A17183:1058
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.
¶ Of the patient bearing and abiding of sundry calamities and miseries: and also of the hope and manifold consolation of the faithful.
¶ Of the patient bearing and abyding of sundrie calamities and miseries: and also of the hoape and manifolde consolation of the faithfull.
The third Sermon.
The thirde Sermon.
I Shall not do amiss, I think, my reverend brethren, if to the treatise which I have already made of earthly richesse, & of the use and abuse of the same, I do here also add a discourse of the divers calamities, wherewith man, so long as he liveth in this frail flesh, is continually vexed and daily afflicted. For since that many men do either loose their temporal goods, or else can by no means get them, which are the causes why they be oppressed with penury and neediness, it cannot be but profitable and very necessary too for every godly man to know out of the word of God the very reason and ground of those calamities, and of his consolation in his miseries, lest being swallowed up of too great sorrow, and entangled in utter desperation, he give him self over to be Satan's bondslave. Now, this treatise serveth for the whole life of man. For I mean not to speak of any one calamity alone, as of poverty or penury, but generally of all the miseries that happen to man. Verily, since man is borne to grief and misery, as birds to flying, and fishes to swimming, his life can never possibly be either sweet or quiet, unless he know the manner and reason of his calamity. And if so be he know the reason thereof religiously taken and derived out of the word of God, then his life cannot choose but be sweet & quiet. Howsoever otherwise it seem to be most bitter and intolerable. The mind of man verily is sorely afflicted and grievously tormented with lamentable miseries, but the same on the other side is sweetly eased and