A17183:640
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.
This discipline now must be brought 1in and established by every householder 2in all our several houses, with as great diligence as it was with the Jews. Touching which thing, I have nothing to say here, since I have before so plainly handled this point, as that ye perceive that it agreeth even to the Church of us that are Christians. This one thing I add more, that it is the duty of a Christian magistrate, or at leastwise of a good householder, to compel to amendment the breakers and contemners of Gods sabbath and worship. The peers of Israel, and all the people of God, did 3stone to death (as the Lord commanded them) the man that disobediently did gather sticks on the sabbath day. Why then should it not be lawful for a Christian Magistrate to punish by bodily imprisonment, by loss of goods, or by death, the despisers of religion, of the true and lawful worship done to God, and of the sabbath day? verily, though the foolish and undiscrete Magistrate, in this corrupted age do slackly look to his office and duty, yet notwithstanding, let every householder do his endeavour to keep his several family, from that ungodly naughtiness: let him punish them of his household, by such means as he lawfully may. For if any one householder dwell among Idolaters, which neither have, nor yet desire, to have or frequent the Christian or lawful congregations, then may he in his own several house, gather a peculiar assembly to praise the Lord, as it is manifest that Lot did among the Sodomites, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the land of Chana•n, and in Egypt. But it is a heinous sin and a detestable schism, if the congregation be assembled, either in cities or villages, for thee then to seek out byways, ⟨p. 142⟩to hide thy self & not to come there, but 4to contemn the church of God and assembly of saints: as the Anabaptists have taken a use to do. Here therefore I have to reckon up the abuses of the sabbath day, or yt sins committed against this commandment. They transgress this commandment, that cease not from evil works, but abuse the sabbaths rest, to the provoking of fleshly pleasures.