A17183:508
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 that love of our neighbour 1that is looked for at our hands ought to be so sincere as that it be without all manner guile, deceit and coloured craft. For there are many to be found, that have the skill to talk to their neighbours with sugared tongues, and to make a face as though they loved them, when as in deed they do utterly hate them, meaning nothing else but with fanning words to beguile them, that thereby they may work ⟨p. 96⟩the things that they desire. Paul and John therefore, the Apostles of Christ go about earnestly to sever hypocrisy from love. For Paul saith, Let not your love be feigned. Again, The end of the commandment is love of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith not feigned. On the other side, John crieth out saying: My babes let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in verity. Moreover, in this sincerity we contain a free willing & merry cheerfulness that nothing may seem to be done unwillingly or by compulsion. For Paul saith: Let every man do with a good purpose of mind, not of trouble or necessity. For God requireth a cheerful giver.
Firste that loue of our neighbour 1that is looked for at our handes ought to be so sincere as that it be without all manner guile, deceipt and coloured craft. For there are many to be foūd, that haue the skill to talke to their neighbours with sugred tongues, and to make a face as thoughe they loued them, when as in déede they do vtterly hate them, meaning nothing else but with fauning wordes to beguile them, that thereby they may worke ⟨p. 96⟩the thinges that they desire. Paule and Iohn therefore, the Apostles of Christe goe about earnestly to seuer hypocrisie from loue. For Paul saith, Let not your loue be fayned. Againe, The ende of the commaundement is loue of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and fayth not fayned. On the other side, Iohn cryeth out saying: My babes let vs not loue in worde nor in tongue, but in deede and in veritie. Moreouer, in this sinceritie we conteine a frée willing & mery chearfulnesse that nothing may séeme to be done vnwillingly or by compulsion. For Paule sayth: Let euery man doe with a good purpose of mynd, not of trouble or necessitie. For God requireth a chearefull giuer.