A17183:1227
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 how he did perform this promise to the seed of Abraham the holy scripture doth declare, by that means teaching that the very true God was the God of Abraham's seed, as he had promised to their father Abraham. Secondarily he promiseth the seed, wherein all the nations of the earth were to be blessed: to wit, Christ the Saviour, whom he had promised to Adam many years before. To bless is to enrich with all spiritual benediction, wherein he comprehendeth all the spiritual gifts of God, the forgiveness of sins, the reviving of life, and glory everlasting. To bless also is to take away a curse, so that this promise of Gods to Abraham is all one with that, which he made to Adam: saying, The seed of the woman shall tread down the Serpents head. For the head of the old Dragon is nothing else, but the power and kingdom of Satan. His power is the curse, sin, and death. Therefore, when his head is crushed or trodden down, the curse is taken away, and in stead of the curse succeedeth a blessing. By this I say he doth declare that he will be the God of Abraham and of his seed.
Nowe howe he did perfourme this promise to the séede of Abraham the holie scripture doth declare, by that meanes teaching that the verie true God was the God of Abrahams seed, as he had promised to their father Abraham. Secondarily he promiseth ye séede, wherein all the nations of the earth were to bee blessed: to witt, Christ the Sauiour, whome he had promised to Adam many yeares before. To blesse is to enriche with al spirituall benediction, wherein hee comprehendeth all ye spirituall giftes of God, the forgiuenesse of sinnes, the reuiuing of life, and glorie euerlasting. To blesse also is to take away a cursse, so that this promise of Gods to Abraham is all one wt that, which he made to Adam: saying, The seede of the woman shal treade downe the Serpents head. For the head of ye olde Dragon is nothing else, but the power and kingdome of Satan. His power is the cursse, sinne, and death. Therefore, when his head is crushed or troaden downe, the cursse is takē away, and in sted of the cursse succéedeth a blessing. By this I saye hee doth declare that he will bee the God of Abraham and of his séede.
The second condition of the league betwixt God and man, prescribeth to