A17183:1004
Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)
Fifty godly and learned sermons divided into five decades, containing the chief and principal points of Christian religion, written in three several tomes or sections, by Henry Bullinger minister of the church of Tigure in Switzerland. Whereunto is adjoined a triple or three-fold table very fruitful and necessary. Translated out of Latin into English by H.I. student in divinity.Fiftie godlie and learned sermons diuided into fiue decades, conteyning the chiefe and principall pointes of Christian religion, written in three seuerall tomes or sections, by Henrie Bullinger minister of the churche of Tigure in Swicerlande. Whereunto is adioyned a triple or three-folde table verie fruitefull and necessarie. Translated out of Latine into English by H.I. student in diuinitie.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralph Newberrie, 1577London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralphe Newberrie, 1577
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Again, other men are endamaged by the withholding of them, which possess inheritances due unto other: which break promise and deceive men in contracts, in bargains and covenants: which make a face as though they gave the thing, which they do either change or retain to them selves by some coloured shift, or else do give it, when they them selves have marred or utterly destroyed it. Both the one and the other verily is fraud and guile, and flat deceit. But now by the way, mark this manifest and usual point of Gods just judgement, that wrongful possessors of other mens heritages, are both short lived, and the unfortunatest men of all other people. Touching these wrongful withholders, Solomon pronounceth that they shall find no gain. For gain unjustly gotten, how great soever it be, deserveth rather to be called a loss more truly then a gain.
Againe, other men are endammaged by ye withholding of them, which possesse inheritances due vnto other: which breake promise and deceiue men in contractes, in bargaines and couenauntes: which make a face as though they gaue the thinge, which they do either chaunge or reteine to them selues by some coloured shifte, or else do giue it, when they them selues haue marred or vtterly destroyed it. Both the one and the other verily is fraude and guile, and flatt deceipt. But nowe by the waye, marke this manifest and vsuall point of Gods iust iudgement, that wrongfull possessours of other mennes heritages, are both short lyued, and the vnfortunatest men of all other people. Touching these wrongfull withholders, Salomon pronounceth that they shall finde no gaine. For gaine vniustly gotten, howe great soeuer it be, deserueth rather to be called a losse more truely then a gaine.
To this precept do things, that 1are found belong, which thou denyest to the demander, as though thou either hast not found them, or else dost challenge them to be thine own by law. Hereunto appertaineth the pledge or pawn which thou withholdest. 2A man that taketh a journey into a far country, hath put thee in trust with certain silver plate & a pound weight of gold, to keep for him against his return, because he had a hope that thou wouldest keep them safely: but at his coming back, when he demandeth them, thou deniest the thing, in so doing, thou hast stolen it from him, and cracked the credit that thy friend had in thee, and last of all, thou hast doubled the sin. A poor man hath guaged to thee some precious thing that he setteth much by, which when he claimeth again, with ready money in hand, to pay thee the sum which he borrowed upon it, thou denyest him his pledge, thou quarrellest with him, and usest subtlety to defraud him of his pawn, in so doing thou stealest it from him. Moreover, the Lord gave to his people other laws, to this end and effect,