Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

Furthermore, we must consider, that to love our friends, is no more but that, which thieves, adulterers, homicides, & all wicked persons do: in so much that Jews, Turks, Infidels, & all brute beasts, do love them that be their friends, of whom they have their living, or any other benefits. But to love enemies, is the proper condition only of them, that be the children of God, the disciples and followers of Christ. Notwithstanding, mans froward & corrupt nature, weigheth over deeply many times, the offence and displeasure done unto him by enemies, and thinketh it a burden intolerable, to be bound to love them, that hate him. But the burden should be easy enough, if (on the other side) every man would consider, what displeasure he hath done to his enemy again, & what pleasure he hath received of his enemy. And if we find no equal recompense, neither in receiving pleasures of our enemy, nor in rendering displeasures unto him again: then let us ponder the displeasures, which we have done against almighty God, how often, and how grievously we have offended him. Whereof, if we will have of God forgiveness, there is none other remedy, but to forgive the offences done unto us, which be very small in comparison of our offences done against God.

Furthermore, we muste consider, that to loue our frendes, is no more but that, whiche thiefes, adulterers, homicides, & al wicked persons do: in so much that Iewes, Turkes, Infidels, & all brute beastes, do loue them that be their frendes, of whō thei haue their liuyng, or any other benefites. But to loue enemies, is the proper condicion onely of thē, that be the chyldren of God, the disciples and folowers of Christe. Notwithstandyng, mannes froward & corrupt nature, weigheth ouer depely many tymes, the offence and displeasure doen vnto hym by enemies, and thinketh it a burden intollerable, to be bounde to loue them, that hate hym. But the burden should be easy enough, if (on the otherside) euery mā would consider, what displeasure he hath doen to hys enemye agayn, & what pleasure he hath receiued of his enemy. And if we find no equal recōpense, neither in receiuing pleasures of our enemy, nor in renderyng displeasures vnto hym agayn: then let vs pōdre the displeasures, whiche we haue doen against almightye God, how often, and how greuously we haue offended hym. Wherof, if we will haue of God forgeuenesse, there is none other remedye, but to forgeue the offences doen vnto vs, whiche be very small in comparison of our offences doen against God.