A17183:305
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.
Being ready here (dearly beloved) to speak unto you of faith, which without works doth justify them that believe, I call upon the Father, which is in heaven, through his only begotten son Jesus Christ our Lord, beseeching him to open my mouth and lips to the setting forth of his praise, and to illuminate your hearts, that ye acknowledging the great benefit of God, may become thankful for it and holy in deed.
BEing readye here (dearely beloued) to speake vnto you of fayth, whiche without workes dothe iustifie them that beléeue, I call vpon the Father, whiche is in heauen, through his onely begotten sonne Iesus Christe our Lorde, beséeching him to open my mouth and lippes to the setting foorthe of his prayse, and to illuminate your hearts, that ye acknowledging the great benefite of God, may become thankfull for it and holy in déede.
And first of all, I will speak certain 1things chiefly necessary to this argument or treatise, touching this term of justification. The term of justifying, very usual and common among the Hebrews, and of a large signification, is not at this day so well understood of all men, as it ought to be. To justify, is as much to say as to quite from judgement, and from the denounced and uttered sentence of condemnation. It signifieth to remit offences, to cleanse, to sanctify▪ and to give utterance of life everlasting. For it is a law term belonging to courts where judgement is exercised. Imagine therefore, that man is set before the judgement seat of God, and that there he is pleaded guilty, to wit, that he is accused and convinced of heinous offences, and therefore sued to punishment or to the sentence of condemnation. Imagine also that the Son of God maketh intercession, and cometh in as a mean, desiring that upon him may be laid the whole fault and punishment due unto us men, that he by his death may cleanse them and take them away, setting us free from death and giving us life everlasting. Imagine too, that God the most high and just judge, receiveth the offer, and tram slateth […] punishment together with the fault from us unto the neck of his son, making therewithal a statute, that whosoever believeth that the son of God suffered for the sins of the world, brake the power of death, and delivered us from damnation, should be cleansed from his sins, and made heir of life everlasting. Who therefore can be so dull of understanding, but may perceive that mankind is justified by faith.