Sermons on the Card, and Other DiscoursesLatimer, Hugh
Religion
Sermons on the Card, and Other Discourses
Latimer, Hugh
Church of England -- Sermons; Sermons, English -- 16th century
Yet, peradventure, there be some in the world that be so devilish, and so
hard-hearted, that they will not apply in any condition unto charity. For
all that, do what lieth in thee, by all charitable means, to bring him to
unity. If he will in no wise apply thereunto, thou mayest be sorrowful
in thy heart, that by thine occasion that man or woman continueth in such
a damnable state. This notwithstanding, if thou do the best that lieth
in thee to reconcile him, according to some doctors' mind, thou art
discharged towards God. Nevertheless St. Augustine doubteth in this
case, whether thy oblations, prayers, or good deeds, shall avail thee
before God, or no, until thy neighbour come again to good state, whom
thou hast brought out of the way. Doth this noble doctor doubt therein?
What aileth us to be so bold, and count it but a small fault, or none, to
bring our neighbour out of patience for every trifle that standeth not
with our mind? You may see what a grievous thing this is, to bring
another man out of patience, that peradventure you cannot bring in again
with all the goods that you have: for surely, after the opinion of great
wise men, friendship once broken will be never well made whole again.
Wherefore you shall hear what Christ saith unto such persons. Saith
Christ, "I came down into this world, and so took on me bitter passion
for man's sake, by the merits whereof I intended to make unity and peace
in mankind, to make man brother unto me, and so to expel the dominion of
Satan, the devil, which worketh nothing else but dissension: and yet now
there be a great number of you, that have professed my name, and say you
be christian men, which do rebel against my purpose and mind. I go about
to make my fold: you go about to break the same, and kill my flock." "How
darest thou," saith Christ, "presume to come unto my altar, unto my
church, or into my presence, to make oblation unto me, that takest on
thee to spoil my lambs? I go about like a good shepherd to gather them
together; and thou dost the contrary, evermore ready to divide and lose
them. Who made thee so bold to meddle with my silly beasts, which I
bought so dearly with my precious blood? I warn thee out of my sight,
come not in my presence: I refuse thee and all thy works, except thou go
and bring home again my lambs which thou hast lost. Wherefore, if thou
thyself intend to be one of mine, lay even down by and by thine oblation,
and come no further toward mine altar; but go and seek them without any
questions, as it becometh a true and faithful servant."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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