A17183:298
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 remaineth now for me to 1declare, the virtue and effect of true faith. This hath the holy Apostle Paul done very excellently well, yea & that most absolutely too. But although in the eleventh chapter to the Hebrews he had said very much, he is compelled notwithstanding to confess that he can not reckon up all: therefore at this time I mean to rehearse a few virtues of faith, leaving the rest (dearly beloved) to be sought out and considered of your selves,
There remaineth nowe for me to 1declare, the vertue and effect of true fayth. This hath the holye Apostle Paule done very excellently well, yea & that most absolutely too. But although in the eleuenth chapter to the Hebrues he had sayd very muche, he is compelled notwithstanding to confesse that he can not reckon vp all: therfore at this time I meane to rehearse a few vertues of fayth, leauing the rest (dearely beloued) to be sought out and considered of your selues,
- 1The power and effect of faith.The power and ef•ecte of faith.
True faith before all things bringeth with it true knowledge and maketh 1us wise in deed. For by faith we know God, and judge aright of the judgements and works of God, of virtues and vices. The wisdom that it bringeth with it, is without doubt the true wisdom. Many men hope that they can attain to true wisdom by the study of Philosophy: but they are deceived as far as Heaven is broad. For Philosophy doth falsely judge, and faultily teach many things touching God, the works of God, the chief goodness, the end of good and evil, and touching things to be desired and eschewed. But the very same things are rightly and truly taught in the word of God, and understood and perceived by faith. Faith therefore is the true wisdom, and maketh us wise in deed. For Jeremiah also saith. Behold they have cast away the word of the Lord, what wisdom therefore can there be left in them? The wisdom of Solomon, is worshipfully thought of throughout the whole compass of the world. And yet we read that the Lord in the Gospel after S. Math. uttered this sentence against the Jews. The Queen of the South shall rise in judgement with this generation and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the world to hear the wisdom of Solomon: and behold there is one in this place greater then Solomon. Christ is preferred before Solomon, and the wisdom of Christ before the wisdom of Solomon. But it is well known that the wisdom of Christ the Son of God can not be attained to without faith. Faith therefore bringeth with it the most excellent wisdom. But herein, this wisdom of ours deserveth a singular praise, because they that desire it are not sent to foreign nations, with great cost & labour to learn it, as to the priests of