A17183:436
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.
Thus and no otherwise did the ancient 1interpreters of the holy Scriptures handle this Article of our belief. Some of whose testimonies I will here allege. Saint Hierome in his exposition of Pauls first Chapter to the Ephesians, saith: He hath declared the power of God by the similitude of a man: not because a seat is placed and God the father sitteth there on, having his Son sitting there with him: but because we can not otherwise conceive how the Son doth judge and reign, but by such words applied to our capacity. As therefore to be next to God, or to depart far from him is not to be understood according to the distance of places, but after mens merits, because the Saints are heard by him, but the sinners (of whom the Prophet saith, Behold they that get them selves from thee shall perish) are removed far enough for coming near him at all. Even so likewise to be either at the right or left hand of God is to be taken so, that the Saints are at his right hand & sinners at his left. As our Saviour him self also in the Gospel affirming the same doth say, that at the right hand are the sheep, and the goats at the left. Moreover, this very word (to Sit,) doth argue the power of a kingdom, by which God is beneficial to them on whom he doth vouchsafe to sit, in so much as verily he doth rule them, and hath them always in his guiding, and doth turn to his own beck or government, the necks of them that before ran out of the way at random, and at liberty.2
Thus and no otherwise did the ancient 1interpreters of the holy Scriptures handle this Article of our belief. Some of whose testimonies I will here alledge. Saint Hierome in his exposition of Paules first Chapter to the Ephesians, sayth: He hath declared the power of God by the similitude of a man: not bycause a seate is placed and God the father sitteth ther on, hauing his sonne sitting ther with him: but bycause we can not otherwise conceiue howe the sonne dothe iudge and reigne, but by such wordes applyed to our capacitie. As therfore to be next to God, or to depart farre from him is not to be vnderstood according to the distance of places, but after mens merites, bycause the Saints are heard by him, but the sinners (of whome the Prophete sayth, Beholde they that get them selues from thee shal perish) are remoued farre inough for comming neare him at all. Euen so likewise to be eyther at the right or lefte hande of God is to be taken so, that the Saints are at his right hand & sinners at his left. As our Sauioure him selfe also in the Gospel affirming the same dothe say, that at the right hande are the sheepe, and the goates at the left. Moreouer, this very word (to Sit,) dothe argue the power of a kingdome, by which God is beneficiall to them on whom he doth vouchsafe to sit, in so much as verily he doth rule them, and hath them alwayes in his guiding, and dothe turne to his owne becke or gouernment, the necks of them that before ranne out of the way at randon, and at libertie.