A17183:632
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.
Now least any peradventure might make this objection and say, Ease breed 1death vice. Or else, I must labour with my hands to get my living, least I die with hunger, and my family perish: he answereth, The Lord alloweth thee time sufficient for thy labour, for thee to work in to get a living for thy self and thy household. For six days thou mayest work, but the seventh day doth the Lord challenge and require to be consecrated to him and his holy rest. Every week hath seven days: But of those seven the Lord requireth but one for him self: Who then can rightly complain, I beseech you, or say, that he hath injury done unto him? More time is allowed to work in, than to keep holy the Sabbath. And he that requireth to have this sabbath kept, is God the maker, the father & Lord of all mankind Furthermore, the Lord doth precisely command and give a charge to plant, 2and bring in this holy rest, this discipline and outward worship, into the whole family of every several house. Whereby we gather, what the duty of a good householder is, to wit, to have a care to see all his family keep holy the sabbath day, that is, to do on the sabbath day those good works, which I have before rehearsed. And for because the Lord doth know that mans natural disposition is, where it hath the mastery, there for the most part to rule and reign over haughtily and too too Prince like: therefore, least peradventure the fathers or masters should deal too hardly or rigorously with their households, or hinder them in observing of the sabbath, he doth in express words & exquisite steps of enumeration, command them to allow their family, and every one in their family a resting time, to accomplish his holy service. He doth not exempt or except so much as the stranger. He will not suffer nor allow among them the example of such dulheads as say: Let faith and religion be free to all, let no man be compelled to any religion. For he commandeth to bind the stranger within the gates of Gods people, that is, the stranger that dwelleth in their jurisdiction, to the holy observing of the sabbath day. Now this ease or rest 3is not commanded in respect of it self, (for Idleness always hath ben found fault withal) but it is ordained for the aforesaid especial causes. Gods pleasure is, that there should be a place and time reserved for religion: