A17183:1492
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.
Moreover the forefathers in the old testament had types, shadows, and 1figures of things to come, but we have now received the very thing it self which was to them prefigured. Therefore the thing which God did promise to them he hath performed and given to us. They verily did believe that Christ should come and deliver all the faithful from their sins: and we believe that he is already come, that he hath redeemed us, and hath fulfilled all that the prophets foretold of him. Therefore the Lord in the Gospel said: The Prophets & the law prophesied unto John, since that time the kingdom of God is preached, & suffereth violence of every man. Whereupon it is gathered, when the thing prefigured is come, and present, that then the ⟨p. 437⟩figures and shadows, which did foreshow the things to come, do come to an end and vanish away. Therefore the yoke and burden which our fathers 2did bear is thereby taken from our necks. The worshipping of God which they did use externally was very busy and burdensome, as the Aaronical priesthood, the tabernacle or temple that was to be throughly furnished with most exquisite things and instruments, their sundry sorts of sacrifices, & many moe Ceremonies like unto these. Now from all this cost and business we, which be the people of the new covenant, are freely disburdened and set at liberty. And he, by whom we are disburdened, is Jesus Christ, in whom alone we have all things necessary to life and salvation. For it pleased God the father to recapitulate in him, and as S. Paul saith, to bring into a sum all things requisite to life and salvation, that the things which seemed before to be dispersed here and there, should in Christ alone be fully exhibited and brought unto us. For Christ is the fulfilling of all the types & Ceremonies: by whose spirit since we do now possess the thing prefigured, we have no longer need of the representing types and shadows. The external things that Christ hath ordained are very few, and of very small cost. Therefore the people of the new testament doth enjoy a passing great & ample liberty. To this, I suppose doeth belong that excellent place of S. Paul, which is to be seen in the 4. to the Galatians, where in handling this matter diligently, he feigneth that there are two mothers, the one whereof doth gender to bondage, & the other unto liberty: