A17183:1191
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.
Now it remaineth for me to touch and lightly to pass over the holy instruments belonging to the tabernacle and temple of the Lord: among which the ark of the covenant was 1the chief, which ark was so called, because of the tables of the covenant, that were put within it. It was also called the ark of the Lord God of hosts, which dwelleth upon it, betwixt the Cherubim, & by that means the Lord himself was called by the name of Him that sitteth betwixt the Cherubim, because he did from thence give answers unto his servants, and had placed it in the middest of his people, to be a sign that his presence was always among them. Touching the stuff whereof, and the for me how the ark was made, I will say nothing here. For the matter & fashion are in their colours very lively painted out in the 25. Chap. of Exod. Of the meaning, mystery, & use of the ark I will speak somewhat now. We men lay up in our coffers and chests the treasures y• we most set by. And therefore we understand that in the ark was 2laid the treasure of the Church, and all the substance of which the faithful made most account. We must not therefore seek for them in men, in Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, ⟨p. 346⟩S. Mary, John, Peter, or Paul, much less in the Romish indulgentiarie, but in him in whom all fullness dwelleth, and in whom all the treasures of gods wisdom and knowledge are heaped up in store, who is not seen here on the earth, but in the Sanctum Sanctorum, in heaven, I say, above: and is called Jesus Christ: whose divinity is figured by the most pure gold, and his humanity by the Sittim wood, that is, of Cedar, or rather white thorn. For he took upon him flesh, like to our sinful flesh, even the very flesh, that we have in all points, saving that it was not sinful: Out of this ark do the faithful fetch all good and necessary things for the use of their life and eternal salvation. For in the ark we read that there was laid the tables of the covenant, the pot of Manna, and Aaron's rod y• budded. For we heard that in Christ were hidden the jewels of the Church. Christ is our wisdom, the word of the father, the fulfilling of the Law, he is just himself and our righteousness also. In Christ is the heavenly food. For he is the bread of life that came down from heaven, to the end that every one that eateth of it may live eternally.