A17183:1615
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.
Against these Paul disputed very constantly and pithily in all his Epistles. For they made Christ and the grace of God of none effect. The other sort of men were such as abusing 1the doctrine of grace and faith, did wallow like swine in all filthy sins, because they thought that it was sufficient unto salvation, if they did say that they believed.
Against these Paule disputed verie constantly and pithiely in all his Epistles. For they made Christe and the grace of God of none effect. The other sorte of men were such as abusing 1the doctrine of grace and faith, did wallowe like swine in all filthie sinnes, beecause they thought that it was sufficient vnto saluation, if they did saye that they beléeued.
- 1The ••• stles • gains• abuse• grace• faith▪
But they never declared their faith or belief by any good works, ⟨p. 465⟩although occasion thereunto were given them. Against these did S. Peter very well and wisely dispute in the 1. Chap. of his 2. Epistle: and S. James in the 2. Chap. of his Epistle. For he affirmeth that Abraham was not justified by faith only, but by works: that is to say, that he was not justified by a vain opinion, but by faith which bare and was full of good works. For James doeth use the names of Faith and justification in one sense, & Paul in another. Paul putteth faith for an assured confidence in the merit of Christ: and he useth Justification for absolution and remission of sins, for adoption into the number of the sons of God, and lastly for the imputing of Christ his righteousness unto us. But in James faith doth signify a vain opinion: and justification doth import, not the imputing of righteousness, but the declaring of righteousness & adoption. For it is undoubtedly true that the holy Apostles of Christ S. Peter and S. James would not by their writings make void the grace and merit of Christ, to advance the merits of mortal men: but rather to withstand the unpurenesse of them, which put the faith of Christ in peril of disgracing to the offence of all good men, living in the mean while most wickedly in detestable sins without repentance. Therefore the Apostles of Christ requiring good works at the hands of the faithful, do first of all require a true and lively faith, and do refer them both unto the grace of God.