A17183:1493
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.
and that he doeth under the type of Hagar and Sarah. By which he noteth the two doctrines, that of the law, and that of the Gospel. That of the law gendereth to bondage: but that of the Gospel doth gender unto liberty. Therefore the law did gender the holy 1fathers and the prophets unto bondage, not that they should abide bondslaves for ever, but that it might keep them under discipline, yea that it might lead them unto Christ the full perfection of the law. The liberty of the fathers was by the weight and heap of Ceremonies so oppressed and covered, that although they were free in spirit before the Lord, yet notwithstanding they did in outward show differ little or nothing from very bondslaves, by reason of the burden of the law that lay upon their shoulders. For in so much as the law was not as yet abrogated, they were compelled precisely to observe it. But when Christ was come and had fulfilled all things, then did the shadows vanish away, and that heavy yoke was taken from the neck of us Christians. So by this means our mother Sarah gendereth us unto liberty. She is the mother of us all. Of y• mother (which is also called the holy mother Church) we have the seed of life, she hath fashioned us, and brought us forth into the light, she colleth us in her bosom, wherein she carrieth both milk and meat, I mean, the word of God, to nourish, save and bring us up.
and that he doeth vnder the type of Agar and Sara. By whiche hée noteth the two doctrines, that of the law, and that of the Gospell. That of the lawe gendreth to bondage: but that of the Gospell doth gender vnto libertie. Therefore the lawe did gender the holie 1fathers and the prophets vnto bondage, not that they should abide bondslaues for euer, but that it might keepe them vnder discipline, yea yt it mighte lead them vnto Christ the full perfection of the lawe. The libertie of the fathers was by the weight and heape of Ceremonies so oppressed and couered, that althoughe they were frée in spirite before the Lord, yet notwithstanding they did in outward shewe differ little or nothing from very bōdslaues, by reason of the burthen of the lawe that laye vppon their shoulders. For in so much as the lawe was not as yet abrogated, they were compelled precisely to obserue it. But when Christe was come and had fulfilled all thinges, then did the shadowes vanish away, and that heauie yoke was taken from the necke of vs Christians. So by this meanes our mother Sara gendreth vs vnto libertie. She is the mother of vs all. Of y mother (whiche is also called the holy mother Church) wée haue the séede of life, shée hath fashioned vs, and brought vs forth into the light, shée colleth vs in her bosome, wherein shée carrieth both milke and meate, I meane, the word of God, to nourish, saue and bring vs vpp.