Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

Thus have I described unto you, what charity is, aswell by the doctrine, as by the example of Christ himself. Whereby also every man may, without error, know himself, what state and condition he standeth in, whether he be in Charity, (& so the child of the father in heaven) or not. For, although almost ⟨image 41⟩every man persuadeth himself to be in charity, yet let him examine none other man, but his own hart his life & conversation, and he shall not be deceived, but truly discern & judge, whether he be in perfect charity or not. For he that followeth not his own appetite & will, but giveth himself earnestly to God to do all his will & commandments, he may be sure that he loveth God above all things, & else surely he loveth him not, whatsoever he pretend: as Christ said, if ye love me, keep my commandments. For he that knoweth my commandments,¹ & keepeth them he it is (said Christ) that loveth me. And again he saith, he that loveth me, will keep my word, & my father will love him, & we will both come to him, and dwell with him. And he that loveth me not, will not keep my words. And likewise, he that beareth good hart and mind, & useth well his tongue & deeds unto every man, friend & foe, he may know thereby, that he hath charity. And then he is sure also, that almighty God taketh him for his dear beloved son, as s. John saith:² hereby manifestly are known the children of God, from the children of the devil: for whosoever doth not love his brother, belongeth not unto god.

Thus haue I described vnto you, what charitie is, aswel by ye doctryne, as by the exāple of Christ himself. Wherby also euery man maye, without error, know hymself, what state and condiciō he standeth in, whether he be in Charitie, (& so the chyld of the father in heauen) or not. For, althoughe almoste ⟨image 41⟩euery man perswadeth hymself to be in charitie, yet let hym examine none other man, but his awne hart his life & conuersacion, and he shal not be deceiued, but truly decerne & iudge, whether he be in perfecte charitie or not. For he that foloweth not hys awne appetite & wil, but geueth hymself earnestly to God to do al his wil & cōmaundementes, he may be sure that he loueth God aboue all thinges, & els surely he loueth him not, whatsoeuer he pretend: as Christ said, if ye loue me, kepe my cōmaundemētes. For he that knoweth my commaundementes,