A17183:1491
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.
But although our forefathers had not so much light, as doeth shine to us in Christ, since his coming in the flesh, yet was that little light, which they had, sufficient to the getting of salvation by faith in Christ. E•en we our selves, although we see him far more clearly than our forefathers did, do notwithstanding behold him but in a mist, in comparison of the brightness, wherein he shall appear. For we shall hereafter see him face to face in the glory of his majesty: & yet notwithstanding even this sight of him, which now we have, is sufficient to salvation. Therefore it is a very fine similitude, & prettily said of them, which say: Although at day break the brightness of the Sun is not so great as it is at noon day, yet wayfarers or travellers do not stay till the Sun be at the highest, but take the morning before them to go their journey in, and have light enough to see the way. For in like manner they think that to our forefathers even that little portion of light, which was in the morning, was sufficient by the leading of saith to bring them through all impediments to eternal felicity. In the mean time we have great cause to rejoice, that Christ the very Sun and light of righteousness doth after the misty light of the day star of the law, shine forth to us in the new testament.
But althoughe our forefathers had not so much light, as doeth shine to vs in Christe, since his comming in the fleshe, yet was that little light, whiche they had, sufficiēt to the getting of saluation by faith in Christ. E•en wée our selues, although wée sée him farre more clearelie than oure forefathers did, doe notwithstanding behold him but in a myste, in comparison of the brightnesse, wherein hée shall appeare. For wée shall hereafter sée him face to face in the glorie of his maiestie: & yet notwithstanding euen this sighte of him, which now we haue, is sufficient to saluation. Therefore it is a very fine similitude, & preatily said of them, which say: Althoughe at day breake the brightnesse of the Sunne is not so great as it is at noone day, yet wayfarers or trauellers doe not stay till the Sunne be at the highest, but take the morning before them to goe their iourney in, and haue light enough to see the way. For in like manner they thincke that to oure forefathers euen that little portion of light, which was in the morning, was sufficient by the leading of saith to bring them through all imp•dimentes to eternall felicitie. In ye meane time we haue great cause to reioyce, that Christ the very Sunne and light of righteousnes doth after the maystie light of the daye starre of the lawe, shine forth to vs in the newe testament.