Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

OF all things that be good to be taught unto christian people, there is nothing more necessary to be spoken of, and daily called upon, then charity: aswell, for that all manner of works of righteousness be contained in it, as also, that the decay thereof, is the ruin of the world, the banishment of virtue, and the cause of all vice. And for so much as almost every man, maketh and frameth to himself charity after his own appetite, & how detestable soever his life be, both unto God & man, yet he persuadeth himself still that he hath charity: therefore you shall hear now a true & plain description of Charity, not of mens imagination, but of the very words and example of our saviour Jesus Christ. In which description, every man, (as it were in a glass) may consider himself & see plainly without error, whether he be in the true Charity or not.¹

OF all thynges that be good to bee taught vnto christian people, there is nothynge more necessarye to bee spokē of, and dayely called vpon, then charitie: aswell, for that all maner of woorkes of righteousnes be cōteyned in it, as also, that the decay therof, is the ruyne of the worlde, the banishmēt of vertue, and the cause of all vice. And for so muche as almoste euery mā, maketh and frameth to hymself charitie after hys awne appetite, & howe detestable soeuer his lyfe be, both vnto God & man, yet he perswadeth hymself stil that he hath charitie: therfore you shall heare now a true & playn descripcion of Charitie, not of mennes imaginaciō, but of the very woordes and example of our sauior Iesus Christ. In which descripcion, euery mā, (as it were in a glasse) maye considre himself & se plainly without error, whether he be in the true Charitie or not.