A17183:246
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.
Besides that, the holy Prophets of God, and the Apostles, did not call the word of God or the scriptures darkness, obscureness, or mistiness, but a certain brightness and lightsomeness. David saith, Thy word is a Lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my paths. And what I pray you is more evident than that which in making doubtful and obscure things manifest, no man doth refer to darkness and uncertainties? Things uncertain, doubtful and obscure, are made manifest by those things that are more certain, sure and evident. But as often as any question or controversy doth happen in matters of faith, do not all men agree that it ought to be ended and determined by the scriptures? it must therefore needs be that the scriptures are evident, plain, and most assuredly certain.
Besides that, the holy Prophetes of God, and the Apostles, did not call the worde of God or the scriptures darkenesse, obscurenesse, or mistinesse, but a certaine brightnesse and lightsomnesse. Dauid saith, Thy word is a Lanterne vnto my feete, and a light vnto my pathes. And what I praye you is more euident than that which in makinge doubtfull and obscure thinges manifest, no man doth referre to darkenesse and vncertainties? Things vncertaine, doubtful and obscure, are made manifest by those things that are more certain, sure and euident. But as often as any question or controuersie doth happen in matters of fayth, do not all men agree that it ought to be ended and determined by the scriptures? it must therfore needes be that the scriptures are euident, plaine, and most assuredly certaine.
But though the scripture be manifest, and the word of God be evident, 1yet notwithstanding, it refuseth not a godly or holy exposition, but rather an holy exposition doth give a setting out to the word of God, & bringeth forth much fruit in the godly hearer. And for because many do deny that the scriptures ought to have any exposition, I will show by examples (which can not be gainsaid) that they ought altogether to be expounded. For God him self, having often communication with Moses by the space of forty days and as many years, did by Moses expound to the Church the words of the law, which he spake in Mount Sinai to the whole congregation of Israel, writing them in two tables, which Moses left to us, the Deuteronomy and certain other books as commentaries upon Gods commandments. After that, immediately followed the Prophets, who interpreting the law of Moses, did apply it to the times, places, and men of their age, and left to us that fellow, their sermons as plain expositions of Gods law. In the eight