Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

Here let us all learn of S. Paul, the elect vessel of God, that all persons having souls, (he excepteth none, nor exempteth none, neither priest, apostle, nor prophet, sayeth. s. Chriso.) do owe of bounden duty, and even in conscience, obedience, submission & subjection, to the high powers, which be constituted in authority by god, forasmuch as they be gods lieutenants, Gods presidents, Gods officers, Gods commissioners, Gods judges, ordained of God himself, of whom only they have all their power, and all their authority. And the same. s. Paul threateneth no less pain, then everlasting damnation to all disobedient persons, to all resisters, against this general and common authority, forasmuch as they resist not man, but God, not mans devise and invention, but Gods wisdom, Gods order, power, and authority. And here (good people) let us all mark diligently, that it is not lawful for inferiors and subjects, in any case to resist the superior powers: for. s. Pauls words be plain, that whosoever resisteth, shall get to themselves damnation: for whosoever resisteth, resisteth the ordinance of God. Our saviour Christ him self & his apostles, received many & diverse injuries of the unfaithful & wicked men in authority: yet we never read, that they, or any of them, caused any sedition or rebellion against authority. We read oft, that they patiently suffered all troubles, vexations, slanders, pangs, & pains, and death it self obediently, without tumult or resistance. They committed ⟨image 67⟩their cause to him, that judgeth righteously, and prayed for their enemies heartily & earnestly. They knew that the authority of the powers, was Gods ordinance, & therefore both in their words & deeds, they taught ever obedience to it, and never taught, nor did the contrary. The wicked judge Pilate said to Christ:¹ knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power also to lose thee? Jesus answered: Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given the from above. Whereby Christ taught us plainly, that even the wicked rulers have their power and authority from God. And therefore it is not lawful for their subjects, by force to resist them, although they abuse their power;

Here let vs al learne of S. Paule, the elect vessel of God, yt all persones hauing soules, (he excepteth none, nor exempteth none, neither priest, apostle, nor prophet, saieth. s. Chriso.) do owe of boundē duetie, and euen in conscience, obedience, submission & subiection, to the hygh powers, which be constituted in aucthoritie by god, forasmuch as thei be gods liuetenauntes, Gods presidentes, Gods officers, Gods cōmissioners, Gods iudges, ordeyned of God hymself, of whom onely thei haue al their power, and all their aucthoritie. And thesame. s. Paule threateneth no lesse pain, then euerlasting dāpnacion to al disobediēt persons, to al resisters, against this generall and cōmon aucthoritie, forasmuch as they resist not man, but God, not mānes deuise and inuencion, but Gods wisedō, Gods ordre, power, and aucthoritie. And here (good people) let vs all marke diligently, that it is not lawfull for inferiors and subiectes, in any case to resist the superior powers: for. s. Paules wordes be playn, that whosoeuer resisteth, shall get to thēselfes dāpnacion: for whosoeuer resisteth, resisteth the ordinaūce of God. Our sauior Christe him self & his apostles, receiued many & diuerse iniuries of the vnfaithfull & wicked men in aucthoritie: yet we neuer rede, that thei, or any of thē, caused any sedicion or rebelliō agaynst aucthoritie. We rede oft, that they paciently suffered al troubles, vexacions, slaunders, pangues, & paines, and death it self obediently, without tumulte or resistence. They cōmitted