A03519:87
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.
¶An Homily of Christian Love and Charity.¶An Homelie of Christian Loue and Charitie.
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.
Thus of true Charity, Christ taught, that every man is bound to love God above all things, and to love every man, friend & foe. And thus likewise he did use himself, exhorting his adversaries, rebuking the faults of his adversaries, and when he could not amend them, yet he prayed for them. ⟨image 41⟩First he loved God his father above all things: so much that he sought not his own glory & will, but the glory and will of his father.1 I seek not (said he) mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. Nor he refused not to dye, to satisfy his fathers will saying:2 if it may be, let this cup of death go from me, if not, thy will be done, and not mine. He loved not only his friends, but also his enemies, which (in their hearts) bare exceeding great hatred against him, & in their tongues spake all evil of him, and in their acts and deeds pursued him, with all their might and power, even unto death. Yet all this notwithstanding, he withdrew not his favour from them, but still loved them, preached unto them, of love, rebuked their false doctrine, their wicked living, and did good unto them, patiently accepting whatsoever they spake, or did against him. When they gave him evil words, he gave none evil again: when they did strike him, he did not smite again: & when he suffered death, he did not slay them, nor threaten them, but prayed for them, and referred all things to his fathers will. And as a sheep that is led unto the shambles to be slain,3 and as a lamb that is shorne of his fleece, make no noise nor resistance: even so went he unto his death, without any repugnance, or opening of his mouth, to say any evil.
Thus of true Charitie, Christ taught, that euery man is bounde to loue God aboue all thynges, and to loue euery man, frend & fooe. And thus likewyse he did vse hymselfe, exhortynge hys aduersaries, rebukynge the faultes of hys aduersaryes, and when he coulde not amende them, yet he prayed for them. ⟨image 41⟩Firste he loued God hys father abouee all thinges: so muche that he soughte not hys awne glory & wil, but the glory and wyl of hys father.