Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

For this is to see a straw in another mans eye, when a man hath a block in his own eye. Then let him consider, that he that useth to speak evil, shall commonly be evil spoken of again. And he that speaketh what he will for his pleasure, shall be compelled to hear that he would not, to his displeasure. Moreover, let him remember that saying, that we shall give an account for every idle word.¹ How much more then shall we make a reckoning for our sharp, bitter, brawling, & chiding words, which provoke our brother to be angry, & so to the breach of his charity. And as touching evil answering, although we be never so much provoked by other mens evil speaking, yet we shall not follow their frowardness by evil answering, if we consider, that anger is a kind of madness, and that he which is angry, is (as it were for the time) in a phenesy.² Wherefore, let him beware, least in his fury he speak any thing▪ whereof afterward he may have just cause to be sorry. And he that will defend, that anger is no fury, but that he hath reason, even when he is most angry, then let him reason thus with himself, when he is angry. Now I am so moved and chafed, that within a little while after, I shall be otherwaies minded: wherefore then should I now speak any thing in mine anger, which hereafter, when I would fainest, cannot be changed? Wherefore shall I do any thing now, being (as it were) out of my wit, for the which, when I shall come to my self again, I shall be very sad? Why doth not reason? Why doth not ⟨image 89⟩godliness? Yea, why doth not Christ obtain the thing now of me, which hereafter, time shall obtain of me? If a man be called an adulterer, usurer, drunkard, or by any other contumelious name, let him consider earnestly, whether he be so called truly or falsely: if truly, let him amend his fault, that his adversary may not after, worthily charge him with such offences: if these things be laid against him falsely, yet let him consider, whether he hath given any occasion, to be suspected of such things, & so he may both cut of that suspicion, whereof this slander did arise, and in other things shall live more warily. And thus using our selves, we may take no hurt, but rather much good, by the rebukes & slanders of our enemy.