A17183:195
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.
First therefore, the fathers taught, 1that the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, are one God in the most reverend Trinity, the maker and governor of heaven, and earth, and all 2things which are therein, by whom man was made, and who for man did make all things, and put all things under mankind, to minister unto him things necessary, as a loving father and most bountiful Lord. Then they taught that man consisted of soul and body, and that he in deed was made good according to the image and likeness of God, but that by his own fault, and egging forward of the devil, 3falling into sin, he brought into the world death and damnation, together with a web of miseries, out of which it can not rid it self: So that now, all the children of Adam, even from Adam are borne the sons of wrath and wretchedness. But, that God whose mercy aboundeth according to his incomprehensible goodness, taking pity on the misery of mankind, did even of his mere grace, grant pardon for the offence, 4and did lay the weight of the punishment upon his only son, to the intent that he, when his heel was crushed by the Serpent, might him self break the Serpents head. That is to say, God doth make a promise of seed, that is, of a son, who taking flesh of a peerless woman, I mean, that Virgin most worthy of commendations, should by his death, vanquish death, ⟨p. 6⟩and Satan the author of death, and should bring the faithful sons of Adam out of bondage: yea, and that more is, should by adoption make them the sons of God, and heirs of life everlasting. The holy fathers therefore, taught to believe in God, and in 5his son the redeemer of the whole world: when in their very sacrifices they did represent his death, as it were an unspotted sacrifice, wherewith he meant to wipe away, and cleanse the sins of all the world. And therefore had 6they a most diligent eye to the stock and lineal descent of the Messiah. For, it is brought down, as it were by a line, from Adam to Noah, and from Noah by Shem even to Abraham him self: and to him again it was said, In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed: in which words the promise once made to Adam, as touching Christ the redeemer, and changer of Gods curse into blessing, is renewed and repeated again.