A17183:714
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.
I have in that which is behind, to speak somewhat touching the correction 1of those that are contained under the name of children. This correction consisteth partly in words, and partly in stripes. In both, there must be had a middle mean and measure, that nothing be done outrageously. Let not the admonition, that is given in words, be bitterer than the fault deserves. Let it nip for the time present, but being past, let it bespoken off no more. Continual chiding breeds contempt. Thou shalt find some children also, with whom gentle dealing will somewhat prevail. And unless thou do sometime praise them, & speak well of that which they do, although peradventure, not so well done as thou wouldest require, thou shalt perceive that ••ter desperation will take away hope and courage clean from them. I think it not good with too heavy a burden to over awe such children as are willing to bear. Stripes must not be bestowed but for some great offence, and that too, not in the fathers anger but moderately, not to mar but to amend them. Let the parents always remember that golden saying of S. Paul: Fathers provoke not your children to anger. For the best wits are hurt by too much rigorousness. Solomon, where he speaketh of moderate correction, saith: The rod and correction giveth wisdom, but the child that runneth at random bringeth his mother to shame. Again, chastise thy son and thou shalt be at quiet, and he shall bring pleasure unto thy soul. These words of his do utterly condemn ⟨p. 162⟩y• fathers cockering, & the mothers pampering, which is the marring 2of very many children. For the parents offend God as much in to much cockering their children, as they do in over much punishing of them. Heli in the scriptures is ill reported of for doting over his children, he himself dieth miserably, & bringeth the shameless wicked knaves his sons, to a shameful ending. What is to be thought of that moreover that in the 21. of Deut. the parents themselves are commanded to bring their disobedient children before the judge, & there, by complaint to sue them to death? By this example, which may otherwise seem to be somewhat to sharp, it pleased God to put other men in remembrance to keep their children in awe & obedience.