A17183:1090
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.
Yea while they went about to have patience over exquisite and too precise, they toke away the force thereof out of the life of man. At this day also there are among us Christians certain newly upstart Stoics, which think it a fault not only to sigh and weep, but also to be sad and sorrowful for any matter. And these Paradoxes verily do for the most part proceed from idle fellows, which exercising themselves rather in contemplation, than in working, can do nothing else but daily breed such novelties and Paradoxes. But we Christians have nothing to do with this ironlike Philosophy, since our 1Lord and master hath not in words only, but with his own example also utterly condemned it. For he groaned at, and wept over both his own, ⟨p. 302⟩and other mens calamities, & taught his disciples to do the like. The world (saith he) shall rejoice, but ye shall be sorrowful, ye shall weep. And least any man should make that weeping to be their fault, he pronounceth openly that they are happy which do mourn. And no marvel. For if all tears be misliked off, what should we judge of the Lord himself, out of whose body bloody tears did trill? If all fear be noted to proceed of unbelief, what shall we think of that horror, wherewith we read that the Lord himself was stricken? If we mislike all sorrow and sadness, how shall we like of that where the Lord confesseth that his soul is heavy unto the death?
Yea while they went about to haue patience ouer exquisite and too precise, they toke away the force therof out of the life of man. At this daye also there are amonge vs Christians certaine newly vpstarte Stoickes, which thincke it a fault not onely to sigh and wéepe, but also to be sad and sorrowfull for any matter. And these Paradoxes verilie doe for the most part procéed from idle fellowes, whiche exercising themselues rather in contemplation, than in working, can doe nothing else but daily bréede such nouelties and Paradoxes. But wée Christians haue nothing to doe with this yronlike Philosophie, since oure 1Lord and maister hath not in words onely, but with his owne example also vtterly cōdemned it. For he greaned at, and wept ouer both his owne, ⟨p. 302⟩