A17183:1412
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.
Wherefore since we are in Christ, we are in grace, and therefore is God pleased with our works, which being given to us by faith and by the liberal spirit, do proceed from an hart that loveth God the giver of them all. For John said, This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not grievous. He addeth also the reason thereof and saith, For all that is borne of God overcometh the world: now every one is borne of God, that doth believe, as is declared in the first of John.
Wherfore since we are in Christ, we are in grace, and therefore is God pleased with oure woorkes, which being giuen to vs by faith and by the liberal spirite, do procéede from an hart that loueth God the giuer of them all. For Iohn saide, This is the loue of God, that we keepe his commaundementes. And his commaundementes are not greeuous. Hée addeth also the reason thereof and saith, For al that is borne of God ouercōmeth the world: nowe euerie one is borne of God, that doth beléeue, as is declared in the first of Iohn.
By which it is easy to reconcile these 2. places which seem at a blush 1to jar one with an other: The laws of God are heavy, which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear. And, The laws of God are not grievous, or heavy to be borne. For they are not heavy to the faithful which are in Christ, and to those which have the gift of Gods spirit, that is, to those that are reconciled to God by Christ their Lord and Saviour. Without Christ & faith in Christ they are most grievous and heavy to be borne of every unbeliever. So the faithful being stirred up by the spirit of God, doth voluntarily and of his own accord do good to all men, so far, as his ability doeth suffer him, & will not in any case do hurt to any man: not for because he feareth the punishment, that in the law is appointed for the disobedient, unjust and wrongful dealers, but for because he loveth God. And so also he fulfilleth the Judicial law.
By whiche it is easie to reconcile these 2. places which séeme at a blushe