A17183:1082
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 last and hindermost cause of the calamities which oppress yt holy 1Saints of God is, because the Lord in afflicting his friends, death thereby give a most evident testimony of his just judgement, which shall fall upon his enemies for their contemning of his name and Majesty. For Saint Peter saith, The time is that judgment must begin at the house of God: if it first begin at us, what ⟨p. 299⟩shall the end be of those, which believe not the Gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? And like to this, is that notable sentence of the Lords, which he spake, when he went to the place of execution, saying: If they do this 2in a moist tree, what shall be done in the dry? If the Saints, by whom are meant the fruitful trees bringing forth most precious fruits of good works, are by the sufferance of God in this world, so miserably tormented and woefully vexed, what shall we say, I pray you, of the wicked, which are so far from virtue and good works? They shall undoubtedly be plagued with unspeakable pains and punishments.
The last and hindermost cause of the calamities which oppresse yt holy 1Sainctes of God is, because the Lord in afflicting his friends, deeth thereby giue a most euident testimonie of his iuste iudgement, which shall fall vppon his enimies for their contemning of his name and Maiestie. For Saint Peter sayth, The time is that iudgment must beginne at the house of God: if it first beginne at vs, what ⟨p. 299⟩shal the ende bee of those, which beleeue not the Gospell of God? And if the righteous scarsely bee saued, where shall the vngodly and sinner appeare? And like to this, is that notable sentence of the Lords, which hée spake, when hée went to the place of execution, saying: If they doe this 2in a moyst tree, what shall bee done in the drie? If the Saincts, by whom are meante the fruitefull trées bringing foorth most pretious fruites of good woorkes, are by the sueraunce of God in this world, so miserably tormented and wofully vexed, what shall wée say, I pray you, of the wicked, which are so farre from vertue and good woorks? They shal vndoubtedly bee plagued with vnspeakable paynes and punishments.