A17183:1072
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.
Again, as the afflictions of the holy 1martyrs and faithful Saints of Christ are testimonies of the doctrine of faith, as our Saviour in the Gospel saith: They shall deliver you up to councils, & in their Synagogues ⟨p. 294⟩they shall scourge you, yea ye shall be brought before kings and rulers for my sake, that this might be for a witness to them and the people. Even so in like manner are the Saints overladen with miseries made examples for us to learn by, how to overcome and despise the world and to aspire to heavenly things.
Againe, as the afflictions of the holy 1martyrs and faithfull Saintes of Christ are testimonies of the doctrine of faith, as our Sauiour in the Gospell saith: They shall deliuer you vp to counsells, & in their Synagogues ⟨p. 294⟩they shall scourge you, yea ye shalbee brought before kinges and rulers for my sake, that this might bee for a wittnesse to them and the people. Euen so in like manner are the Saintes ouerladen wyth miseries made examples for vs to learne by, how to ouercome and despise ye world and to aspire to heauenly thinges.
- 1Afflictions are testimonies of the doctrine of faith.Afflictiōs are testimonies of the doctrin of faith.
Finally, the Lord doeth try these 1that be his, by laying the cross upon their necks, and purgeth them like gold in the fire, he cutteth from us many occasions of evil that he may bring us to the bearing of greater and more plentiful fruit. The wisdom of the Lord doeth therein follow the manner of Goldsmiths, who put their gold into the fire to purge, and not to mar it. And he imitateth also good husbandmen, who when their corn is somewhat too rank do mow it down, and prune their trees not to destroy, but make them bear more abundant fruit. And this flesh of ours verily in peace and quietness is luskish, lazy, drowsy, and slow to good and honest exercises: it is content and seeketh no further than earthly things, it is wholly given to pleasures, it doth utterly forget God and godly things: now therefore it is not expedient only but also very necessary to have this dull and sluggish lump stirred up and exercised with troubles, afflictions and sharp persecutions. The Saints herein are like to iron, which by use is somewhat worn and diminished, but by lying still unoccupied is eaten more with rust and canker. Most truly therefore said S. Peter: Dearly beloved, think it not strange,