A03519:75
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.
1And though Christ said, they worshipped GOD in vain, that teach doctrines and commandments of men: yet he meant not thereby to overthrow ⟨image 34⟩all mens commandments, for he himself was ever obedient to the Princes and their laws, made for good order and governance of the people: but he reproved the laws and traditions, made by the Scribes and Pharisees, which were not made only for good order of the people (as the Civil laws were) but they were so highly extolled, that they were made to be a right and sincere worshipping of God, as they had been equal with Gods laws or above them: for many of Gods laws could not be kept, but were fain to give place unto them. This arrogance God detested, that man should so advance his laws, to make them equal with Gods laws, wherein the true honouring and right worshipping of God standeth, and to make his laws for them to be omitted. God hath appointed his laws, whereby his pleasure is to be honoured. His pleasure is also, that all mans laws, being not contrary to his laws, shall be obeyed, and kept, as good as necessary for every common weal, but not as things, wherein principally his honour resteth. And all Civil and mans laws, either be, or should be made, to induce men the better to observe Gods laws, that consequently, God should be the better honoured by them. Howbeit, the Scribes and Pharisees were not content, that their laws should be no higher esteemed, then other positive & civil laws, nor would not have them called by the name of other temporal laws, but called them holy & godly traditions,2 and would have them esteemed, not only for a right and true worshipping of God (as Gods laws be in deed) but also to be the ⟨image 35⟩most high honouring of God, to the which, the commandments of God should give place.3 And for this cause, did Christ so vehemently speak against them, saying: your traditions, which men esteem so high, be abomination before God. For commonly, of such traditions followeth the transgression of Gods commandments, and a more devotion in the observing of such things, and a greater conscience in breaking of them, then of the commandments of God. As the Scribes and Pharisees so superstitiously, and scrupulously kept the Sabbath, that they were offended with Christ, because he healed sick men: