A17183:259
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.
There is also beside these, another manner of interpreting the word of God, that is, by conferring together the places which are like or unlike, and by expounding the darker by the more evident, and the fewer by the more in number. Whereas therefore the Lord saith, The father is greater then I, we must consider that the same Lord in another place saith, My father and I are all one. And whereas James the Apostle saith, That Abraham and we are justified by works, there are many places in Saint Paul to be set against that one. And this manner of interpreting did Peter the Apostle allow, where he saith: We 1have a right sure word of prophecy, whereunto if ye attend, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, ye do well, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.
There is also beside these, another manner of interpreting the worde of God, that is, by conferring together the places whiche are like or vnlike, and by expounding the darker by the more euident, and the fewer by the more in number. Wheras therfore the Lorde sayth, The father is greater then I, we must consider that the same Lorde in another place sayth, My father and I are all one. And whereas Iames the Apostle sayth, That Abraham and we are iustified by workes, there are many places in Saint Paul to be set againste that one. And this manner of interpreting did Peter the Apostle allowe, where he sayth: We 1haue a right sure worde of prophesie, wherevnto if ye attend, as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place, ye doe well, vntill the daye dawne, and the daye starre arise in your heartes.
That ancient writer Tertullian affirmeth, that they are heretics, and not men of the right faith, which draw some odd things out of the Scriptures to their own purpose, not having any respect to the rest. But do by that means pick out unto them selves a certain few testimonies, which they would have altogether to be believed, the whole Scripture in the mean season gain-saying it, because in deed the fewer places must be understood according to the meaning of the more in number.