A03549:482
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.
❧ An Homily of the state of Matrimony.❧ An Homilee of the state of Matrimonie.
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.
For he will either labour to break this godly knot once begun betwixt you, or else at the least he will labour to encumber it with divers griefs and displeasures.
For he will eyther labour to breake this godly knot once begun betwixt you, or els at the leaste he will labour to encumber it with diuers greefes and displeasures.
And this is his principal craft, to work dissension of hearts of the one from the other: That whereas now there is pleasant and sweet love betwixt you, he will in the stead thereof, bring in most bitter and unpleasant discord. And surely that same adversary of ⟨p. 478⟩ours, doth as it were from above, assault mans nature and condition. For this folly is ever from our tender age grown up with us, to have a desire to rule, to think highly by our self, so that none thinketh it meet to give place to another. That wicked vice of stubborn will & self love, is more meet to break and to dissever the love of heart, then to preserve concord. Wherefore married persons must apply their minds in most earnest wise to concord, and must crave continually of God the help of his holy spirit, so to rule their hearts, and to knit their minds together, that they be not dissevered by any division of discord. This necessity of prayer, must be oft in the occupying and using of married persons, that oft times the one should pray for the other, lest hate and debate do arise betwixt them. And because few do consider this thing, but more few do perform it (I say to pray diligently) we see how wonderful the devil deludeth and scorneth this state, how few matrimonies there be without chidings, brawlings, tauntings, repentinges, bitter cursings, and fightings. Which things whosoever do commit, they do not consider that it is the instigation of the ghostly enemy, who taketh great delight therein: For else they would with all earnest endeavour, strive against these mischiefs, not only with prayer, but also with all possible diligence. Yea they would not give place to the provocation of wrath, which stirreth them either to such rough & sharp words, or stripes, which is surely compassed by the devil, whose temptation,