A17183:1474
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.
The gift therefore of the holy Ghost was not at that time when the Lord spake those words so commonly, and plentifully poured upon all men, as it was upon the faithful after the glorification of the Lord Jesus. And verily our forefathers and the holy Prophets could not have so precisely and expressly foretold all ⟨p. 431⟩the mysteries of Christ & the church, which the Evangelists and Apostles do testify to be now accomplished & fulfilled, unless in their prophecies they had been governed by the very same spirit, wherewith the Apostles were afterward instructed. For it is a wicked thing for us to think that the Prophets and patriarchs did like mad men babble they knew not what, and speak such words as they them selves understood not. Abraham saw the day of Christ, and was glad of it: for by that spiritual sight of his, he had, and felt with in him self a certain kind of spiritual joy. Howe many times doth David in the Psalms testify that the service of God, and the holy congregation did delight him at the very heart? which words he uttered not so much for the joy that he had in the external ceremonies, but for that he did by the spirit and by faith behold in those ceremonies the true Messiah and Saviour of the world. And since it is evident that our forefathers were justified by the grace of God, it is manifest that that justification was not wrought without the spirit of God: through which spirit even our justification at this day is wrought and finished.
The gifte therefore of the holie Ghoste was not at that time when the Lorde spake those words so commonly, and plentifully powred vppon all men, as it was vppon the faithfull after the glorification of the Lorde Iesus. And verily our forefathers and the holie Prophets coulde not haue so precisely and e•pressely foretolde all ⟨p. 431⟩the mysteries of Christe & the church, which the Euangelistes and Apostles do testifie to be nowe accomplished & fulfilled, vnlesse in their prophecies they had béene gouerned by the verie same spirite, wherewith the Apostles were afterward instructed. For it is a wicked thing for vs to thinke that the Prophets and patriarches did like madde men babble they knewe not what, and speake suche woordes as they them selues vnderstoode not. Abraham sawe the daye of Christe, and was gladde of it: for by that spirituall sight of his, he had, and felt wt in him selfe a certeine kinde of spirituall ioye. Howe manye times doth Dauid in the Psalmes testifie yt the seruice of God, and the holie congregation did delight him at the verie harte? which wordes he vttered not so much for the ioye that he had in the externall ceremonies, but for that he did by the spirite and by faith beholde in those ceremonies the true Messiah and Sauiour of the world. And since it is euident that our forefathers were iustified by the grace of God, it is manifest that that iustification was not wrought without the spirite of God: through which spirite euen our iustification at this day is wrought and finished.