The Preface to the Homilies

Lee Gatiss looks at King Edward VI's preface to the Church of England's "Book of Homilies".

Over Lent we will be looking each day on the CS blog at an extract from the Church of England’s official sermons, the Book of Homilies.

We begin today with King Edward VI’s preface to the First Book of Homilies, explaining the purpose for which they have been published. They are, he says, set forth after advice from his Council, because he and his beloved subjects wish to be free of false, superstitious doctrine and to feed on the pure word of God, which teaches us to live godly, obedient, and peaceful lives. Using these Homilies, ministers can build up and comfort their congregations, that they may know and serve God, and so they are to be read out every week along with the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments. Read More

Also see
George Whitefield on the Homilies
Anglican Homilies