A03519:159
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.
¶An Homily of whoredom and uncleanness.¶An Homelie of whoredome and vnclennesse.
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 is whoredom, fornication, and all uncleanness forbidden, to all kinds of people, all degrees, and all ages, without exception. And that we shall not doubt, but that this precept pertaineth to us in deed: hear what Christ (the perfect teacher of all truth) sayeth in the new Testament:1 ye have heard (sayeth Christ) that it was said to them of the old time: thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, whosoever seeth a woman to have his lust of her, hath committed adultery with her all ready in his heart. Here our saviour Christ, doth not only ⟨image 73⟩confirm and stablish the law against adultery, given in the old Testament of God the father, by his servant Moses, and make it of full strength, continually to remain among the professors of his name in the new law: But he also (condemning the gross interpretation of the Scribes and Pharisees, which taught, that the aforesaid commandment only required to abstain from the outward adultery, and not from the filthy desires and unpure lusts) teacheth us an exact and full perfection of purity and cleanness of life, both to keep our bodies undefiled, and our hearts pure and free, from all evil thoughts, carnal desires, and fleshly consents. Howe can we then be free from this commandment, where so great charge is laid upon us? May a servant do what he will in any thing, having a commandment of his master to the contrary? Is not Christ our Master? Are not we his servants? Howe then may we neglect our Masters will, and pleasure, and follow our own will and fantasy?2 Ye are my friends (sayeth Christ) if you keep those things, that I command you. Now hath Christ our Master commanded us, that we should forsake all uncleanness, and lechery, both in body and spirit: this therefore must we do, if we look to please GOD. In the Gospel of saint Matthew, we read that the Scribes and Pharisees,3 were grievously offended with Christ, because his disciples did not keep the traditions of the fore fathers: for they washed not their hands, when they went to diner or supper,4 and among other things, Christ answered, and said: hear and understand: ⟨image 73⟩