A17183:1046
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.
They to colour and commend their odd opinion to the ears of men, abuse many places of y• sacred Scriptures: Woe (say they) to you which now are full, and do laugh now, for the time will come, when ye shall hunger and weep: When as in deed this and such like sayings were uttered of God, against the wicked & such as do unthankfully abuse the benefits and creatures of their good God. And therefore for a conclusion of that, which I have hitherto said, I ad this, that godly men must still take careful heed, that they let not loose the reins to lust, and so exceed the golden mean. For mean and measure in these allowed pleasures also is liked & looked for as well as in other things. ⟨p. 286⟩Furthermore, let goods and earthly substance, serve to do honour, and 1show courteous humanity in one man to an other. For we do of duty owe honour and humanity to our kinsfolks and alliance, our friends and acquaintance, our countrymen and strangers. For we must not only do good to them which are familiar with us, but to them also whom we did never see before, in keeping hospitality for wayfaring strangers, so far as our substance will stretch, to maintain it. For if otherwise thy wealth be so slender, as that it will do no more but maintain thine own house and family, no parcel of Gods law doth bind or bid thee to distribute to other men the wealth, which thou thee self doest need as much or more then they. It is sufficient for thee to provide that they of thine own household be not a burden to other mens backs. So then the man whose wealth is small, is not compelled to spend that little, which he hath in doing honour or showing courtesy to other men. It is enough for him to bear with a valiant hart his own hard hap, and to take heed that his poverty procure him not to offend against right and honesty.
They to colour and commend their odd opinion to the eares of men, abuse many places of y• sacred Scriptures: Woe (say they) to you which nowe are full, and doe laughe nowe, for the time will come, when ye shall hunger and weepe: When as in déede this and such like sayings were vttered of God, against the wicked & such as do vnthankfully abuse the benefites and creatures of their good God. And therfore for a conclusion of that, which I haue hitherto said, I ad this, that godlye men must still take carefull héede, that they let not loose ye reynes to lust, and so excéede the golden meane. For meane and measure in these allowed plesures also is liked & loked for as wel as in other things.