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HOM. X.

On Good Order and Obedience.

and an especial exhortation, concerning giving of thanks and prayer for kings, and rulers, saying, 'Above all things,' as he might say, in any wise principally and chiefly, let prayer be made for kings. Let us heartily thank God for his great and excellent benefit and providence concerning the state of kings. Let us pray for them that they may have God's favour, and God's protection. Let us pray that they may ever in all things have God before their eyes. Let us pray that they may have wisdom, strength, justice, clemency, and zeal to God's glory, to God's verity, to christian souls, and to the commonwealth, Let us pray that they may rightly use their sword and authority, for the maintenance and defence of the catholic faith contained in holy scripture, and of their good and honest subjects, for the fear and punishment of the evil and vicious people. Let us pray that they may most faithfully follow the kings and captains in the Bible, David, Ezekias, Josias, and Moses, with such other. And let us pray for ourselves, that we may live godlily, in holy and christian conversation: so shall we have God on our side, and then let us not fear what man can do against us: so we shall live in true obedience, both to our most merciful king in heaven, and to our most christian king on earth: so shall we please God, and have the exceeding benefit, peace of conscience, rest and quietness here in this world, and after this life we shall enjoy a better life, rest, peace, and the everlasting bliss of heaven, which he grant us all, that was obedient for us all, even to the death of the cross, Jesus Christ: to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, both now and ever. Amen.

This exhortation exposes the danger of indulging seditious thoughts; from the consideration that when they are brought into words or deeds, they will receive their due deserts: God will have such detestable vices to be exposed and punished; for every transgression of his ordinances is an attack upon the authority of the divine Majesty.

HOM. XI. Against Whoredom and Uncleanness.

HOMILY XI.

Against Whoredom and Uncleanness.

ALTHOUGH there want not, good christian people, great swarms of vices worthy to be rebuked, unto such decay is true godliness and virtuous living now come: Yet above other vices, the outrageous seas of adultery, or breaking of wedlock, whoredom, fornication and uncleanness, have not only burst in, but also overflowed almost the whole world, unto the great dishonour of God, the exceeding infamy of the name of Christ, the notable decay of true religion, and the utter destruction of the public wealth; and that so abundantly, that through the customable use thereof, this vice is grown unto such an height, that in a manner, among many, it is counted no sin at all, but rather a pastime, a dalliance, and but a touch of youth; not rebuked, but winked at; not punished, but laughed at. Wherefore it is necessary, at this present, to treat of the sin of whoredom and fornication, declaring unto you the greatness of this sin, and how odious, hateful, and abominable it is, and hath alway been reputed before God and all good men, and how grievously it hath been punished both by the law of God, and the laws of divers princes. Again, to shew you certain remedies whereby ye may, through the grace of God, eschew this most detestable sin of whoredom and fornication, and lead your lives in all honesty and cleanness: and that ye may perceive that fornication, and whoredom are, in

Exod. xx.

HOM. XI.

Against Whoredom and Uncleanness.

the sight of God, most abominable sins, ye shall call to remembrance this commandment of God, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery:' by the which word, adultery, although it be properly understood of the unlawful commixion or joining together of a married man with any woman beside his wife, or of a wife with any man beside her husband: yet thereby is signified also, all unlawful use of those parts which be ordained for generation. And this one commandment, forbidding adultery, doth sufficiently paint and set out before our eyes the greatness of this sin of whoredom, and manifestly declareth how greatly it ought to be abhorred of all honest and faithful persons. And that none of us all shall think himself excepted from this commandment, whether he be old or young, married or unmarried, man or woman, hear what God the Father saith by his most excellent prophet, Moses: 'There shall be no whore among the daughters of Israel, nor no whoremonger among the sons of Israel.'

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Here is whoredom, fornication, and all other uncleanness forbidden to all kinds of people, all degrees, and all ages, without exception. And that we shall not doubt, but that this precept or commandment pertaineth to us indeed, hear what Christ, the perfect teacher of all truth, saith in the New Testament, 'Ye have heard, saith Christ, that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, Whosoever seeth a woman, to have his lust of her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Here our Saviour Christ doth not only confirm and establish the law against adultery, given in the Old Testimony of God the Father by his servant Moses, and make it of full strength, continually to remain among the professors of his name in the new law; but he, also, (condemning the gross inter

Deut. xxiii. Matt. v.

HOM. XI. ·Against Whoredom and Uncleanness.

pretation of the scribes and pharisees, which taught that the foresaid commandment required only to abstain from the outward adultery, and not from the filthy desires and impure lusts) teacheth us an exact and full perfection of purity and cleanness of life, both to keep our bodies undefiled, and our hearts pure and free from all evil thoughts, carnal desires and fleshly consents, How can we then be free from this commandment, where so great a charge is laid upon us? May a servant do what he will in any thing, having commandment of his master to the contrary? Is not Christ our Master? Are not we his servants? How then may we neglect our Master's will and pleasure, and follow our own will and fantasy? Ye are my friends, saith Christ, if you keep those things that I command you?

Now hath Christ our Master commanded us, that we should forsake all uncleanness and filthiness both in body and spirit: this therefore must we do, if we look to please God. In the Gospel of St. Matthew we read, that the scribes and pharisees were grievously offended with Christ, because his disciples did not keep the traditions of their forefathers, for they washed not their hands when they went to dinner or supper. And among other things, Christ answered and said, 'Hear and understand; Not that thing which entereth into the mouth defileth the man, but that which cometh out of the mouth defileth the man.' For those things which proceed out of the mouth came forth from the heart, and they defile the man. 'For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, breaking of wedlock, whoredom, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man.' Here may we see, that not only murder, theft, false witness, and blasphemy defile men, but also evil thoughts, breaking

John xv. Matt. xv.

HOM. XI.

Against Whoredom and Uncleanness.

of wedlock, fornication, and whoredom. Who is now of so little wit, that he will esteem whoredom and fornication to be things of small importance, and of no weight before God? Christ (who is the truth, and cannot lie) saith, that 'evit thoughts, breaking of wedlock, whoredom, and fornication defile a man;' that is to say, corrupt both the body and soul of man, and make them of the temples of the Holy Ghost, the filthy dunghill, or dungeon of all unclean spirits: of the house of God, the dwelling-place of Satan.

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Again, in the Gospel of St. John, when the woman taken in adultery was brought unto Christ, said not he unto her, Go thy way and sin no more?' Doth not be here call whoredom sin? And what is the ' reward of sin, but everlasting death'? If whoredom be sin, then it is not lawful for us to commit it; for St. John saith, 'He that committeth sin is of the Devil.' And our Saviour saith, Every one that committeth sin is the servant of sin.' If whoredom had not been sin, surely St. John Baptist would never have rebuked King Herod for taking his brother's wife; but he told him plainly, that it was not lawful for him to take his brother's wife.' winked not at the whoredom of Herod, although he were a king of power; but boldly reproved him for his wicked and abominable living, although for the same he lost his head. But he would rather suffer death (than see God so dishonoured, by the breaking of his holy precept and commandment) than to suffer whoredom to be unrebuked, even in a king. If whoredom had been but a pastime, a dalliance, and not to be passed of, (as many count it now-a days) truly John had been more than twice mad, if he would have had the displeasure of a king, if he would have been cast in prison, and lose his head for

Mark vii. Titus i. John viii. Rom. vi. 1 John iii. John viii. Mark vi.

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