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The Elizabethan Homilies
A printed copy of The Homilies
can be bought online
from Church Society.
Introduction
Although
preaching was one of the direct and immediate results of the Reformation it
was difficult to obtain satisfactory preachers, owing to the incapacity of
some, and the attachment of others to the medieval religion. It was for this
reason that sermons were provided which might be read to congregations, and
these were called "Homilies". It would seem from an address of Archbishop
Thomas Cranmer to Convocation in 1541 that even then there was an intention
to provide Homilies for the purpose of instruction and to safeguard against
error, but it is generally thought that if the book was prepared it was suppressed
until after the death of Henry VIII.
"The First Book was dated
31st July 1547, and was ordered to be read by clergymen to the people until
further notice from the King. In connection with the Prayer Book of 1549
it was resolved to divide each of the Homilies into two parts, and to read
one at a time, and a Rubric was accordingly placed in the Service. They were
twelve in number: five doctrinal and seven practical, and were probably in
the main by Cranmer, and perhaps Ridley, though others have been suggested,
including Bonner and Bacon."
W.H. Griffith Thomas : Principles of Theology p448
Book 1:
The Book begins with a preface published
in 1562.
This first book is referred to in Article
35 of the Thirty-Nine
Articles but no list of the Homilies is given.
Book 2:
"The Second Book of Homilies
was published in 1562, having been referred to in the Injunction of 1559.
This was probably by Jewel, though the authorship is uncertain. The last
Homily was due to a rebellion in the North of England in 1569, and was incorporated
into the Second Book in 1571.
The First Book of Homilies was reprinted from time to time in separate form,
and it was not until 1623 that the two books were incorporated in one volume.
Certain changes were made in the Homilies by Queen Elizabeth I."
W.H. Griffith Thomas : Principles
of Theology p448
The names of the Homilies and the
numbers by which they are normally referred to are shown below together with
the list given of the Second Book in Article 35. Presumably by the time
the Articles were produced the First Book was well known but the
list was intended to clarify the content of the Second Book.
The Book begins with:
An Admonition to all Ministers Ecclesiastical
| Title of Homily |
List given in Article 35 |
| 13 |
Of the Right Use of the Church |
1 |
Of the right use of the Church |
| 14 |
Against Peril of Idolatry
PART
1 : PART 2 : PART 3 : CONCLUSION |
2 |
Against peril of Idolatry |
| 15 |
For repairing and keeping clean the Church |
3 |
Of repairing and keeping clean of churches |
| 16 |
Of Good works; and first, of Fasting |
4 |
Of good Works: first of fasting |
| 17 |
Against Gluttony and Drunkenness |
5 |
Against Gluttony and Drunkenness |
| 18 |
Against Excess of Apparel |
6 |
Against Excess of Apparel |
| 19 |
An Homily of Prayer |
7 |
Of Prayer |
| 20 |
Of the Place and Time of Prayer |
8 |
Of the Place and Time of Prayer |
| 21 |
Of Common Prayer and Sacraments |
9 |
That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministered
in a known tongue |
| 22 |
An Information of them which take Offence at certain
Places of Holy Scripture
PART
1 : PART
2 |
10 |
Of the reverend estimation of God’s Word |
| 23 |
Of Alms-deeds |
11 |
Of Alms-doing |
| 24 |
Of the Nativity |
12 |
Of the Nativity of Christ |
| 25 |
Of the Passion : for Good-Friday
PART
1 : PART 2
|
13 |
Of the Passion of Christ |
| 26 |
Of
the Resurrection : for Easter-day
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14 |
Of the Resurrection of Christ |
| 27 |
Of the worthy Receiving of the Sacrament |
15 |
Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the
Body and
Blood of Christ |
| 28 |
Concerning the coming down of the Holy Ghost :
for Whitsunday
PART
1 : PART 2 |
16 |
Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost |
| 29 |
A Homily for Rogation-Week |
17 |
For the Rogation-days |
| 30 |
Of the State of Matrimony |
18 |
Of the State of Matrimony |
| 31 |
Against Idleness |
20 |
Against Idleness |
| 32 |
Of Repentance and true Reconciliation unto God |
19 |
Of Repentance |
| 33 |
An Homily against Disobedience and wilful Rebellion |
21 |
Against Rebellion |
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