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HOMILIES

APPOINTED TO BE READ IN CHURCHES

IN THE TIME OF

QUEEN ELIZABETH

OF FAMOUS MEMORY.

IN TWO PARTS.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

THE CONSTITUTIONS AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICAL

AND

THE THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES

OF THE

CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

FOURTH EDITION.

OXFORD,

AT THE CLARENDON PRESS.

MDCCCXVI.

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THE

PREFACE,

As it was published in the Year 1562.

CONSIDERING how neceffary it is, that the Word of God, which is the only food of the foul, and that most excellent light that we muft walk by, in this our moft dangerous pilgrimage, fhould at all convenient times be preached unto the people, that thereby they may both learn their duty towards God, their Prince, and their neighbours, according to the mind of the Holy Ghoft, expreffed in the Scriptures, and alfo to avoid the manifold enormities which heretofore by falfe doctrine have crept into the Church of God; and how that all they which are appointed Minifters have not the gift of preaching sufficiently to instruct the people, which is committed unto them, whereof great inconveniences might rife, and ignorance ftill be maintained, if fome honeft remedy be not speedily found and provided: the Queen's moft excellent Majefty, tendering the fouls health of her loving fubjects, and the quieting of their confciences in the chief and principal points of Christian religion, and willing also by the true setting forth and pure

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declaring of God's Word, which is the principal guide and leader unto all godlinefs and virtue, to expel and drive away as well corrupt, vicious, and ungodly living, as alfo erroneous and poifoned doctrines, tending to fuperftition and idolatry, hath by the advice of her most honourable Counsellors, for her discharge in this behalf, caufed a Book of Homilies, which heretofore was fet forth by her moft loving Brother, a Prince of moft worthy memory, Edward the Sixth, to be printed anew, wherein are contained certain wholesome and godly exhortations, to move the people to honour and worship Almighty God, and diligently to ferve him, every one according to their degree, ftate, and vocation. All which Homilies her Majefty commandeth and ftraitly chargeth all Parfons, Vicars, Curates, and all others having spiritual cure, every Sunday and Holy-day in the year, at the miniftering of the holy Communion, or if there be no Communion miniftered that day, yet after the Gospel and Creed, in fuch order and place as is appointed in the Book of Common Prayers, to read and declare to their parishioners plainly and distinctly one of the said Homilies, in fuch order as they stand in the book, except there be a Sermon, according as it is enjoined in the book of her Highnefs' Injunctions; and then for that cause only, and for none other, the reading of the faid Homily to be deferred unto the next Sunday or Holy-day following. And when the forefaid Book of Homilies is read over, her Majefty's pleasure is, that the fame be repeated and read again, in fuch like fort as was before

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