A17183:1094
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.
For the faithful man by patience, having his eyes thoroughly fastened upon the word of God, doeth in faith and hope, stick fast to God and cleave to his word, he suffereth all adversities whatsoever bechance him, moderating always the grief of his mind, and pains of his body with wonderful wisdom, so that at no time being overcome with the greatness of grief or sorrow, he doeth revolt from GOD and his word, to do the things that the Lord hath forbidden. By patience therefore he vanquisheth himself and his affections, he• overcometh all calamities, and standeth still steadfast with a quiet mind, and well disposed heart to Godward. And although the faithful do with patience, suffer all things, yet doth he find fault with the things that are wicked, and hardly bear with ought, that is against the trueth. For our Saviour Christ Jesus the only perfect example of patience, did most patiently yield his hands and his whole body, to be bound of the wicked: and yet nevertheless, he reproveth their iniquity saying: Ye are come forth as to a thief with swords and staves, although I was daily with you in the temple: but this is your hour and power of darkness.
For the faythfull man by patience, hauing his eyes thoroughly fastened vppon the woord of God, doeth in fayth and hope, sticke faste to God and cleaue to his woord, hée suffereth all aduersities whatsoeuer bechance him, moderating alwayes the griefe of his minde, and paynes of his bodie wyth wonderfull wysedome, so that at no time being ouercome with the greatnesse of griefe or sorrowe, hee doeth reuolte from GOD and his woord, to doe the thinges that the Lord hath forbidden. By patience therefore hee vanquisheth himselfe and his affections, he• ouercommeth all calamities, and standeth stil steadfaste with a quiet minde, and well disposed heart to Godwarde. And althoughe the faythfull doe with patience, suffer all thinges, yet doth hee finde faulte wyth the thinges that are wicked, and hardly beare wyth oughte, that is againste the trueth. For oure Sauiour Christe Iesus the onely perfecte example of patience, did most patiently yéeld his handes and his whoale bodie, to bée bounde of the wicked: and yet neuerthelesse, hee reproueth their iniquitie saying: Yee are come foorth as to a theefe with swoordes and stanes, althoughe I was daily with you in the temple: but this is your houre and power of darcknesse.