A17183:560
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.
First of all therefore, let no man 1think that before Moses time there was no law, and that the law was by Moses first of all published. For the self same especial points of the Moral law, which Moses setteth down in the ten Commandments, were very well known to the Patriarchs ⟨p. 110⟩even from the beginning of the world. For they worshipped the one •rue God alone for their God, whom they reverenced, and called upon him. Jacob took away with him the Syrian Idols of Laban out of his house, and hid them in Bethel under an oak or Terebinth tree which was nigh to Shechem. Abraham in taking an oath used always a reverend fear, and a spiced conscience, whereby it followeth that to him the name of the Lord was holy and not lightly taken. All the holy fathers did both diligently and devoutly solemnize and observe holy rites and sacrifices. Chan hath his fathers curse, because he did unreverently behave him self toward his father. Cain is reproved for murdering his brother. Noah giveth commandment not to shed blood. Joseph is highly commended for refusing to lye with another mans wife, I mean the wife of his master. Reuben is rebuked because he did with incest defile his fathers bed. Jacob was not angry without a cause with Laban his father in Law, when he suspected him of theft. All the Patriarchs have utterly condemned liars & false witnesses, as well as evil lusts & concupiscence. Wherefore the patriarchs ever from the beginning of the world even until Moses time, were not without the precepts of the ten commandments: although they had them not graven in tables, or written in parchments. For the Lord with his finger writ them in their hearts, which the lively tradition of the fathers did exquisitely garnish & reverently teach. The law is every where the same, and the will of God is always one, because God is but one and is never changed. Nevertheless, the commandments were first of all set down in tables by God, who was the beginner and writer of them, and after that again, were written into books by Moses.
First of all therefore, let no man 1thinke that before Moses time there was no lawe, and that the lawe was by Moses firste of all published. For the selfe same especiall pointes of the Morall lawe, whiche Moses setteth down in the ten Commaundements, were very well knowne to the Patriarches