A17183:231
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.
But against this poison (my brethren) take this unto you for a medicine to expel it. Confer the things, which these fellows set to sale, under the colour of the Apostles traditions, taught by word of mouth, and not by writing, with the manifest writings of the Apostles, and if in any place you shall perceive those traditions to disagree with the scriptures, then gather by and by, that it is the ⟨p. 19⟩forged invention of men, and not the Apostles tradition. For they, which had one and the same spirit of trueth, left not unto us one thing in writing, and taught an other thing by word of mouth.
But against this poyson (my brethren) take this vnto you for a medicine to expell it. Conferre the things, whiche these fellowes set to sale, vnder the colour of the Apostles traditions, taught by worde of mouthe, and not by writing, with the manifest writings of the Apostles, and if in any place you shall perceiue those traditions to disagrée with the scriptures, then gather by and by, that it is the ⟨p. 19⟩forged inuention of men, and not the Apostles tradition. For they, which had one and the same spirite of trueth, lefte not vnto vs one thing in writing, and taught an other thing by worde of mouthe.
Furthermore, we must diligently search, whether those traditions do set forward the glory of God, rather then of men, or the safety of the faithful, rather then the private advantage of the Priests. And we must take heed of mens traditions, especially since the Lord saith, In vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines the precepts of men: So that now, the surest way is to cleave to the word of the Lord left to us in the Scriptures, which teacheth abundantly all things that belong to true godliness.
Furthermore, we muste diligently search, whether those traditions do set forward the glory of God, rather then of men, or the safetie of the faythfull, rather then the priuate aduauntage of the Priestes. And we muste take héede of mens traditions, especially since the Lorde sayth, In vaine doe they worship me, teaching doctrines the precepts of men: So that nowe, the surest way is to cleaue to the word of the Lorde lefte to vs in the Scriptures, whiche teacheth aboundantly all thinges that belong to true godlynesse.