A17183:351
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 we confessed that God doth will us well, and now we acknowledge, that whatsoever he will that he is able to bring to pass. For we say that God is Almighty, that is, that there is nothing, but he can do it, which is profitable & necessary for us men, as he that is Lord of all, & our strong helper.
Firste wée confessed that God doth will vs well, and nowe wée acknowledge, that whatsoeuer hée wil that he is able to bring to passe. For wée saye that God is Almighty, that is, that there is nothing, but he cā do it, which is profitable & necessarye for vs men, as hée that is Lord of all, & our stronge helper.
But that God is our good father, 1liberal, gentle, merciful, strong, Almighty, Lord of all, and our defender and deliverer, it is to be seen by his wonderful works. For he is the maker of heaven and earth. And in the making of Heaven and earth, he hath declared the great love that he beareth to mankind. For when as yet they were not, nether were able with deserts and good turns to provoke God to do them any good, then God first of his own mere and natural goodness, made heaven & earth, a most excellent and beautiful Palace, and gave it them to dwell in, putting under mans dominion all the Creatures of this whole world. But how great power he showed in the making of all these things, it is evident by this, that He spake the word and they were made, he commanded and they were created. Which if thou bring into parts and severally examine, what he made in those six days, in what order, with what beauty, to how great commodity of mankind, and finally how almost with no labour at all he brought them all forth, as it is at large written by Moses in the first of Genesis, thou shalt be compelled to be amazed at the goodwill and power of God. And yet by the way we must think the Creator of all things to be such an one, as by his Son, that is, by his eternal wisdom, hath created all things both visible and invisible, yea and that of nothing too: and doth moreover at this very present sustain, nourish, rule and preserve all things by his everlasting spirit, without which every thing would presently fall to ruin and come to nought. We do herein therefore confess also the providence of our eternal God, and his exceeding wise government.