A17183:1141
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.
Moreover, in the book of Proverbs GOD is said to hate backbiters and wrongful slanderers. And in yt 19. Chap. we read: The thought of a fool is sin, and a slanderer is •ated of men. For a good name (as the same Solomon witnesseth) is a precious treasure. When as therefore the fame and good name of a man is put in hazard, by the false reports and slanders of a wicked tongue, the chiefest jewel that a man hath is put in jeopardy: so that in very deed a slanderer doeth seem to sin more deeply than a thief: unless a man make more account of his transitory richesse, than of his name and good report. And therefore it is strange at this day, that a thief for stealing is never pardoned, & backbiters for slanders are never once touched. I would to God that magistrates would once rightly weigh the sundry circumstances of sundry matters, and punish every fault with penalties agreeable to the offence, and revenge the greater crimes, with great and sharper punishments. For God truly doeth require of, and charge every one of us, to do our best in maintaining trueth, for the defence of our neighbours good name, and preservation of his earthly substance.
Moreouer, in the booke of Preuerbes GOD is said to hate backbiters and wrongfull slaunderers. And in yt 19. Chap. we read: The thought of a foole is sinne, and a slaunderer is •ated of men. For a good name (as the same Solomon witnesseth) is a precious treasure. When as therefore the fame and good name of a man is put in hazard, by the false reportes and slaunders of a wicked tongue, the chiefest iewel that a man hath is put in ieopardie: so that in verie déede a slaunderer doeth séeme to sinne more deepely than a théefe: vnlesse a man make more accompt of his transitorie richesse, than of his name and good report. And therefore it is straunge at this day, that a théefe for stealing is neuer pardoned, & backbyters for slaunders are neuer once touched. I would to God that magistrats would once rightly weighe the sundrie circumstances of sundrie matters, and punish euery fault with penalties agréeable to the offence, and reuenge the greater crimes, with great and sharper punishmentes. For God truly doeth require of, and charge euerie one of vs, to doe oure beste in mainteyninge trueth, for the defence of oure neighbours good name, and preseruation of his earthly substaunce.