A17183:1415
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.
I told you that Gods commandments require the whole man, and a very heavenly kind of perfectness, which whosoever performeth not, he is accursed and condemned by the law. Now no man doth fulfil that righteousness: therefore are we all accursed by the law. But this curse is taken away, and most absolute righteousness is freely bestowed on us through Christ Jesus. For Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made the curse, righteousness, and sanctification for us men. And so in this sense the law is abrogated, that is, the curse of the law is thorough Christ taken from the faithful, and true righteousness is bestowed upon us thorough grace by faith in the same Christ Jesus. For he is that blessed seed in whom all the kindreds of the earth are blessed. He is our righteousness. For Paul saith, By him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Therefore the law is put for the curse of the law: or else the law of God is taken for that, which 1is bewrayed or made manifest by the law, that is to say, it is taken for sin. For by the law cometh the knowledge of sin. Therefore the law is abrogated, that is, sin is taken away, not that it should not be, or not show it self in us, but that it should not be imputed unto us and condemn us. For there is no damnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Moreover the law is taken for the vengeance or punishment 2which is by the law appointed for transgressors. Therefore the law is abrogated, because the punishment appointed by the law is taken from the necks of the faithful believers. For the law is not given to the righteous man. For Christ delivered the faithful from eternal punishments, whiles he being guiltless did suffer afflictions for wicked sinners. Furthermore, the Apostle saith: The fleshly mind is enmity against God: for it is not obedient to the law of god, 3nether can be. But now this hatred or enmity of Gods law is by faith pulled out of the harts of the faithful: & in steed of it is grafted in the love of gods most holy will: so that in this sense also the law is said to be abrogated, because the hatred of the law is taken away. And therefore the Apostle compareth them that are under the law ⟨p. 411⟩