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HOM. XI.

Against Whoredom and Uncleanness.

when time requireth. So likewise ought all masters and rulers to provide that no whoredom, nor any point of uncleanness, be used among their servants. And again, they that are single, and feel in themselves that they cannot live without the company of a woman, let them get wives of their own, and so live godly together: 'for it is better to marry than to burn.'

And, 'to avoid fornication,' saith the Apostle, 'let every man have his own wife, and every woman her own husband.' Finally, all such as feel in themselves a sufficiency and ability, through the working of God's Spirit, to lead a sole and continent life, let them praise God for his gift, and seek all means possible to maintain the same: as by reading of holy Scriptures, by godly meditations, by continual prayers, and such other virtuous exercises. If we all on this wise will endeavour ourselves to eschew fornication, adultery, and all uncleanness, and lead our lives in all godliness and honesty, serving God with a pure and clean heart, and glorifying him in our bodies by the leading an innocent and harmless life, we may be sure to be in the number of those, of whom our Saviour Christ speaketh in the Gospel on this manner, 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God:' to whom alone be all glory, honour, rule, and power, world without end. Amen.

1 Cor vii. Matt. v.

The loss which a woman sustains by the ruin of her virtue and reputation exceeds computation, whether the injury respect the woman, her family, or the public. And if we trace the effects through the complicated miseries of the present and future life, few crimes are so flagitious and dreadful: as is largely set forth in the third part of this Homily.

HOM. XII. Against Contention and Brawling.

HOMILY XII.

Against Contention and Brawling.

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THIS day, good Christian people, shall be declared unto you,the unprofitableness and shameful dishonesty of contention, strife, and debate; to the intent that, when you shall see, as it were in a table painted before your eyes, the evil-favouredness and deformity of this most detestable vice, your stomachs may be moved to rise against it, and to detest and abhor that sin, which is so much to be hated, and pernicious, and hurtful to all men, But among all kinds of contention, none is more hurtful than is contention in matters of religion. Eschew,' saith St. Paul, 'foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they breed strife.' It becometh not the 'servant of God to fight, or strive, but to be meek toward all men.' This contention and strife was in St. Paul's time among the Corinthians, and is at this time among us Englishmen. For too many there be, which, upon the ale-benches or other places, delight to set forth certain questions, not so much pertaining to edification, as to vain-glory, and shewing forth of their cunning, and so unsoberly to reason and dispute, that, when neither part will give place to other, they fall to chiding and contention, and sometime from hot words to further inconvenience. St. Paul could not abide to hear among the Corinthians these words of discord or dissension, 'I hold of Paul, I of Cephas, and I of Apollos'; what would he then say if he heard these words of contention, which be now almost in every man's mouth? He is a Pharisee; he

1 Tim. i. 2 Tim. ii. 1 Cor. iii,

HOM. XII.

Against Contention and Brawling.

is a gospeller; he is of the new sort; he is of the old faith, he is a new-broached brother, he is a good catholic father; he is a papist; he is an heretic. O how the church is divided! O how the cities be cut and mangled! O how the coat of Christ, that was without seam, is all rent and torn! O body mystical of Christ, where is that holy and happy unity, out of the which whosoever is, he is not in Christ? If one member be pulled from another, where is the body? If the body be drawn from the head, where is the life of the body? We cannot be joined to Christ our Head, except we be glued with concord and charity one to another. For he that is not of this unity is not of the Church of Christ, which is a congregation or unity together, and not a division. St. Paul saith, "That as long as emulation or envying, contention, and factions or sects be amongst us, we be carnal, and walk according to the fleshly man.' And St. James saith, ‘If ye have bitter emulation or envying, and contention in your hearts, glory hot of it: for where contention is, there is unstedfastness and all evil deeds.' And why do we not hear St. Paul, which prayeth us, whereas he might command us, saying; I beseech you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you will speak all one thing, and that there be no dissension among you; but that you will be one whole body, of one mind, and of one opinion in the truth.' If his desire be reasonable and honest, why do we not grant it? If his request be for our profit, why do we refuse it? And if we list not to hear his petition of prayer, yet let us hear his exhortation, where he saith, I exhort you, that you walk as it becometh the vocation, in which you be called with all submission and meekness, with lenity and softness of mind, bearing with one another in charity; studying to keep the unity of the Spirit by the bond of peace: for there is

1 Cor. iii. James iii. 1 Cor. i. Eph. iv.

HOM. XII. Against Contention and Brawling.

one body, one spirit, one faith, one baptism.' There is, saith he, but one body, of the which he can be no lively member, that is at variance with the other members. There is one spirit, which joineth and knitteth all things in one. And how can this one spirit reign in us, when we among ourselves be divided? There is but one faith; and how can we then say, he is of the old faith, and he is of the new faith? There is but one baptism; and then shall not all they which be baptized be one? Contention causeth division, wherefore it ought not to be among christians, whom one faith and baptism joineth in an unity, But if we contemn St. Paul's request and exhortation, yet at the least let us regard his earnest entreating, in the which he doth very earnestly charge us, and, as I may so speak, conjure us in this form and manner, "If there be any consolation in Christ, if there be any comfort of love, if you have any fellowship of the spirit, if you have any bowels of pity and compassion, fulfil my joy, being all alike affected, having one charity, being of one mind, of one opinion, that nothing be done by contention, or vain glory." Who is he, that hath any bowels of pity, that will not be moved with these words, so pithy? Whose heart is so stony, that the sword of these words, which be more sharp than any two-edged sword, may not cut and break asunder? Wherefore let us endeavour ourselves to fulfil St. Paul's joy here in this place, which shall be at length to our great joy in another place. Let us so read the Scripture, that by reading thereof, we may be made the better livers, rather than the more contentious disputers. If any thing be necessary to be taught, reasoned or disputed, let us do it with all meekness, softness, and lenity. If any thing shall chance to be spoken uncomely, let one bear another's frailty. He that is faulty, let him rather amend, and

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HOM. XII. Against Contention and Brawling.

defend that which he hath spoken amiss, lest he fall by contention from a foolish error into an obstinate heresy. For it is better to give place meekly, than to win the victory with the breach of charity, which chanceth when every man will defend his opinion obstinately. If we be the christian men, why do we not follow Christ, who saith, 'Learn of me, for I am meek, and lowly in heart? A disciple must learn the lesson of his schoolmaster, and a servant must obey the commandment of his master. 'He that is wise and learned,' saith St. James, 'let him shew his goodness by his good conversation and soberness of his wisdom. For where there is envy and contention, that wisdom cometh not from God, but is worldly wisdom, man's wisdom, and devilish wisdom.' For the wisdom that cometh from above, from the spirit of God, is chaste and pure, corrupted with no evil affections: it is quiet, meek, and peaceable, abhorring all desire of contention it is tractable, obedient, not grudging to learn, and to give place to them that teach better for the reformation. For there shall never be an end of striving and contention, if we contend who in contention shall be master, and have the over-hand: we shall heap error upon error, if we continue to defend that obstinately, which was spoken unadvisedly. For truth it is, that stiffness in maintaining an opinion, breedeth contention, brawling, and chiding, which is a vice among all other most pernicious and pestilent to common peace and quietness. And as it standeth betwixt two persons and parties (for no man commonly doth chide with himself) so it comprehendeth two most detestable vices: the one is picking of quarrels, with sharp and contentious words: the other standeth in froward answering and multiplying evil words again. The first is so adominable that St. Paul saith, 'If any that is called a brother, be a

Matt. xi. James iii. 1 Cor. v.

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