A17183:1086
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.
There is no man that knoweth not the Evangelical parable of the rich unmerciful glutton, who, when as in this life he lived as he justed, in passing delights, was notwithstanding in hell tormented with unquenchable thirst, and parched with fire, which never ceased burning. The felicity therefore of the wicked in this life is nothing else but extreme misery. For Saint James the Apostle saith: Ye have lived in 1pleasure upon earth and been wanton, ⟨p. 300⟩ye have nourished your harts as in a day of slaughter, which, I say, will turn to you, as to well fed beasts, that are fatted up to be slain to make meat of. For Jeremiah goeth 2a little more plainly to work and saith: O Lord thou art more righteous, than that I should dispute with thee: yet notwithstanding, I will talk with thee. Howe happeneth it that the way of the ungodly doeth prosper so well, and that it goeth so well with them, which without shame offend in wickedness? Thou haste planted them, they take root, they grow, and bring forth fruit. And immediately after, But draw thou them out O Lord, like a sheep to be slain, and ordain or appoint them against the day of slaughter. With this also doeth that agree, which the Prophet Asaph, after he had roundly and largely reckoned up the felicity 3of the wicked, addeth saying: Thou verily hast set them in slippery places, thou shalt cast them down head long, and utterly destroy them. O with how sudden calamities are they oppressed, they are perished, & swallowed up of terrors. Even as a dream that vanisheth so soon as one awaketh: thou Lord shalt make their image contemptible in the city. For David also before him did cry saying: Yet a little, and the ungodly shall be no where: and when thou lookest in 4his place, he shall not appear. I have seen the ungodly in great power, & flourishing like a green Bay tree, and I went by, and lo he was gone, I sought him, but he could not be found. In like manner also doth Malachi the Prophet witness that there is great difference in the day of judgement, betwixt the worshipper and despiser of God, and betwixt the just and unjust dealer. For the day of the Lord shall come, in which the proud and those that work wickedness, shall be burnt as stubble with fire from heaven, so that there shall remain unto them neither root nor branch.