A17183:1087
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.
They that are wise therefore will never hereafter be offended at the felicity of the wicked: they will never desire and long to be made partakers of their unhappy prosperity: they will not grudge at all to bear the misery of the Cross, which they do daily hear to be laid by God upon his Saints, to the end they may be tried and fined from the dross of the flesh and this unclean world. Thus far have I sufficiently reasoned of the causes of calamities.
They that are wise therefore wil neuer hereafter be offended at the felicitie of the wicked: they will neuer desire and long to be made partakers of their vnhappie prosperitie: they wil not grudge at all to beare the miserie of the Crosse, which they do daily heare to be layd by God vppon his Saintes, to the end they may be tried and fined from the drosse of the fleshe and this vncleane world. Thus farre haue I sufficiently reasoned of the causes of calamities.
Let us now see (my reverend brethren) how and in what order the 1godly and sincere worshipper of God, doth behave himself in all calamities and worldly afflictions. His courage quaileth not, but kicketh rather all desperation aside, because he understandeth that he must manfully in faith, bear all sorts of evils. Therefore doth he arm himself with hope, patience, and prayer. There are verily among men some, which so soon as they feel any affliction, do presently cry as the common voice is, That it had been best if they never had been borne, or else destroyed as soon as they were borne. A very wicked saying is this, and not worthy to be heard in a Christian mans mouth. But far more wicked are they which stick not to destroy them selves, rather than by living they would be compelled to suffer any longer some small calamity, or abide the taunts of the open world. And yet on the other side again, men must reject the unsavoury opinion of the Stoics, touching ⟨p. 301⟩their Indolentia or lack of grief. 2