A17183:1174
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.
The next point of their duty after teaching, was to bless the people. 1That blessing was not free for every priest to use as he listed, but was bound to a certain form of words very solemnly uttered, which is thus expressed in the 6. of Numbers: 2And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, Speak unto Aaron & his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, and say unto them, The Lord bless thee, & keep thee: The Lord show his face unto thee, and be merciful unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. This manner of blessing did they use undoubtedly in their holy assemblies, especially at the breaking up of the congregation when the people did depart. ⟨p. 337⟩In an other place it is said, that God did bless, but here that Aaron and his sons did bless the people: whereupon we have to note, that God doth work inwardly and perform in the faithful, what soever the priests in that form of blessing did wish unto the people, so that still to bless, is the only and proper work of God alone. And therefore very significantly after that solemn blessing uttered by the mouth of the priest, God doth add, And they shall call or put my name over or upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them. The priests therefore do lay before the people the name of the Lord: they commend unto them the mighty power of his Godhead: and show them that all goodness doeth flow from God, teaching them how they may obtain it through faith in Christ, who is the blessed seed that blesseth all that call upon his name. Now in this solemn blessing six principal points are chiefly contained. First the priest saith, The Lord bless thee. That is, The Lord bestow upon thee, whatsoever belongeth to the safety of thy body and soul. Secondarily he saith, The Lord keep thee. For it is not sufficient to receive good things at the hand of the Lord, unless they be preserved by his power, and not taken from us by his wrathful indignation, nor lost again by our own negligence. Thirdly he saith, The Lord show thee his face, or The Lord make his face shine upon thee, The Lord doth then show us his loving face when after his anger he showeth us his favour, and doth become good and gracious to us.
The next point of their duetie after teaching, was to blesse the people.