A17183:1258
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.
We therefore must so behave our selves in this present world, as doth become pilgrims & strangers which do contemn this world & look for another country. In their journey, therefore let them give them selves to temperate modesty: let their feet be shod with the preaching of the Gospel of peace, let them wholly lean upon y• staff of Gods aide & succour, & let them depart, with as much haste as may be, from the bondage & corruption of this naughty world. This very same ceremony was, as it were, a confession of y• true religion, and as a cognizance, 1whereby y• people of God were known from other people & nations. Therefore all the Israelites were gathered together into one church & society: wherein by celebrating of the passover they did profess that they were the redeemed, the Libertines, & the people of the living God. For thereunto belongeth the commandment, which charged them that no stranger should eat of the Lamb: but that the circumcised alone should be partakers of it: that it should not be divided into many parts, that it should be eaten no where but in one place alone, and that too by 2companies of all the Israelites: & lastly that no man should once set a foot out of doors until the next morning. By which thing it is given us to understand, that neither Christ nor our salvation is to be found without the church, in the sects or schisms of wicked heretics. Christ the Lamb of God doth gather all the faithful into one church, wherein he keepeth them, & lastly doth save them. Last of all this ceremony did put gods people in mind of their duty of thankfulness, especially, 3of y• study of godliness, & harmless innocency. They therefore did give ⟨p. 367⟩thanks to God for these & all other his benefits: they praised his name, and did utterly abstain from all leavened bread. For ye shall find nothing so severely forbidden in this ceremony, as the eating of leavened bread. Who soever eateth leavened bread, saith the Lord, his soul shall perish from among the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or an Israelite borne. The same saying is afterward often times repeated & thoroughly beaten into their brains. Now the Apostle Paul, whose cunning and learning was much in the law of Moses: expounding what was meant by the leavened bread, doth say.