A17183:1509
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.
Now of bondage there are two sorts, the Politic, and the Spiritual. The politic bondage is not 1by grace & the preaching of the Gospel, taken out of the Church of the faithful, so that there should be no 2bondmen at all, or that they should not do their duty, or not do the service that of right they do owe. For the Apostle Paul saith, Let every man walk, according as he is called. And so ordain I in all Churches. Art thou called being a servant? Care not for it. But yet if thou mayest be free, use it rather. And again, Servants obey them that are your bodily masters with fear, and trembling, and singleness of heart as unto Christ, not with eye service as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will serving the Lord and not men, knowing that what soever good thing any man doeth, that shall he receive again of the Lord whether he be bond or free. And in his Epistle to Timothy he saith, Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they, which have believing masters, despise them not, because they are brethren: but rather do service, for as much as they are believing, & beloved, and such as are partakers of the benefit.
Nowe of bondage there are two sortes, the Politique, and the Spirituall. The politique bondage is not 1by grace & the preaching of the Gospell, taken out of the Churche of the faithfull, so that there should bee no 2bondmen at all, or that they should not doe their duetie, or not doe the seruice that of right they doe owe. For the Apostle Paule saith, Let euery man walke, according as he is called. And so ordeine I in al Churches. Art thou called being a seruaunt? Care not for it. But yet if thou mayest be free, vse it rather. And againe, Seruauntes obey them that are your bodilie maisters with feare, and trembling, and singlenesse of hearte as vnto Christ, not with eye seruice as men pleasers, but as the seruauntes of Christe, doinge the will of God from the heart, with good will seruing the Lord and not men, knowing that what soeuer good thinge any man doeth, that shall hee receiue againe of the Lord whether hee be bond or free. And in his Epistle to Timothie hée saith, Let as many seruauntes as are vnder the yoke, counte their maisters worthie of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine bee not blasphemed. And they, which haue beleeuing masters, despise them not, because they are brethren: but rather doe seruice, for as much as they are beleeuing, & beloued, and such as are partakers of the benefite.