A17183:1024
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.
They are churcherobbers, whosoever either do not pay at all, or else do pay unwillingly the goods that are due to the church, I mean, their tithes, and yearly revenues. It is to be seen in the Scriptures, how terribly the Prophets do threaten churcherobbers. Haggeus testified, that the ground brought forth so ill and little fruit for nothing else, but for because the people did not truly pay that, which of duty they ought to the temple. In Malachi, God promiseth the people to make their ground fruitful, if they will pay liberally the stipends and tributes due to the temple. Now the ministers of the churches may use those revenues or stipends by as good law and right, as they that use the profit of the ground, which they them selves have husbanded. For so doth the Lord expressly teach them in the 18. of the book of Numbers, wherewithal Pauls saying agreeeth in the ninth Chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians. And the Lord Jesus him self also gave alms to the poor of the stipend, which he had, as it is to be seen in the thirteenth Chapter of Saint Johns Gospel. Moreover, beggars commit sacrilege, who abuse the name of Christ, and make their poverty a cloak to keep them idle still. The Apostle commandeth Timothy not to cherish such idle hypocrites and wandering vagabonds with the alms and expenses of the church-goods. But now the greatest sacrilege of all, is, if a man translate the glory of God the creator unto a creature.
They are churcherobbers, whosoeuer either do not paye at all, or else do paye vnwillingly the goodes that are due to the church, I meane, their tithes, and yerely reuenues. It is to be seene in the Scriptures, howe terribly the Prophetes doe threaten churcherobbers. Haggeus testified, that the grounde brought forth so yll and little fruite for nothing else, but forbecause the people did not truely paye that, whiche of duetie they ought to the temple. In Malachie, God promiseth the people to make their ground fruitefull, if they will pay liberally the stipendes and tributes due to the temple. Nowe the ministers of the churches may vse those reuenues or stipendes by as good lawe and right, as they that vse the profite of the grounde, which they them selues haue husbanded. For so doth the Lord expressely teache them in the 18. of the booke of Numbers, wherewithall Paules saying agreeeth in the ninth Chapter of his firste Epistle to the Corinthians. And the Lorde Iesus him selfe also gaue almes to the poore of the stipend, which he had, as it is to be séene in the thirteenth Chapter of Sainct Iohns Gospell. Moreouer, beggers committe sacrilege, who abuse the name of Christ, and make their pouertie a cloake to kéepe them ydle still. The Apostle commaundeth Timothie not to cherishe such ydle hypocrites and wandering vacabondes with the almes and expences of the churche-goods. But nowe the greatest sacrilege of all, is, if a man translate the glorie of God the creator vnto a creature.