A17183:190
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.
From the beginning therefore of the world, God by his spirit, and the 1ministry of Angels, spake to the holy fathers: and they by word of mouth taught their children, and childers children, and all their posterity, that which they had learned at the mouth of God: when they verily had heard it, not to the intent to keep it close to themselves, but also to make their posterity partakers of the same. For God oftentimes witnesseth, that He will be the God of the fathers and of their seed for evermore. This is most plainly to be seen in the history of Adam, Noah and Abraham, the first and great grandfathers. In the. 19. of Genesis, verily we read: that the angel of God, yea and that more is, that even the Lord him self did say to Abraham, And shall I hide from Abraham what I mind to do? since of Abraham 2shall come a great and mighty people, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? And this I know, that he will command his children, and his posterity after him, to keep the way of the Lord, and to do justice, judgement, and the rest. Abraham therefore, a faithful and zealous worshipper of God, did not (even as also those old fathers of the first world did not) wax negligent at all herein, but did diligently teach men the will & judgements of God: whereupon of Moses, yea & of God him self, he is called a prophet. That devout & lively tradition of the fathers from hand to hand, was had in use continually, even from the beginning of the world, until the time of Moses. Moreover, God of his goodness did provide, ye no age at any time, should be without most excellent lights, to be witnesses of the undoubted faith, and fathers of great authority. For the world before the deluge 3had in it. 9. most excellent, most holy, and wise men, Adam, Seth, Enos Kenam, Malaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methusalem, and Lamech. The chief of these, Adam and Methusalem do begin, 4and make an end of all the. 1656 years of the world, before the deluge. For Adam lived. 930. years. He dieth therefore the. 726. year before the flood. And Methusalem lived. 969. years. He dieth in the very same year ⟨p. 4⟩that the flood did overflow: and he lived together with Adam. 243.