A03519:73
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.
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.
And where at that time, god commanded no sacrifice to be made, but in Jerusalem only, they did clean contrary, making altars and sacrifices every where, in hills, in woods, and in houses, not regarding Gods commandments, but esteeming their own fantasies and devotion, to be better then them. And the error hereof was so spread abroad, that not only the unlearned people, but also the priests & teachers of the people, partly by glory and avarice were corrupted, and partly by ignorance blindly seduced with the same abominations: So much, that King Ahab, having but only Elijah a true teacher & minister of god, there were eight hundred and fifty priests, that persuaded him to honour Baal, and to do sacrifice in the woods or groves. And so continued that horrible error, until the three noble Kings, as Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah & Josiah, Gods elect ministers, destroyed the same clearly, and reduced the people from such their feigned inventions, unto the very commandments of GOD: for the which thing, their immortal reward and glory, doeth and shall remain with GOD for ever.
And where at that tyme, god commaunded no sacrifyce to be made, but in Ierusalem onely, they did cleane cōtrary, makyng aulters and sacrifyces euery where, in hylles, in wooddes, and in houses, not regardyng Gods cōmaundemētes, but estemynge theyr awne phantasyes and deuocion, to be better then theim. And the error hereof was so spred abrode, that not onely the vnlearned people, but also the priestes & teachers of the people, partly by glory and auarice were corrupted, and partly by ignoraunce blindly seduced wyth thesame abhominacions: So muche, that Kyng Achab, hauyng but onely Helyas a true teacher & minister of god, there were eight hundred and fiftie priestes, that perswaded hym to honor Baal, and to do sacrifyce in the woddes or groues. And so continued that horrible error, vntyll the three noble Kynges, as Iosaphat, Ezechias & Iosias, Gods elect ministers, destroyed the same clerely, and reduced the people from suche theyr fayned inuencions, vnto the very commaundementes of GOD: for the whiche thyng, their immortall rewarde and glory, doeth and shall remayn with GOD for euer.
And beside the foresaid inventions,1