A05143:567
Twenty-seven Sermons
27 sermons preached by the right Reverend father in God and constant martyr [sic] of Jesus Christ, Master Hugh Latimer, as well such as in times past have been printed, as certain other coming to our hands of late, which were yet never set forth in print. Faithfully perused [and] allowed according to the order appointed in the Queens Majesties injunctions. 1. Hys sermon Ad clerum. 2. Hys fourth sermon upon the plough. 3. His. 7. sermons before king Edward. 4 His sermon at Stamford. 5. His last sermon before king Edward. 6. His. 7. sermons upon the Lords prayer. 7. His other. 9. sermons upon certain Gospels and Epistles27 sermons preached by the ryght Reuerende father in God and constant matir [sic] of Iesus Christe, Maister Hugh Latimer, as well such as in tymes past haue bene printed, as certayne other commyng to our handes of late, whych were yet neuer set forth in print. Faithfully perused [and] allowed accordying to the order appoynted in the Quenes Maiesties iniunctions. 1. Hys sermon Ad clerum. 2. Hys fourth sermon vpon the plough. 3. Hys. 7. sermons before kyng Edward. 4 Hys sermon at Stamforde. 5. Hys last sermon before kyng Edward. 6. Hys. 7. sermons vpon the Lordes prayer. 7. Hys other. 9. sermons vpon certayne Gospels and Epistles
London: printed by John Day, 1562London: printed by Iohn Day, 1562
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
What think ye of these images that are had more than their1 fellows in reputation? that are gone unto, with such labour and weariness of the body, frequented with such our cost, sought out and visited with such confidence? What say ye by these images, that are so famous, so noble, so noted, being of them so many and so divers in England? Do you think, that this preferring of picture to picture, image to image, is the right use, and not rather the abuse of images? But you will say to me, why make ye all these interrogations? And why in these your demands do you let and withdraw the good devotion of the people? Be not all things well done, that are done with good intent, when they be profitable to us? So surely covetousness both thinketh and speaketh. Were it not better for us more for estimation, more meeter for men in our places, to cut away a […] of this our profit, if we will not cut away all, then to wink at such ungodliness, and so long to wink for a little lucre, specially if it be ungodliness and also […] unto you ungodliness? These be two things, so oft to seek2 mere images, and sometime to visit the relics of saints. And yet as in those, there may be much ungodliness committed, so there may here some superstiti on be hid, if that sometime ⟨image 166⟩we chance to visit pigs bones, in stead of saints3 relics, as in time past it hath chanced (I had almost said) in England. Then this is to great a blindness, a darkness to sensible, that these should be so commended in sermons, of some men, & preached, to be don after such manner, as though they could not be evil done, which not withstanding are such, that neither God nor man commandeth them to be don. No, rather, men commanded them either not to be done at all, or else more slowlyer & seldomer to be don: for as much as our ancestors made this constitution. We command the Priests that they oft admonish the people, and in especial women, that they make no vows, but after long deliberation, consent of their husbands, and counsel of the Priest. The church of England in time past made this constitution. What saw they, that made this decree? They saw the intolerable abuses of Images. They saw the perils, that might ensue, of going on pilgrimage. They saw, the superstitious difference that men made between image and image. Surely somewhat they saw.