A17183:1419
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 am now come to speak of the Ceremonials. These Ceremonials were given and granted until the 1time of amendment, to wit, until Messiah should come. Messiah is already come, therefore all the Ceremonies, even to the coming, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ our Lord into the heavens, are come to an end, and have no place any longer in the Church of the Christians. And yet here we must, and do make a difference betwixt the writings concerning the Ceremonies, and the very things of the Ceremonies, that are set down in writing, I mean, the very Ceremonies themselves, or actions y• were used. For the writings concerning the Ceremonies, which were set forth by the spirit of God, are not taken away from Christians nor abrogated, so that they may not be read, retained or used in the Church: as I declared in the 2. Sermon of the first Decade. For they are effectual to instruct us in Christ Jesus, while in them we do behold the manner how Christ was preached and prefigured to the ancient Church of the holy fathers. Paul verily did most significantly preach Christ out of the ceremonies, which no man will deny, that readeth diligently his Epistle to the Hebrews. For he doeth wonderfully in that Epistle, lay Christ and all his gifts before the eyes of all the Church. Therefore the Ceremonials both may and ought to be read in the church, so yet that in them Christ may be sought, and when he is found be aptly preached. And for that cause in the 5. & 6. Sermons of this Decade, where I handled the Ceremonials, I annexed unto them certain notes of their significations, that I might open away for the students of the scriptures and lovers of Christ to go forward & proceed in that hind of argument. Now the Ceremonial things or stuff of the ceremonies, of which sort are the priesthood, the place, the time, the sacrifice, & whatsoever else is like to these, are utterly abrogated, so y• henceforth they ⟨p. 413⟩are neither used, nor have any place in the Church of Christ. This did Jeremiah foretell in the 3. Chap. of his prophecy saying, In those days they shall make no more boast of the ark of the Lords covenant: no man shall think upon it, neither shall any man make mention of it: for from thenceforth it shall neither be visited, neither shall such things be done any more.