A17183:574
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.
But what is he that can exactly reckon up every particular thing wherein this first commandment is transgressed, considering that in it is taught the perfect rule of godliness, which is the inward worship done to God, to wit, to acknowledge God, to believe him, to think rightly of him, to call upon him, to cleave unto him, and in all things to obey him?
But what is he that can exactly reckō vp euery particular thing wherein this firste commaundement is transgressed, considering that in it is taught the perfect rule of godlynesse, whiche is the inward worship done to God, to wit, to acknowledge God, to beléeue him, to thinke rightly of him, to call vpon him, to cleaue vnto him, and in all things to obey him?
The second precept of the ten Commandments 1is, Thou shalt not make to thee self a graven Image, nor any likeness of those things, which are in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them: I am the Lord thy God, strong, and jealous, visiting the fathers sins in the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands to them that love me, and keep my Commandments. In the first commandment, the Lord did teach and draw out before our eyes, the pattern of his inward worship and religion: now, here in the second he amendeth that which might be amiss in the outward rites and ceremonies. If we could have rightly judged of God, and have kept (as devout as we should) the first Commandment, then should there have been no need of the second: but because God knew our disposition & nature, he doth ⟨p. 117⟩therefore expressly forbid the thing that otherwise we would have done. For many there are which think, that God ought to be portrayed in some similitude or likeness, and to be worshipped with some bodily or visible reverence, in offering gold, silver, pearls, ivory, and precious things of price. Wherefore the general end