A17183:219
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.
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.
Our God is the God of all men and nations, who according to the saying 1of the Apostle, woulde haue all men to be saued, and to come to the knowledge of the trueth: and therfore hath he for the benefite, life and saluation of all men, reuealed his worde, that so in déede, there might be a rule and certaine waye, to leade men by the pathe of iustice into life euerlasting. God verily, in the olde time did shewe him selfe to the Israelites, his holy and peculiar people, more familiarly then to other nations, as the Prophete sayth: To Iacob hath he declared his statutes, and his iudgementes to Israel: he hath not dealt so with any nation, neyther hath he shewed them his iudgementes: and yet he hath not altogether bene carelesse of the Gentiles. For as to the Niniuites he sent Ionas, so Esaias, Ieremias, Daniell, and the other Prophetes bestowed muche labour in teaching