A17183:552
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.
Ecclesiastical laws are those 1which being taken out of the word of God, and applied to the state of men, times and places, are received & have authority in the church among the people ⟨p. 108⟩of God. I call these ecclesiastical laws and not traditions of men, because, being taken out of the holy scriptures, and not invented or brought to light by the wit of man, they are used of that Church which heareth the voice of the shepherd alone and knoweth not a strangers tong. The congregation cometh together to hear the word of God, and unto common prayers, at Morning, at Evening, and at such appointed hours as are most convenient for every place and every people, and that the church holdeth as a law. The Church hath solemn prayer times, holy days, and fasting days, which it doth keep by certain laws. The Church at certain times, in a certain place, and appointed order, doth celebrate the Sacraments according to the laws and received custom of the Church. The Church baptiseth infants: it forbiddeth not women to come to the Lords Supper: and that it holdeth as a law. The Church, by Judges conveniently appointed, doth judge in causes of matrimony, and hath certain laws to direct them in such cases. But it deriveth these and all other like to these, out of the Scriptures, and doth for edification apply them to the estate of men, times, and places: so that in divers Churches ye may see some diversity in deed, but no discord or repugnancy at all.
Ecclesiasticall lawes are those 1which being taken out of the worde of God, and applyed to the state of men, times and places, are receiued & haue authoritie in ye church among ye people ⟨p. 108⟩of God. I call these ecclesiasticall lawes and not traditions of men, bycause, being takē out of the holy scriptures, and not inuented or brought to light by the wit of man, they are vsed of that Churche which heareth the voyce of the shéepehearde alone and knoweth not a straungers tong. The congregation commeth together to heare the word of God, and vnto common prayers, at Morning, at Euening, and at such appointed houres as are moste conuenient for euery place and euerie people, and that the church holdeth as a lawe. The Church hath solemne prayer times, holy dayes, and fasting dayes, which it doth kéepe by certaine lawes. The Church at certaine times, in a certaine place, and appointed order, dothe celebrate the Sacraments according to the lawes and receiued custome of the Church. The Churche baptiseth infantes: it forbiddeth not women to come to the Lordes Supper: and that it holdeth as a lawe. The Churche, by Iudges conueniently appointed, doth iudge in causes of matrimonie, and hath certaine lawes to direct them in such cases. But it deriueth these and al other like to these, out of the Scriptures, and doth for edification apply them to the estate of men, times, and places: so that in diuers Churches ye may sée some diuersitie in déede, but no discord or repugnancie at all.