A17183:1314
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.
This suppresseth the malapertness of mortal men, which maketh, undoeth, and every day deviseth new laws and ordinances. Therefore GOD in these kind of laws doeth commend to his people faithful obedience to be showed unto him: even as in the beginning he commanded Adam not to taste of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, requiring thereby faithful obedience to be showed unto him. Verily the obedience and faith, which was in the Maccabees, in old Eleazar, and in certain other Godly men that stood against 1king Antiochus, even to the shedding of their blood, and suffering of most bitter death, did please the Lord exceedingly.
This suppresseth the malapertnesse of mortall men, which maketh, vndoeth, and euery day deuiseth new lawes and ordinaunces. Therefore GOD in these kinde of lawes doeth commende to his people faithfull obedience to bée shewed vnto him: euen as in the beginning hee commaunded Adam not to taste of the trée of knowledge of good and euill, requiring thereby faithfull obedience to be shewed vnto him. Verily the obedience and faith, which was in the Machabées, in old Eleazar, and in certaine other Godly men that stoode against 1kinge Antiochus, euen to the shedding of their bloud, and suffering of most bitter death, did please ye Lord excéedingly.
- 1The constant obedience of certain holiemen who abstained from things unclean.The constant obedience of certain holiemen who abstai•ed from things vncleane.
Other more abstained from swines flesh, whereby they obtained neither praise nor glory among wicked men. When the word of GOD saith that a thing is holy, it is holy in deed, and that because he is holy that commandeth it. When God saith that any thing is unclean, it is unclean in deed, so that to eat any thing against the word of God is to defile the eater: Ye now, saith the Lord in the Gospel, are clean because of the word which I said unto you. It is needful therefore that we believe the word of God, and that obedience go before faith, and then it cannot be but that the deed or work that is of faith, as Eleazar's was, who would not taste the swines flesh, must needs be acceptable unto God, with whom whatsoever is not of faith is sin and wickedness.