A17183:1667
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.
But the grace of God doth not only go above all stars, and heavens, but also above the very Angels them selves. Moreover, these disputers for destiny, do attribute to destiny both the good and evil that happen to men. But God in the evils that fall upon men doth duly and worthily recompense them for their ill deserts: but the good, which they have, he doth bestow upon them not for their merits, but of his own favour & merciful goodness through grace, that cannot be looked for of duty: laying both good and evil upon us men not through the temporal course of planets, but by the deep and eternal counsel of his severity and goodness. So then we see that neither the falling out of good or evil hath any relation unto y• planets. Therefore this place may be concluded with the words of the Lord in the Prophet Jeremiah, saying: Thus saith the Lord, ye shall not learn after the manner of the heathen, and ye shall not be afraid for the tokens of heaven, for the heathen are afraid of such, yea, all the observations of the Gentiles are vanity. For the planets have no force, to do either good or evil. And therefore the blame of sins is not to be imputed thereunto.
But the grace of God doth not onely goe aboue all starres, and heauens, but also aboue the verie Angels them selues. Moreouer, these disputers for destinie, do attribute to destinie both the good and euil that happen to men. But God in the euils that fall vppon men doth duely and worthily recompence them for their ill desertes: but the good, which they haue, he doth bestowe vppon them not for their merites, but of his owne fauour & mercifull goodnesse through grace, that cannot be looked for of duetie: laying both good and euil vppon vs men not through the temporall course of planets, but by the déepe and eternall counsell of his seueritie and goodnes. So then wée sée that neither ye fallinge out of good or euill hath any relation vnto y• planets. Therefore this place may be concluded with the wordes of the Lorde in the Prophet Ieremie, saying: Thus saith the Lorde, ye shal not learne after the manner of the heathen, and ye shall not be atraide for the tokens of heauen, for the heathen are afraide of such, yea, all the obseruations of the Gentiles are vanitie. For the planets haue no force, to doe either good or euill. And therefore the blame of sinnes is not to bee imputed therevnto.