A17183:1243
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.
Moreover the worshippers of God did learn by that sign, and so by all the holy ceremony, that they being in one ecclesiastical body, ought to do their endeavour by pureness of living to win the favour of God their confederate. Because by the visible circumcision there was after a sort an open confession made of the true religion, of free consent to the true religion, and of a binding by promise unto the same. He therefore that did despise or unadvisedly neglect that holy ceremony, was sharply punished, as may be gathered by the 17. of Genesis and the fourth Chapter of Exodus. And so much hitherto touching circumcision.
Moreouer the worshippers of God did learne by that signe, and so by all the holie ceremonie, that they beeing in one ecclesiasticall bodie, ought to do their indeuour by purenesse of liuing to winne the fauour of God their confederate. Because by the visible circumcision there was after a sorte an open confession made of the true religion, of frée consent to the true religion, and of a bynding by promise vnto the same. He therefore that did despise or vnaduisedly neglect that holie ceremonie, was sharply punished, as may be gathered by the 17. of Genesis and the fourth Chapter of Exodus. And so muche hetherto touching circumcision.
There followeth now the second Sacrament of the ancient church, I 1mean, the Paschal Lamb. It is an Hebrew word, not signifying a passion, as it should seem, if it were derived according to the Greek etymology, but it signifieth a skipping, a leaping, or a passing over. For the Hebrew * * * signifieth to leap or pass over. The cause of this word Moses him self showeth in the law, where he saith: The Lord shall go over to strike the Egyptians, & when he shall see the blood upon the upper post and the two side posts of the door, * * * the Lord will pass over that door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come within your houses. This sacrament is known also and called by other names. For it is called a sign, a remembrance, a solemnity, an holy assembly, the feast of the Lord, a worship, an observation, an oblation, and a Sacrifice. But whereas that ceremony is called a passing over, that is not done without a trope. For the passing over was the very benefit, wherein the Angel of the Lord did pass over the Jews, leave their houses untouched, and save their lives: but for because the Paschal Lamb was a memorial & a renewing of that benefit, therefore it took the name of the benefit. Even as I admonished you before, that it is usual in Sacraments, for the signs to be called by the names of the things that they signify, because of the likeness and mutual proportion that is betwixt them.