A17183:218
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.
Dearly beloved, in the last Sermon you learned what the word of God is, from whence it came, by whom it was chiefly revealed, what proceedings it had, and of what dignity and certainty it is. Now am I come again, and by Gods favour and the help of your prayers, I will declare unto you (beloved) to whom and to what end the word of God is revealed: in what manner it is to be heard, and what the force thereof is or the effect.
DEarely beloued, in the laste Sermon you learned what the worde of God is, from whence it came, by whome it was chiefly reuealed, what procéedings it had, and of what dignitie and certaintie it is. Now am I come againe, and by Gods fauour and the helpe of your prayers, I will declare vnto you (beloued) to whome and to what ende the worde of God is reuealed: in what manner it is to be hearde, and what the force thereof is or the effect.
Our God is the God of all men and nations, who according to the saying 1of the Apostle, would have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the trueth: and therefore hath he for the benefit, life and salvation of all men, revealed his word, that so in deed, there might be a rule and certain way, to lead men by the path of justice into life everlasting. God verily, in the old time did show him self to the Israelites, his holy and peculiar people, more familiarly then to other nations, as the Prophet saith: To Jacob hath he declared his statutes, and his judgements to Israel: he hath not dealt so with any nation, neither hath he showed them his judgements: and yet he hath not altogether been careless of the Gentiles. For as to the Ninevites he sent Jonah, so Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and the other Prophets bestowed much labour in teaching ⟨p. 15⟩and admonishing the Gentiles. And those most ancient Fathers, Noah, Abraham, and the rest, did not only instruct the Jewish people which descended of them, but taught their other sons also, the judgements of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ verily laying open the whole world before his disciples, said: Teach all nations: Preach the Gospel to all creatures. And when as Saint Peter did not yet fully understand, that the Gentiles also did appertain to the fellowship of the Church of Christ, and that to the Gentiles also did belong the preaching of the glad tidings of salvation, purchased by Christ for the faithful, the Lord doth instruct him by a heavenly vision, by speaking to him out of heaven, and by the message which came from Cornelius, as you know (dearly beloved) by the history of the Acts of the Apostles. Let us therefore think (my brethren) that the word of God and the holy Scriptures, are revealed to all men, to all ages, kinds, degrees, and states, throughout the world. For the Apostle Paul also confirming the same, saith: Whatsoever things are written, are written for our learning, that through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures, we may have hope.