A17183:1414
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 I know full well ye thou wilt 1make this objection and say, if the law be fulfilled, & that the fulfilling thereof hath a place in the Saints & faithful ones, what needed then I pray you the abrogating of the law? What needed Paul and all the best divines to dispute so largely of the abrogation of the same? I will therefore say somewhat of the abrogation of the law, first generally, & then by parts peculiarly. But first of all these words of the Lord in the Gospel must be beaten in•o the head of every godly hearer, Think not, saith he, that I am come to destroy ⟨p. 410⟩the law or the Prophets: yea I came not to destroy, but to fulfil them. Verily, I say unto you, heaven and earth shall pass, but one jot or title of the law shall not pass till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall loose one of the smallest of these commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Let every one therefore be assuredly persuaded, that the law of God, which is the most excellent and perfect will of God, is for ever eternal, and cannot be at any time dissolved either by men or Angels, or any other creatures. Let every man think that the law, so far as it is the rule how to live well and happily, so far as it is the bridle wherewith we are kept in the fear of the Lord, so far as it is a prick to awake the dullness of our flesh, and so far as it is given to instruct, correct, and rebuke us men, that so far, I say, it doth remain unabrogated, and hath even at this day her commodity in the Church of God: and therefore the abrogating of the law consisteth in this that followeth.
Here I know full well ye thou wilt 1make this obiection and say, if the law be fulfilled, & that the fulfilling thereof hath a place in the Sainctes & faithful ones, what néeded then I pray you the abrogating of the lawe? What néeded Paule and all the best diuines to dispute so largely of the abrogation of the same? I wil therefore say somewhat of the abrogation of the law, first generallie, & then by partes peculiarly. But first of all these woords of the Lord in the Gospel must be beatē ino the head of euery godly hearer, Think not, saith hee, that I am come to destroy