A17183:295
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.
This confidence doth grow with increase 1in the minds of the faithful, & contrarily decreaseth again and utterly faileth. And for that cause the Apostles besought the lord saying: Lord increase our faith. And Paul the Apostle doth in his writings every where, wish to the faithful the increase of the spirit and faith. David also, before him prayed, saying: O God create a clean heart within me, and take not thy holy spirit from me. For he had seen how that from Saul, whom he succeeded in the kingdom, the good spirit of God was departed, and that in stead thereof the wicked spirit had entered into his mind which tormented him very pitifully. Here unto belongeth that saying in the gospel, To every one that hath shall be given, and from him that hath not shall be taken away that which he hath not, or that he maketh no account of, and shall be given to him that hath. Neither was it in vain, that the Lord said to Peter, ⟨p. 41⟩I have prayed for thee Peter that thy faith fail not. For Paul speaketh of some in his time that made shipwreck of their own •aith, and overthrew the faith of other. And to what end I pray you, do we daily hear the word of God, and make our humble petitions to the Lord, but because we look for increase of godliness, and request his aid to keep us that we fall not from true faith? verily Paul to the Thessalonians, saith: We pray earnestly day and night to see you personally, and to supply that which is wanting in your faith. And a little before, he said: For this cause I sent Timotheus, that I might be certified of your faith, least by any means the tempter had tempted you, and so our labour had ben of no effect. The same Apostle also in his epistle to the Ephesians, saith: Christ gave some Apostles, some Prophets, some Pastors and teachers to the restoring of the Saints unto the building of the body of Christ, until we all meet together in the unity of faith, and the acknowledging of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of age of the fullness of Christ, so that now we be no longer children. Therefore so long as we live, we learn that our faith may be perfect, and if so be at any time it shall be weakened by temptations, that then it may be repaired, and again confirmed.
This confidence doth grow with increase 1