A17183:588
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.
For in this precept are two things set down especially to be noted. The first is, Thou shalt not bow down to them. To bow down, is to cap 1and to knee, to duck with the head, and bend the body, to fall down, to honour, to worship, and to reverence. The Saints of old did use to bow down (that is to bend the knee, to uncover the head, and to fall down) to the Magistrates, the Prophets, the Princes, and teachers of the people, and unto all sorts of reverend men. And that they did partly, by cause God had so commanded, who useth their ministry to common mens commodity: and partly again, by cause men are the lively Image of God him self. But deaf, dumb, and blind Idols are wood and stone, whereunto we are forbidden to bend or bow down, how so ever we are made to believe, that they do bear the likeness of God. The latter is, Thou shalt not worship them, or else, Thou shalt not do any service unto them. In this clause is forbidden all the outward and unlawful honour done to God, or to the Gods in the way of Religion, nay rather in the way of superstition, and devilish hallowing of Churches, relics, holy days, and such like trash and trumpery.
For in this precept are two things set downe especially to be noted. The first is, Thou shalt not bowe downe to them. To bowe downe, is to cap 1and to knée, to ducke with the heade, and bende the body, to fall downe, to honour, to worship, and to reuerence. The Saintes of olde did vse to bowe downe (that is to bende the knée, to vncouer the heade, and to fall downe) to the Magistrates, the Prophets, the Princes, and teachers of the people, and vnto all sortes of reuerend men. And that they did partly, by cause God had so commaunded, who vseth their ministerie to common mens commoditie: and partly againe, by cause men are the liuely Image of God him selfe. But deafe, dumbe, and blinde Idoles are wood and stone, wherevnto we are forbidden to bend or bow downe, how so euer we are made to beléeue, that they doe beare the likenesse of God. The latter is, Thou shalt not worship them, or else, Thou shalt not doe any seruice vnto them. In this clause is forbidden all the outwarde and vnlawfull honour done to God, or to the Gods in the way of Religion, nay rather in the way of superstition, and diuelishe hallowing of Churches, reliques, holie dayes, and such like trash and trumperie.