A17183:1478
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 in that external and transitory felicity was shadowed the heavenly and eternal happiness. For the apostle in the fourth & eleventh Chapter to the Hebrews saith, that the fathers out of that visible and temporal inheritance did hope for an other invisible and everlasting heritage. Neither was Christ to any other end so expressly promised them, nor the blessing and life in Christ for any other purpose so plainly laid defore them, nor Christ him self almost in all their ceremonies so often prefigured for any other intent, but that they thereby might be put in hope of the very same life, into which we are received through Christ our redeemer. For the Lord in the Gospel saith that we shall be gathered in the kingdom of heaven into the same glory with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But here is an objection made, that life and salvation 1was promised only and not performed unto the fathers, but that they being shut up in prison did look for the coming of Messiah. I for my part do not find any thing in the scriptures to be written of such a prison, whereinto the holy Patriarchs were fast locked up. Peter verily maketh mention of a prison, but in that prison he will have the disobedient & not the obedient spirits to be.
For in that externall and transitorie felicitie was shadowed the heauē ly and eternall happinesse. For the apostle in the fourth & eleuenth Chapter to the Hebrues saith, that ye fathers out of that visible and temporal inheritance did hope for an other inuisible and euerlasting heritage. Neither was Christe to any other ende so expressely promised them, nor the blessing and life in Christe for any other purpose so plainly layde defore them, nor Christe him self almost in all their ceremonies so often prefigured for any other intent, but that they thereby might bee put in hope of ye verie same life, into which wee are receiued through Christ our redéemer. For the Lorde in the Gospell saith that wee shalbee gathered in the kingdome of heauen into the same glorie with Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. But here is an obiection made, that life and saluation 1was promised onely and not perfourmed vnto the fathers, but that they being shut vp in prison did looke for the comming of Messiah. I for my parte do not finde any thing in ye scriptures to bee written of such a prison, whereinto the holie Patriarches were fast locked vpp. Peter verily maketh mention of a prison, but in that prison hee wil haue the disobedient & not the obedient spirites to be.