Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

and with his Apostles, because they being sore hungry, gathered the ears of corn to eat, upon that day. And because his disciples washed not their hands so often as the traditions required, the Scribes and Pharisees quarrelled with Christ,¹ saying: why do thy disciples break the traditions of the seniors? But Christ objected against them, that they for to observe their own traditions, did teach men to break the very commandments of God. For they taught the people such a devotion, that they offered their goods into the treasure house of the temple, under the pretence of Gods honour, leaving their fathers and mothers (to whom they were chiefly bound) unholpē: and so they brake the commandments of GOD, to keep their own traditions. They esteemed more an oath, made by the gold or oblation in the temple, then an oath made in the name of God himself, or of the temple. They were more studious to pay their tithes of small things, then to do the greater things commanded ⟨image 35⟩of God, as works of mercy, or to do justice, or to deal sincerely, uprightly, and faithfully, with God and man (these sayeth Christ ought to be done,² and the other not omitted). And to be short, they were of so blind judgement, that they stumbled at a straw and leaped over a block. They would, (as it were) nicely take a fly out of their cup, & drink down a whole Camel. And therefore Christ called them blind guides, warning his disciples from time to time, to eschew their doctrine. For although they seemed to the world, to be most perfect men, both in living and teaching: yet was their life but Hypocrisy, and their doctrine but •ower leaven, mixed with superstition, Idolatry, and preposterous judgement: setting up the traditions & ordinances of man, in the stead of Gods commandments.

and with his Apostles, because they beyng sore hungery, gathered the eares of corne to eate, vpō that daye. And because his disciples wasshed not their handes so often as the tradicions requyred, ye Scribes and Phariseis quereled with Christ,¹ saiyng: why do thy disciples breake the tradiciōs of the seniours? But Christ obiected against them, that they for to obserue their awne tradiciōs, did teache men to breake the verye cōmaundementes of God. For thei taught the people such a deuocion, that they offered their goodes into the treasure house of the temple, vnder the pretense of Gods honor, leauing their fathers and mothers (to whom they were chiefly bounde) vnholpē: and so they brake the commaundementes of GOD, to kepe theyr awne tradicions. They estemed more an othe, made by the golde or oblacion in the temple, then an othe made in the name of God hymselfe, or of the temple. Thei wer more studious to pay their tithes of smal thynges, then to do the greater thynges commaunded