A17183:203
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.
For although the word of God •e revealed, spoken, and written by men, yet doth it not therefore cease to be that, which in deed it is, neither doth it therefore begin to ⟨p. 9⟩be the word of men, because it is preached and heard of men: no more then the King his commandment, which is proclaimed by the Crier, is said to be the commandment of the crier. He despiseth God, & with God all the holy Patriarchs, whosoever doth contemn Moses, by whom God speaketh unto us, and at whose hands we have received those things, which the Patriarchs from the beginning of the world, by tradition delivered to the posterity. There is no difference between the word of God, which is taught by the lively expressed voice of man, and that which is written by the pen of man, but so far forth as the lively voice and writing do differ between themselves: the matter undoubtedly, the sense, and meaning in the one and the other is all one. By this (dearly beloved) you have perceived the certain history of the beginning of the word of God.
For althoughe the worde of God •e reueled, spoken, and written by men, yet doth it not therefore cease to be that, whiche in deede it is, neyther dothe it therefore beginne to ⟨p. 9⟩be the worde of men, bicause it is preached and heard of men: no more then the King his commandement, whiche is proclaimed by the Criar, is said to be the commaundement of the criar. He despiseth God, & with God al ye holy Patriarchs, whosoeuer doth cō temne Moses, by whom God speaketh vnto vs, and at whose hands we haue receiued those things, which the Patriarches from the beginning of the world, by tradition deliuered to the posteritie. There is no difference betwéene the woord of God, whiche is taught by the liuely expressed voyce of man, and that whiche is written by the penne of man, but so farre foorthe as the liuely voice and wryting doe differ betwéene themselues: the matter vndoubtedly, the sense, and meaning in the one and the other is al one. By this (dearely beloued) you haue perceiued the certaine hystorie of the beginning of the word of God.