A17183:252
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.
In the mean season, all the ministers ⟨p. 26⟩of the Church must beware, 1that they follow not herein their own affections any whit at all, or else corrupt the Scriptures by their wrong interpretations, and so by that means set forth to the Church their own inventions, and not the word of God. Some such like offence it seemeth that the teachers of the ancient people in old time did commit, because the Lord in Ezekiel accuseth them saying, Seemeth it a small thing to you to have eaten up the good pasture, but that ye must also tread the residue of your pasture under your feet? and to drink the clearer water, but that ye must trouble the rest with your feet? Thus my sheep must be fain to eat the thing that is trodden down with your feet, and to drink that which ye with your feet have defiled. A sore offence is this, which the Lord according to his justice punisheth most sharply. We therefore the interpreters of Gods holy word, and faithful ministers of the Church of Christ, must have a diligent regard to keep the Scriptures sound and perfect, and to teach the people of Christ the word of God sincerely, made plain I mean, & not corrupted or darkened by foolish & wrong expositions of our own invention.
In the meane season, all the ministers ⟨p. 26⟩of the Churche muste beware, 1that they followe not héerein their owne affections any whit at all, or else corrupt the Scriptures by their wrong interpretations, and so by that meanes set foorth to the Church their owne inuentions, and not the worde of God. Some suche like offence it séemeth that the teachers of the auncient people in olde time did commit, bycause the Lorde in Ezechiell accuseth them saying, Seemeth it a small thing to you to haue eaten vp the good pasture, but that ye must also treade the residue of your pasture vnder your feete? and to drinke the clearer water, but that ye muste trouble the rest with your feete? Thus my sheepe muste be faine to eate the thing that is troden downe with your feete, and to drinke that whiche ye with your feete haue defiled. A sore offence is this, which the Lord according to his iustice punisheth most sharpely. We therefore the interpreters of Gods holy worde, and faythfull ministers of the Churche of Christe, must haue a diligent regarde to keepe the Scriptures sounde and perfect, and to teach the people of Christ the worde of God sincerely, made plaine I meane, & not corrupted or darkned by foolish & wrōg expositions of oure owne inuention.