A17183:1092
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.
If therefore we mean to be Christ his disciples, our chief and especial study must be, to have our minds endued with so great obedience and love of God, as is able to tame and bring under all the ill motions of our minds to the ordinance of his holy will. And so it will come to pass, that with what kind of Cross soever we be vexed, we may even in the greatest troubles of our minds, constantly retain quiet sufferance and patience. For adversity will ⟨p. 303⟩have a sharpness to nip us with all: likewise being afflicted with sickness and diseases, we shall groan, and be disquieted, and wish for health: being oppressed with poverty we shall be pricked with the sting of care and heaviness: in like manner we shall be stricken with the grief of infamy, contempt and injury done unto us: Also at the death of our friends, nature will move us to shed tears for their sakes. But this must still be the end of our thoughts, why the Lord would have it so. Let us therefore follow his will. Thus much hath he.
If therfore wee meane to be Christe his disciples, our chiefe and especiall studie must be, to haue oure mindes indued with so great obedience and loue of God, as is able to tame and bring vnder all the ill motions of our mindes to the ordinaunce of his holie will. And so it will come to passe, that with what kinde of Crosse soeuer wée be vexed, wée may euen in the greatest troubles of oure mindes, constantly reteyne quiet sufferaunce and patience. For aduersitie will ⟨p. 303⟩haue a sharpenesse to nippe vs with all: likewise being afflicted with sicknesse and diseases, wée shall groane, and bee disquieted, and wishe for health: being oppressed wyth pouertie wée shalbe pricked wyth the sting of care and heauinesse: in like manner wée shalbe stricken wyth the griefe of infamie, contempte and iniurie done vnto vs: Also at the death of oure friendes, nature will moue vs to shedd teares for their sakes. But this must still be the ende of our thoughts, whie ye Lord would haue it so. Let vs therefore followe his will. Thus much hath hée.