A17183:1392
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.
The use of Gods law is manifold and of sundry sorts, and yet it may be called back to three especial points, and we may say that the use thereof is threefold or of three sorts. For first of all the chief and proper office of the law, is, to convince all men to be guilty of sin, and by their own fault to be the children of death. For the law of God setteth forth to us the holy will of God, and in the setting forth thereof requireth of us a most perfect and absolute kind of righteousness. And for that cause the law is wont to be called the testimony of Gods will: and the most perfect exemplar of his divine pureness. And hereunto belong those words of the Lord in the Gospel, where he reciting shortly the sum of Gods commandments, doth say:
The vse of Gods lawe is manifolde and of sundrie sortes, and yet it may be called backe to thrée especiall poyntes, and wee may saye that the vse therof is thréefold or of thrée sorts. For firste of all the chiefe and proper office of the lawe, is, to conuince all men to be guiltie of sinne, and by their owne fault to be the children of death. For the lawe of God setteth foorth to vs the holie will of God, and in the setting forth thereof requireth of vs a moste perfecte and absolute kinde of righteousnesse. And for that cause the lawe is wont to be called the testimonie of Gods will: and the moste perfect exampler of his diuine purenesse. And hereunto belong those wordes of the Lord in the Gospell, where he recitinge shortly the summe of Gods cōmaundements, doth say:
The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord 1our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment, and the second like to this: thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self. There is none other commandment greater then these.
The firste of all the commaundements is: Heare, O Israel, the Lorde 1