A17183:1309
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 if it so fell out that at unawares he were defiled by seeing of a dead body, he was not therefore acquitted of his vow, as one whose former life had been sufficient for the performance of the same. For he was commanded to sanctify himself the seventh day, & then to undertake the keeping of his vow again. By 1all this we may plainly perceive what and how great the sin of Samson was, who was a Nazarite to the Lord. For because he did not only lurk in the brothel house with the harlot, but did also bewray the secrete of GOD unto her, and cast behind him the covenant made with ⟨p. 382⟩God whereof his hair was a sure testimony, therefore did the Lord forsake him, and that wonderful strength, which he had from heaven was clean taken from him. For the strength of Samson lay not in his hair, so that by the cutting of his hair his strength was cut away also, but it lay in the spirit of the Lord which was given him from God above. And therefore do we find this sentence so often in the scripture, And the spirit of the Lord came upon Samson. Therefore when the spirit of God departed, his strength departed also: but it departed from him, when he being wholly joined unto the harlot was made one soul with her, and did prefer her before God & his commandment, so that he suffered his hair to be polled, and utterly revolted from the ordinance of the Lord. For by that means did the spirit of God forsake him. Whereupon immediately after he was brought into the hands of his enemies the Philistines: where when he was miserably vexed, and when he heard the name of God evil spoken of and blasphemed because of his captivity, he repented heartily, and called upon the name of the Lord, whereby it came to pass that when his hair grew forth again, his strength returned, that is, the spirit of the Lord came upon him again, being brought unto him, not by the growing of his hairs, but by his repentance & earnest calling upon the Lord. Neither did Samson desire to revenge his own private injury so much, as to suppress the blasphemous mouths, and to deliver the people of God from fear and slavery.
But if it so fell out that at vnawares hee were defiled by séeing of a dead body, hee was not therefore acquited of his vowe, as one whose former life had béene sufficient for the performaunce of the same. For hee was commaunded to sanctifie himself the seuenth day, & then to vndertake the kéeping of his vowe againe. By