A17183:245
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.
And first of all, that Gods will is to have his word understood of man 1kind, we may thereby gather especially, because that in speaking to his servants, he used a most common kind of speech, wherewithal even the very idiots were acquainted. Neither do we read that the Prophets and Apostles the servants of God, and interpreters of his high and everlasting wisdom, did use any strange kind of speech: so that in the whole pack of writers, none can be found to excel them in a more plain and easy phrase of writing. Their writings are full of common proverbs, similitudes, parables, comparisons, devised narrations, examples, and such other like manner of speeches, then which there is nothing that doth more move & plainly teach the common sort of wits among mortal men. There ariseth, I confess, some darkness in the scriptures by reason of the natural property, figurative ornaments, and the unacquainted use of the tongues. But that difficulty may easily be helped by study, 2diligence, faith, and the means of skilful interpreters. I know that the Apostle Peter saith in the epistles of Paul Many things are hard to be understood. ⟨p. 24⟩But immediately he addeth, which the unlearned, and those that are unperfect or unstable, pervert, as they do the other scriptures also unto their own destruction. Whereby we gather, that the scripture is difficult or obscure to the unlearned, unskilful, unexercised, and malicious or corrupted wills, and not to the zealous and godly Readers or Hearers thereof. Therefore, when S. Paul saith, If as yet our gospel be hid: from them it is hid which perish, in whom the Prince of this world hath blinded the understanding of the unbelievers, that to them there should not shine the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. He doth not lay the blame of this difficulty on the word of God, but upon the unprofitable hearers. Whosoever we are therefore, that do desire rightly to understand the word of God, our care must be, that Satan possess not our minds, and close up our eyes. For, our Saviour also in the gospel said, This is damnation, because the light came into the world and men loved darkness rather than light.
And firste of all, that Gods will is to haue his worde vnderstoode of man