A17183:1148
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.
There are (I confess) sundry fantasies and many thoughts in the minds of men, which while they tend not to the offence of God or our neighbour, nor do contain any uncleanness or self-love, are not to be counted in the number of sins: as I did immediately after the beginning declare unto you.
There are (I confesse) sundrie fantasies and many thoughts in the minds of men, which while they tend not to the offence of God or our neighbour, nor do cōt•ine any vncleannesse or selfeloue, are not to be counted in the number of sinns: as I did imm•diately after the beginning declare vnto you.
So hitherto verily God hath forbidden 1the grosser sins which man doeth daily commit against him, and now at last he cometh to the concupiscence & corrupt nature of man, the wellspring of all evil, which in this precept he goeth about to stop up and cause to sleep: or as I should rather say, to detect to the eyes of all men the infirmity and weakness of mankind. For what is he that hath not some whiles felt concupiscence? yea, what is he that is not every hour & moment pricked with the sting of fleshly concupiscence? What man is there (I pray you) that is not diseased with the natural sickness common to us all, and spotted with the blemish of original guiltiness? Being therefore convinced of sin before the lord, we are not able to excuse our fault, nor escape the sentence of the Judge, that doth condemn all flesh. For the just Lord doeth expressly condemn our natural corruption and wicked inclination, which is a continual turning from God, and rebellion against the sincerity, which he requireth at our hands. For they are called happy that are clean in heart, because they shall see God. They therefore whose hearts are wrapped in lusts, diseased with concupiscence, and spotted with the poison of original guilt, shall not see God. But such are all we that are the sons of Adam. And therefore this law doth convince us all of sin, infirmity, natural corruption, & of damnation which followeth upon the neck of our corruption. Moreover god in his law doth not only require