A17183:667
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.
For the honouring of Ministers of the Churches, which are the Pastors, 1teachers, and fathers of christian people, many things are wont to be alleged by them, who covet rather to reign as Lords, than to serve as ministers in the Church of Christ. But we which are not of that aspiring mind, do acknowledge that they are given us by the Lord, and that the Lord by them doth speak to us. I speak here of those ministers which tell us not an headless tale of their own dreams, but preach to us the word of truth. For of them the Lord in the Gospel saith: He that heareth you heareth me: and he that despiseth you despiseth me. Wherefore the ministry is of the Lord, and through it he worketh our salvation. And therefore must we obey the ministers which do rightly execute their office and ministry, we must think well of them, we must love them, and continually pray for them. And since they so we to us their heavenly things, we must not deny them, the reaping of our bodily and temporal things. For 2the labourer is worthy of his reward. And since the Roman president among the Jews did not deny it, but aided the Apostle Paul against the pretended murder and open wrong 3of the Jewish nation, a Christian Magistrate verily ought not to deny his assistance and defence, to the godly ministers of Christ and the Churches. Hereunto belong the testimonies of Saint Paul, that may be alleged. In the last chapter of his first Epistle to the Thessalonians, he saith: We beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you, and have the oversight of you in the Lord, and admonish you, that ye may have them in reputation through love for their work, and be at peace with them.
For the honouring of Ministers of the Churches, which are the Pastors, 1teachers, and fathers of christian people, many thinges are wont to be alledged by them, who couet rather to reigne as Lordes, than to serue as ministers in the Churche of Christe. But we which are not of that aspiring mynde, do acknowledge that they are giuen vs by the Lorde, and that the Lorde by them doth speake to vs. I speake here of those ministers which tell vs not an headlesse tale of their owne dreames, but preache to vs the word of truth. For of them the Lord in the Gospell sayth: He that heareth you heareth me: and he that despiseth you despiseth me. Wherefore the ministerie is of the Lord, and through it he worketh our saluation. And therefore must we obey the ministers whiche do rightly execute their office and ministerie, we must thinke well of them, we must loue them, and continually pray for them. And since they so we to vs their heauenly things, we must not donie them, the reaping of our bodily and temporall things. For