A17183:520
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.
¶ The first Sermon.
THE sum of all laws is the love of GOD, and our neighbour, of which and every part whereof because I have already spoken in my last Sermon, the next is that now also I make a particular discourse of laws, and every part and kind thereof. Let us therefore call to God who is the cause and beginning of laws, that he through our Lord Jesus Christ will vouchsafe with his spirit always to direct us in the way of trueth and righteousness.
THE summe of all lawes is the loue of GOD, and our neighbour, of which and euery parte whereof bycause I haue already spokē in my last Sermon, the next is that nowe also I make a particular discourse of lawes, and euery part and kinde thereof. Let vs therefore call to God who is the cause and beginning of lawes, that he through our Lorde Iesus Christe will vouchsafe with his spirite alwayes to direct vs in the waye of trueth and righteousnesse.
A heathen writer, no base author 1ywis, made this definition of law, that it is an especial reason placed in nature commanding what is to be done, and forbidding the contrary. And verily the law is nothing but a declaration of Gods will, appointing what thou hast to do, and what thou oughtest to leave undone. The beginning and cause of laws is God him self, who is the fountain of all goodness, equity, trueth, and righteousness. Therefore all good and just laws come from God him self, although they be, for the most part, published and brought to light by men. Touching the laws of men, we must have a peculiar consideration of them by them selves. For of laws, some are of 2God, some of Nature, & some of Men. As concerning Gods law, I will speak of it in my second Sermon: at this present I will touch first the law of Nature, and then the law of Men.