A17183:655
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.
Let us not show our selves unthankful to them, to whom for their good deeds to us ward, we are of duty bound for ever. Let us nourish, cherish, and aid them in all their necessities: yea, let us wholly bestow our selves and all that we have, to do them good withal. For all that we possess undoubtedly is theirs: and all that we have, we enjoy by them, for if they were not, then should not we be: Let us here call to remembrance the charge that the Lord in Matthe we 1giveth us, touching this commandment. Let us consider what is meant by the Gentiles, [Greek or Hebrew], which is, to requite one good turn with another, and especially, to nourish and cherish them, by whom thou thee self in thy youth, wast brought up and tendered. There is among the Gentiles a law extant worthy to be called the mistress of piety, whereby it is enacted, that the children should either nourish their parents, or else lye fast fettered in prison. This law many men do carelessly neglect, which the Stork alone among all lining creatures doth keep most precisely. For other creatures do hard and scarcely know or look upon their parents, if peradventure they need their aid to nourish them, whereas the Stork doth mutually nourish 2them being struc•en in age, and bear them on her shoulders, when for feebleness they cannot flee.
Let vs not shew our selues vnthankfull to them, to whome for their good déedes to vs warde, we are of duetie bound for euer. Let vs nourish, chearishe, and ayde them in all their necessities: yea, let vs wholy bestowe our selues and all that we haue, to doe them good withall. For all that we possesse vndoubtedly is theirs: and all that we haue, we inioy by them, for if they were not, then should not we be: Let vs here call to remembrance the charge that the Lorde in Matthe we 1giueth vs, touching this commaundement. Let vs consider what is ment by the Gentiles, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, which is, to requite one good turne with another, and especially, to nourishe and chearishe them, by whome thou thée selfe in thy youth, wast brought vp and tendered. There is among the Gentiles a lawe extant worthy to be called the mistresse of pietie, whereby it is enacted, that the children should eyther nourishe their parents, or else lye faste fettered in pryson. This lawe many men doe carelesly neglect, which the Storke alone among all lyning creatures doth kéepe most precisely. For other creatures doe harde and searcely know or looke vpon their parents, if peraduenture they néede their ayde to nourish them, whereas the Storke doth mutually nourishe