A05141:46
The first sermon of Master Hugh Latimer, which he preached before the Kings Majesty…The fyrste sermon of Mayster Hughe Latimer, whiche he preached before the Kinges Maiestie…
The first sermon of Master Hugh Latimer, which he preached before the Kings Majesty within his graces palace at Westminster. M.D.XLIX. the. viii. of March Cu[m] gratia et privilegio ad imprimendum solum.The fyrste sermon of Mayster Hughe Latimer, whiche he preached before the Kinges Maiestie wythin his graces palayce at Westminster. M.D.XLIX. the. viii. of March Cu[m] gratia et priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.
London: printed by John Day dwelling over Aldersgate, 1549London: printed by Iohn Day dwellynge ouer Aldersgate, 1549
Title page typeset from the transcription.
The first sermon Of M. Latimer.The fyrst sermon Of M. Latimer.
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 Christ hath forbidden this unto us Christians. And let us not impute sin unto the Jews because they had many wives. For they had a dispensation so to do. Christ limitteth one wife unto us only ⟨image 21⟩And it is a great thing for a man to rule one wife rightly, & ordinately. For a woman is frail and proclive unto all evils, a woman is a very weak vessel, & may soon deceive a man, and bring him unto evil. Many examples we have in holy scripture. Adam had but one wife called Eve,1 and how soon had she brought him to consent unto evil, and to come to destruction. Howe did wicked Jezebel prevent King Ahab's heart from God and all godliness, and finally unto destruction.2 It is a very hard thing for a man to rule well one woman. Therefore let our king, what time his grace shall be so minded to take a wife, to chose him one, which is of God, that is, which is of ⟨image 21⟩the household of faith. Yea let all estates be no less circumspect in choosing her, taking great deliberation, and then shall not need divorcements, and such mischiefs, to the evil example and slander of our realm,3 and that she be one as the king can find in his heart to love and lead his life in pure and chaste esposage, and then shall he be the more prone and ready to advance gods glory, punish and extirp, the great lechery used in this realm. Therefore we ought to make a continual prayer unto God, for to grant our kings grace such a mate as may knit his heart and hers, according to God's ordinance and law, and not consider and cleave only to politic matter or conjunction, ⟨image 22⟩for the enlarging of dominions, for surety and defence of countries, setting apart the institution and ordinance of God. We have now a pretty little shilling, in deed a very pretty one.4 I have but one I think in my purse, and the last day I had put it away almost for an old groat, and so I trust some will take them. The fineness of the Silver I can not see. But therein is Printed a fine sentence: that is. Timor Domini fons vite, vel sapientie.