A17183:497
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.
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.
And first of all I will not curiously put any difference betwene Charitie 1and Loue. I will vse them both in one and the same sense. S. Augustine De doctrina Christiana saith. I cal Chatitie a motion of the minde to delight in God for his owne sake, and to delight in himselfe and his neighbour for Gods sake. And therfore I cal loue a gifte giuen to man from Heauen, wherby with his hart he loueth God before and aboue all thinges, and his neighbour as him selfe. Loue therfore 2springeth from Heauen, from whence it is powred into our hartes. But it is inlarged and augmented partly by the remembrance and consideration of Gods benefits, partly by often prayer, and also by the hearing & frequenting of the worde of Christ. Which things them selues also are the giftes of the spirite. For the Apostle Paule saith, The loue of God is powred out into our hartes by the holy Ghoste which is giuen vs. For verily the loue of God wherwith he loueth vs, is the foundation & cause of our loue wherewith we loue him, and of both these iointly consisteth the loue of our neighbour. For the Apostle saith: We loue him bicause he first loued vs. And againe, Euery one that loueth him which begot, loueth him also that is borne of him.