A17183:1171
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 sundry Ceremonies have sundry and goodly significations. The use and end of these ordinances, the Lord declared by Moses to be for glory and comeliness sake: for they were invented partly for the winning of credit and authority to the ministers of religion, and partly for the commendation or advancement of religion it self: because the things are most regarded, that are set forth with so great solemnity. Moreover it was profitable and especially necessary with these busy Ceremonies to set a work the people, which, if they had been without such Ceremonies of their own, was very prone and ready to have embraced the idolatrous rites of heathen nations. Furthermore those Ceremonial clothes 1used by the Priests Aaron's successors, do offer to us the beholding of Christ the true and highest priest. He was apparelled with the garment of righteousness, temperance & virtue, which garment is common unto us also. For all Christians must put on and be clad with Christ. And yet Christ hath the preeminence as the high and chiefest priest among us all, not only because he doth sanctify us, and indue us with virtue: but also because he hath certain properties peculiar to himself, as he that is both very God, and the Saviour of the world. He beareth us upon his breast and shoulders, as Aaron did the precious stones: for we are not vile, but very deer in the sight of God. Out of the breast of our high priest Christ doth glister and shine the light of eternal wisdom. For in him, as it were in the treasury of gods eternal wisdom, are all the riches of knowledge and wisdom laid up and locked. He is the light of the world, he is both trueth and perfectness, so that all the world should of right, require and seek at Christ alone for laws, ordinances, answers, and whatsoever else is needful to perfectness and true happiness. He is the holy of holies, the very majesty & holiness of God: upon his head is the crown of glory very rightly placed, as he that sanctifieth only, reigneth in glory, and liveth for evermore. Besides all this, the priests were by these Ceremonies taught to understand by their very apparel, what was required at their hands, and what kind of men they ought to be. Let the priests be always ready to the executing of their office, let them walk honestly before God and men:
These sundrie Ceremonies haue sundrie and goodly significations. The vse and end of these ordinaunces, the Lord declared by Moses to be for glorie and comelinesse sake: for they were inuented partly for the winning of credite and authoritie to the ministers of religion, and partly for the commendation or aduancement of religion it selfe: because the things are most regarded, that are set forthe with so great solemnitie. Moreouer it was profitable and especiallie necessarie with these busie Ceremonies to set a woorke the people, which, if they had béene without such Ceremonies of their owne, was very proane and ready to haue embraced the idolatrous rites of heathen nations. Furthermore those Ceremoniall clothes