A17183:1475
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.
Therefore the fathers were governed by the very same spirit, that we of this age are directed by. Of this opinion was saint Augustine, whose words (dearly beloved) I mean to recite unto you, word for word, out of his seconde book de Peccato orig. contra Pelag. et celest. Cap 25. Things to come: saith he, were foreseen of the prophets by the same spirit of faith, by which they are of us believed to be already finished. For they, which of very faithful love could prophesy these things unto us, could not choose but be themselves partakers of the same. And whereupon is it that the Apostle Peter saith: why tempt ye God, to lay upon the Disciples necks the yoke, that neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? but we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they: (Whereupon is I say that Peter saith this) but for because they are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and not by Moses law, by which doth come, not the salving, but the knowledge of sin?
Therfore the fathers were gouerned by the verie same spirite, that we of this age are directed by. Of this opinion was sainct Augustine, whose wordes (dearely beloued) I meane to recite vnto you, worde for word, out of his seconde booke de Peccato orig. contra Pelag. et celest. Cap 25. Things to come: saith he, were foreseene of the prophets by the same spirite of faith, by which they are of vs beleeued to be alreadie finished. For they, whiche of verie faithfull loue could prophecie these thinges vnto vs, coulde not choose but bee themselues partakers of the same. And whereuppon is it that the Apostle Peter saith: why temptye God, to laye vppon the Disciples neckes the yoke, that neither our fathers nor wee were able to beare? but wee beleeue that through the grace of the Lorde Iesus Christ wee shalbe saued, euen as they: (Whereupon is I saye that Peter saith this) but for because they are saued by the grace of the Lorde Iesus Christe, and not by Moses lawe, by which doth come, not the saluing, but the knowledge of sinne?
But now the righteousness of God is without the law made manifest, witnessed by the law and the prophets. Therefore if it be now at this time made manifest, then must it needs be that it was before, although as then it were hidden. The hiding whereof was prefigured by the vale of the temple, which when Christ died was rent in pieces for a signification that it was then revealed. And therefore this grace of the only mediator of God and man, the man Christ Jesus, was then in the people of God, but it was hidden in them as it were rain in a fleece, which God doth separate unto his inheritance, not of duty, but of his own voluntary will: but now that fleece being as it were wrung out, that is, the Jewish people being reprobated, it is openly seen in all nations, as it were upon the bare ground in an open place. Thus much out of Augustine.