A17183:1241
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.
And here I think it not amiss, before 1I make an end of circumcision, to rehearse unto you (dearly beloved) the words of the ancient writer Lactantius, lib. Instit. 4. Chap. 17. where he speaketh of circumcision in this manner. The meaning of circumcision was, that we should make bare our breasts, to wite, that we should live with a simple and plain dealing heart: because that part of the body which is circumcised, is partly like to a heart, and is the fore part of the privity: and the cause why God commanded to make it bare, was, that by that sign he might admonish us not to have a covered heart, that is, that we should not cover within the secretes of our conscience any crime, whereof we ought to be ashamed. And this is the circumcision of the heart, whereof the Prophets speak, which God hath translated from the mortal flesh to the immortal soul. For the Lord being whole set and fully minded according to his eternal goodness, to have a care for our life and safeguard, did set repentance before our eyes for us to follow, as a way to bring us thereunto: so that if we make bare our hearts, that is, if by confession of our sins we satisfy the Lord, we should obtain pardon, which is denied to the proud and those that conceal their faults, by God, who beholdeth not the face as man doeth, but searcheth the secrets of the breast. Thus much hitherto hath that ancient writer of the church Lactantius Firmianus declared unto us touching the mystery of circumcision.
And here I think it not amisse, before 1I make an ende of circumcision, to reherse vnto you (déerely beloued) the woordes of the auncient writer Lactantius, lib. Instit. 4. Chap. 17. where he speaketh of circumcision in this manner. The meaning of circumcision was, that we should make bare our breastes, to wite, that wee should liue with a simple and plaine dealing heart: because that parte of the bodie which is circumcised, is partely like to a heart, and is the fore parte of the priuitie: and the cause why God commaunded to make it bare, was, that by that signe he might admonishe vs not to haue a couered heart, that is, that we should not couer within the secretes of our conscience any crime, whereof wee ought to be ashamed. And this is the circumcision of the heart, whereof the Prophets speake, which God hath translated from the mortall fleshe to the immortall soule. For the Lorde being whole set and fully minded according to his eternall goodnesse, to haue a care for our life and safegard, did set repentance before our eyes for vs to followe, as a waye to bring vs thereunto: so that if wee make bare our heartes, that is, if by confession of our sinnes we satisfie the Lord, we should obteine pardone, whiche is denied to the proude and those that conceale their faultes, by God, who beholdeth not the face as man doeth, but searcheth the secrets of the brest. Thus much hitherto hath that auncient writer of the churche Lactantiꝰ Firmianus declared vnto vs touching the mysterie of circumcision.