma.2 Let every soul submit himself, unto the authority of the higher powers, for there is no power, but of God, the powers that be, be ordained of God, whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, but they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation: for rulers are not fearful to them that do good, but to them that do evil. Wilt thou be without fear of the power? Do well then, & so shalt thou be praised of the same: for he is the minister of God, for thy wealth. But & if thou do that, which is evil, then fear, for he beareth not the sword for naught, for he is the minister of God, to make vengeance on him, that doth evil. Wherefore ye must needs obey, not only ⟨image 66⟩for fear of vengeance, but also, because of conscience, and even for this cause pay ye tribute, for they are Gods ministers, serving for the same purpose.
1We rede in the boke of Deuteronomy, yt al punishemēt perteineth to God, by this sentēce: vengeaū ce is mine, and I will reward. But this sentence we must vnderstād, to pertein also vnto ye magistrates, which do exercise Gods roume in iudgement & punishing, by good & godly lawes, here in yearth. And the places of scripture whiche seme to remoue from emong al christian men, iudgement, punishment, or kyllyng, ought to be vnderstand, that no mā (of his awne priuate aucthoritie) may be iudge ouer other may punish, or may kil. But we must refer al iudgemēt to god, to kynges & rulers, & iudges vnder thē, which be gods officers, to execute iustice, & by plain wordes of scripture, haue their aucthoritie & vse of ye swourd, graūted frō god, as we are taught by S. Paule the dere & elect Apostle of our sauior Christ, whō we ought diligētly to obeye, euen as we would obey our sauior Christ, yf he wer present. Thus. S. Paule writeth to the Roma.