A17183:1120
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.
We have a public example in 1the Church of Israel afflicted in Egypt, many times troubled under their kings and Judges, and lastly led captive by the Assyrians and men of Babylon. Afterward being brought home again by the goodness of God, they pass many brunts, and are sharply afflicted under the Monarchies of the Persians, Greeks and Romans. What shall I say of the Apostolic church of Christ, which even when it first began like an infant to 2creep by the ground, did presently feel the cross, and yet flourished still in those afflictions, which even to this day it doth patiently suffer? Histories make mention of ten persecutions▪ wherewith the Church of Christ (from the eight year of Nero, till the reign ⟨p. 315⟩of Constantine the great, by the space of 318. years) was terribly shaken and sharply afflicted without intermission or respite of time for it to breath in, and rest it self from troublesome broils & merciless slaughters. The first persecution of those ten, did Nero that beast and lecherous monster raise against the Christians, wherein it is said that Peter and Paul the Apostles of Christ were brought to their endings. The second was moved by Flavius Domitianus, which banished the Apostle John into the Isle of Patmos. The third persecutor after Nero, was Trajan the Emperor, who published most terrible edicts against the Christians: under him was the notable martyr and preacher Ignatius, with many other excellent servants of Christ, cast out to wild beasts, and cruelly torn in pieces. The fourth persecution did the Emperor Verus most bloodily stir up through all France and Asia, wherein the blessed Polycarpus was burnt in fire alive, and Irenaeus the bishop of Lions was headed with the sword. In the fifth persecution of the Church of Christ, Septimius Severus thorough many provinces, did bloodily crown many a Saint with the garland of martyrdom: among whom is reckoned Leonidas the father of Origenes. Julius Maximinus was the sixth after Nero that played the tyrant against the Church: in that persecution the preachers and ministers of the churches were especially murdered: among whom beside an innumerable sort of other excellent men, Pamphilus and Maximus two notable lights, were especially slaughtered.