A17183:1038
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.
After this now I will somewhat 1freely discourse upon the just possessing, using or disposing of well gotten earthly substance. First of all no man must put any confidence in richesse, which are in deed things transitory and do quickly decay: we must not settle our minds upon, nor be in love with them, but by all means take heed that they drive us not to idolatry, nor hinder the course that we have to pass. Heaven is the goal whereat we run. Here again we must all give ear to the divine and heavenly words uttered by the Prophet David who said: Put your trust in God always, pour out your hearts before 2him, for God is our refuge: As for the children of men, they be but vain: the children of men are deceitful upon the weights, they are altogether lighter than vanity it self. Trust not in wrong and robbery, give not your selves to vanity: if riches increase, set not your hearts upon them. The Apostle Paul being endued with the same spirit, biddeth us to use the world and worldly things as though we used them not Again, he calleth covetousness the worshipping of idols: and chargeth rich men not to put their trust in uncertain riches, but in the living god, who ministereth to all creatures living sufficiently enough. And therefore the Lord in the Gospel, forbiddeth to heap up treasures upon earth.3
After this now I will somewhat 1freely discourse vppon the iust possessing, vsing or disposing of well gotten earthly substance. First of all no man must put any confidence in richesse, which are in deede things transitorie and doe quickly decay: wee must not settle our minds vpon, nor be in loue with them, but by all meanes take heede that they driue vs not to idolatrie, nor hinder ye course that we haue to passe. Heauen is the goale wherat we runne. Here againe we must all giue eare to the diuine and heauenly woords vttered by the Prophete Dauid who said: Put your trust in God alwayes, powre out your heartes before 2him, for God is our refuge: As for the children of men, they be but vaine: the children of mē are deceitfull vppon the weightes, they are altogether lighter than vanitie it selfe. Truste not in wronge and robberie, giue not your selues to vanitie: if riches increase, set not your hartes vppon them. The Apostle Paule beeing indued with the same spirite, biddeth vs to vse the world and worldly thinges as though we vsed them not Againe, hee calleth couetousnesse the worshipping of idolls: and chargeth rich men not to put their trust in vncertaine riches, but in the lyuing god, who ministreth to all creatures lyuing sufficiently enough. And therefore the Lord in the Gospell, forbiddeth to heape vpp treasures vppon earth.