A17183:1189
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.
Jeroboam therefore and the kings 1of Israel, did sin most grievously, when they forsook the temple to make sacrifices in the high places, in their Cathedral Churches at Bethel and at Dan, and in other high & pleasant places. The people of Judah with their kings did sin most grievously either for sacrificing to God in the high places, or else because they did not utterly cut down those high places. For the Lord would, and his will was to be worshipped in one place which he had chosen unto himself. The plain law touching that matter is extant in the 12. of Deuteronomy, & is very expressly set down in the 17 of Levit. in these words following: Whosoever of the house of Israel shall kill an Ox, or a sheep, or a goat, within the host or without the host, (to wit for a sacrifice unto the Lord. For otherwise they might lawfully kill a beast for their sustenance in any place wheresoever) and shall not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer his Sacrifice before the dwelling place of the Lord, blood shall be imputed to that man, as if he had shed blood. Wherefore when the children of Israel bring their offerings, let them bring them to the Lord before the door of the tabernacle of appointment unto the priest, that he may ⟨p. 345⟩offer them. And let them no more offer their offerings to devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be an ordinance to them for ever in their generations. And he that doth not this shall be rooted out from among his people. There are in these words three things to be noted. First that it was not lawful to sacrifice, but in yt one place only, that was before the altar of burnt offerings. Secondarily we have to mark that that commandment was given, to the end, that all men should understand, that the sacrifice was made to God, to whom the tabernacle did belong. Thirdly, that to offer sacrifice out of y• place against Gods commandment, was to make sacrifice unto the devil: that the offerer was to be judged as a murderer: and that he was excommunicated by the lord God, as he that was excluded from the company of God & his holy saints. But whereas Samuel, Elijah, and certain other Patriarchs did by Gods sufferance make sacrifices upon some especial causes in other places & not before the altar in the tabernacle, they did it by dispensation.
Ieroboam therfore and the kings