A17183:1480
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.
Now if the Gentiles must be gathered into the kingdom of heaven, and that they must be placed in the fellowship of the fathers, than must it needs be, that the fathers were already in heaven, and felt the joys thereof at that very time when the Lord spake these words. Who also in the Gospel after S. John doth plainly say, Abraham was glad to see my day: and he saw it, and rejoiced. Which saying although we understand to be spoken of the justification and joy of the conscience, yet do we not separate from it the joy of eternal life, because the one doth of necessity depend upon, and follow the other.
Nowe if the Gentiles must be gathered into the kingdome of heauen, and that they must be placed in the fellowship of the fathers, than must it néeds bée, that the fathers were alreadie in heauen, and felte the ioyes thereof at that very time when the Lord spake these words. Who also in the Gospell after S. Iohn doth plainly say, Abraham was glad to see my day: and hee sawe it, and reioyced. Which saying although wée vnderstand to be spoken of the iustification and ioye of the conscience, yet do we not separate from it the ioy of eternall life, because the one doth of necessitie depend vpon, and followe the other.
Moreover we must here consider the occasion, upon which these words of the Lord do seem to have been spoken. The Lord had said, Verily, verily I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death, which words the Jews toke hold on and said, Abraham is dead, and the Prophets are dead, & yet sayest thou, if a man will keep my sayings he shall never see death? What art thou greater than our father Abraham which is dead? and the Prophets are dead also? Whom makest thou thy self? To this the Lord made answer and showed, that Abraham is quickened, or else preserved in life and heavenly joy through faith in the sayings of Christ Jesus: and that howsoever he is dead in body, yet notwithstanding his soul doth live in joy for ever with God, in whom he did put his trust. To this may be added that David in the 16. Psalm calling God, his hope, his expectation, and his inheritance, doth among other things say, The Lord is always at my right hand. Therefore my hart is glad, my glory rejoiceth, and my flesh shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Thou wilt make me to know the path of life: in thy presence is the fullness of joy, & at thy right hand there be pleasures for evermore.