A17183:187
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.
This you shall more fully perceive 1(dearly beloved) if I speak somewhat more largely of the cause, or beginning and certainty of the word of God. The word of God is trueth: but God is the only wellspring of trueth: therefore God is the beginning and cause of the word of God. And here in deed God, since he hath not members like to mortal men, wanteth also a bodily mouth: yet nevertheless, because the mouth is the instrument of the voice, to God is a mouth attributed. For he spake to men in the voice of a man, that is, in a voice easily understood of men and fashioned according to the speech usually spoken among men. This is evidently to be seen in the things wherein he dealt with the holy fathers, with whom, as with our parents Adam and Eva, Noah and the rest of the fathers, he is read to have talked many and often times. In the mount Sinai the Lord him self preached to the great congregation of Israel rehearsing so plainly, that they might understand, those ten Commandments, wherein is contained every point of godliness. For in the. 5. of Deut. thus we read: These words (meaning the. 10. Commandments) spake the Lord with a loud voice, from out of the midst of the fire, to the whole congregation. And in the 4. Chapter: A voice of words you heard, but no similitude did you see beside the voice. God verily used oftentimes the means of Angels, by whose ministry he talked with mortal men. And it is very well known to all men, that the son of God the father being incarnate, walked about on the earth, and being very God and man, taught the people of Israel almost for the space of. 3. years. But in times past, and before that the Son of God was borne in the world, God by little and little, made him self acquainted with the hearts of the holy Fathers, & after that with the minds of the holy Prophets, and last of all by their preaching and writings, he taught the whole world. So also Christ our Lord sent the holy ghost, which is of the father & the son into ⟨p. 3⟩the Apostles, by whose mouths words & writings, he was known to all the world.
This you shal more fully perceiue 1(dearely beloued) if I speake somewhat more largely of the cause, or beginning and certaintie of the worde of God. The worde of God is trueth: but God is the onely welspring of trueth: therefore God is the beginning and cause of the worde of God. And here in déede God, since he hath not members like to mortall men, wanteth also a bodily mouth: yet neuerthelesse, bycause the mouthe is the instrument of the voice, to God is a mouth atributed. For he spake to men in ye voice of a man, that is, in a voice easily vnderstood of men and facioned according to the speach vsually spokē among men. This is euidentlye to bée séene in the things wherein he dealte with the holy fathers, with whome, as with oure parents Adam and Eua, Noe and the rest of the fathers, he is read to haue talked many and often tymes. In the mount Sina the Lord him selfe preached to the great congregatiō of Israel rehearsing so plainly, that they might vnderstand, those tenne Commaundementes, wherein is contained euerye poynt of godlinesse. For in the. 5. of Deut. thus we reade: These words (meaning the. 10. Commaūdements) spake the Lorde with a loude voyce, from out of the middes of the fire, to the whole congregation. And in the 4. Chapiter: A voice of wordes you hearde, but no similitude did you see beside the voice. God verily vsed oftentimes the meanes of Angels, by whose ministerie he talked with mortall men. And it is very well knowne to all men, that the sonne of God the father being incarnate, walked about on the earth, and being very God and man, taught the people of Israell almost for the space of. 3. yeares. But in times past, and before that the Sonne of God was borne in the worlde, God by litle and litle, made him selfe acquainted with the hartes of the holy Fathers, & after that with the minds of the holy Prophets, and last of all by their preaching and writinges, he taught the whole worlde. So also Christe our Lorde sent the holy ghost, which is of the father & the sonne into