A17183:1110
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.
An other comfort that the faithful have in their afflictions is this, 1that the time of affliction is short, that the joy and reward in the world to come is unspeakably far more large and excellent, than the tribulation of this life is troublesome, so that there can be no comparison betwixt the joy of the one, and grief of the other: and lastly, that our good God doth not lay such burdens on us as we are not able possibly to bear. Touching all which points, I think it convenient here to rehearse proofs out of yt scrip tures to prove them true. S. Peter calleth the time of affliction short or momentany. And the Prophet Esate or the Lord rather in Esates prophecy, long before Peters time did say: Go my people, enter into thy chambers, and shut the doors after thee, hide thee self a little while, until mine indignation be overpast. Paul also saith, The fathers of your flesh did for a few days chasten you after their own pleasure, but the father of spirits doth (for a short time) correct you to your profit, that ye might be partakers of his holiness. But no chastising for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless afterward it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousness to them, that are exercised thereby. Again he saith, We suffer with Christ, that with him we may be glorified. For I am certainly persuaded, that the afflictions of this time, are not comparable to the glory that shall be showed upon us. For the momentany lightness of our affliction doth won derfully above all measure, bring forth to us an everlasting weight of glory, while we look not for the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen. For the things, that are seen, are temporal, but the things that are not seen, are eternal. Again, in his first epistle to the Corinth. the same Apostle saith, God is faithful which shall not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able: but shall with the temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. But if it so happen, that the Lord doth seem to us to extend our tribulation longer than justice would seem to require, then must we by and by remember that we may not prescribe to God any end of his will, but must permit him freely to afflict us without all controlment, so much, so long, and by such means as shall seem to be best to his godly wisdom.
An other comforte that the faithfull haue in their afflictions is this, 1that the time of affliction is shorte, that the ioy and reward in the world to come is vnspeakeablie farre more large and excellent, than the tribulation of this life is troublesome, so that there can be no comparison betwixt ye ioy of the one, and griefe of the other: and lastly, that our good God doth not lay such burthēs on vs as we are not able possiblie to beare. Touching all which points, I thinke it conuenient here to rehearse proofes out of yt scrip tures to proue them true. S. Peter calleth the time of affliction short or momentanie. And the Prophet Esate or the Lord rather in Esates prophecie, long before Peters time did say: Goe my people, enter into thy chambers, and shutt the doores after thee, hide thee selfe a little while, vntill mine indignation be ouerpast. Paul also sayth, The fathers of your fleshe did for a fewe dayes chasten you after their owne pleasure, but the father of spirits doth (for a short time) correct you to your profite, that ye might bee partakers of his holinesse. But no chastising for the present seemeth to be ioyous, but greeuous. Neuerthelesse afterward it bringeth the quiet fruite of righteousnes to them, that are exercised thereby. Againe he saith, Wee suffer with Christe, that with him we may be glorified. For I am certainly persuaded, that the afflictions of this time, are not comparable to the glorie that shalbe shewed vppon vs. For the momentanie lightnesse of our affliction doth wō derfully aboue all measure, bring forth to vs an euerlasting weight of glorie, while wee looke not for the thinges that are seene, but the things that are not seene. For the thinges, that are seene, are temporall, but the thinges that are not seene, are eternal. Againe, in his first epistle to the Corinth. the same Apostle sayth, God is faithfull which shal not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able: but shall with the temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to beare it. But if it so happen, that the Lord doth séeme to vs to extend our tribulation longer than iustice would séeme to require, then must wee by and by remember that we may not prescribe to God any end of his wil, but must permit him fréely to afflicte vs without all controllment, so much, so longe, and by such meanes as shal séeme to be best to his godly wisedome.