A17183:1319
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.
There are then repeated many living things particularly, which were not lawful to be eaten among the people of the Lord. Those were either four-footed beasts upon the earth, or fishes, or birds, or such as creep upon the ground. Of four-footed beasts four by name we are especially forbidden. The Camel, whose long and lofty neck doeth teach us, that pride and arrogance must be eschewed. The Connie or the mountain mouse: for God doeth utterly mislike the men that are altogether overwhelmed like Connies in the earth, and never lift up their minds unto heaven. The Hare a fearful beast: which doeth warn us to shake off all cowardly fearfulness: even as also the Hog doth put us in mind to avoid all uncleanness. For a Hog is the very type and picture of nasty filthiness, and of it doeth the byword rise to call an uncleanly person a beastly swine. And of Circe the fable goeth that she with her enchantments did turn Ulysses his men into a sort of loathly Hogs.
There are then repeated many liuing things particularly, which were not lawefull to be eaten amonge the people of the Lord. Those were either fourefooted beastes vppon the earth, or fishes, or birds, or such as créepe vppon the ground. Of fourefooted beasts foure by name wee are especially forbidden. The Camel, whose longe and loftie necke doeth teach vs, that pride and arrogancie must bee eschewed. The Connie or the mountaine mouse: for God doeth vtterly mislike the men that are altogether ouerwhelmed like Connies in the earth, and neuer lifte vpp their mindes vnto heauen. The Hare a fearefull beast: whiche doeth warne vs to shake off all cowardly fearefulnesse: euen as also the Hogge doth put vs in minde to auoyde al vncleannesse. For a Hogge is the very type and picture of nastie filthinesse, and of it doeth the byword rise to call an vncleanly person a beastly swine. And of Circe the fable goeth that shee with her inchantments did turne Vlysses his men into a sort of loathly Hogges.
Furthermore of fishes, so much was allowed for meat, as was found to have fins and scales upon them: if they lacked either of them, they were forbidden, as the Eel, which though it hath fins yet lacketh it scales, and therefore was not to be eaten. For as the bodies of fishes are ruled with the fins: so must the whole man be governed by hope. The scales are hard and cover the body: and we, unless we be constant & patient in the Lords work, are worthy to be abhorred of the Lord our maker. Of birds those are forbidden which are the greatest raveners, devourers, which love and live by unclean meats, which fly abroad at owl-light, at midnight, and in the dark, and such as are crafty,