A17183:323
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.
Afterward was added the sign of circumcision, as the seal of the righteousness of faith, that is the sign or sealing, that all the seed of Abraham is justified by faith. The same our father Abraham was not justified by the law. For the law was. 430. years added to the promise, not to take away sin or to work justification, but to make sin appear, & to make us altogether empty, & when we are once made empty, to send & as it were compel us to fly to Christ. Again, Abraham was not justified by his works. And yet, in that most excellent Patriarch are found to be good works, yea & those too good works of true faith, which are both notable and many in number, such and so many as you shall scarcely find in any other.
Afterward was added the signe of circumcision, as the seale of the righteousnesse of faithe, that is the signe or sealing, that al the séede of Abraham is iustified by faith. The same our father Abrahā was not iustified by the lawe. For the lawe was. 430. yeres added to the promise, not to take away sinne or to worke iustification, but to make sin appeare, & to make vs altogether emptie, & when we are once made emptie, to send & as it were compell vs to flye to Christ. Againe, Abraham was not iustified by his works. And yet, in that most excellent Patriarch are found to be good works, yea & those too good workes of true faith, which are both notable and many in number, suche and so many as you shall scarcely finde in any other.
Nevertheless yet the Apostle saith. What shall we say then that Abraham our father as pertaining to the flesh, who I say is our father touching the flesh, did merit or find, for both those significations hath the Greek word [Greek or Hebrew]. For, if Abraham were justified by works, then hath he to boast, but not before God. For God is only just and he that only justifieth. Al men are corrupt yea even Abraham is a sinner, and every man standeth in need of the glory of God. For which cause also the Prophet did plainly forbid to boast in any thing but in the mercy of God. Wherefore, Abraham boasted not against God: he acknowledged him self to be a sinner, and that he was to be justified freely, and not for his own merits sake. The Apostle goeth forth and saith. For what saith the Scripture. Abraham believed in God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. Two things are here affirmed, First that Abraham believed in God, Secondly that that was imputed to him for righteousness. By this it followeth that Abraham was justified by faith, and not by works. And that doth the Apostle prove after this manner. To him that by works doth merit righteousness, righteousness is not imputed. But to Abraham is righteousness imputed: therefore he merited not righteousness by works. Again, To him verily that worketh not, but believeth, his