A17183:1005
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.
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, ⟨p. 272⟩touching the taking of pledges or guages. For in Deuteronomy, he saith: No man shall take the nether, or the upper millstone to pledge: For he hath laid his life to pledge to to thee. For it is all one as if he had said: thou shalt not take that at thy neighbours hand in steed of a pledge, wherewith he getteth his living, and doeth maintain his family. For thereby thou shouldest take from him both life and living. And immediately after, he saith: When thou lendest thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch a pledge from thence: but thou shalt stand without, that he, which borrowed it of thee, may bring it out of doors to thee. The Lord forbiddeth cruelty, and would not have rich men to be too sharp in ransacking poor mens houses, nor over curious in taking pledges at poor mens hands. For he addeth afterward: And if it be a poor body, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge: but deliver him the pledge again when the Sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and that shall be imputed for righteousness unto thee before the Lord thy God.
To this precept do thinges, that 1