A03549:427
The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…
The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in the former part of homilies. Set out by the authority of the Queens Majesty: and to be read in every parish church agreeably.The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in the former part of homilees. Set out by the aucthoritie of the Queenes Maiestie: and to be read in euery parishe church agreeably.
Imprinted at London : In Poules Churchyarde, by Richard Jugge, and John Cawood, printers to the Queens Majesty, 1571Imprinted at London : In Poules Churchyarde, by Richarde Iugge, and Iohn Cawood, printers to the Queenes Maiestie, 1571
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
First it is evident, that he did wonderfully govern and direct the hearts of the patriarchs and prophets in old time, illuminating their minds with the knowledge of the true Messiah, & giving them utterance to prophesy of things that should come to pass long time after. For as saint Peter witnesseth, the prophecy came not in old 1time by the will of man: But the holy men of God spake as they were moved inwardly by the holy ghost. And of Zechariah the high priest, it is said in the Gospel, that he being full of the 2holy ghost, prophesied and praised God. So did also Simeon, Anna, Mary, and divers other, to the great wonder and admiration of all men. Moreover, was not the holy ghost a mighty worker in the conception and the nativity of Christ our saviour? Saint Matthew saith, 3that the blessed virgin was found with child ⟨p. 419⟩of the holy ghost, before Joseph and she came together. And the Angel Gabriel did expressly tell her that it should so come to pass, saying: 4The holy ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most high shall overshadow thee. A marvellous matter, that a woman should conceive and bear a child, without the knowledge of man. But where the holy ghost worketh, there nothing is unpossible, as may further also appear by the inward regeneration and sanctification of mankind. When Christ said to Nicodemus, unless a man be borne a new, of water and the spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God: he was greatly amazed in his mind, and began to reason with Christ, demanding how a man might be borne which was old? Can he enter (saith he) 5into his mothers womb again, and so be borne a new? Behold a lively pattern of a fleshly and carnal man. He had little or no intelligence of the holy ghost, and therefore he goeth bluntly to work, and asketh how this thing were possible to be true. Whereas otherwise, if he had known the great power of the holy ghost in this behalf, that it is he which in worldly worketh the regeneration and new birth of mankind, he would never have marvelled at Christs words, but would have rather taken occasion thereby to praise and glorify God. For as there are three several and sundry persons in the deity: So have they three several and sundry offices proper unto each of them.