A17183:1244
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.
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.
There followeth nowe the seconde Sacrament of the auncient churche, I 1meane, the Paschal Lamb. It is an Hebrewe word, not signifying a passion, as it should séeme, if it were deriued according to the Gréeke etymologie, but it signifieth a skipping, a leaping, or a passing ouer. For the Hebrewe * * * signifieth to leape or passe ouer. The cause of this worde Moses him selfe sheweth in the lawe, where he saith: The Lord shall go ouer to strike the Aegyptians, & when he shall see the bloud vppon the vpper poste and the two side postes of the doore, * * * the Lord wil passe ouer that doore, and will not suffer the destroyer to come within your houses. This sacrament is knowen also and called by other names. For it is called a signe, a remembraunce, a solemnitie, an holie assemblie, the feast of the Lorde, a worship, an obseruation, an oblation, and a Sacrifice. But whereas that ceremonie is called a passing ouer, that is not done without a trope. For the passing ouer was the verie benefite, wherein the Angel of the Lorde did passe ouer the Iewes, leaue their houses vntouched, and saue their liues: but for because the Paschall Lambe was a memoriall & a renuing of that benefite, therefore it tooke the name of the benefite. Euen as I admonished you before, that it is vsuall in Sacramentes, for the signes to bee called by the names of the thinges that they signifie, béecause of the likenesse and mutual proportion that is betwixt them.