Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And herewithall we must pass yet further. For we know how S. John sayeth, that whosoever hateth his neighbour in his hart,¹ is a murderer before God. True it is that we must in any wise keep our hands clean from all injury and §60outrage: but yet must our heart also be pure and clean before God. If it be not so: we shall be blamed, not for drawing of our swords, but for desiring to overthrow our neighbour, and for labouring, so much as was in us, to bring it to pass by overthwart means. Albeit that men can not blame us; yet doeth God condemn us for murderers, yea though our hatred were so secret as we never made countenance of it. For whereas S. John sayeth, he that hateth his brother in his heart: it is all one as if he said, although the hatred appear not, nor men can bear witness of it: yet are we faulty, if our heart be infected with any rancour, or enmity. Sith it is so, let us bear well in mind, that our Lords intent is to persuade us to brotherly love among our selves, and to agree together, endeavouring to help one another. For all mankind is knit together as it were into one body. And therefore let us learn to abhor all murder, as well which is committed against other folks, as which is meant against our selves. Howbeit let us learn to hate (that is to say to condemn) continually all murder, without saying little or much in excuse of it: in so much that although we were guilty of it, yet we should judge against our selves if we would judge rightly. Will we then condemn murder in another man? Let us condemn hatred in our selves, by abstaining from all malice and revengement, that our hearts may be rid of it. If we deal with such uprightness, then will God dwell with us and make us to prosper.

And herewithall wee must passe yet further. For wee knowe how S. Iohn saieth, that whosoeuer hateth his neighbor in his hart,¹ is a murtherer before God. True it is yt wee must in any wise keepe our handes cleane from all iniurie and §60outrage: but yet must our heart also be pure and cleane before God. If it bee not so: we shall bee blamed, not for drawing of our swordes, but for desiring to ouerthrowe our neighbour, and for labouring, so much as was in vs, to bring it to passe by ouerthwart meanes. Albeit that men can not blame vs; yet doeth God condemne vs for murtherers, yea though our hatred were so secret as wee neuer made countenance of it. For whereas S. Iohn saieth, he that hateth his brother in his heart: it is al one as if he saide, although the hatred appeare not, nor men can beare witnesse of it: yet are wee faultie, if our heart be infected with any rancour, or enmitie. Sith it is so, let vs beare well in minde, that our Lordes intent is to perswade vs to brotherly loue among our selues, and to agree togither, indeuouring to helpe one another. For all mankinde is knit togither as it were into one bodie. And therfore let vs learn to abhorre all murther, as well which is committed against other folkes, as which is meant against our selues. Howbeit let vs learne to hate (that is to say to condemne) cōtinually all murder, without saying little or much in excuse of it: in so much that although wee were guiltie of it, yet wee should iudge against our selues if wee would iudge rightly. Will wee then condemne murther in another man? Let vs condemne hatred in our selues, by abstaining from all malice and reuengement, that our heartes may be rid of it. If we deale with such vprightnesse, then wil God dwell with vs and make vs to prosper.