A17183:643
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.
The godly do very well know, that God ordained the sabbath, for the preservation, and not for the destruction of mankind, and that therefore he doth dispense with us for the sabbath, as often as any urgent necessity, or saving of a man shall seem to require it. Touching which matter, our Saviour Christ him self hath fully satisfied the faithful, in the. 12. of Matthew, & the. 6. &. 13. chap. after S. Luke. In such things verily Christians may use their liberty, to occupy them selves in, on the sabbath day. Since the priests & Levites are held excused, which do in the temple openly both kill, flay, burn & boil beasts, in making their sacrifices, so that they are not thought to break yt Sabbath day, because they may without offence to God, even on the sabbaths, dress & make ready the things serving to yt outward worship of the Lord: so likewise may we on the sabbath dress & make ready meat & other necessaries, which our bodies cannot lack. We may also minister physic to the sick, visit the weak, & help the needy, that so we may preserve y• creature of God. Herein did our saviour give us an example to follow, who did on yt sabbath work y• deeds of charity & mercy, we have more then one example of his to be seen in the Gospel, but especially in Luke. 6. &. 13. &. John the. 5. chap. If then on the sabbath day it be lawful to draw out of a pit a sheep or an ox in danger of drowning, why should it not be lawful likewise on yt sabbath, to underset with props, a ruinous house that is ready to fall? why should it not be lawful on the sabbath day to gather in, & keep from spoiling y• hay or corn, which by reason of unseasonable weather, hath lain too long abroad, & likely to be worse, if it stay any longer? The holy Emperor Constantine, writing to Elpidius, saith: Let all judges in courts of law, & citizens of all occupations rest upon the Sunday, & keep it holy with reverence and devotion. But they that inhabit the country, may freely and at liberty 1attend on their tillage upon the sabbath day. For often times it falleth out, that they can not upon an other day so commodiously sow their seed. ⟨p. 144⟩or plant their vines, and so by letting pass the opportunity of a little time, they may hap to loose the profit given of GOD for our provision. Thus saith the Emperor.