A17183:634
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 things that lack a resting time, can never long endure.
For things that lacke a resting time, can neuer long indure.
Wherefore the bountiful Lord, whose mind is to preserve his creatures, doth teach a way to keep them, and doth diligently provide, that his creatures be not too much afflicted, by the hard handling or covetousness of their owners. Moses in Deuteronomy addeth the pitiful affection of mercy, saying: Remember that once thou thee self wast a servant in the land of Egypt. Charity therefore and civil humanity do crave a measure to be kept, so that we do not with endless labours, overload & weary our household servants. Moreover, it is manifest, that the goodman of the house by planting godliness in his family, doth not a little advance and set forward his private profit, and own commodity. For wicked servants are for the most part pickers, & deceitful, whereas on the other side the godly, are faithful, whom in his absence he may trust to govern his house. In the reckoning up of the household also is mention made of beasts and cattle, which is done, not so much because their owner is a man, & ought therefore to use them remissly & moderately, as for because beasts can not be laboured, without the working hand of men to guide them. So then men are drawn from the solemnising of the sabbath day by helping their cattle: wherefore to the intent that they should not be drawn aside, we are here precisely commanded to allow our cattle that resting time.
Wherfore the bountiful Lord, whose mynde is to preserue his creatures, doth teache a way to kéepe them, and doth diligently prouide, that his creatures be not too much afflicted, by the hard handling or couetousnes of their owners. Moses in Deuterenomie addeth the pitifull affection of mercye, sayinge: Remember that once thou thee selfe wast a seruaunt in the land of Egypt. Charitie therfore and ciuil humanitie do craue a measure to be kept, so that we doe not with endlesse labours, ouerlade & wearie our houshold seruants. Moreouer, it is manifest, that the goodman of the house by planting godlinesse in his familie, doth not a little aduaunce and set forward his priuate profit, and owne commoditie. For wicked seruants are for the most part pickers, & deceitful, wheras on the other side ye godly, are faithfull, whome in his absence he may trust to gouerne his house. In the reckoning vp of ye houshold also is mention made of beastes and cattell, which is done, not so muche bicause their owner is a man, & ought therefore to vse them remissely & moderately, as for bicause beasies can not be laboured, wtout the working hand of men to guide them. So then men are drawn from the solemnising of ye sabboth day by helping their cattel: wherfore to ye intent that they shoulde not be drawne aside, we are here precisely commaunded to allow our cattell that resting time.