George Whitefield on the Homilies

The word homily signifies a sermon. Consequently “the Book of Homilies”, implies a book of sermons. Particularly that book which was composed by those great reformers, Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, Hooper, and others, in the beginning of the reign of that Josiah of his age, Edward VI. Even to this very day, the thirty-fifth Article of our church runs thus:

“The second book of Homilies, the several titles whereof we have joined under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholesome doctrine, and necessary for these times; as doth the former Book of Homilies, which were set forth in the time of Edward VI; and therefore we judge them to be read in churches by the ministers, diligently and distinctly, that they may be understanded of by the people.”

Such are the express words of our 35th Article; and yet, though we subscribe this article, which enjoins these Homilies to be read in our churches by the ministers, diligently and distinctly, this is so far from being our practice, that almost for time immemorial, at least in our days, they are seldom if ever read at all.

If I may be suffered to give my opinion, the dreadful ignorance as to the fundamentals of our holy religion, that almost everywhere abounds amongst the members of our established church, is chiefly owing to our neglect of preaching and putting into their hands the grand doctrines of the Reformation, contained in these Homilies and our other doctrinal articles.

Editor’s Note: To remedy this situation as lamented by Mr Whitefield in the 18th century (and many others since), we shall tomorrow begin a Lent series here on the Church Society blog, on the Homilies. This will consist of daily extracts from our newly updated edition of the First Book of Homilies, edited by Lee Gatiss. Mr. Whitefield’s blog post is taken from volume 4 of his Works (1771), pages 441-444.