Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

For hath not the adulterer a pride in his whoredom? as the Wiseman sayeth: They are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in things that are stark naught. Is not the adulterer also idle, and delighteth in no godly exercise, but only in that his most filthy, and beastly pleasure? Is not his mind abstract, and utterly drawn away, from all virtuous studies, and fruitful labours, and only given to carnal imaginations? Doth not the whoremonger give his mind to gluttony, that he may be the more apt, to serve his lusts, & carnal pleasures? Doeth not the adulterer give his mind to covetousness, and to polling and pilling of other, that he may be the more able to maintain his harlots and whores, and to continue in his filthy, and unlawful love? Swelleth he not also with envy, against other, fearing that his prey should be allured, and taken away from him? Again, is he not ireful, and replenished with wrath and displeasure, even against his best beloved, if at any time, his beastly and devilish request be letted▪ ⟨image 77⟩what sin or kind of sin is it, that is not joined with fornication and whoredom? Is it a monster of many heads: It receiveth all kinds of vices, and refuseth all kinds of virtues. If one several sin bringeth damnation, what is to be thought of that sin, which is accompanied with all evils, and hath waiting on it, whatsoever is hateful to God, damnable to man, and pleasant to Satan?

For hath not the adulterer a pryde in hys whoredome? as the Wisemā sayeth: They are glad when they haue done euyl, and reioyse in thinges that are starke naught. Is not the adulterer also ydle, and delighteth in no godly exercise, but onely in that his most filthy, and beastly pleasure? Is not his minde abstracte, and vtterlye drawen awaye, from all vertous studyes, and fruicteful labours, and onely gyuen to carnall imaginacions? Doth not the whoremonger geue his mynde to glottonye, that he maye be the more apte, to serue hys lustes, & carnall pleasures? Doeth not the adulterer geue hys mynde to couetuousnes, and to pollyng and pillyng of other, that he maye be the moreable to mainteyne his harlottes and whores, and to contynue in hys filthye, and vnlawfull loue? Swelleth he not also with enuye, agaynst other, fearynge that his preye shoulde be allured, and taken awaye from hym? Agayne, is he not yrefull, and replenished with wrath and displeasure, euen agaynste his beste beloued, if at any tyme, his beastly and deuyllishe requeste be letted