Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

A man may soon deceive him self, & think in his own fantasy, that he by faith knoweth God, loveth him, feareth him, & belongeth to him, when in very deed he doth nothing less. For the trial of all these things, is a very godly & christian life. He that feeleth his heart set to seek Gods honour & studieth to know the will & commandments of God, & to conform himself thereunto, & leadeth not his life after the desire of his own flesh, to serve the devil by sin, but setteth his mind to serve God, for gods own sake, & for his sake also to love all his neighbours, whether they be friends or adversaries, doing good to every man (as opportunity serveth) & willingly hurting no man: Such a man may well rejoice in God, perceiving by the trade of his life, that he unfeignedly hath the right knowledge of God, a lively faith, a constant hope, a true, & unfeigned love & fear of god▪ But he that casteth away the yoke of gods commandments from his neck, & giveth himself to live without true repentance, after his own sensual mind & pleasure, not regarding to know Gods word, & much less to live according thereunto: such a man clearly deceiveth himself, & seeth not his own heart, if he thinketh, that he either knoweth god, loveth him, feareth him, or trusteth in him. Some peradventure ⟨image 28⟩fantasy in themselves, that they belong to God, although they live in sin, & so they come to the Church & show themselves as Gods dear children.¹ But .s. John saith plainly: if we say, that we have any company with God, and walk in darkness, we do lye. Other do vainly think, that they know & love God, although they pass not of his commandments.² But s. John sayeth clearly: he that sayeth I know God, & keepeth not his commandments, he is a liar. Some falsely persuade themselves, that they love God, when they hate their neighbours. But s. John sayeth manifestly: if any man say, I love god, & yet hateth his brother, he is a liar.³ He that sayeth, that he is in the light, & hateth his brother, he is still in darkness. He that loveth his brother, dwelleth in the light, but he that hateth his brother, is in darkness, & walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whether he goeth: for darkness hath blinded his eyes. And moreover he sayeth: hereby we manifestly know the children of God,