If an human spirit should imagine some mighty Prince to be greater than God, we should take it for a poor, ignorant creature; all people would acknowledge such an imagination to be the height of stupidity: But if this same human spirit should think it better to be devoted to some mighty Prince, than to be devoted to God, would not this be a greater proof of a poor, ignorant, and blinded nature?

Yet this is what all people do, who think any thing greater, better, or wiser, than a devout life. So that which way soever we consider this matter, it plainly appears, that devotion is an instance of great judgment, and of an elevated nature; and the want of devotion is a certain proof of the most shameful ignorance, and want of understanding.

Would you therefore not incur the imputation of the highest folly, and most shameful ignorance; would you be possessed of the noblest and most exalted judgment; would you avoid the senseless and vexatious miseries that attend a vain, sensual, and indevout life; would you act like a rational and redeemed creature; would you enjoy solid peace and happiness here, and have a well grounded hope and assurance of being invested with eternal joy and comfort in the blissful fruition of the glorious and ever-blessed God hereafter; let it be your highest concern henceforward, to ask, seek, and knock at the door of divine grace, till you obtain a true living faith in the righteousness of the once humbled but now exalted Redeemer, and as a proof of that, to devote yourself entirely, without reserve, to his honour, and do all the good you possibly can to all your fellow-creatures, for his great name’s sake.

PREFACE
To a New Edition of the
HOMILIES;
As intended to have been published by
Mr. Whitefield.

PREFACE
To a New Edition of the
HOMILIES,
As intended to have been published by
Mr. Whitefield.

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 the sixth. It was again republished, after the short interval of bloody Mary’s government, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and continued interwoven with our ecclesiastical constitution, under her immediate successor King James the first. Even to this very day, the thirty-ninth 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 the sixth; 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 39th 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. What reason can be assigned for such neglect, I will not take upon me to determine: surely it cannot be, that our clergy look upon this book, as containing ungodly or unwholsome doctrine; for why then do they subscribe to the diligent and frequent reading of it? Neither can it be supposed that they so much as imagine, that this godly and wholesome doctrine is less necessary for the present age, than for that in which it was first published. But however it is, if we act consistently, the subscribers to our articles seem not to be left at their liberty to use or disuse them; they being judged to be read, as much now as formerly, in churches by the ministers diligently and distinctly. For if I may be suffered to give my opinion, the dreadful ignorance, as to the fundamentals of our holy religion, that almost every where 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. And hence undoubtedly it is, that they become such an easy prey to popish emissaries, who lie in wait to deceive. For these reasons, in order to contribute my poor mite towards putting a stop to the growth of this common and almost epidemical evil, I have selected a few of the most essential Homilies, with a suitable collect and a hymn to each, at a very small price, on purpose for the instruction and edification of the poorer sort, who are generally chiefly attacked by the partizans of the Romish communion.

The church of Scotland, called our sister church, hath herein set us an example; and I could wish, that in this particular we would endeavour to copy after it. Her confessions of faith, and directory, are printed so frequently and so cheap, that they are almost in every hand; and so constantly explained and insisted upon in the ministers stated parochial visitations, that perhaps (tho’ no doubt even there, there is an awful degeneracy) their commonalty, in respect to doctrinal points, are some of the most knowing in the world. Would to God the same could be said of the Church of England professors, either at home or abroad! The darkness, the gross and thick darkness of those at home, is so notorious, that it is every where seen, felt, and complained of, by those that have eyes to see and ears to [♦]hear. What a pity is it therefore, that this book of Homilies is not judged proper, and insisted on to be read in churches, by ministers diligently and distinctly, that they may be understood by the people now, as well as at the first dawnings of the Reformation. And what a further pity is it, that among the various books recommended and given away by the worthy societies for promoting christian knowledge, and propagating the gospel in foreign parts, the book of Homilies, containing such godly and wholesome doctrine diligently and distinctly to be read, should never find a place in their catalogue; though both these societies have been established so long as soon after the glorious and happy revolution.