A17183:530
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.
So then the Gentiles knew God, yea, they knew what so ever might 1be known of God. But what teacher had they, or what master? They had God to their master. In what order taught he them, or out of what book? Not out of the written books of Moses, or the Prophets, but out of that great and large book of Nature. For the things that are not seen of God, in which sort are his everlasting eternity, his virtue, power, majesty, goodness and Godhead, those he would have to be esteemed of according to the visible things, that is, the things which he hath created. For Gods eternal Godhead is known by mans creation, by the continual moving of Heaven, and the perpetual course of rivers. For it must needs be, that he is most mighty which sustaineth all these things, which moveth, strengtheneth, and keepeth all things from decay, and which with his beck shakes the whole world. Finally, who doth not see the goodness of him which suffereth the Sun to rise upon the good and the evil? But to what intent revealeth he these things to the Gentiles? To the intent forsooth that they may acknowledge him to be God, that they may glorify and worship him as God, and be thankful to such a benefactor. When therefore they do not this, they are inexcusable and perish deservedly for their unbelief and unthankfulness sake. So then it is manifest, that the law of Nature doth expressly teach that there is a God, which is to be acknowledged, and reverently worshipped.
So then the Gentiles knewe God, yea, they knewe what so euer might 1be knowne of God. But what teacher had they, or what maister? They had God to their maister. In what order taught he them, or out of what booke? Not out of the written bookes of Moses, or the Prophetes, but out of that great and large booke of Nature. For the thinges that are not séene of God, in whiche sorte are his euerlasting eternitie, his vertue, power, maiestie, goodnesse and Godhead, those he woulde haue to be estéemed of according to the visible things, that is, the thinges whiche he hath created. For Gods eternall Godheade is knowne by mans creation, by the continuall mouing of Heauen, and the perpetuall course of riuers. For it muste néedes be, that he is moste mightie whiche susteineth all these thinges, whiche moueth, strengtheneth, and kéepeth all thinges from decay, and which with his becke shakes the whole worlde. Finally, who doth not sée the goodnesse of him whiche suffereth the Sunne to rise vpon the good and the euill? But to what intent reuealeth he these thinges to the Gentiles? To the intent forsoothe that they may acknowledge him to be God, that they maye glorifie and worship him as God, and be thankfull to suche a benefactour. When therfore they doe not this, they are inexcusable and perishe deseruedly for their vnbeliefe and vnthankfulnesse sake. So then it is manifest, that the lawe of Nature doth expresly teache that there is a God, which is to be acknowledged, and reuerently worshipped.