A17183:461
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.
Now followeth the tenth article of 1our belief, which is: The forgiveness of sins. The second fruit or commodity of our belief in God the father, the Son, and the holy ghost, is here set forth, that is the remission of sins, which, although it be contained in sanctification spoken of in the last article, is in this place notwithstanding, more lively expressed. Without the Church as it were without the ark of Noah is no salvation: but in that Church, I mean in that fellowship of Christ, & the saints is full forgiveness of all offences. That this may be the better understood I will divide it into some parts.
Now followeth the tenth article of 1our beliefe, which is: The forgiuenes of sinnes. The second fruit or commoditie of our beliefe in God the father, ye sonne, and the holie ghoste, is here set forth, that is the remission of sinnes, which, although it be cōteyned in sanctification spoken of in the last article, is in this place notwithstanding, more liuely expressed. Without the Church as it were without the arke of Noe is no saluatiō: but in yt Church, I meane in yt fellowship of Christe, & the saincts is full forgiuenes of all offences. That this maye be the better vnderstoode I wil diuide it into some parts.
- 1The tenth article of our belief.The tenth •rticle of our belief.
First of all it is needful to acknowledge & confess that we are sinners, & 1that by nature, and our own proper merits, we are the children of wrath & damnation. For S, John doth not in vain nor without a cause call every one a liar that saith he hath no sin. And God which knoweth the harts of men hath commanded us even till the last gasp to pray, saying: Forgive us our debts. Moreover, in the Gospel we have two excellent examples of men openly confessing their sins to God, the prodigal Son, I say, and the Publican in S. Luk. Let us therefore think that we are all sinners, as Paul also taught: yea, as he hath evidently proved in the first Cap. to the Romans, & let us freely confess to God our sins with David in the 32. and 51. Psal. saying: My sin have I made known to thee, & mine iniquity I have not hid. I have said: I will confess mine unrighteousness against my self, & thou haste forgiven the iniquity of mine offence. Have mercy on me O God, according to thy great mercy. &c. The