A17183:1159
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.
But it is not a miss here particularly 1to examine and look into, not all and every one, but the chiefest Ceremonies, and those which are more significant than the rest. Let this labour of mine not seem to any man to be more curious than needeth, or less profitable than it showeth for. For it is undoubtedly very available to the sound understanding of the abrogation of the law. All things, whatsoever God hath laid down in the holy scriptures, are altogether profitable to our edification, and do carry with them a divine authority, whereby we may confirm our minds: they therefore are very fools and godless people, or to use a more gentle term, they are shuttle witted & ignorant of all good things, whose stomachs do rise at the Ceremonies that God hath taught, and whose ears are offended to hear a sober & godly treatise upon the exposition of those divine ceremonies. Some there are, & that no small number, who think it very profitable and an excellent thing to construe Homer and Virgil allegorically: in divine Ceremonies only foolish heads are persuaded that no profit or wisdom lieth secretly hidden: when in deed in all the world again there is nothing more profitable, more pleasant, more fine, more excellent, or more full of wisdom in allegorical types, than the ceremonies are, that God hath ordained. For in them are the mysteries of Christ & his Catholic Church, very finely, plainly, and notably described.
But it is not a misse here particularly 1to examine and looke into, not al and euery one, but the chiefest Ceremonies, and those which are more significant than the rest. Let this labour of mine not séeme to any man to bee more curious than needeth, or lesse profitable than it sheweth for. For it is vndoubtedly very auaileable to the sound vnderstanding of the abrogation of the lawe. All thinges, whatsoeuer God hath layd downe in the holy scriptures, are altogether profitable to our edification, and doe carrie with them a diuine authoritie, wherby we may cōfirme our minds: they therfore are very fooles and godlesse people, or to vse a more gentle terme, they are shuttle witted & ignorāt of all good things, whose stomachs doe rise at the Ceremonies that God hath taught, and whose eares are offended to heare a sober & godly treatise vpon the exposition of those diuine ceremonies. Some there are, & that no smal number, who thincke it very profitable and an excellent thing to construe Homer and Virgil allegoricallie: in diuine Ceremonies only foolish heads are persuaded that no profite or wisedom lyeth secretly hidden: when in déede in all the world againe ther is nothing more profitable, more pleasant, more fine, more excellent, or more full of wisedome in allegoricall types, than the ceremonies are, that God hath ordeyned. For in them are the mysteries of Christe & his Catholique Church, very finely, plainely, and notably described.