A17183:1398
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.
And so for this occasion the law is a path, and ready way, and as it were a schoolmaster given by God to us men, to draw us from all confidence in our own strengths, from all hope of our own merits, and from y• trust in any kind of creatures, and to lead us directly by faith to Christ, who was made by God, as I said even now, our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, without whom there is no salvation under the sun. Therefore Moses did not only urge the law but did also preach Christ, & life in Christ. 1For the Lord in the Gospel saith to the Jews, Think not that I will accuse you to my father. There is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For if ye had believed Moses, ye would undoubtedly have believed me. For he wrote of me. And Paul to the Galatians saith, If there had been a law given, which could have given life, then no doubt righteousness should have been by the law: but the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ should be given unto them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, and were shut up into the faith which should afterward be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ, that we should be justified by faith. Lo, what could be said more plainly, then that the law hath concluded all under sin? But to ⟨p. 403⟩what end? That the promise by the faith of Christ Jesus should be given unto them that do believe. And again, Before faith came, that is, before he came to whom our faith is directed, and upon whom it is grounded, we were kept under the law. How? forsooth being shut up unto the faith that was to be revealed. Therefore our fathers were shut up in the law that they should not break out at any time & seek for life and salvation any where else, but in Christ alone. Wherefore the law did lead us by faith directly unto Christ. And yet more plainly he saith, The law was our schoolmaster unto Christ. Lo, here again the law doth bring us to Christ. And again he addeth, That we should be justified by faith. Therefore the law setteth forward the true doctrine of justification, teaching plainly that we are justified by faith in Christ, and not by the merits of our own works. In which point it is openly like unto the Gospel, and taketh to it self the office of the Gospel:
And so for this occasion the law is a path, and readie way, and as it were a scholemaster giuen by God to vs men, to drawe vs from all confidence in our owne strengths, from all hope of our owne merites, and from y trust in any kinde of creatures, and to lead vs directly by faith to Christ, who was made by God, as I said euē now, our righteousnesse, sanctification, and redemptiō, without whom there is no saluation vnder the sunne. Therefore Moses did not onely vrge the lawe but did also preach Christ, & life in Christ.