A17183:1450
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.
For now they do in few words comprehend y• very decree of y• whole & universal 1synod, in the laying down whereof they do first of all name the author of the decree, saying: It seemed good to the holy ghost & to us. They first set the holy Ghost, and then them selves, making him to be the author of truth, and them selves to be the instruments by which he worketh. For he worketh in the Church by the ministry of men.
For now they do in fewe words cō prehēd y• verie decrée of y• whole & vniuersal 1synode, in ye laying down wherof they do first of al name the author of the decrée, saying: It seemed good to the holy ghost & to vs. They first set the holy Ghost, and then them selues, making him to be the author of truth, and them selues to be the instruments by which he worketh. For hee worketh in the Churche by the ministerie of men.
- 1The exposition of the general decree of the Synod held at Jerusalem 1The exposition of the generall decree of the Synode held at Ierusalē 1
But mens authority without the inspiration ⟨p. 424⟩of the holy Ghost is none at all. Therefore do the Apostles very significantly say: It seemed good to the holy Ghost and to us. That is, after that we were assembled in the Synod to treat of the matter of justification and of the law (about which things Paul and his adversaries did stand in controversy) we followed not our own judgements, neither did we use proofs of our own inventions, but searching out & hearing the doctrine of the holy Ghost, we do upon his warrant write this unto you. In the second place they do set down the sum of the decree, saying: That we might not charge you with greater burdens than these necessary things, (that is to say) that ye abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood and from strangled, and from fornication. Therefore, say they, the doctrine of the Gospel which Paul hath hitherto preached with us, is sufficient to the obtaining of life and salvation. We intend not to lay any greater burden upon you than the doctrine of the Gospel and abstinence from those few things. In which sentence they seem to have had an eye to the opinion of Saint Peter, who in the council said: Ye know that I being called by God, did go to the Gentiles and