A17183:1254
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.
This benefit he would not have only to be preached by word of mouth (for it is certainly sure that in that feast were made most effectual Sermons touching Gods benefits & grace showed to their fathers) but would have them also laid before their eyes by an holy action and ceremony, as it were by a looking glass & lively picture, even as though their deed were newly in doing again before their faces. For the visible action did after a sort make a Sermon to their eyes and other senses. Wherefore Moses, when he did interpret y• ceremony and holy action, did say: When your children shall say unto you, what meaneth this worship of yours? ye shall say unto them, this sacrifice is the passing over of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he slew the Egyptians and delivered our houses.
This benefite he woulde not haue onely to bee preached by woorde of mouth (for it is certeinly sure that in that feast were made moste effectuall Sermons touching Gods benefites & grace shewed to their fathers) but woulde haue them also layde before their eyes by an holie action and ceremonie, as it were by a looking glasse & liuely picture, euen as though their déede were newely in dooing againe before their faces. For the visible action did after a sorte make a Sermon to their eyes and other senses. Wherfore Moses, when he did interprete y• ceremonie and holie action, did saye: When your children shall saye vnto you, what meaneth this worship of yours? ye shall saye vnto them, this sacrifice is the passinge ouer of the Lorde, who passed ouer the houses of the children of Israel in Aegypt, whē he slewe the Aegyptians and deliuered our houses.
But this ceremony was the signification 1of a thing already past and therefore it should have little availed that age of man which followed, to celebrate a benefit which did nothing at all belong unto them, unless the Lord had applied it to every age and season. God therefore would have this to be as a testimony to the posterity, of his favour, goodness, and perpetual assistance, to put them in mind that he was not only the God of their fathers and ancestors, but that he would be the God of all the posterities of the Israelites, that he would bear with and spare them for the blood of Christ, and finally that he both would and could defend them from all evil, and bestow upon them all good and fatherly blessings. For in the 136 Psalm we read: O Praise the Lord for he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever: which struck the first borne of the Egyptians, for his mercy endureth for