A17183:1489
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.
In the very substance truly thou canst find no diversity, the difference which is betwixt them, doth consist in the manner of administration, in a f•w accidents and certain circumstances. For to the promise or doctrine of faith, and to the chief and principal laws there were annexed certain external things, which were added until the time of amendment so that the whole Ecclesiastical regiment, the manner of teaching the doctrine of Godliness, and the outward worship of God was among the old fathers of one sort, and is among us of an other. But the especial things wherein they differ, may be rehearsed and set down in these few principal points.
In the verie substaunce truly thou canst find no diuersitie, the difference which is betwixt them, doth consist in the maner of administration, in a f•w accidents and certeine circumstāces. For to the promise or doctrine of faith, and to the chiefe and principall lawes there were annexed certeine external thinges, whiche were added vntill the time of amendment so that the whole Ecclesiasticall regiment, the manner of teaching the doctrine of Godlinesse, and the outward worship of God was amonge the old fathers of one sort, and is amonge vs of an other. But the especiall things wherin they differ, may be rehearsed and sett downe in thefe fewe principall poinctes.
First and foremost, all things of the 1new covenant are more clear and manifest than those of the old testam•t. ⟨p. 436⟩The preaching of the old covenant had always in it for the most part some misty or cloudy thing, and was still covered and wrapped up in shadows and dim shows. But the publishing of the new testament is clear and manifest, so that it is called the light which is without all mists and darkness. Moses did with a veil cover his face, neither could the children of Israel behold his countenance: but we beholding not only the countenance of Moses, which is now uncovered, but the pleasant and amiable face of Christ himself, do greatly rejoice to see our salvation openly revealed before our eyes. In that sense […] say that his disciples were happ, where he brake out into these wds. Happy are the eyes which see the things that ye see. For I say unto you that many Prophets and kings desired to see the things that ye see, and saw them not, and to hear the things, that ye hear, and heard them not. The just man Simeon did in this sense call himself as happy a man as lived, and did thereupon promise that he was willing to die, saying: Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.