A03519:171
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.
Christ correcting that evil custom, did teach that if any man put away his wife, & marrieth an other, for any cause, except only for adultery, (which then was death by the law) he was an adulterer, and forced also his wife so divorced, to commit adultery, if she were joined to any other man: & the man also, so joined with her, to commit adultery.
Christ correctyng that euyl custome, did teache that if any man put awaye his wyfe, & marieth an other, for any cause, except onely for adultery, (which then was death by the law) he was an adulterer, and forced also hys wyfe so diuorced, to cōmitte adulterye, if she were ioyned to any other man: & the man also, so ioyned with her, to cōmitte adultery.
In what case then are those adulterers, which for the love of an whore, put away their true and lawful wife, against all law, right, reason, and conscience? O, damnable is the state wherein they stand. Swift destruction shall fall on them, if they repent not, and amend not: for God will not ever suffer holy wedlock, thus to be dishonoured, hated and despised. He will once punish this carnal and licentious manner of living, and cause, that his holy ordinance shall be had in reverence, and honour. For surely,1 wedlock (as the Apostle sayeth) is honourable among all men, and the bed undefiled: But whoremongers and fornicators,2 God will judge, […] is to say, punish and condemn. But to what purpose is this labour taken, to describe, and set forth the greatness of the sin of whoredom, and the incommodities that issue and flow out of it, seeing that breath and tongue shall sooner fail any man, then he shall, or may be able to set it out, according to the abomination and heinousness thereof? Notwithstanding this is spoken to the intent, that all men should flee whoredom, and live ⟨image 78⟩in the fear of God. God grant, that it may not be spoken in vain. Now will I declare unto you in order, with what grievous punishments, God in times pass, plagued adultery: and how certain worldly Princes also, did punish it, that ye may perceive, that whoredom and fornication be since, no less detestable in the sight of God, & of all good men, then I have hitherto uttered.