A17183:194
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 also, it behoveth us to know those chief principles of that lively ⟨p. 5⟩tradition, delivered by the holy fathers at the appointment of God, as 1it were from hand to hand to all the posterity. The fathers taught their children, that God of his natural goodness, wishing well to mankind, would have all men to come to the knowledge of the trueth, and to be like in nature to God him self, holy, happy, and absolutely blessed. And therefore that God in the beginning, did create man to his own similitude and likeness, to the intent that he should be good, holy, immortal, blessed, and partaker of all the good gifts of God: but that man continued not in that dignity and happy estate, but by the means of the devil, and his own proper fault, fell into sin, misery, and death, changing his likeness to God, into the similitude of the devil. Moreover, that God here again, as it were of fresh, began the work of salvation, whereby mankind being restored and set free from all evil, might once again be made like unto God: and that he meant to bring this mighty, and divine work to pass, by a certain middle mean, that is, by the word incarnate. For as by this taking of flesh, he joined man to God, so by dying in the flesh, with sacrifice he cleansed, sanctified, and delivered mankind, and by giving him his holy spirit, he made him like again in nature to God, that is immortal, and absolutely blessed. And last of all, he worketh in us a willing endeavour, aptly to resemble the property, and conditions of him, to whose likeness we are created, so that we may be holy both body and soul. They added moreover, that the word should be incarnate in his due time, and appointed age. And also, that there did remain a great day for judgement, wherein though all men were gathered together, yet the righteous only should receive that reward of heavenly immortality. So then, this is the brief sum of the holy fathers tradition, which it is best to untwist more largely, and to speak of it more diligently, as it were by parts.
Now also, it behoueth vs to know those chiefe principles of that liuely ⟨p. 5⟩tradition, deliuered by the holy fathers at the appointment of God, as 1