A03519:167
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.
Now, if we be saints, what have we to do with the manners of the Heathen?1 Saint Peter sayeth: as he, which called you, is holy, even so, be ye holy also, in all your conversation, because it is written: Be ye holy,2 for I am holy. Hitherto have we heard how grievous a sin, fornication, and whoredom ⟨image 76⟩is, and how greatly God doth abhor it, throughout the whole scripture. Howe can it any otherwise be, then a sin of most abomination, seeing it once may not be named among the christians, much less, it may in any point be committed. And surely, if we would weigh the greatness of this sin, and consider it in the right kind, we should find the sin of whoredom, to be that most filthy lake, foul puddle, and stinking sink, whereinto all kinds of since, and evils flow, where also, they have their resting place, and abiding.
Now, if we bee sainctes, what haue we to do with the maners of the Heathen?1 Saincte Peter saieth: as he, whiche called you, is holy, euen so, bee ye holy also, in all your conuersacion, because it is written: Be ye holy,2 for I am holy. Hetherto haue we heard how greuous a synne, fornicacion, and whoredome ⟨image 76⟩is, and howe greatly God doth abhorre it, throughout the whole scripture. Howe can it any otherwyse be, then a synne of moste abhominacion, seyng it once may not be named emonge the christians, muche lesse, it may in any poynt be committed. And surely, if we would weyghe the greatnes of this synne, and consydre it in the right kynde, we shoulde fynde the synne of whoredom, to be that most fylthy lake, foule puddle, and stynkyng synke, wherinto all kyndes of synnes, and euils flow, wher also, they haue their restynge place, and abydinge.