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CERTAIN SERMONS

OR

HOMILIES

APPOINTED BY THE KING'S MAJESTY TO BE DECLARED AND READ

BY ALL PARSONS, VICARS AND CURATES, EVERY SUNDAY
IN THEIR CHURCHES WHERE THEY HAVE CURE *.

* In Grafton's edition of 1549 the following words are added to the original title: Newly imprinted, and by the king's highness authority divided. In Whitchurch's edition of the same year, the addition is as follows: Newly imprinted in parts, according as is mentioned in the book of common prayer. In the edition of 1562 the whole title is thus changed: Certain Sermons appointed by the queen's majesty, to be declared and read by all parsons, vicars, and curates, every sunday and holiday in their churches: and by her grace's advice perused and overseen, for the better understanding of the simple people. Newly imprinted in parts, according as is mentioned in the book of common prayers.

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THE PREFACE,

AS IT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE YEAR 1547.

THE king's most excellent majesty, by the prudent ad

vice of his most dear beloved uncle, Edward, duke of Somerset, governor of his majesty's person, and protector of all his highness' realms, dominions, and subjects, with the rest of his most honourable counsel, most graciously considering the manifold enormities which heretofore have crept into his grace's realm through the false usurped power of the bishop of Rome, and the ungodly doctrine of his adherents, not only unto the great decay of Christian religion, but also (if God's mercy were not) unto the utter destruction of innumerable souls, which through hypocrisy and pernicious doctrine were seduced and brought from honouring of the alone, true, living, and eternal God, unto the worshipping of creatures, yea, of stocks and stones; from doing the commandments of God, unto voluntary works and fantasies invented of men; from true religion unto popish superstition: considering also the earnest and fervent desire of his dearly beloved subjects to be delivered from all errors and superstition, and to be truly and faithfully instructed in the very word of God, that lively food of man's soul, whereby they may learn unfeignedly, and according to the mind of the Holy Ghost expressed in the scriptures, to honour God, and to serve their king with all humility and subjection, and godly and honestly to behave themselves toward all men: again calling to remembrance, that the next and most ready way to expel and avoid as well all corrupt, vicious, and ungodly living, as also erroneous doctrine tending to superstition and idolatry; and clearly to put away all contention, which hath heretofore risen through diversity of preachsuperstition] superstitions B.

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