A17183:1230
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.
In the seventeenth of Genesis thus saith the Lord, touching this sign of outward circumcision: This is my covenant, which ye shall keep betwixt me and you, and thy seed after thee. Every male shall be circumcised among you. Ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin: and it shall be for a sign of the covenant betwixt me and you &c. Lo here circumcision in these words of the Lords is first named the covenant, and afterward for expositions sake, it is called the sign of the covenant. In the same sense doth Saint Stephan call it a testament in the seventh Chapter of the Acts, when he meant that it was the sign or seal of the Testament.
In the seuentéenth of Genesis thus saith the Lorde, touching this signe of outwarde circumcision: This is my couenaunt, which ye shall keepe betwixt mee and you, and thy seede after thee. Euery male shalbe circū cised among you. Ye shal circumcise the fleshe of your foreskinne: and it shalbe for a signe of the couenant betwixt mee and you &c. Lo here circumcision in these woordes of the Lordes is first named the couenaunt, and afterwarde for expositions sake, it is called the signe of the couenaunt. In the same sense doth Sainct Stephan call it a testament in the seuēth Chapter of the Acts, when he meant that it was the signe or seale of the Testament.
Moreover the manner of circumcision is declared: Ye shall, saith God 1circumcise the flesh of your foreskin. For there is a skin which doth encompass, cover, and hang somewhat over the nut or forepart of a mans yard, and that skin is called the flesh of the foreskin, because it doth appear or hang before the rest. This skin did they cut away with a knife made of stone, and did make bare the top or nut of the manchild's privy member. The cutting or taking away of the flesh was called circumcision. But now whose office it was to cut that skin away, we find not expressed. It appeareth that the most honourable in every house or family, I mean the first begotten or ancient of every household did circumcise before the law, which office was turned to the priests, when once the law was given. It is a singular example and no more to be found like unto it, that Zippora the wife of Moses did circumcise her son.