A17183:1305
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.
Of the lawful vows and such as are made to the true and only God the Prophet speaketh where he saith, Make vows & pay them. We read not that any of y• Godly sort did make any vows to any Saints or any other creatures, neither that they vowed any thing that was not in their power to vow, nor that which was contrary to the will of God, to whom they vowed it, nor that which was to their neighbours hinderance, nor the thing that had not in it some evident commodity. And verily these kind of vows were for none other cause permitted to the Israelites till the time of amendment, but that they should remain in the worship of one true God, and not make their vows to any other strange God.
Of the lawfull vowes and such as are made to the true and onely God the Prophete speaketh where he saith, Make vowes & pay them. Wée read not that any of y• Godly sort did make any vowes to any Saincts or any other creatures, neither that they vowed any thing that was not in their power to vow, nor that which was cō trary to the will of God, to whom they vowed it, nor that which was to their neighbours hinderance, nor the thing that had not in it some euidēt cōmoditie. And verilie these kinde of vowes were for none other cause permitted to the Israelits till the time of amendment, but that they should remaine in the worship of one true God, and not make their vowes to any other straūg God.
To the treatise of vows belongeth 1the discipline and order of the Nazarites. Of which there is a large discourse in the 6. Chapter of the book of Numbers The Nazarites were those, who, because they would the more freely without let attend upon Gods service, or else because they had heretofore lived •oo licentiously, did of their own accord and will take upon them a more strict and severe trade of life, than the common people used, & kept it for a discipline to make other men to follow their example of virtue and honest living. Whereupon it cometh that some do take the Nazarites to have their name of separation, because Nazir among the Hebrews signifieth a separation, & that the Nazarites separating themselves from the common trade of life, that other men did lead, did give themselves to a certain peculiar form of living for God and Godlynesses sake. That severe and strict discipline did continue in some by the length of all their life time, as in Samson, and Samuel.