Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

the one is picking of quarrels, with sharp and contentious words: the other standeth in froward answering, and multiplying evil words again. The first is so abominable, that saint Paul sayeth: if any that is called a brother,¹ be a worshipper of idols, a brawler, or piker of quarrels, a these or an extortioner, with him that is such a man, see that ye eat not. Now here consider that saint Paul numbereth a scolder,² a brawler, or a picker of quarrels, among thieves and idolaters: and many times cometh less hurt of a thief, then of a railing tongue: for the one taketh away a mans good name, the other taketh but his richesse, which is of much less value & estimation, then is his good name. And a thief hurteth but him, from whom he stealeth: but he that hath an evil tongue, troubleth all the town where he dwelleth, & sometime the whole country. And a railing tongue is a pestilence so full of contagion, that saint Paul willeth christian men to forbear the company of such,³ and neither to eat nor drink with them. And where as he will not, that a Christian woman ⟨image 85⟩should forsake her husband, although he be an infidel, nor that a christian servant should depart, from his master, which is an infidel and Heathen, and so suffer a christian man to keep company with an infidel: yet he forbiddeth us to eat or drink with a scolder, or a quarrel picker.⁴ And also in the .vi. chapi. to the Cor. he sayeth thus: Be not deceived, for neither fornicators, neither worshippers of idols, neither thieves nor drunkards, neither cursed speakers shall dwell in the kingdom of heaven. It must needs be a great fault, that doeth move & cause the father, to disherit his natural son. And how can it otherwise be, but that this cursed speaking, must needs be a most damnable sin, the which doeth cause God, our most merciful & loving father, to deprive us of his most blessed kingdom of heaven.⁵ Against the other sin, that standeth in requiting taunt for taunt, speaketh Christ himself: