A17183:1066
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.
That the godly are & have been afflicted as well as the wicked, since the beginning of the world, it is manifest to be seen in the example of Abel & Came: for, as the one was pitifully slain of the other for his sincere worshipping of God: so was the other for the murder made a vagabond, not daring for fear to abide in any place to take his rest in. Jacob surnamed Israel is read to have been vexed with many calamities. The same is reported also of the Egyptians while they ⟨p. 292⟩persecuted y• Israelites. Saul was vexed, and David afflicted. The Lord our Saviour with his disciples, bare the cross of grief and trouble. Again on the other side the Jews who cruelly persecuted Christ and his disciples, were horribly destroyed & that worthily too, for their villainous injury. Unspeakable are the evils which the church of Christ did suffer in those 10 most bloody persecutions before the reign of Constantine the great: but Orosius the notable, diligent, & faithful historiographer maketh mention that due and deserved punishments were out of hand laid upon the necks of those persecuting tyrants, of whom I will speak somewhat in place convenient. And by the testimonies both of god & man, and also by manifold experience, we see it proved that as well the godly as ungodly are touched with miseries. 1Yea, truly the best and holiest men for the most part are troubled & afflicted: when the wicked and worser sort are free from calamities, leading their lives in ease and pleasures. And while the good do suffer persecution & injuries, the wicked rejoice thereat. For the Lord in the Gospel saith to his disciples: Verily verily I say unto you, ye shall weep and lament, the world shall be glad: but ye shall be sorrowful. But now what kind of temptations those be, which arise in the hearts of the godly through their tribulations, and what those men which are not altogether godless nor the enemies of God, do gather of the felicity wherein the wicked are, the scripture in many places teacheth us, and especially in that wonderful discourse of Job & his friends. The Prophet Abacuch complaineth and saith: O Lord 2how long shall I cry, and thou not hear? how long shall I cry out to thee for the violence that I suffer & thou not help? why am I compelled to see iniquity spoiling & unrighteousness against me?