A17183:1036
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 if all the richesse which thou possessest be other mens goods, and gotten of thee by theft and robbery, so that if thou madest a full restitution, there should no penny be left for thee, but that thou must needs go beg, then art thou verily hard bested, and in too woeful a taking, yea thou art mad and far beside thee self if thou wilt not stick, but still go on to paint thy pride & maintain a port with other mens pence, and satisfy thy lust in the bowels, blood, and sweat of poor mens brows. Why doest thou not rather abase thee self to poverty, and use thy unjust gotten goods, as needy people use their alms? For thou livest of that that should be the poor's. 1Therefore lay down thy pride, and forsake thy ruffling riot. Consider with thee self who thou art and whereupon thou livest. And still do thy endeavour to make restitution, so far as thou canst, and let it grieve thee to see thee self not able to restore the whole again. If it be not a grief to thee for a time to suffer poverty, to labour and faithfully to exercise some honest occupation, and to train up thy children leading them as it were by the hand to work, then thou shalt not want whereon to live, although thou restorest all whatsoever thou hast of other mens goods. But there is very small and almost no faith at all in many men, whereby it cometh to pass that very few or none can be persuaded, to make true restitution. To this I add (before I go any further) ⟨p. 282⟩that they ought especially to think of a restitution, which have with evil words corrupted y• minds of simple souls, with privy backbiting raised slanders, on other men, or with perverse counsel stirred up the mightier men against the weaker sort. For these things do pass and are far above all earthly richesse.
But if all the richesse which thou possessest bée other mens goodes, and gotten of thée by theft and robberie, so that if thou madeste a full restitution, there should no pennie bée lefte for thée, but that thou must néedes goe begge, then art thou verilie hard bestedde, and in too wofull a takinge, yea thou art madd and farre beside thée selfe if thou wilt not sticke, but stil goe on to paint thy pride & maynteyne a port with other mens pence, and satisfie thy luste in the bowells, bloud, and sweate of poore mens browes. Why doest thou not rather abase thée selfe to pouertie, and vse thy vniuste gotten goodes, as néedie people vse their almes? For thou lyuest of that that should bée the poores.