¶ Certayne Sermons appoynted by the Quenes Maiestie to be declared and read by all Persones Vycars and Curates euery Sonday and holy daye in theyr Churches And by her Graces aduyse perused ouersene for the better vnderstandyng of the simple people Newly Imprynted in partes accordyng as is mencioned in the booke of Commune prayers Anno. M.D.L .ix. Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis OMNIA DESVPER R.I. ¶ A taâ—â—e of the Sermons conteyned in this present volume i A Fruitefull exhortacion to the readyng of holy scripture ii Of the misery of al mankynd iii Of the saluacion of all mankynde iiii Of the true and lyuely fayth v Of good workes vi Of Christian loue and charitie vii Agaynst swearyng and periury viii Of the declynyng from god ix An exhortacion agaynst the feare of death x An exhortacion to obedience xi Agaynst whordome and adulterye xii Agaynst strife and contention Finis tabulae COnsydering howe necessary it is that the worde of GOD which is the onely foode of the soule and that moste excellent lyght that we muste walke by in this our moste daungerous pilgrimage should at all conuenient tymes be preached vnto the people that therby they may bothe learne theyr duetie towardes God theyr Prynce and theyr neighbours accordyng to the mynde of the holy ghoste expressed in the scriptures And also to auoyde the manifolde enormities whiche hearetofore by false doctrine haue crepte into the Churche of God and howe that all they whiche are appoynted ministers haue not the gyft of prechyng sufficiently to instruct the people which is commytted vnto them whereof great inconueniences myght ryse and ignoraunce styll be mayntayned yf some honeste remedye be not speedely founde and prouyded The Quenes moste excellent Maiestie tenderynge the foule health of her louyng subiectes and the quietynge of theyr consciences in the chiefe and pryncypall poyntes of Christian Religion and wyllyng also by the true settyng foorth and pure declaryng of Gods word which is the principall guyde and leader vnto all godlynesse and vertue to expell and dryue aware aswell all corrupt vicious and vngodly lyuynâ— as also erronious and poysoned doctrines tâ—â—â—dyng to superfficion and Idolatry hath by thâ—â—uyse of her moste honourable comisâ—â—◠〈…〉 her discharge in this behalfe caused a 〈…〉 â—â—melies which heretofore was sette 〈…〉 moste louynge Brother a Prince of moste worthy memorye Edward the syxt to be prynted a newe wherein are conteyned certaine wholsome and godly exhortacions to moue the people to honour and worshyppe almyghty God and diligently to serue hym euery one accordynge to theyr degree state and vocation All whiche Homelies her Maiestie commaundeth and strayghtly chargeth all persons vycars curates and all other hauyng spirituall cure euery Sonday and holy day in the yere at the ministryng of the holy communion or if there be no Communion ministred that day yet after the Gospell and Crede in suche order and place as is appoynted in the booke of Common prayers to reade and declare to theyr paryshyoners playnely and distinctly one of the sayde Homelies in such order as they stande in the booke except there be a Sermon according as it is inioyned in the boke of her hyghnesse Iniunctions and then for that cause onely and for none other the readyng of the sayde Homelye to be differred vnto the next Sonday or holy day folowyng And wheÌ„ the foresayde booke of Homelies is read ouer her Maiesties pleasure is that the same be repeated and read agayne in such lyke sort as was before prescrybed Furthermore her hyghnesse coÌ„maundeth that notwithstandynge this order the sayde Ecclesiasticall persons shall reade her Maiesties Iniunctions at such tymes and in suche order as is in the booke thereof appoynted And that the Lordes prayer the Articles of the fayth and the ten commaundementes be openly readde vnto the people as in the sayde Iniunctions is specified that all her people of what degree or condicion so euer they be maye learne howe to Inuocate and call vpon the name of Godde knowe what duetie they owe both to God man So that they maye pray belieue and worke accordyng to knowledge whyle they shall lyue heare and after this lyfe be with him that with his bloud hath bought vs all To whom with the Father and the holy ghost be al honor and glory for euer AMEN 〈…〉 the â—eadyng and knowledge of holy Scripture The prais of holye scripture VNto a Christian man there can be nothyng eyther more necessary or profitable then the knowledge of holy scripture forasmuch as in it is conteyned Gods true word setting foorth his glory also mans duetie And there is no trueth nor doctrine necessary for our iustification The perfiction of holy scripture and euerlastyng saluation but that is or may be drawen out of that fountaine and wel of trueth Therfore as manye as be desyrous to enter into the ryght and perfect way vnto God The knowledge of holy scripture is necessary must apply theyr myndes to knowe holy scripture without the whiche they can neyther sufficiently knowe God and his wyll To whom the knowledge of holy scripture is swete and pleasaunt Who be enemies to holy scripture neyther theyr office duetie And as drynke is pleasaunt to them that be drye and meate to them that be hungry so is the readyng hearyng searchyng and studying of holy scripture to them that be desirous to knowe God or them selues to do his wyll And theyr stomackes onely do loth and abhorre the heauenly knowledge and foode of Gods worde that be so drowned in worldly vanities that they neyther fauour God nor any godlynesse For that is the cause why they desyre such vanities In apt similitude declarinâ— of whom the scripture is oâ—horrid rather then the true knowledge of God As they that are sicke of an ague whatsoeuer thei eate or drynke though it be neuer so pleasaunte yet it is as bytter to them as wormewood not for the bytternesse of the meate but for the corrupte 〈◊〉 â—ytter humour that is in theyr owne tongue â—â—â—nduth than so is the swetenesse of Gods worde bitter not of it selfe but onely vnto theÌ„ that haue theyr myndes corrupted with longe custome of sinne and loue of this worlde Therfore An â—â—â—â—tucion vnto the diligent redâ—â—dyng and scâ—rchâ—ng â—f the holy 〈…〉 forsaking the corrupt iudgement of fleshely men which care not but for theyr carhasse let vs reuerently heare and reade holye scriptures whiche is the foode of the soule Let vs diligently search for the well of lyfe in the bokes of the newe and olde Testament and not runne to the stynkyng puddels of mennes tradicions deuysed by mans imaginacion for our iustification and saluacion The holy scripture is a suffiâ—â—ent doctrâ—ne for ouâ— saluation What thynges we may learne 〈◊〉 the holy scriptâ—â—â— For in holy scripture is fully conteined what we ought to do and what to eschewe what to beleue what to loue what to loke for at
Goddes handes at length In those bookes we shall fynde the father from whom the sonne by whom and the holy ghost in whom all thynges haue theyr beynge and kepynge vp and these thre persons to be but one God and one substaunce In these bokes we may learne to knowe our selues howe byle and miserable we be and also to knowe God how good he is of him selfe and howe he maketh vs and all creatures parttakers of his goodnes We may learne also in these bokes to knowe Gods wyll and pleasure asmuch as for this present tyme is conuenient for vs to knowe And as the great clerke and godly preacher sainct Iohn Chrisostome sayth what so euer is required to saluacioÌ„ of man is fully conteyned in the scripture of God He that is ignorant may there learne and haue knowledge he that is harde hearted 〈◊〉 an obstinate synner shall there fynde euer 〈…〉 tormentes prepared of Gods iustice to make◠〈◊〉 afrayde and to molyfye or soften hym He that 〈◊〉 oppressed with miserie in this worlde shall there fynde reliefe in the promises of euerlasting lyfe to his great consolacion comfort He that is wounded by the deuyll vnto death shal fynde there medicine whereby he maye be restored agayne vnto health If it shall require to teache any trueth or reproue false doctrine to rebuke any vice to commend any vertue to geue good counsaile to comfort or to exhort or to do any other thing requisite for our saluacion al those thynges saith S. Chrisostome we may learne pleÌ„tifully of the scripture There is saith Fulgentius aboundantly inough both for men to eate children to sucke There is whatsoeuer is mete for all ages Holi scripture ministreth sufficient doctrine for all degres and ages Math. iiii Luke .iii. Iohn xvii Psal .xix. for all degrees and sortes of men These bokes therefore ought to be much in our handes in our eyes in our eares in our mouthes but most of al in our heartes For the scripture of God is the heauenly meate of our soules the hearyng keping of it maketh vs blessed sanctifieth vs and maketh vs holy it turneth our soules it is a lyght lantarne to our feete it is a sure stedfast and euerlastyng instrument of saluacion it geueth wisedome to the humble lowely hartes What coÌ„modities and profites the knowleâ—e of holye scripture bryngeth it comforteth maketh glad chereth and cherisheth our conscience it is a more excellent iewell or treasure then any golde or precious stone it is more swete then hony or hony combe it is called the best parte whiche Marye dyd chose for it hath in it euerlastyng comfort Luke .x. The wordes of holy scripture be called woordes of euerlastyng lyfe Iohn .vi. for they be Goddes instrument ordeyned for the same purpose Colloss vi They haue power to tourne thorough Gods promise they be effectuall through Goddes 〈…〉 beyng receyued inâ— a fayth 〈◊〉 heart they haue euer an heauenly spiritual working in them they are liuely quicke â—â—bre 〈◊〉 myghty in operation sharper then any two edged sworde and entreth through euen vnto the deuydyng a sonder of the soule and the spirite of the ioyntes and the mary Christ calleth hym a wyse buylder Math. vâ— Iohn .xii. that buildeth vpon his worde vpon his sure and substanciall foundacion By this worde of God we shal be iudged for the woorde that I speake saith Christ is it that shall iudge in the last day Ioh .xiiii. He that kepeth the worde of Christe is promised the loue and fauour of God that he shal be the dwellyng place or temple of the blessed Trinitie This woorde whosoeuer is diligent to reade and in his heart to print that he readeth the great affection to the transitorye thynges of this worlde shal be minished in him the great desyre of heauenly thynges that be therein promised of God shall increase in hym And there is nothyng that so much strengtheneth our faith truste in God that so much kepeth vp innocencye and purenes of the heart and also of outward godly lyfe conuersation as continual reading and recordyng of Gods worde For that thing which by continual vse of reading of holy scripture and diligent searchyng of the same is depely printed and grauen in the hart at length turneth almost into nature And moreouer the effects vertue of Gods worde is to illuminate the ignoraunt and to geue more lyght vnto them that faythfully and diligently reade it to comfort theyr heartes and to 〈◊〉 age them to perfourme that whiche of God 〈◊〉 commaunded It teacheth patienc◠〈◊〉 aduersiâ—â—â— in prosperitie humblenes what â—onoure is due vnto God what mercy and charitie to our neighbour It geueth good counsell in all doubtfull thynges i. Re. xiiii ii Par. xâ— 1 Cor. xv 1. Iohn v. It sheweth of whom we shall looke for ayde and helpe in all perilles and that God is the onely geuer of victory in all battayles and temptacions of our enemies Who profit most in readyng goddes worde bodely and ghostely And in reading of Gods word he most profiteth not alwayes that is most ready in turning of the boke or in saying of it without the booke but he that is moste turned into it that is most inspired with the holy ghost most in his heart life altred and chaÌ„ged into that thing which he readeth he that is dayly lesse and lesse proude lesse wrathfull lesse couetous lesse desirous of worldely and vayne pleasures he that daily forsaking his old vicious lyfe increaseth in vertue more and more And to be short there is nothyng that more maintaineth godlynes of the mynde driueth away vngodlynes then doth the continuall readyng or hearing of Gods worde if it be ioyned with a godly mynd and a good affection to knowe and folowe Gods wyll For without a single eye pure entent and good mynde nothyng is allowed for good before God Esai v. Mat. xxii 1. Cor. xiiii What incommodities the ignorance of goddes word bâ—inâ—eth And on the other syde nothing more darkeneth Christe and the glorye of God nor bryngeth in more blyndenesse and all kyndes of vyces then doth the ignoraunce of Gods worde ¶ The seconde parâ— of the 〈◊〉 of the holy Scripture IN the firste part of this Sermon which exhorteth to the knowledge of holy scriptur was declared wherfore the knoweledge of the same is necessary and profitable to al men And that by the true knowledge vnderstanding of scripture the moste necessarye poyntes of our duetie towardes God our neighbours are also knowen Nowe as concerning the same matter you shall heare what foloweth It we professe Christe why be we not ashamed to be ignorant in his doctrine Seing that euery man is ashâ—med to be ignorant in that lerning which he professeth That man is ashamed to be called a Philosopher which readeth not the bokes of Philosophie to be called a lawyer and Astronomer or a
most shamful and painful death for our offences to thintent to iustifye vs and to restore vs to life euerlastynge so makynge vs also his dere beloued children brethren vnto his only sonne our sauiour Christ and inheritors for euer with him of his eternal kyngdome of heauen These greate and mercifull benefites of God yf they be well considered do neyther minister vnto vs occasion to be ydle and to lyue without doynge any good woorkes neyther yet â—â—yrreth vs by any meanes to doe euill thinges but contrary wyse it we be not desperate persons and our heartes harâ—er then stones they moue vs to render our selues vnto god wholy with all oure will heartes might and power to serue him in all good dedes obeying hys commaundementes duryng our lyues to seke in al thinges his glorie and honoure not our sensuall pleasures and vainglory euermore dreadyng willyngly to offend suche a mercifull God aâ—â— louyng redemer in word thought or dede And 〈◊〉 said benefites of God depely considered moue vs â–ª for hys sake also to be euer ready to geue oure selues to our neyghbours and asmuche as lyeth in vs â–ª to studie with all our endeuour to do good to euery man These be the fruites of the true saythe to dooe good asmuche as lyeth in vs to euerye man And aboue al thinges and in all thinges to auaunce the glory of God of whom onelye we haue oure sanctification iustification saluacion and redempcion To whome be euer glorie praise and honour worlde withoute ende Amen ¶ 〈…〉 true liueâ—y and Christian faith THe first coming vnto god good Christian people is throughe faith Fayth whereby as it is declared in the last Sermon we â—e iustified before god And lest â—â—ny man should be deceiued for lacke of â—â—â—ht vnderstandynge therof 〈◊〉 â—â—diligently to be noted that faith is taken in the scripture two maner of wayes There is one faith whiche in scripture is called a dead faith 〈◊〉 dead faythe which bringet furth no good workes but is ydle barrain and vnfruitful And this faith Iames .ii. by the holy Apostle S. Iames is compared to the faith of deuils which beleue god to be true and iust tremble for feare yet they do nothing well â—â—â—ius .i. but al euil And such a maner of faith haue the wicked naughty christian people which confesse god as S. Paule saieth in their mouth but denie him in their deedes beeing abhominable â–ª without the right faith and to al good workes reprouable And this faith is a perswasioÌ„ and beliefe in mannes heart whereby he knoweth that there is a god and agreeth vnto all trueth of gods most holy woorde conteined in holy Scripture So that it consisteth onely in belieuyng in the woorde of god that it is true And this is not properlye called faythe But as he that readeth Ceasars Commentaries belieuing the same to be true hath thereby a knowledge of Ceasars lyfe and not able actes because he beleueth the history 〈◊〉 taâ—â—â— yet it is not properlye sayed that he beleueth in Ceasar of whome he loketh for no helpe nor benefite Euen so he that beleueth that all that is spoken of god in the Bible is true and yet liueth so vngodly that he can not loke to enioye the promises and benefites of god although it may be sayed that suche a man hath a faith and beliefe to the woordes of god yet it is not properlye sayed that he belieueth in god or hath suche a faith and trust iâ— god whereby he may surely loke for grace mercy and euerlasting liâ—â— at gods hand but rather for indignacion and punishment accordyng to the merites of his wicked lyfe For as it is written in a boke entituled to be of Didimus Alexandrinus for asmuche as faith without workes is dead it is not now faith as a dead man is not a maÌ„ This dead faith therfore is not the sure and substantial faith â–ª whiche saueth synners A liuely faith Another faithe there is in scripture which is not as the foresaid faith ydle vnfruitful dead but worketh by charitie as S. Paule declareth Gala v. whiche as the other vayne faith Gaâ—â— â—â— is called 〈◊〉 dead faith so may this be called a quicke or liuely faâ—â—â— And this is not onely the common beliefe of the Articles of oure faythe but iâ— is also a sure 〈◊〉 and confidence of the mercy of God â–ª 〈…〉 Lord Iesus Christ and a stedfaste hope of 〈…〉 thynges to be receyued at gods hande 〈…〉 thoughe we through infirmitie or terâ—◠〈…〉 of our gostly enemy do fall from hym by 〈…〉 we returne aâ—â—ine vnto him by â—rueâ—◠〈…〉 his sonnes sake oure Sauiour Ieâ—â—◠〈…〉 wyll made vs â—â—heritoâ—ir◠〈…〉 lastynge kingdome and that in the meane tyme vntill that kyngdome come he will be our protector and defendor in all perils and daungers whatsoeuer doe chaunce and that though sometime he doth sende vs sharpe aduersitie yet that euermore he wil be a louinge father vnto vs correctynge vs for our sinne but not withdrawing his mercy finaâ—â—ye from vs if we truste in hym and commit oâ—â— selues wholy vnto him hang only vpon hym and call vpon him ready to obey and serue hym This is the true lyuely and vnfained Christian saith and is not in the mouth and outward profession onely but it liueth and stirreth inwardely in the heart And this faith is not without hope and trust in God nor without the loue of GOD and of oure neighbours nor without the feare of God nor without the desire to heare Gods worde and of folowe the same in esche wynge euyll and doynge gladlye all good woorkes This faith â—ebrâ— xi as saint Paule describeth it is the sure ground and foundatioÌ„ of the benefites which we ought to looke for and trust to receiue of God a certificat and sure lookynge for them althoughe thei yet sensibly appeare not vnto vs. And after he saith he that commeth to god must beleue bothe that he is that he is a merciful rewarder of well doers And nothing coÌ„meÌ„deth good men vnto god so much as this assured faith and trust in him Of this faith .iii. thinges are specially to be noted Firste Thre thinges are to be noted of â—â—â—the that this faith dothe not lye dead in the heart but is liuely and fruitful in bringing furth good woorkes Seconde that without it can no good workes be done that shal be acceptable pleasaunt to God Chyrd what maner of good workes they be that this faith doeth bring furth For the first as the light cannot be hyd Faith is full of good workes but will shew furth it selfe at one place or other So a true faith cannot be kept secret but wheÌ„ occasion is offered it will breake out and shewe it selfe by good woorkes And as the lyuinge body of a man euer exerciseth such thinges as belongeth to a natural and liuing body for nourishment and preseruatioÌ„ of the same as it hath nede
not to lette from sayinge the trueth and doyng truely for fauor loue breade or malyce of any person as GOD maye helpe theym and the holy contentes of that booke They muste considre that in that booke is conteyned Gods euer lasting trueth his mooste holy and eternall worde whereby we haue forgeuenesse of our sinnes and be made inheritoures of Heaâ—en to lyue for ener with goddes Angelies and his sainctes in ioye and gladnesse In the gospell booke is conteined also Gods terrible threates to obstinate synners that wyll not amende theyr liues nor beleue the trueth of God his holy worde and the euerlasting payne prepared in helle for Idolaters Hypoerites for false and vaine swearers for periured men for false witnes bearers for false condemners of innocent and gylteles men and for them whiche for fauoure hide the crymes of euyll doers that they shoulde not be punyshed So that whosoeuer wilfully forsweareth himselfe vpon Christes holy Euangely they vtterly forsake Gods mercye goodnesse and trueth the merites of our sauiour Christes natiuitie life passion death resurrection and assention They refuse the forgeuenesse of synnes promised to all penitente synners the ioyes of heauen the company with Angelles and sainctes for euer All whiche benefites and comfortes are promised vnto true christian persons in the gospell And they so being for sworne vpon the gospel do be take them selfes to the deuilles seruice the master of all lyes falshod deceite and periurye prouokynge the great indignation and curse of God against theÌ„ in this lyfe and the terrible wrath and iudgemente of our sauior Christ at the great day of the last iudgement when he shal iustly iudge both the quicke and the dead accordynge to theyr woorkes For whosoeuer forsaketh the trueth for loue or displeasure of any man or for lucre and profite to hym selfe doeth forsake Christ and with Iudas betrayeth hym Though peâ—iuryâ— do escape here vnespied and vnpunished it shall not do so euer And although such periured mennes falshod bee now kept secrete yet it shal be opened at the last day when the secretes of all mennes heartes shal be manifest to all the worlde And then the trueth shall appeare and accuse them and theyr owne conscience with all the blessed companye of heauen shall beare witnes truely against them And Christ the righteous iudge shall then iustly condemne them to euerlastyng shame and death This sinne of periurye almightie God by the prophete Malachy doth threaten to punyshe sore saying vnto the Iewes Malac. 〈◊〉 I wyll come to you in iudgement and I wil be a swift witnes and a sharpe iudge vpon sorcerers adulterers and periured persons Which thing to the Prophete Zachary God declareth in a vision zachar 〈◊〉 wherin the prophete saw a booke fliyng which was twentye cubites long and tenne cubites broade God saying then vnto hym this is the curse that shall goe furthe vppon the face of the yearth for falshoode false swearynge and periurye And this curse shall entre into the house of the false man and into the house of the periured man and it shall remaine in the middeste of his house and consume hym the tymbre and stones of his house Thus you see how much God doth hate periurye and what punishment God hath prepared for false swearers and periured persones Thus you haue heard how and in what causes it is lawfull for a Christian man to sweare ye haue heard what properties and conditions a lawefull othe must haue and also howe suche lawefull othes are bothe godlye and necessarye to be obserued ye haue heard that it is not lawfull to sweare vaynly that is other wayes then in suche causes and after suche sort as is declared and fynally ye haue heard how damnable a thing it is eyther to forsweare our selues or to keepe an vnlawfull and an vnaduised othe Wherfore let vs earnestly call for grace that al vayne swearing and periury set a part we may onely vse suche othes as bee lawful and godly and that we maye truelye withoute all fraude keepe the same accordinge to Gods will and pleasure To whom with the sonne and holye ghost bee all honour and glory AMEN A Sermon how daungerous a thinge it is to sall from God OF oure goynge from God Euâ—â— â— the wyseman sayth that pryde was the fyrste beginning for by it mannes hearte was turned from God his maker For pride sayeth he is the fountaine of all synne he that hath it shall be ful of cursinges and at the ende it shall ouerthrow him And as by pride and synne we go from God so shall God and al goodnes with him go from vs. Ozee 5. And the prophete Ozee doeth playnly affyrme that they which go away stil froÌ„ God by vicious liuing yet would go aboute to pacyfye him otherwise by sacrifice and entertayne hym thereby they labour in vayne For notwithstandinge all theyr sacrifice yet he goeth stil awaye from them For so muche sayth the prophet as they do not applye theyr myndes to retourne to God althoughe they goo aboute with whole flockes and heardes to seeke the Lorde yet they shall not fynde him for he is gone awaye from them But as touchinge our turninge to God or from God you shal vnderstand that it may be doen dyuerse waies Sometimes directlye by ydolatrye as Israell and Iuda then did sometimes men go from GOD by lacke of fayth and mistrusting of God wherof Esay speaketh in this wyse Woe to them that go doune into Egipt to seke for helpe trusting in Horses â—hauing confidence in the numbre of chariots Esai â—â— and â—â—â—saunce or power of Horsemen They haue n◠〈…〉 dence in the holy god of Israel nor seke for the Lord But what foloweth The Lorde shall let hys hande fall vpon them and downe shall come both the helper and he that is holpen They shal be destroyed altogether Sometyme men go from God by the neglecting of his commaundementes conceining theyr neyghbours which commaundeth them to expresse hartie loue towardes â—uery man â—â—her 7. as Zacharye sayde vnto the people in Gods behalfe Geue true iudgemente shewe mercye and compassion euery one to his brother Imagin no deceite towardes widows or children fatherles motherles towardes straunger or the poore let no man forge euill in his heart against his brother But these thynges they passed not of they turned their backes and went theyr way they stopped theyr eares that they might not heare they hardened theyr hartes as an Adamante stone that they might not listen to the lawe the wordes that the Lorde had sente through his holy spirite by his aunciente Prophetes Wherefore the Lorde shewed his great indignation vppon them It came to passe sayeth the Prophete euen as I tolde them as they would not heare 〈◊〉 7 so when they cryed they were not heard but were scattered into al kingdomes which they neuer knew theyr lande was made desolate And to be short al they that may not abide the