A17183:205
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.
Neither did they teach any other thing, then that which the Fathers had received of God, & which Moses had received of God and the fathers, and straight ways after committing it to writing, did set it out to all us which follow, even until the end of the world: so that now, in the Prophets, we have the doctrine of Moses, and tradition of the Fathers, and them ⟨p. 10⟩in all and every point more fully and plainly expounded and polished, being moreover, to the places, times and persons very fitly applied.
Neither did they teache any other thing, then that whiche the Fathers had receiued of God, & which Moses had receiued of God and the fathers, and straight wayes after committing it to writing, did set it out to all vs which folow, euen vntill the end of the world: so that now, in the Prophets, we haue the doctrine of Moses, and tradition of the Fathers, and them ⟨p. 10⟩in all and euery point more fully and plainely expounded and polished, being moreouer, to the places, times and pers•ns very fitly applyed.
Furthermore, the Doctrine, and 1writings of the Prophets have always been of great authority among all wise men throughout the whole world. For it is well perceived by many arguments, that they took not their beginning of the prophets themselves as chief Authors, but were inspired from God out of heaven by the holy spirit of God. For it is God, which dwelling by his spirit in the minds of the Prophets, speaketh to us by their months. And for that cause have they a most large testimony at the hands of Christ, & his elect Apostles. What say ye to this moreover, that God by their ministry hath wrought miracles and wonders to be marvelled at, and those not a few? That at the least by mighty signs we might learn that it is God, by whose inspiration the Prophets do, teach, and write whatsoever they left for us to remember. Furthermore, so many common weals, and congregations gathered together, and governed by the Prophets according to the word of God, do show most evident testimonies of God his trueth in the Prophets. Plato, Zeno, Aristotle, and other Philosophers of the Gentiles, are praised as excellent men. But which of them could ever yet gather a Church to live according to their ordinances? And yet our Prophets have had the most excellent and renowned common weals, or Congregations, yea and that more is, the most flourishing Kingdoms in all the world under their authority. All the wise men in the whole world, I mean hose which lived in his time, did reverence Solomon, a King and so great a Prophet, and came unto him from the very utmost ends of the world. Daniel also had the preeminence among the wise men at Babylon, being then the most renowned Monarchy in all the world.