A17183:1073
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.
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, 2that ye are tried with fire, which thing is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice rather in that ye are partakers of the afflictions of Christ, that when his glory is revealed ye may be merry and glad. For Paul to Timothy saith, Remember 3that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I am afflicted as an evil doer even unto bonds: and yet I suffer all things for the elects sakes, that they might also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we be patient we shall reign with him: if we deny him, he shall also deny us. For in his epistle to the Romans he saith, Those which he 4knew before, he did also predestinate that they should be like fashioned unto the shape of his son, that he might be the first begotten among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them also he called: and whom he called, them also he justified: and whom he justified, them also shall he glorify. Again in the