Glimpses of Christian History Presents Pastwords #75: Approved Homilies Against Swearing and Perjury, Whoring, Inebriation, Rebellion, Excessive Dress, etc. ©2007

Certaine Sermons or Homilies, Appointed to Be Read in Churches, in the Time of the Late Queen Elizabeth of Famous Memory. And Now Thought Fit to Be Reprinted by Authority from the King's Most Excellent Majesty. 2 Volumes in one. London: by R.H. and J.N. for Richard Whitaker, 1640. Folio, contemporary calf, raised bands, (i) (v) 98 and (iv) 318 (ii) pages, first title with elaborate wood-cut border, entire text in Black Letter. Covers firm, moderate old wear with some scuffing, lacking original endpapers with single original blank at front and rear, text tight, still quite clean with mild aging, light scattered foxing and browning, heavier foxing at first title and first few leaves, later version of first title page with imprint date altered to 1664 (with early handwritten correction). STC 13662, 13677. Initially published in 1623, with several early subsequent editions; this edition has an altered date on the first title page to accommodate the Restoration of Charles II and the return to power of the Anglicans.

oncerning how necessary it is, that the Word of God, which is the only food of the soul, and that most excellent Light that we must walk by, in this our dangerous pilgrimage, should at all convenient times be preached unto the people, that thereby they may both learn their duty toward God, their Prince, and their neighbours, according to the minde of the Holy Ghost, expressed in the Scriptures; And also to avoid the manifold enormities which heretofore by false Doctrine have crept into the Church of God: and how that all they which are appointed Ministers, have not the gift of preaching sufficiently to instruct the people, which is committed unto them, whereof great inconveniences might rise, and ignorance still be maintained, if some honest remedy be not speedily found, and provided. The Queen most excellent Majesty tendring the souls health of her loving Subjects, and the quieting of their consciences in the chief, and principall points of Christian Religion, and willing also by the true setting forth, and pure declaring of Gods Word, which is the principal Guide, and Leader unto all godliness, and vertue, to expell and drive away as well all corrupt, vicious, and ungodly living, as also erroneous and poysoned doctrines, tending to superstition, and idolatry; hath by the advice of her most Honourable Councellors, for her discharge in this behalf, caused a Book of Homilies, which heretofore was set forth by her loving Brother, a Prince of most worthy memory Edward the sixth, to be printed anew, wherein are conteined certain wholsome, and godly exhortations, to move the people to honour and worship Almighty God, and diligently to serve him, every one according to their degree, state, and vocation. All which Homilies, her Majesty commandeth, and straitly chargeth all Parsons, Vicars, Curats, and all other, having spiritual Cure, every Sunday, and Holiday in the year, at the ministring of the holy Communion, or, if there be no Communion ministred that day, yet after the Gospel, and Creed, in such order and place, as is appointed in the Book of Common Prayer, to read, and declare to their Parishioners plainly, and distinctly, one of the said Homilies, in such order as they stand in the Book, except there be a Sermon, according as it is enjoyned in the Book of her Highness Injunctions, and then for that cause onely, and for none other, the reading of the said Homily to be deferred unto the next Sunday, or Holiday following. And when the foresaid Book of Homilies is read over, her Majesties pleasure is, that it be repeated, and read again, in such like sort as was before prescribed. Furthermore, her Highness commandeth, that notwithstanding this Order, the said Ecclesiastical persons shall read her Majesties Injunctions, at such times, and in such order, as is in the Book thereof appointed: And that the Lords Prayer, the Articles of the Faith, and the ten Commandments, be openly read unto the people, as in the said Instructions is specified, that all her people, of what degree or condition soever they be, may learn how to invocate, and call upon the Name of God, and know what duty they owe both to God and man so that they may pray, believe, and work according to knowledge, while they shall live here; and after this life be with Him that with his blood hath bought us all. To whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory for ever, Amen.

AN HOMILY AGAINST excesse of Apparell. here yee have heretofore been excited, and stirred to use temperance of meats and drinkes, and to avoyd the excesse thereof, many wayes hurtfull to the state of the Common wealth, and so odious before Almighty God, being the authour, and giver of such creatures, to comfort, and stablish our frayle nature with thankes unto him, and not be abusing of them to provoke his liberality to severe punishing of that disorder: In like manner it is convenient that ye be admonished of another soule, and chargeable excesse: I meane, of apparell, at these daies so gorgious, that neyther Almighty GOD by his Word can stay our proud curiosity in the same, neyther yet godly, and necessary lawes, made of our Princes, and oft repeated with the penalties, can bridle this detestable abuse, whereby both GOD is openly contemned, and the Princes Lawes manifestly disobeyed, to the great perill of the Realme. Wherefore, that sobriety also in this excesse may be espied among us, I shall declare unto you, both the moderate use of apparell, approved by GOD in his holy Word, and also the abuses thereof, which he forbiddeth, and disalloweth, as it may appeare by the inconveniences which daily encrease, by the just judgement of GOD, where that measure is not kept, which he himselfe hath appointed. If we consider the end and purpose whereunto almighty GOD hath ordained his creatures, we shall easily perceive that he alloweth us apparell, not only for necessities sake, but also for an honest comelinesse. Even as in hearbs, trees, and sundry fruits, we have not only divers necessary uses, but also the pleasant sight and sweet smell, to delight us withall, wherein we may beheld the singular love of GOD towards mankinde, in that he hath provided both to relieve our necessities, and also to refresh our sences with an honest, and moderate recreation. Therefor David in the hundred and fourth Psalme, confessing GODS carefull providence, shewed that GOD not only provideth things necessary for men, as hearbs, and other meats, but also such things as may rejoyce a comfort, as wine, to make glad the heart, oyles and oyntments to make the face to shine. So that they are altogether, past the limits of humanity, who yielding only to necessity, forbid the lawfull fruition of GODS benefits. With whose traditions we may not be led, if we give eare to what S. Paul writeth to the Colossians, willing them not to hearken unto such men as shall say, Touch not, Taste not, Handle not, superstitiously bereaving them of the fruition of GODS treasures.

And no lesse truly ought we to beware, lest under pretence of Christian liberty, we take license to doe what we list, advancing our selves in fine bravery, to wanton, lewd and unchaste behaviour: To the avoyding whereof, it behoveth us to be mindefull of foure lessons, taught in holy Scripture, whereby we shall learne to temper our selves, and to restraine our immoderate affections, to that measure which GOD hath appoynted. The first is, that we make not provision for the flesh, to accomplish the lusts thereof, with costly apparell, as that harlot did, of whom Solomon speaketh, Proverbs the seventh, which perfumed her bed, and deckt it with costly ornaments of Egypt to the fulfilling of her lewd lust: but rather ought we by moderate temperance to cut off all occasions, whereby the flesh might get the victory. The second is written by St. Paul, in the vii. chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians, where he teacheth us to use this world, as though we used it not. Whereby he cutteth away not only all ambition, pride and vain pompe in apparell: but also all inordinate care and affection, which withdraweth us from the contemplation of heavenly things, and consideration of our duty towards GOD. They that are much occupied in caring for things pertayning to the body, are most commonly negligent and carelesse in matters concerning the soule. Therefore our Saviour Christ willeth us not to take thought what we shall eate, or what we shall drinke, or wherewith wee shall be clothed, but rather to seeke the Kingdome of GOD and the righteousnesse thereof. Whereby wee may learne to beware, lest wee use those things to our hinderance, which GOD hath ordained for our comfort and furtherance towards his Kingdome. The third is, that we take in good part our estate and condition, and content our selves with that which GOD sendeth, whether it be much or little. He that is ashamed of base and simple attire, will be proud of gorgious apparell if hee may get it. We must learne therefore of the Apostle Saint Paul, both to use plenty and also to suffer penury, remembring that wee must yield accounts of those things which wee have received, unto him who abhoreth all excesse, pride, ostentation and vanity, who also utterly condemneth, and dissalloweth whatsoever draweth us from our duty towards GOD, or diminisheth our charity towards our neighbours, and children whom we ought to love as our selves. The fourth and last rule is, that every man behold and consider his owne vocation, in as much as GOD hath appointed every man his degree and office, within the limits whereof it behooveth him to keepe himselfe. Therefore all may not looke to weare like apparell, but every one according to his degree, as GOD hath placed him. Which, if it were observed, many one doubtlesse should bee compelled to wear a russet coate, which now russleth in silkes and velvets, spending more by the yard in sumptuous apparell, then their fathers received for the whole revenue of their lands. But alas, now a dayes how many may wee behold occupied wholy in pampering the flesh, taking no care at all, but only how to deck themselves, setting their affection altogether on worldly bravery, abusing GODS goodnes when he sendeth plenty, to satisfie their wanton lusts, having no regard to the degree wherein GOD hath placed them. The Israelites were contented with such apparell as GOD gave them, although it were base and simple: And GOD so blessed them, that their shooes, and clothes lasten them forty yeares, yea, and those clothes which their fathers had worne, their children were contented to use afterward. But we are never contented, and therefore we prosper not, so that most commonly he that russleth in his Salves, in his fine furred gowne, corked slippers, trimmebuskinnes and warme mittins, is more ready to chill for cold, then the poore labouring man, which can abide in the field all the day long, when the North-wind blowes, with a few beggerly cloaths about him. We are loth to weare such as our fathers have left us, wee thinke not that sufficient or good enough for us: We must have one gowne for the day, an other for the night, one long, another short, one for Winter, another for Summer, one thorow furred, another but faced, one for the working day, another for the holy day, one of this colour, another of that colour, one of Cloth, another of Silke or Damaske. We must have change of apparell, one afore dinner, and another after, one of the Spanish fashion, another Turkie: and to bee briefe, never content with sufficient.

Our Saviour Christ had his Disciples they should not have two coates: but the most men, farre unlike to his schollers, have their presses so full of apparell, that many know not how many sorts they have. Which thing caused Saint James to pronounce this terrible curse against such wealthy worldlings, Goe to, yee rich men, weepe and bowle on for your wretchednesse that shall come upon you, your riches are corrupt, and your garments are motheaten, yee have lived in pleasure on the earth, and in wantonnesse, yee have nourished your hearts, as in the day of slaughter. Harke, I beseech you. Saint James calleth them miserable, notwithstanding their riches, and plenty of apparell, forasmuch as they pamper their bodies, to their owne destruction. What was the rich glutton the better for his fine fare and costly apparell: Did not he nourish himself, to be tormented in hell fire? Let us learne therefore to content our selves, having food and rayment, as Saint Paul teacheth, lest desiring to be enriched with abundance, we fall into temptations, snares, and many noysome lusts, which drowne men in perdition, and destruction. Certainely such as delight in gorgious apparell, are commonly puffed up with pride, and filled with divers vanities. So were the daughters of Sion, and people of Jerusalem, whom Esaias the Prophet threatneth, because they walked with stretched out neckes and wandring eyes, mincing as they went, and nicely treading with their feete, that Almighty GOD would make their heads bald, and discover their secret shame. In that day, saith he, shall the Lord take away the ornament of the Slippers, and the Cawles, and the round attires, and the sweet Balls, and the Bracelets, and the Attires of the head, and the Sloppes, and the head-bands, and the Tablets, and the Eare-rings, the Rings, and the Mufflers, the costly apparell, and the vailes, and dimples, and the crisping-pinnes, and the Glasses, and the fine Linnen, and the Hoods and the Lawnes. So that Almighty God would not suffer his benefits to be vainely and wantonly abused, no not of that people whom hee most tenderly loved, and had chosen to himself before all other. No lesse truely is the vanity that is used among us in these daies. For the proud and haughty stomacks of the daughters of England are so maintained with divers disguised sorts of costly apparell, that as Tertullian, an ancient Father saith, There is left no difference in apparell betwixt an honest Matron, and a common Strumpet. Yea many men are become so effeminate, that they care not what they spend in disguising themselves, ever desiring new toyes, and inventing new fashions. Therefore a certaine man that would picture every Countryman in his accustomed apparell, when hee had painted other Nations, he pictured the Englishman all naked, and gave him cloth under his arme, and had him make it himselfe as he thought best, for he changed his fashion so often, that he knew not how to make it. Thus with our phantastical devices we make our selves laughing-stocks to other Nations, while one spendeth his patrimony upon pounces and cuts, another bestoweth more on a dancing shirt, than might suffice to buy him honest and comely apparell for his whole body, Some hang their revenues about their necks, ruffling in their Ruffes, and many one jeopardeth his best joynt to maintaine himselfe in sumptuous rayment. And every man, nothing considering his estate, and condition, seeketh to excell other in costly attire: whereby it commeth to passe, that in abundance that in abundance and plenty of all things, wee yet compaine of want and penury, while one man spendeth that which might serve a multitude, and no man distributeth of the abundance which hee hath received, and all men excessively waste that which should serve to supply the necessities of other. There hath been very good provision made against such abuses, by divers good and wholesome lawes, which if they were practiced as they ought to be of all true Subjects, they might in some part serve to diminish this raging and riotous excesse in apparell. Bust alasse, their appeareth amongst us little feare and obedience either of GOD or Man. Therefore must wee needs looke for GODS fearfull vengeance from Heaven, to overthrow our presumption, and pride, as he overthrew Herod, who in his royal apparell forgetting GOD, was smitten of an Angell, and eaten up of wormes. By which terrible example GOD hath taught us that wee are but wormes-meate, although we pamper our selves never so much in gorgeous apparell.

Here we may learn that which Jesus the sonne of Syrach teacheth not to be proud of clothing and rayment, neither to exalt our selves in the day of honour, because the workes of the Lord are wonderfull and glorious, secret, and unknown, teaching us with humblenesse of minde, every one to be mindfull of the vocation whereunto GOD hath called him. Let Christians therefore endeavour themselves to quench the care of pleasing the flesh: let us use the benefits of GOD in this world in such wise, that we be not too much occupied in providing for the body. Let us content our selves quietly with that which GOD sendeth, be it never so little. And if it please him to send plenty, let us not waxe proud thereof, but let us use it moderately, as well to our own comfort, as to the reliefe of such as stand in necessity. He that in abundance and plenty of apparell hideth his face from him that is naked, despiseth his own flesh, as Esay the Prophet saith, Let us learne to know our selves, and not to despise other: let us remember that we stand all before the Majesty of Almighty God, who shall judge us by his holy word wherein he forbiddeth excesse, not onely to men, but also to women. So that none can excuse themselves, of what estate or condition soever they be.

Let us therefore present our selves before his Throne, as Tertullian exhorteth, with the ornaments which the Apostle speaketh of, Ephesians the first Chapter, having our loynes girt about with verity, having the breast-plate of righteousness, and shod with shooes prepared by the Gospell of peace. Let us take unto us simplicity, chastity, and comeliness, submitting our necks to the sweet yoke of Christ. Let Women be subject to their Husbands, and they are sufficiently attired, saith Tertullian. The wife of one Philo an heathen Philosopher being demanded why thee ware no gold: Thee answered, That she thought her Husbands vertues sufficient ornaments. Now much more ought Christian women, instructed by the Word of God, to content themselves in their husbands? yea how much more ought every Christian to content himself in our Saviour Christ, thinking himself sufficiently garnished with his heavenly vertues? But it will be here objected and said of some nice and vaine women, that all which we do in painting our faces, in dying our haire, in embalming our bodies , in decking us with gay apparell, is to please our husband, to delight his eyes, and to retain his love towards us. O vaine excuse, and most shamefull answer, to the reproach of thy husband! What couldst thou more say to set out his foolishness, than to charge him to be pleased and delighted with the Devils tire? Who can paint her face, and curle her haire, and change it unto an unnaturall colour, but therein both worke reproofe to her Maker, who made her? As though shee could make her selfe more comely than GOD hath appointed the measure of her beauty. What doe these women, but goe about to deform that which GOD hath made? not knowing that all things natural are the workes of GOD, and things disguised and unnaturall be the workes of the Devill. And as though a wise and Christian husband should delight to see his wife in such painted and flourished visages, which common harlots most doe use to traine therewith their lovers to naughtiness, or as though an honest woman could delight to be like an Harlot for pleasing of her Husband. Nay, nay, these be but vaine excuses of such as go about to please rather others than there husbands. And such attires be but to provoke her to shew herself abroad, to entice others: a worthy matter. She must keep debate with her husband to maintaine such apparell, whereby she is the worse huswife, the seldomer at home to see to her charge, and so neglect his thrift, by giving great provocation to her hushold to waste and wantonnesse, while shee must wander abroad to shew her own vanitie, and her husbands foolishness. By which her pride she stirreth up much envy of others which he as vainly delighted as she is. She doth but deserve mocks and scornes to set out all her commendation in Jewish and Ethnicke apparel, and yet brag of her Christianity. She doth but wake superfluously her husbands stocke by such sumptuousnesse, and sometimes she is the cause of much bribery, extortion and deceit in her husbands dealings, that she may be the more gorgiously set out to the sight of the vain world, to please the divels eyes, and not GODS, who giveth to every creature sufficient and moderate comelinesse, wherewith we should be contented, if we were of God. What other thing dost thou by those meanes, but provoke other to tempt thee, to deceive they soul by the baite of they pompe, and pride? What else dost thou, but settest out thy pride, and makest of the undecent apparell of the body, the divels net, to catch the souls of them which behold thee? O thou woman, not a Christian, but worse than a Daynim, thou minister of the divell: Why pamprest thou that carrion flesh so high, which sometime doth stinke, and rot on the earth as thou goest? howsoever thou perfumest thy selfe, yet cannot thy beastinesse be hidden or overcome with thy smells and favours, which doe rather deform and mis-shape thee, than beautifie thee. what meant Solomon to say of such trimming of vaine women, when he said, A faire woman without good manners and conditions, is like a Sow which hath a ring of gold upon her snout, but that the more thou garnish they selfe with these outward blazings, the lesse thou carest for the inward garnishing of the minde, and so dost but deforme thy selfe by such array, and not beautifie thy self? Heare, heare what Christs holy Apostles doe write: Let not the outward apparell of women (saith Saint Peter) be decked with the braiding of haire, with wrapping on of gold or goodly cloathing: but let the mind and the conscience, which is not seene with the eyes, be pure and cleane, that is, saith he, an acceptable and an excellent thing before GOD. For so the old ancient holy women attired themselves, and were obedient to their husbands. And S. Paul saith, that women should apparell themselves with shamesaknesse and sobernesse, and not with the braids of their haire, or gold, or pearle, or precious clothes, but as women should doe which will express godliness by their good outward workes. If ye will not keepe the Apostles precepts, at the least let us hear what Pagans, which were ignorant of Christ, have said in this matter. Democrates saith. The ornament of a woman standith in scarcity of speech and apparell. Sophocles saith of such apparell thus: It is not an ornament, O thou fool, but a shame, and a manifest shew of they folly. Socrates saith, that is a garnishing to a woman, which declareth out her honesty. The Grecians use it in a Proverb, It is not gold or pearle which if a beauty to a woman, but good conditions.

And Aristotle biddeth that a woman should use lesse apparell than the law doth suffer. For it is not the goodlinesse of apparell, nor the excellency of beauty, nor the abundance of gold that maketh a woman to be esteemed, but modesty, and diligence to live honestly in all things. This outragious vanity is now grown so farre, that there is no shame taken of it. We read in histories that when King Dionysius sent to the women of Lacedemon rich robes, they answered and said, That they shall doe us more shame then honour, and therefore refused them. The women in Rome in old time abhorred that gay apparel which King Pyrrhus sent to them, and none were so greedy and vain to accept them. And a law was openly made of the Senate, and a long time observed, that no woman should weare over halfe an ounce of gold, nor should weare clothes of divers colours. But perchance some dainty Dame will say, and answer me, that they must do something to shew their birth and blood, to shew their husbands riches: as though nobility were chiefely seen by these things, which be common to those which be most vile: as though thy husbands riches were not better bestowed than in such superfluities, as though when thou was Christned, thou diddest not renounce the pride of this world, and the pompe of the flesh. I speak not against convenient apparell for every state agreeable, but against the superfluity, against the vaine delight to cover such vanities, to devise new fashions to feed the pride with, to spend so much upon they carcase, that thou and thy husband are compelled to rob the poore, to maintain the costlinesse. Heare how that noble holy woman Queene Hester setteth out these goodly ornaments (as they are called) when (in respect of saving GODS people) she was compelled to put on such glorious apparel? knowing that it was a bit stable to blind the eyes of carnal fooles. Thus shee prayed, Thou knowest, O Lord, the necessity which I am driven to put on this apparell, and that I abhorre this signe of pride and of this glory which I bear on my head, and that I defie it as a filthy cloth, and that I wear it not when I am alone. I gaine, by what means was Holophernes deceived? by the glittering shew of apparel, which that holy woman Judith did put on her, not as delighting in them, nor seeking vaine voluptuous pleasure by them: but shee ware it of pure necessity, by GODS dispensation, using this vanity to overcome the vaine eyes of GODS enemy. Such desire was in those noble women, being very loth, and unwilling otherwise to weare such sumptuous apparel, by the which others should be caused to forget themselves. These be commended in Scripture for abhoring such vanities, which by constraint and great necessity, against their hearts desire, they were compelled to wear them for a time. And shall such women be worthy commendations, which neither be comparable with these women aforesaid in nobility, nor comparable to them in their good scale to GOD, and his people, whose daily delight and seeking is to flourish in such gay shifts and changes, never satisfied nor regarding who smarteth for their apparel, so they may come by it?

O vaine men, which he subjects to their wives in these inordinate affections. O vaine women, to procure so much hurt to themselves, by the which they come the sooner to misery in this world and in the meantime be abhorred of GOD, hated and scorned of wisemen, and in the end, like to be joyned with such, who in hell, too late repenting themselves, shall openly complain with these words; What hath our pride profited us? or what profit hath the pompe of riches brought us' All these things are passed away like a shadow. As for vertue, we did never shew any sign thereof: and thus wee are consumed in our wickednesse. If thou sayst that the custome is to be followed, and the use of the world both compell thee to such curiosity, then I aske of thee whose custom should be followed? wise folkes manners, or fools. If thou sayst the wise? then I say, follow them: For fooles customes, who should follow but fools? Consider that the consent of wise men ought to be alledged for a custom. Now if any lewd custom be used, be thou the first to break it, labour to diminish it, and lay down; and more laud before GOD, and more commendation shalt thou win by it, then by all the glory of such superfluity. Thus you have heard declared unto you what GOD requireth by his Word concerning the moderate use of his creatures. Let us learn to use them moderately as he hath appointed. Almighty God hath taught us to what end and purpose we should use our apparell; Let us therefore always showing our selves thankful to our heavenly Father for his great and merciful benefits, who giveth unto us our daily bread, that is to say, all things necessary for this our needy life, unto whom we shall render accounts for all his benefits, at the glorious appearing of our Saviour Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour, praise, and glory for ever and ever. Amen.