A17183:1201
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.
Therefore the festival or holy day, which by Gods appointment is holy 1to the Lord, was kept for the devout exercising of Gods outward worship. Therefore those days are not holy, nor those feasts lawful, which are not held to the one & only God JEHOVAH: neither are those holy days lawful, in which the lawful service of God is not lawfully exercised. And for those causes the Sabbaths & festival days of the Israelites, are in the Prophets many times rejected, because they were unlawfully solemnized without pure faith and sincere affections.
Therfore the festiuall or holy day, which by Gods appointment is holy 1to the Lord, was kept for the deuoute exercising of Gods outward worship. Therefore those dayes are not holie, nor those feasts lawful, which are not held to the one & onely God IEHOVAH: neither are those holy dayes lawfull, in which the lawfull seruice of God is not lawfully exercised. And for those causes the Sabbothes & festiuall dayes of the Israelites, are in the Prophetes many times reiected, because they were vnlawfully solemnized without pure faith and sincere affections.
- 1What an holiday is
Now all holy days had one common 1name & were called Sabbaths, feasts, holy days, meetings and assemblies. All holy days, what name soever they were called by, were ordained to God alone, not to creatures, not for surfeiting and wanton chambering. All holy days were invented for the health, profit, and recreation of mankind. For holy days are no burden, but the easing of our burdens. Profane works I confess are profitable, but ease is also necessary: for without rest labour cannot continue. The Lords will therefore is to give man a time of recreation, and biddeth his servants to be merry on the holy days in holiness and modesty, so that their ease may be an honest recreation, and not reproachful sensuality. Again ease of it self is not good, but in respect of an other thing it is good. God biddeth to cease from work, but yet he setteth us on work another way, he willeth us to cease from bodily labour, and begin to work in hart and mind, and wholly apply our selves to his holy service. And therefore it is needful to have holy assemblies, the reading of the holy Scriptures, public prayers, sacrifices (for it is prescribed in the 28. and 29. Chap. of the book of Numbers, what they ought to offer at every feast and holy day) the celebration of the Sacraments, and whatsoever else the Lord hath commanded to be done at festival days and solemn seasons. For that one thing is here required especially, which Mary found, as she sate at the feet of Jesus and heard his word.