A17183:1395
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 since the law doth require at all ⟨p. 401⟩our hands most absolute righteousness, charity and a pure heart, it doth condemn all men of sin, unrighteousness, and death. For in the law of God it is expressly said, Cursed is every one which abideth not in all that is written in the book of the law to do it. But what one of us fulfilleth 1all the points of the law? what man, I pray, either heretofore hath had, or at this day hath a pure heart within him? What man hath ever loved, or doeth now love God with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his mind? What man is he that did never lust after evil? Or who is it now y• lusteth not every day? Therefore imperfection and sin is by the law or by the bewraying of the law revealed in mankind. What shall we say to this? where I pray you doth there appear in any man that divine and most absolute righteousness which the law requireth? Job crieth, I know verily that a man compared to God cannot be justified. Or, How shall a man be found righteous if he be compared to God? If he will argue with him, he shall not be able to answer one for a thousand. If I have any righteousness in me, I will not answer him, but I will beseech my Judge. Like to these are the words of the Apostle John who saith, If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us. Again, If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Therefore by this means the law is a certain looking glass, wherein 2we behold our own corruption, frailness, imbecility, imperfection & our judgement, that is, our just and deserved damnation. For the Apostle doth expressly say, that the law was given, to the end, that it might make manifest mens transgressions, and by that means drive them to the acknowledging of their imperfection and guilt in sinning. For none of us doth look into his own bosom, nor into the secrets of his own breast, but we do all flatter our selves, and will not be persuaded that our thoughts and deeds are so corrupt, as they be in very deed: and therefore doth the law creep in and lay open the secrets of our hearts, and bringeth to light our sin and corruption. Before the law, saith the Apostle, although sin were in the world, yet was it not imputed.