A17183:1406
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.
Here also is to be inserted that disputation of Paul, where he proveth that 1no mortal man is justified by the works of the law: his meaning is not that no man is justified by the very works of the law, but that no man is justified by the works of our corrupt nature, which doth not perform that, which the law of God requireth. For, as the same Apostle saith, it is not able to perform it. And very well truly saith he, We know that a man is not justified by the deeds of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ: and we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the deeds of the law: because by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified. Neither must we by the deeds of the law understand the Ceremonies only. For even as the Ceremonies do not, so likewise do not the morals justify us men. The Apostle speaketh of the morals when he speaketh of the deeds of the law. For in the 3. Chap. to the Romans the same Apostle 2saith, By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified, in his sight. And immediately after he addeth the reason why, saying, For by the law cometh the knowledge of sin. But in the 7. cap. he showeth by what law, to wit the moral law. For the moral law saith, Thou shalt not lust. But the Apostle saith, I knew not sin, but by the law. For I had not known concupiscence if the law had not said, thou shalt not lust. In his Epistle to the Ephesians he speaketh to the Gentiles and saith simply that works do not justify. But speaking to the Gentiles he could not mean it of the ceremonial laws, but of the very moral virtues, that is, all kinds of works y• seemed to be good. To the Galatians he saith, As many as are of the deeds ⟨p. 407⟩of the law are under the curse. And to prove that, he addeth, For it is written: Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Now unless we do by the deeds of the law understand the morals, as well as the ceremonials, I do not see how his proof can hang to that which went before. For he saith expressly, In all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Now who knoweth not that the ceremonials were not written alone, but that the morals were written also? And S. Augustine in his book De spiritu & litera, Cap. 8.