A17183:1034
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.
But touching the time when restitution 1ought to be made, the example of Zacheus teacheth us, who, so soon as he was received into the favour of Christ, and did understand the works of trueth and equity, did immediately promise restitution, and out of hand perform the same. Wherefore, we must not foad off from day to day to make restitution. No man hath need to double his offence. For thou needest not by thy morrow and overmorrowe delays to augment his discommodity & hinderance any longer, from whom thou hast by thy subtle means and wicked violence, wrested the goods that he hath, considering that he to his loss hath lacked them long enough, & been without them too too long God wot. ⟨p. 281⟩If thou demandest, To whom thou oughtest to make restitution? I answer 2to him from whom thou tookest it, if thou knowest from whom thou hast had it, and who it is whom thou haste defrauded. But by that means, sayest thou, I shall bring me self into obloquy and infamy. I bid thee not do so. But if thou diddest invent a means to take it, then find out some handsome way to restore it again, whereby thou mayest escape and not incur the note of infamy. And pray to the Lord that he will vouchsafe to show thee a ready way and apt for to accomplish the thing that thou mindest. If thou meanest in good sadness to make true restitution, thou shalt undoubtedly find a way to do it, without reproach and obloquy. But if thou doest but dally and jest with the Lord, thou wilt not be without a thousand excuses, the best and soundest whereof will never set thy conscience at quiet liberty. Neither is God mocked. I cannot tell, sayest thou, from whom I have taken it, and therefore I know not to whom I should restore it. If in very deed thou knowest not from whom thou hast taken it, then hast thou the poor & needy on whom to bestow it. To these thou oughtest to deal thy unjust gotten goods, and not to superstition or the ministers thereof.
But touching the time when restitution 1ought to be made, the example of Zacheus teacheth vs, who, so soone as he was receiued into the fauour of Christ, and did vnderstande the workes of trueth and equitie, did immediatly promise restitution, and out of hande perfourme the same. Wherefore, we must not foad off from day to day to make restitution. No man hath néede to double his offence. For thou néedest not by thy morrowe and ouermorrowe delayes to augment his discommoditie & hinderance any longer, from whom thou hast by thy subtile meanes and wicked violence, wrested the goodes that he hath, considering yt he to his losse hath lacked them long enough, & béen without them too too long God wott.