A17183:1033
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.
Now, this restitution is flatly commanded and also very necessary 1to be put in practise. For the Lord in the law doth by sundry means and that very carefully give charge of it too, as is to be seen in the 22. of Exodus. Moreover, so often as the just 2and holy commandment of God was through the covetousness and wickedness of mankind cast off and neglected, the Lord raised up grievous and almost unspeakable evils, against the contemners thereof, and scattered abroad the unjust gotten goods, by wars, mishaps, & divers calamities. For the Prophet Isaiah crieth, saying: The Lord shall enter 3into judgement with the elders and princes of his people, and shall say unto them: It is ye that have burnt up my vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses. And Amos in the third Chapter of his prophecy crieth: They store up treasures in their palaces by violence and robbery. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: miseries shall invade thee on every side of the land, and the enemies shall bring down thy strength or richesse from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled. We read therefore in the Gospel, that Zacheus, of 4his own accord, promised restitution fourfold double, that is, a full and absolute recompense of whatsoever he had taken wrongfully away, and it is assuredly certain, that he performed that promise. For he understood by the inspiration of the holy Ghost, that a restitution of his ill gotten goods was especially necessary, and that he should never be happy until he had made a full amends for all his wrongful dealings. Very rightly therefore said Saint Augustine in his 54. Epistle to Macedonius, where he writeth: If, when thou mayest, thou doest not restore that which thou hast of another mans goods, then is not repentance truly performed, but falsely feigned: but if repentance be truly taken, then is not sin forgiven, unless restitution be made of that, which was taken away, but as I said, when it may be restored.
Nowe, this restitution is flatly commaunded and also very necessary 1to be put in practise. For the Lord in the lawe doth by sundry meanes and that verie carefully giue charge of it too, as is to be séene in the 22. of Exodus. Moreouer, so often as the iust