A17183:1037
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.
Thus much have I said hitherto touching 1restitution, of which other men have left very ample discourses. I for my part do see that to a godly mind this work of restitution is short and plain enough, and therefore have I spoken of it so shortly as I have. For a godly and well disposed man doeth with all his hart desire and seek to obey the law of God, and therefore by calling to God for aid he shall easily find a way to work justice & equity. As for those whose desire is rather to seem just men, than to be just in deed, and do love this world more than it becometh them to do, they with their over many questions, and innumerable Perchaunces and Put cases do make the treatise of restitution so tedious and intricate, that no man shall ever be able to make it so plain, that they will understand it. I will not therefore answer them any more, but only warn them to examine their own conscience, & see what that doth bid them do. Now I would have that conscience of theirs to be settled in, and be mindful of the general law, which saith: Whatsoever thou wouldest have done to thee self, that do thou to another: and whatsoever thou wouldest not have done to the self, that do not thou to an other.
Thus much haue I said hetherto touching 1restitution, of which other men haue left very ample discourses. I for my part do see that to a godly minde this worke of restitution is short and plaine enough, and therefore haue I spoken of it so shortly as I haue. For a godly and well disposed man doeth with al his hart desire and seeke to obey the lawe of God, and therefore by calling to God for ayde he shall easilie finde a way to woorke iustice & equitie. As for those whose desire is rather to seme iust men, than to be iust in deede, and do loue this world more than it becommeth them to doe, they with their ouer many questions, and innumerable Perchaunces and Put cases do make the treatise of restitution so tedious and intricate, that no man shall euer bee able to make it so plaine, that they will vnderstand it. I wil not therefore aunsweare them any more, but onely warne them to examine their owne conscience, & see what that doth bidde them doe. Now I would haue that cōscience of theirs to be settled in, and be mindfull of the generall lawe, which saith: Whatsoeuer thou wouldest haue done to thee selfe, that doe thou to another: and whatsoeuer thou wouldest not haue done to the selfe, that doe not thou to an other.