A17183:496
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.
IT remaineth since I have in some sermons discoursed of true faith, that I do now also add one Sermon touching love towards God and our neighbour. For in my fourth Sermon I promised so soon as I should have done with the exposition of faith, that then I would speak of love toward God and our neighbour: because the exposition of the Scriptures ought not to go awry out of faith and charity, which are as it were the right and holy marks for it to draw unto. Yea, as hitherto ye have done, so cease not yet to pray, that this wholesome doctrine may be by me taught as it should be, and by you received with much increase and profit.
IT remaineth since I haue in some sermons discoursed of true faythe, yt I do nowe also adde one Sermon touching loue towards God and our neyghbour. For in my fourth Sermon I promised so soone as I should haue done with the exposition of fayth, that then I would speake of loue towarde God and our neighbour: bycause the exposition of the Scriptures ought not to goe awrye out of faythe and charitie, whiche are as it were the right and holy markes for it to drawe vnto. Ye, as hitherto ye haue done, so cease not yet to pray, that this wholesome doctrine maye be by me taught as it shoulde be, and by you receiued with much increase and profite.
And first of all I will not curiously put any difference between Charity 1and Love. I will use them both in one and the same sense. S. Augustine De doctrina Christiana saith. I call Charity a motion of the mind to delight in God for his own sake, and to delight in himself and his neighbour for Gods sake. And therefore I call love a gift given to man from Heaven, whereby with his hart he loveth God before and above all things, and his neighbour as him self. Love therefore 2springeth from Heaven, from whence it is poured into our hearts. But it is enlarged and augmented partly by the remembrance and consideration of Gods benefits, partly by often prayer, and also by the hearing & frequenting of the word of Christ. Which things them selves also are the gifts of the spirit. For the Apostle Paul saith, The love of God is poured out into our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given us. For verily the love of God wherewith he loveth us, is the foundation & cause of our love wherewith we love him, and of both these jointly consisteth the love of our neighbour. For the Apostle saith: We love him because he first loved us. And again, Every one that loveth him which begot, loveth him also that is borne of him.