A17183:545
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 wiser sort of the Gentiles do utterly condemn concupiscence 1and evil affections: which the Poet in his Satires blameth as the root of all mischief, where he saith: From thence, almost, comes every cause of mischief, for no vice That reigns in man, so many times could frantic heads entice, To mingle poison privily to stop another's breath, Or else in armour openly to work his rivals death, As beastly raging lust hath done.
The wiser sorte of the Gentiles doe vtterly condemne concupiscence 1and euill affections: whiche the Poet in his Satyres blameth as the root of all mischiefe, where he saith: Frō thence, almost, comes euerie cause of mischief, for no vice That reigns in man, so many times could franticke heades intice, To mingle poyson priuily to stop anothers breath, Or else in armour openly to worke his riuals death, As beastly raging lust hath done.
- 110 Concupiscence.
So then by all this we may easily gather, that even in the Gentiles minds also were graven a certain knowledge of God and some precepts, whereby they knew what to desire, and what to eschew: which notwithstanding they did corrupt, and make somewhat misty with the evil affections and corrupt judgements of the flesh. For which cause God also beside the law of nature did ordain other means to declare his will, I mean, the lively tradition of the Fathers, the answers of Angels, the voices of Prophets, wonderful miracles, and written laws which he published by wise and very devout Patriarchs. All these did God ordain to be a help to the law of nature. What soever therefore is to be found among the Gentiles agreeable to trueth and honesty, that is to be referred to God the author of all goodness: and on the other side, whatsoever is contrary to the trueth that must be attributed to the corrupt nature and evil affections of mankind. In all this that I have said, ye have to note especially that here I speak of knowledge and not of ability. The knowledge of the law is after a sort manifest in the Gentiles, but the consent, the will, and ability to fulfil the law is weak and not easy to be found in them. Wherefore as we affirm that the understanding of the law must be inspired from heaven, so also we