A17183:1257
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.
Now we receive the lamb to life, when we do eat, that is, when we believe that Christ did suffer for us. For Christ is eaten by faith, as is at large declared in the 6. Chap. of Saint John. The lamb is dressed with fire, and not with water: it is not eaten raw but roasted. For Christ was not man alone, but very God also, the true burnt offering. He is able fully to absolve us, so that there needs no addition of ours. All our additions are mere water & altogether cold. Moreover the whole Lamb was to be eaten, the head, the feet, and purtenance. For unless we ⟨p. 366⟩believe that Christ is very God & very man, and that he is our wisdom, and righteousness, we do not eat him wholly. They eat not the head, which deny that Christ is God. They eat not the feet, which do deny that Christ is man. They eat not the purtenance, which do not acknowledge the gifts that are in Christ, which he doth communicate unto the faithful, to wite, righteousness, wisdom, sanctification, redemption, and life. The bones of the Lamb were neither broken nor thrown to the dogs, but burnt with fire. For in Christ there was not one bone broken: as the Apostle John beareth witness in the nineteenth Chapter of his Gospel. Herein also lieth hid another mystery. For although the son of God did sus•er in his humanity, yet in his divinity he remained still without any passion. Now the things in Christ which we cannot attain unto by reason of the excellency of his Godhead, we do earnestly wish for & greatly desire. Moreover, Christ is the meat of the reasonable and faithful soul, and is not to be cast to dogs and unbelieving miscreants. The Lamb was to be eaten in haste, without delay. For Christ must be eaten by faith out of hand without foading off, and that too with a sharp desire and eager appetite. With the Lamb they were commanded to eat sower herbs and unleavened bread. For the faithful must repent them of their life ill spent, and wholly betake them selves to a purer trade of living. For here followeth the manner how they ought to behave them selves toward their redeemer. They stood to eat the Lamb, having their loins girded, with shoes on their feet, and staves in their hands. Such was the habit of wayfaring men or pilgrims.
Now we receiue the lambe to life, when we do eate, that is, whē we beleue that Christ did suffer for vs. For Christ is eaten by faith, as is at large declared in the 6. Chap. of Sainct Iohn. The lambe is dressed with fire, and not with water: it is not eaten rawe but rosted. For Christe was not man alone, but verie God also, the true burnt offering. He is able fully to absolue vs, so that there néedes no additiō of ours. All our additions are méere water & altogether colde. Moreouer the whole Lambe was to be eaten, the head, the féete, and purtenance. For vnlesse we