A17183:575
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 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 2of this commandment is, to draw them from those gross imaginations and carnal worshippings of God, who as he is an incomprehensible power, and an eternal spirit, so can he not be resembled to any corruptible similitude: he will be worshipped in spirit and holiness. Under the name of the Idol or imagined likeness, is contained all the outward reverence done thereunto: when therefore the Idols are forbidden, together with them is also forbidden all outward honour irreligiously exhibited to the true and very God. For wheresoever an Idol is, there must the Idolaters set him up a pillar, place him in a seat, erect him an altar, and build him a temple. And all these again require keepers and overseers, Ministers or Priests, sacrifices and offerings, ceremonies, furnitures, holy days, cost and labour that will never be ended. In this sense did the Prophets say, that Idolatrous images were endless labours and infinite miseries. For after images are once received, there is no end or measure of expenses and toil. This doth experience teach to be true.