A17183:1193
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.
to the end that all men might learn thereby not to attribute more to the Sacraments and mysteries of God than is convenient, and not to apply them to any other use than that for which the Lord hath ordained them. For the ark was not ordained to the end that it should be taken for God, although it bare the name of God, neither was it made to the end that they should look for grace and help to proceed from it, as we read that they did, but it was given them as a token that God their confederate was in the middest of his people, so long as they did keep the tables of the covenant, that were closed within the ark, & did cleave to God alone, at whose hands they should look for all good things through Christ his son, which was prefigured by the ark.
to the ende that all men might learne therby not to attribute more to the Sacramentes and mysteries of God than is conuenient, and not to applie them to any other vse than that for which the Lord hath ordeyned them. For the arke was not ordeined to the ende that it should be taken for God, althoughe it bare the name of God, neither was it made to the end that they should loke for grace and helpe to procéede from it, as wée read that they did, but it was giuen them as a token that God their confederate was in the middest of his people, so long as they did kepe the tables of the couenaunt, that were cloased within the arke, & did cleaue to God alone, at whose hands they should looke for all good things through Christ his sonne, whiche was prefigured by the arke.
Next to the Adytum or Sanctum Sanctorū in the Sanctum, did stand the 1golden table, the matter and fashion whereof is declared in the 25. ca. of Exod. Upon the table we men do set our meat and sustenance, by the table we are refreshed, and at the table we forget our cares and are merry and jocund. Therefore the table can be none other but Christ our Lord and Christian doctrine. For Christ is the sustenance of our life, he is the joy & mirth of the faithful. The table was of gold without, and all wood within, because Christ our table is both God and man. The table (which is the type of Christian doctrine) is set forth in the Church: it is not therefore to be sought at Athens among the Sophisters, nor among the Gymnosophists of India, nor in the Jewish Synagogues. Upon the table are set 12. new loans divided into two parts. For the bread of life which is new and sweet, doth feed and fill both the Jews and the Gentiles. Moreover that bread was holy and not profane, & none might eat it but the priests alone. In like manner the faithful only are worthy of Christ the bread of life, and they that believe receive it only. The loaes were called by the name of Show bread, or y