A17183:1128
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.
¶ Of the fifth and sixth precepts of the second table, which are in order the ninth and tenth of the ••. commandments, that is, Thou shalt not speak false witness against thy neighbour. And, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house, &c.
¶ Of the fifte and sixt precepts of the second table, which are in order the ninth and tenth of the ••. commaundements, that is, Thou shalt not speake false witnesse against thy neighbour. And, Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house, &c.
¶ The fourth Sermon.
WE are now come to the exposition of the two last precepts of the ten commandments. The ninth commandment 1is: Do not speak false witness against thy neighbour. By this precept is confirmed faith in covenants & contracts, it ruleth the tongue, and commendeth unto us verity, the fairest virtue of all other, and teacheth us to use modesty & sincerity both in word and deed. Hitherto yet have we heard nothing in all Gods commandments ⟨p. 319⟩touching the tongue, but a little only in the third commandment. But of the tongue do arise the greatest commodities and discommodities of our life. For the tongue (saith James) is a little member & boasteth 2great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth. And the tongue is fire, even a world of wickedness. So is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell. All the nature of beasts, and of birds, & of serpents, and things of the sea, is meeked and tamed of the nature of men: but the tongue can no man tame, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith we bless our God and father, and therewith curse we men that are made after the similitude of God. Out of one mouth proceed both blessing and cursing. Therefore very well and necessarily is the way set down in this ninth precept, how men should frame and order their tongues. Now summarily this precept doth command us, to use our tongues well, that neither privately or publicly we do our neighbour harm, either in his life, good name, or riches, by word or writing, or otherwise by painting, neither by simulation nor dissimulation, nor yet so much as by a beck or a nod. All things are forbidden that are against truth and sincerity. There is required at all our hands, simplicity, plain speaking, & telling of the truth. Briefly, we are commanded every man to do his endeavour mutually to maintain plain dealing and verity. For in the 23. of Exod. we read that the Lord did charge us saying: Thou shalt not have to do with a false report. And in the 19. of Levit, Ye shall not steal, saith the Lord, nor lye, nor deal falsely one with an other. And the Apostle James, after he had touched the evil of the tongue, (especially because out of one mouth proceeded good and bad) doeth add: These things my brethren ought not to be so.