A17183:343
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.
First I have to say somewhat touching the common name whereby the 1articles of our faith are usually called the Symbol or Creed of the Apostles. A Symbol is as much to say as a conferring together, or else a badge. The articles are called a conferring together because by the laying together of the Apostles doctrine they ⟨p. 56⟩were made and written, to be a rule and an abridgement of the saith preached by the Apostles, and received of the Catholic or universal Church. But what he was that first did thus dispose and write these articles, it is not known nor left in writing of the holy Scriptures. Some there are that d•e attribute it to the Apostles them selves, and therefore do call it by the name of the Apostles Creed. Saint Cyprian the Martyr in his exposition of the Apostles Creed, saith: Our ancestors have a saying, that after the Lords ascension, when by the coming of the holy ghost the fiery tongues sate upon every one of the Apostles, so that they spake both divers and sundry languages, whereby there was no foreign nation nor barbarous tongue to which they seemed not sufficiently prepared, to pass by the way they had a commandment from the Lord, to go unto all nations to preach the word of God. When therefore they were in a readiness to depart, they laid down among them selves a platform of preaching for them all to follow, least peradventure being severed one from another, they should preach divers things to them that were converted to the faith of Christ. Wherefore being there altogether and replenished with the holy ghost, they gathered one every ones several sentence and made that Breviary (as I said) to be a pattern for all their preachings to be framed by, appointing it for a rule to be given to them that should believe. This saith Cyprian. But whether they were of the Apostles own making or no, or else that other the Apostles disciples made them, yet this is very well known, that the very doctrine of the Apostles is purely contained and taught in them. These twelve Articles are called also a badge, because by that sign as it were by a badge, true Christians are discerned from false.
First I haue to say somewhat touching the common name wherby the 1articles of our faith are vsually called the Symbole or Créede of the Apostles. A Symbele is as much to say as a cōferring together, or els a badge. The articles are called a conferring together bicause by the laying together of the Apostles doctrine they