Certaine sermons of Sainte Augustines translated out of Latyn, into Englishe, by Thomas Paynell.

* 1.1¶ Of a Christen name, and that a Christian shulde often tymes thinke, why he is named a Christen man, and why he bereth the crosse of christ in his forehead. Ser. iii. (Book 3)

I Do reioice mi moste derelye beloued bre∣thren, and do thanke God, that I haue deserued to fynd you in good

helth. And truely my brethrē a father doth ryghteouslye, & not without a great cause re¦ioyce, as oft as he doth finde hys chyldren healthfull in bo¦dy, and deuout in the feare of God. And in asmuch as the goodnes of God hath graun¦ted me double gladenes, as∣well of youres. as of myne owne healthe, I must now o¦pen and declare vnto you the thinge whiche pertayneth, and is for the vtilitie & helth of your soules. It is very ne∣cessary dere brethren, that w^t all our intention and mynde we should studye to enquyre and vnderstande, whye and wherefore we be Christians, and why we beare the crosse of Chryste in oure forehead∣des. He muste vnderstande

and perceaue good brethren, that we are not made Chri∣stians to be carefull for thys lyfe. For (as sayth y^• Apostle) * 1.2 yf we in this lyfe onelye doo beleue and trust in god, then are we of all other the moste wretched and miserable. For he that doeth thynke onelye vppon this lyfe, is compared and likened vnto a beast. For what other thinge doe bea∣stes care for, but onelye to eate and drynke, to slepe, and to lyue voluptuouslye? And euen such as are all they that thynke moore vppon theyr bodyes, then vppon theyr soules, that loue glottonye and lecherye. more then iu∣styce or chastitie. Therefore my dearely beloued yemust vnderstande, and knowe

that we are made christians to thynke continually vppon the eternall world, & reward that is to come, and to labor more for the soule, then for y^• bodye. Our fleshe shal conti∣nue but for a fewe yeares in this wolde, but oure soules (yf we lyue and do well) shal inherite heauen w^toute ende. But yf we do euyll workes, (that God forbyd) and labor more for bodelye pleasure, then for the helth or saluati∣on of our soules, I feare me that when good men shall be receyued with the aungelles vnto eternall lyfe, that we (that god forbyd) shalbe caste headlyng into hel fyer. Good brethren: it is not ynoughe that we haue receyued a chri¦sten name, excepte that ther∣with,

we do good christē mēs workes. To hym it is ryghte profitable to be called a chri∣stiane, that loueth chastitie, that exchueth ebrietie, that abhorreth pryde, and that as very poison doth reiect enuy. He is a ryghte good Christen man, that stealethe not, that beareth no false witnes, that lyeth not, that vsethe no per∣iury, that committeth no ad∣ultery, that dothe frequente the churche, that doeth not taste of his fruytes, vntyll he fyrst haue offered part of thē vnto God, that doth pay his tythes yearelye, to be destri∣buted amonge the nedy, that doth loue his curate, and ho∣noureth preistes, that loueth euery man as hym selfe, and hateth no man. Uerelye he is

not onely a christen mā that doth feare and exchewe as the sword of Satan, deceit∣full weyghtes, & double mea¦sures, but christ him self doth also dwele in hym. He is a good christiane, that cōming to the churche, doth exhibite and offereth vp his offeringe and that after his possibilitie and substaunce, dothe geue a peny, or a morsell of bread to some poore man, that recey∣uyth the pore into his house: that wassheth the pore mens fete, that doth not only make no debate, but reduceth such as are at discorde and stryfe, to vnitie and concorde, that doth shewe reuerence, and y^• loue of vnfayned charitie vn to his frendes & elders, that doth lyue chast, and admony∣nysheth

his chyldren, and his neighboures with word and dede, in sobriete and chastite. He is a good Christen man, that as ofte as the holye and solemne feastes drawe nere, doth certayne dayes before, abstayne and keepe chastitie with his wyfe, that the more conueniently, & with a more sincere and sure conscience, a chaste body, and a clean hart he may come vnto the Lor∣des borde and table. And he lykewyse that can the lordes prayer, and his crede by rote, & that faythfully dothe teach his children the same. Nowe good brethren ye haue herde who be good christians, and therefore let vs wyth Gods ayde and helpe, doe the beste we can or may, that this chri¦sten

name be not wrongfully and vaynely in vs, and that Chrystes sacramentes suffer no iniury in vs, but in hearte let vs continually thynke vp pon good Christen workes, and in dede fulfyll them. For I praye you, what maner a Christian cal ye him, y^• scarce∣ly commeth once to the chur∣che, and yet when he cometh dothe not stande vp to praye for his synnes and misdedes, but to prate & bable, to cause stryfe and debate, or els to drynke, yf he may fynd a con¦uenient place, tyll he vomyt agayne? & after that he hathe well dronken, ryseth vp lyke a madde man, to leape and daunce, and to synge luxu∣rious and fylthye songes of loue. Suche a one doeth not

feare nother to steale, nor yet to commyt adultery, to geue false wytnes, to curse, nor yet to commit periury. But whe¦ther they be men or women that exercise and dooe suche vngodly workes, they nether receaue the name of a christi∣an, nor yet the sacramente of baptysme, to theyr ayde and consolation, but to theyr iud∣gement and damnatiō, And without they repente theym and do penaunce, they shall peryshe for euer: Nowe good brethren I haue opened vn∣to you, whoo be good, and who be euyl chrystians. And therfore folowe those that ye se and perceaue to be good: & chasten, chyde, and correcte those ye knowe to be nought y^t through your owne vtilitie

and theyr amendemente, ye maye haue and obteine doble rewarde. For they that are good chast, sober, hūble, and gentle, wyll by the grace of God, continue iu theyr good and godly workes, and the myslyuers, quyckelye or euer they departe from hence, a mend them selues, for yf they die without repentaūce, they shall not come to ioye, but to perpetuall and euerlastynge deathe, from the which God vouchsafeto delyuer vs. So be it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Se••^• 216
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, Co, 25,