A17183:1255
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.
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 ⟨p. 365⟩ever. With a strong hand and a stretched out arm, For his mercy endureth for ever. Besides the remembrance therefore of the benefit, which God did for their fathers, the posterity did by the use of that ceremony stir up their faith to believe that god would have mercy on, and do good for them according to his natural goodness, even as he did to their fathers before them. And by that means this ceremony was no small exercise of faith in the children of Israel.
But this ceremonie was the signification 1of a thinge alreadie past and therefore it should haue little auailed that age of man which followed, to celebrate a benefite which did nothing at all belong vnto them, vnlesse the Lorde had applyed it to euery age and season. God therefore woulde haue this to be as a testimonie to the posteritie, of his fauour, goodnesse, and perpetual assistance, to put them in mind that he was not only the God of their fathers and auncestours, but that hée would be the God of all the posterities of the Israelites, that hee would beare with and spare them for the bloud of Christ, and finally that hee both would and could defend them frō all euill, and bestowe vpon them all good and fatherly blessinges. For in the 136 Psalme we reade: O Praise the Lorde for he is good, because his mercie endureth for euer: which strucke the first borne of the Aegyptians, for his mercie endureth for