A17183:638
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.
I suppose also, that we ought to think the same of those few feasts and holy days, which we keep holy to Christ our Lord, in memory of his Nativity or 1Incarnation, of his Circumcision, of his Passion, of the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ our Lord into heaven, and of his sending of the holy Ghost upon his Disciples. For Christian liberty is not a licentious power, and dissolving of godly Ecclesiastical ordinances, which advance and set forward the glory of God and love of our neighbour. But for because the Lord will have holy days to be solemnized and kept to him self alone, I do not therefore like of the festival days, that are held in honour of any creatures. This glory and worship is due to God alone. Paul saith: I would not that any man should judge you in part of an holy day or of the Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come. And again, Ye observe days, and months, and years, and times, I fear least I have laboured in you in vain. And therefore we at this day, that are in the Church of Christ, have nothing to do with the Jewish observation, we have only to wish & endeavour to have the Christian observation and exercise of Christian religion, to be freely kept & observed.
I suppose also, that we ought to thinke the same of those fewe feastes and holy dayes, which we kéepe holy to Christe our Lord, in memorie of his Natiuitie or 1Incarnation, of his Circumcision, of his Passion, of the Resurrection and Ascension of Iesus Christe our Lorde into heauen, and of his sending of the holy Ghost vpon his Disciples. For Christian libertie is not a licentious power, and dissoluing of godly Ecclesiasticall ordinances, which aduaunce and set forward the glory of God and loue of our neighbor. But for bicause the Lorde will haue holy dayes to be solemnized and kept to him self alone, I do not therefore like of the festiuall dayes, that are helde in honour of any creatures. This glory and worship is due to God alone. Paul sayth: I wold not that any man should iudge you in part of an holie day or of the Sabbothes, which are a shadow of things to come. And againe, Ye obserue dayes, and monethes, and yeares, and times, I feare least I haue laboured in you in vaine. And therefore we at this day, that are in the Churche of Christe, haue nothing to doe with the Iewish obseruation, we haue onely to wish & indeuour to haue the Christian obseruation and exercise of Christian religion, to be fréely kept & obserued.