A17183:1504
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.
I HAVE already through many sermons discoursed, long upon Gods law, now therefore because upon the consideration & handling of the law there do arise certain points not to be omitted, which do depend upon, and are annexed hand in hand unto the law, of which sort are Christian liberty, good works, the reward of good works, sin, and the reward or punishment of sin: I will speak of them in order as God shall put into my mouth: whom I shall desire you to pray unto with me, beseeching him not to suffer me to speak, in these or other points of holy doctrine, the thing that shall sound against his holy will.
I HAVE alreadie through many sermons discoursed, longe vppon Gods lawe, nowe therefore because vppon the consideration & handling of the lawe there doe arise certaine pointes not to bee omitted, which doe depend vppon, and are annexed hand in hand vnto the lawe, of which sort are Christian libertie, good woorkes, the reward of good woorkes, sinne, and the reward or punishment of sinne: I wil speake of them in order as God shall put into my mouth: whō I shall desire you to praye vnto with mée, beséeching him not to suffer me to speake, in these or other points of holy doctrine, the thing that shall sounde against his holy will.
Upon the abrogation of the law doeth Christian liberty depend and 1follow, as the effect of the abrogating of the law, which liberty doth minister us occasion to speak of offences. Now concerning Christian liberty the most holy Apostle of Christ Saint Paul hath reasoned very diligently and largely, whereby we may gather that the consideration of Christian liberty is neither of no weight nor yet of little profit. But the treatise thereof is especially necessary to us of this age, among whom there are no small number of men, which do either not understand what Christian liberty is, or else, if they know it, do folly abuse it, thereby to fulfil the lusts of the flesh. I will therefore tell you, who is the deliverer that setteth us at liberty, who they are that he setteth at liberty, and wherein and how far forth he setteth them at liberty: which things being once known, it will be an easy matter, to perceive, what Christian liberty is, what the property or disposition of those is which are so set at liberty, and how far forth they must beware from giving office to any man, and from abusing their granted liberty.