A17183:1051
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.
The table, lo, was served by him, which had those great & ample promises made him by GOD, which is the father of all the faithful, which is the root and grandsire of Christ our Lord, which was the friend of God, and confederate to puissant kings, being himself the most honourable ⟨p. 288⟩Prince in all the land, as he that had in war overcome and vanquished four of the mightiest kings of all the East, and brought them back again to slavery and bondage, delivering his people whom they had taken captive.
The table, loe, was serued by him, which had those great & ample promises made him by GOD, which is the father of all the faithfull, which is the roote and graundsyre of Christe oure Lord, which was the friende of God, and confederate to puissaunte kinges, beeing himselfe the most honourable ⟨p. 288⟩Prince in all the land, as hée that had in warre ouercome and vanquished foure of the mightieste kinges of all the Easte, and brought them backe againe to slauerie and bondage, deliuering his people whom they had taken captiue.
This excellent and worthy man, I say, may well be a pattern for all wealthy men to follow in bestowing honour, courtesy, and hospitality upon strangers and men unknown. For lastly beside his rare and seldom seen hospitality, he showed moreover this point of courtesy, that, when they rose from meat, he bare them company some part of the way. Let our wealthy pinchpence therefore at the last be ashamed of, and leave their niggish lives and insatiable covetousness. What pleasure I pray you have they of their riches? to whom do they good? whom do they honour with their close kept coin? Or what honour or honesty doeth their money procure or get them while they live among men? Why do not the wiser sort of wealthy men rather leave this crew of miserable wretches, and hearken to the Apostles words who saith: Remember to keep hospitality: for by that means many have lodged Angels unwittingly and unawares. And verily he speaketh there of Lot and Abraham. Neither is it to be doubted, but that we entertain the very Angels of God, and Christ himself, as often as we show courtesy and hospitality to good and godly mortal men.