A17183:1219
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 circumcision was the holy 1action, whereby the flesh of the foreskin was cut away for a sign of the covenant that God made with men. Or to describe it more largely, circumcision was a mark in the privy members of men betokening the eternal covenant of God, and was or deined by God him self, to testify his goodwill toward them that were circumcised, to warn them of regeneration and cleanness, and to make a difference betwixt the confederates of God & other people or nations.
Nowe circumcision was the holie 1action, whereby the flesh of the foreskinne was cutt awaye for a signe of the couenaunt that God made with men. Or to describe it more largely, circumcision was a marke in the priuie members of men betokening the eternal couenant of God, and was or deined by God him selfe, to testifie his goodwill toward them that were circumcised, to warne them of regeneration and cleannesse, and to make a difference betwixt the confederates of God & other people or nations.
- 1Circumcision what it is.
The author therefore of circumcision is God him self: the beginning of it is of great antiquity. For the Lord him self in the Gospel saith: Circumcision 1began not at Moses, but at the Patriarchs. Moses verily did renew or repair the law or custom of circumcision, but Abraham the renowned friend of God was the first that was circumcised in the ninetieth year of his age, and in the very same day that God making a covenant with him did first ordain the use of circumcision. For he added circumcision as a seal to the league which he made with Abraham and with his seed for ever. The place is extant in the 17. Chap. of Genesis. It was first ordained in the 2046. year after the creation of the world, 390. years after the deluge, when Shem the son of Noah was 487 years old. So that Moses is found to have been borne 320. years after the first institution of circumcision: whereby it appeareth that circumcision was in use among the Patriarchs 400. years before the law was given to the Israelites by the hand of Moses.