A17183:658
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.
Now touching the country, wherein every one is borne and brought up, 1every man doth well esteem of it, love it, and wish to advance it, every man doth deck it with his virtue and prowess, every one doth help it with all sorts of benefits, stoutly defending it, and valiantly fighting for it, if need 2be, to save it from violent robbers. What is (I pray you) more to be delighted in, then the good platform of a well ordered city, wherein there is (as one did say) the church well grounded, wherein God is rightly worshipped, and wherein the word of God in faith and charity is duly obeyed, so far forth as it pleaseth God to give the gift of grace? wherein also the Magistrate doth defend good discipline and upright laws, wherein the citizens are obedient and at unity among them selves, having their assemblies for true religion and matters of justice, wherein they use to have honest meetings in the Church, in the Court, and places of common exercise, wherein they apply them selves to virtue and the study of learning, seeking an honest ⟨p. 150⟩living by such sciences as mans life hath need of, by tillage, by merchandise, and other handy occupations, wherein children are honestly trained up, parents recompensed for their pains, •he poor maintained of a•mes, and strangers harboured in their distress. There are therefore in this common weal, virgins, married women, children, old men, matrons, widows, and fatherless children. If any (by the naughty disposition of nature) transgress the laws, they are worthily punished, the guiltless are defended, peace, justice, and civility doth flourish and is upheld. Now what is he that can abide to behold such a common weal, the country wherein he is borne and bred up to be troubled, vexed, torn and pulled in pieces, either by seditious citizens or foreign enemies. In civil seditions & foreign wars, all virtue and honesty is utterly overthrown, virgins defiled, matrons uncivilly dealt withal, old men derided, and religion destroyed. Wherefore the valiant captain Joab, being ready to fight against the Syrians in defence of his country, speaketh to his brother Abisai, saying: If the Syrians be stronger than I, then shalt thou help me: but if the sons of Ammon be to strong for thee, then will I come and aid thee.