A17183:256
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.
Furthermore, we read in the gospel, that the Lord doth gather a sum 1of the law and the Prophets, saying: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind: this is the chief and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self. In these two commandments hangeth the whole law and the Prophets. Math. 22. Upon these words of the Lord, that holy man Aurelius Augustinus in the. 36. Chapter of his firste book De doctrina Christi. sayth▪ Whosoever doth seem to himself to understand the holy scriptures, or any part thereof, so that that understanding he doth not work these two points of charity towards God, & his neighbour, he yet doth not understand the scriptures perfectly. But whosoever shall take out of them such an opinion, as is profitable to the working of this charity, and yet shall not say the self same thing which shall be proved that he did mean whom he readeth in that place, that man doth not err to his own destruction, nor doth altogether by lying deceive other men: Thus much writ Augustin. We must therefore by all means possible, take heed that our interpretations do not tend to the overthrow of charity, but to the furtherance and commendation of it to all men. The Lord saith, Strive not with the wicked. But if we affirm that he spake this to the Magistrates also, then shall charity towards our neighbours, the safety of them that are in jeopardy, & defence of the oppressed, be broken and clean taken away. For thieves & unruly persons, robbers and naughty fellows, will oppress the widows, the fatherless, ⟨p. 28⟩and the poor, to that all iniquity shall reign and have the upper hand. But in a matter so manifestly known, I suppose it is not needful to use many examples.
Furthermore, we reade in the gospell, that the Lorde doth gather a sum 1of the lawe and the Prophets, saying: Thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soule, and with al thy mind: this is the chief and great commaundement. And the second is like vnto it, Thou shalt loue thy neighbor as thy selfe. In these two commaundemēts hangeth the whole law and the Prophets.