A17183:1157
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.
These Ceremonies were not delivered 1to all people or nations, but to the people of Israel only, and that too, as the Apostle saith, until the time of amendment, as that which should lye upon the shoulders of the Jews till the coming of Messiah, at what time they should be taken away, and after that appear no more. And in this sense verily the Apostle Paul calleth the law the school mistress until Christ. We have moreover to note 2the end whereunto Ceremonies were ordained. Ceremonies do especially belong to the doctrine of piety & faith. For they were added to the first table, as a shore or prop to uphold or stay it. For they teach the outward worship of the true God, which godly men do give unto him, and by them were the Israelites drawn not only from strange gods, but from strange worships also, wherewith they were too much and too long inured & trained up in the land of Egypt: to the end they should not have any occasion to receive or admit any strange kinds of worships, when they were furnished and as it were wrapped in so exquisite sorts of curious Ceremonies. This doth Moses in the 12. of Deut. make to be the cause why God appointed such busy Ceremonies. Therefore Ceremonies and the use of Ceremonies are in the scripture expressly called the worship of God. For with them 3it pleased God to be worshipped: and with them he did retain his people in the true worshipping of him, and in the true religion, & communion of one ecclesiastical body. For the church is severed and divided by the admitting or bringing in of new or strange ceremonies: as it is evident in the states and dealings of Solomon & Jeroboam. Moreover the Apostle Paul said, Are not they which eat of the sacrifice, partakers of the altar, & so consequently 4of the whole religion? Furthermore the chief or especial mysteries of Christ and his Church, were shadowed in Ceremonies, and were the Sacraments of the Jewish people, wherewith the Lord would bind them unto him, put them in mind of his benefits, and lastly keep the piety, obedience, and faith of his people in ure & exercise.
These Ceremonies were not deliuered 1