A03519:150
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.
how is it, that thou wast not afraid, to lay thy hands on the lords anointed, to destroy him? And by & by, David made one of his servants to kill the messenger, saying: thy blood be on thine own head, for thy own mouth hath testified against thee, granting that thou hast slain the Lords anointed. These examples being so manifest & evident, it is an intolerable ignorance, madness, and wickedness for subjects, to make any murmuring, rebellion, resistance, commotion or insurrection, against their most dear & most dread sovereign lord and king, ordained and appointed of Gods goodness, for their commodity, peace, and quietness. Yet let us believe undoubtedly, (good christian people) that we may not obey Kings, Magistrates, or any other, (though they be our own fathers) if they would command us to do any thing, contrary to Gods commandments. In such a case, we ought to say with the Apostles:1 we must rather obey God, then man. But nevertheless in the case, we may not in any wise resist violently, or rebel against rulers, or make any insurrection, sedition, or tumults, either by force of arms, (or otherwaies) against the anointed of the Lord, or any of his appointed officers. But we must in such case, patiently suffer all wrongs and injuries, referring the judgement of our cause only to God. Let us fear the terrible punishment of almighty God, against traitors, or rebellious persons, by ⟨image 69⟩the example of Chore, Dathan, and Abiron, which repined and grudged against Gods Magistrates, and officers, and therefore the earth opened, & swallowed them up a live. Other for their wicked murmuring, & rebellion,2 were by a sudden fire sent of God utterly consumed. Other for their froward behaviour to their rulers, & governors, Gods ministers, were suddenly stricken, with a foul leprosy.3 Other were stung to death,4 with wonderful strange fiery serpents. Other were sore plagued, so that there was killed in one day,5 the number of fourteen thousand and seven hundred, for rebellion against them, whom God had appointed to be in authority.