A17183:1178
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.
Beside this also the priests had yet 1an other office, that was, to judge betwixt cause & cause, between clean and unclean. Both which are more largely declared in the 17. of Deut. and in the 13. and 14. cha. of Leviticus. For as often as any difficult matter happened to rise among them, the hearing of it was brought to the mother city Jerusalem: & if any man were suspected to be a Leper, the Levitical priests did judge of his disease according to the laws that were prescribed them. So hitherto I have summarily laid down the offices of priest hood among the old people, reckoning up only the especial parts belonging to their service. Now as those priests did serve the Israelitish church, so •id 2they live of the revenues of the church. For the Lord appointed them certain stipends, and dwelling places in the land of promise. For he assigned 48. ⟨p. 339⟩cities for them to inhabit in the land of Israel, sire whereof were cities of refuge for men to flee unto, as unto Sanctuaries. Moreover he commanded to lay out and appoint, for the sustenance of the priests cattle and families, the suburbs and farms without the walls of the cities, within a 3thousand cubits compass on every side. In those cities were schools so conveniently placed throughout all y• land, that all men might easily go with very small pain from y• places there about, unto the synagogues, to hear the word of God. In those cities there was no sacrifices made: for they were commanded to sacrifice in one place alone: and thrice a year they went up to the temple to sacrifice unto the Lord: but every sabbath day the 4law was taught in every town where the synagogues were. Moreover the rents belonging to the priests were great & ample, as is to be seen in the 18. of the book of Numb. & in the last of Levit. The wealth of the priests was enough & sufficient to maintain their families, and to live themselves honestly. And they with that stipend did not give themselves to riot and idleness, but living moderately did apply themselves to learning & teaching of the people. Thus much hitherto touching the persons belonging to the ministry of holy religion.