A17183:1135
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.
Furthermore we have here commended unto us the inviolable keeping of bargains, covenants, and contracts: and on the other side are we especially charged, not to use either guile, or deceit, or craft, or any kind of cozening. Of which I have spoken, where I treated of theft,
Furthermore wee haue here commended vnto vs ye inuiolable kéeping of bargaynes, couenauntes, and contractes: and on the other side are wée especially charged, not to vse either guile, or deceite, or craft, or any kind of cousening. Of which I haue spoken, where I treated of theft,
But now the especial thing that 1is forbidden the faithful herein is to tell a lye, that is, to speak an untruth, either upon purpose therewith to hurt his neighbour, or upon any vain and light occasion, or otherwise upon some evil affection. For among men many kinds and sundry sorts of lies are reckoned up. S. Augustine in his 14. Chapter ad Consencium de Mendacio, maketh mention of eight kinds of lies. I among many will name a few only. There is a jesting lye, as when I say that I lye, or other men know that I do lye, by which lye of mine they take some pro ⟨p. 321⟩fit, or (as I should rather say) some pastime or pleasure. To lye in that sort, although it be no great and heinous sin, is yet a sign of very great lightness: which the Apostle mistiketh in y• faithful, as it may appear in the fifth Chapter of his epistle to the Ephesians. And yet I think not that devised fables, parables and feigned narrations are hereby forbidden: which, as they are in the Scripture every where used in matters of most importance, so have they also a very goodly grace, being of themselves very necessary and profitable, for the readers understanding. S. Augustine will not have jesting mirth, in the number of lies. There is moreover an officious lye, that is when I fitten or tell an untruth for duties sake, to the end that by my lye, I may keep my neighbour harmless from the evil or mischief, that hangeth over his head. Of this sort there are many examples in the holy Scriptures. The midwives of Egypt, did save the Hebrews children alive, whom Pharaoh commanded to be slain at their birth: and being accused before the king for breaking the law, they did by an officious and a very witty lye excuse themselves, and pretend a certain speediness of travale in the Hebrews wives, more than the Egyptian women had. Rahab doeth with a very strange tale, deceive the citizens of Jericho, and by her lie preserve the spies of the people of God. And Michol Davids wife, with a lye did save her husbands life, and sent away her father Sauls servants without their purpose, for which the king had sent them. And Jonathan feigneth many a thing at his fathers table, for the goodwill that ee bare t David, whom by honest shifts and godly deceits he did rid from the bloody hand of his cruel father Saul.