A17183:607
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.
In our daily talk, very often, and almost about godless matters, we mind: ⟨p. 129⟩are wont to call and take to witness, the dreadful name of God, having learned it of an ill continuance and custom, or else being stirred up by some evil motion of our naughty mind: we have an innumerable sort of deep and terrible oaths, as wounds, blood, cross and Passion of the Lord, heaven, earth, Sacraments, every Saint in heaven, and all the devils of hell. Beside all this, we abuse the name of God also sundry and divers ways in telling of lies. The preacher or teacher of the Church lieth, when he crieth: Thus saith the Lord: whereas the Lord in deed saith nothing so. He maketh the name of God a cloak and a colour to hide his deceit, and doth beguile poor simple souls. The Magistrate crieth out: All power is of God: and so under the pretence of Gods name, doth his subjects injury in playing the tyrant and not the Magistrate. The common people deceive one another, under the name of the Lord, in contracts and bargaining. And the sturdy rogue unworthy of alms, will not stick to stand and make Gods name an idle occupation for to get a penny. But who can reckon up all the things wherein Gods name is foully abused? we must all therefore have an eye that we defile not the name of God, but rather bless it and holily worship it.
In our dayly talke, very often, and almoste about godlesse matters, we minde: ⟨p. 129⟩are wont to call and take to witnesse, the dreadfull name of God, hauing learned it of an yll continuaunce and custome, or else being stirred vp by some euill motion of oure naughtie mynd: we haue an innumerable sort of déep and terrible othes, as wounds, bloud, crosse and Passion of the Lorde, heauen, earth, Sacramentes, euery Saint in heauen, and all the deuilles of hell. Beside all this, we abuse the name of God also sundry and dyuers wayes in telling of lyes. The preacher or teacher of the Churche lyeth, whē he cryeth: Thus sayth the Lord: whereas the Lorde in déede sayth nothing so. He maketh the name of God a cloake and a colour to hide his deceit, and doth beguile poore simple soules. The Magistrate cryeth out: All power is of God: and so vnder the pretence of Gods name, doth his subiects iniurie in playing the tyraunt and not the Magistrate. The common people deceiue one another, vnder the name of the Lorde, in contractes and bargayning. And the sturdie roge vnworthy of almes, will not sticke to stande and make Gods name an idle occupation for to get a pennie. But who can reckon vp all the thinges wherein Gods name is fouly abused? we must all therfore haue an eye that we defile not the name of God, but rather blesse it and holily worship it.