A17183:536
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 very same doth Marcus Vary ⟨p. 105⟩testify touching the Romans in the 31. chap. of Augustines book De Civitate Dei. For hee saith: That the Romans worshipped the Gods. 170. years without any Images at all: and going further he addeth this: Which if it had endured till now, the Gods verily should have been more purely reverenced. Neither doubteth he to conclude that place with these words, and to say: That they which first brought in Images among the people, diminished devout fear, & augmented foolish error in the Cities where they governed: Wisely judging thereby that the Gods may easily be despised under the fondness of imagined likenesses. &c.
The very same doth Marcus Varr• ⟨p. 105⟩testifie touching the Romans in the 31. chap. of Augustines booke De Ciuitate Dei. For hée sayth: That the Romans worshipped the Gods. 170. yeares without any Images at all: and going further hée addeth this: Which if it had endured till nowe, the Gods verilie should haue been more purely reuerenced. Neither doubteth hée to conclude that place with these words, and to say: That they which first brought in Images amonge the people, diminished deuoute feare, & augmented foolish errour in the Cities where they gouerned: Wisely iudgging thereby that the Gods may easily be despised vnder the fondnesse of imagined likenesses. &c.
Now as concerning the name of God, how much the Gentiles did set 1by it, it is evident to be seen by the great religion that they had in taking or giving an oath. There is extant to be seen a notable discourse of this in the 18. Cap. and the 7. book of Gellius: where among the rest this is to be found written. An oath among the Romans hath been had and kept holy and uncorrupted: which is declared by many laws and customs. And if so be that among the Gentiles any man should speak opprobriously against God, he was reputed faulty most sharply to be punished.