A17183:573
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.
Moreover, what so ever is not ordained by God him self, it is in the Scriptures many times called strange, or other. In that sense it is said, that strange fire was carried into the Labernacle, to wit, not that fire which God had commanded for to kindle. In the Proverbs, she is called a ⟨p. 116⟩strange woman, whose company the Lord hath not allowed thee to use. They therefore are strange Gods, whom we have made to our selves to hang on, and to seek aid of, when God, notwithstanding, hath not appointed them to have the charge over us. Wherefore the very Saints them selves triumphant now in heaven with Christ our King, shall be reputed for strange Gods, the Saints them selves, I say, not in respect of them selves, but to us they shall be strange Gods in respect of us, which judge very fondly of them, and bestow on them the honour due to God, in worshipping and calling upon them, as we should worship and call upon our tutors and defenders. The very devils 1and devilish men shall be strange Gods, if we for fear shall stand in awe of them more then of God, to whom in deed our fear is due. The stars, the Planets, and signs in the firmament shall be strange Gods, if we being deceived with the Mathematicals shall wholly hang on them, and in all our doings evermore have regard to the impressions of the sky, directing every minute of our lives to the course of the stars. Likewise, if we shall honour and love money or men, with honour or love due unto God, then shall this money and men of ours be imputed to us for strange Gods. King Asa is blamed. 2. Paral. 7. for putting too much confidence in Physic and Physicians. Physic and Physicians therefore may be abused, and made strange Gods. The Jews are rebuked by the Lord in Isaiah. cap. 30. for trusting too much in the Egyptians their confederates: Confederates therefore may be abused, and made strange Gods. But most of all are condemned here the leagues and covenants made with the devil by witchcraft, to have him at commandment. Those blessings also which of right, ought rather to be called cursings, I mean, superstitious exorcisms, or conjurations, are utterly to be rejected, wherein also this is blameworthy, that the name of the most high God is horribly abused and taken in vain.